twinsmomfla99
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,992
Jun 26, 2014 13:42:47 GMT
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Nov 19, 2023 18:14:31 GMT
3. Then we had a lesson with the school counselor. The subject was "feelings and negative thoughts". Halfway through the lesson she had everyone get out their iPads and they did an exercise where the kids logged into the activity and their icon appeared on the SmartBoard. Then she asked questions for examples of positive statements. The kids had to type on their iPads and the answers appeared on the screen. But why was it necessary to use the iPad for this? Why not just brainstorm and write on the white board? I've been out of the classroom for almost 12 years now, so I don't have a lot to say about how they use the technology as I don't have any real experience with it. However, the point of the quoted activity might have been to see what each student considers a "positive statement." You can usually save information that appears on the smartboard if I remember correctly. If the statement is associated with the student's icon, there will be a record of it. The guidance counselor can learn a lot from this kind of data regarding students who may be struggling with relationships, bullying, confidence, etc. They can also identify possible topics of interest to a child who needs additional motivation and support. If they are just brainstorming and writing it on the board, it would be harder to make notes about a particular child without making it obvious and pointing it out. Also, a kid might be more comfortable typing something on the iPad than speaking it out loud. I hope this doesn't sound creepy LOL. Teachers do the same thing via journal-writing activities. This isn't meant to "spy" on a child or do some back-end mental health assessment. It's just another tool to help kids at school.
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JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,829
Location: Indianapolis
Jul 2, 2014 17:12:39 GMT
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Post by JustTricia on Nov 19, 2023 20:17:23 GMT
If they picked an educational magazine, would you count that as reading? A newspaper? Short story? A book of poetry? A book of haikus? All of those probably have the same amount or even less blocks of words than a graphic novel.
If they read an educational article online, would you still prefer they read it in a physical form?
You’ve said several times that kids chose to read on their iPads vs an actual book. Is your problem with them reading graphic novels specifically or reading electronically in general?
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seaexplore
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,467
Apr 25, 2015 23:57:30 GMT
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Post by seaexplore on Nov 19, 2023 22:10:19 GMT
I'm continuation HS....
Bio/Chem- students have textbooks that they use as well as online components. Their chemistry book is a consumable that they write in. Biology is a standard textbook that they answer questions on paper. Both curriculums come with an online textbook as well that they can access from home/classroom/etc. I don't have them use the online book in class. They do "interactivities" and virtual labs and take tests on their Chromebooks. I have 85 minute classes and roughly 30-45 min a day is online doing activities.
Math- students have a consumable notebook that we use when I'm doing direct instruction. We have a hardback textbook that lives in the cabinets but they may use if they choose for more information. Problem sets and tests are done online. Tuesday/Thursday/Friay they use Chromebooks for this class.
Financial literacy has a consumable textbook and because I hate grading their writing (cannot read it to save my life) and don't want to take their books home with me, they answer the questions on a google form using Chromebooks. This is daily but only maybe 30 min total of class.
Art electives (Cricut, 3D printing, multimedia/film) are all done online either via their phone or using Chromebooks.
As soon as students come in my room their turn their phones into the pocket chart on the wall. When they finish and have nothing left to complete for me, including anything missing, they are allowed to get their phones back. They're SO addicted to their phones it's nuts!
The Chromebooks stay on campus and are not allowed to be taken home. We have assigned charging locations for each student in the classroom where they dock it at the end of the day. Some are in my room, some in my neighbor teacher's room, some in the office.
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Post by Merge on Nov 19, 2023 22:22:03 GMT
I know my students can learn from online videos and tutorials, but what is the point of my job if I let the computer do the work. But is the computer really doing the work? Because when I was teaching at home during covid I was working as hard as I was working in person. I'm an art teacher and I still use computers more than I did before covid. We do the projects on actual paper but they write about art on a computer. I also post slide shows I made and videos on the computer. Computers don't make the lesson plans or grade the art. I don't think I'm working any less than I did pre-computer, I just have more tools to work with. I used to have to make a million paper copies and had to calculate grade percentages with one of those cardboard sliding grading scale things. Does anyone remember those? That being said, I made sure the kids have lots of hands on work because I know they aren't getting that in a lot of classes except for science. It isn't good for them to be staring at a computer all day. The kids come to me with far less hands on skills than they used to. For example, so many of them can't figure out a ruler. On the upside graphic novels are based on an original novel. I'm a picture book and graphic novel nerd and most graphic novels are not based on an original novel. Graphic novels are an original form of literature in themselves. The 8th graders were reading a book in class last month that was a graphic novel- an original one, not one based on a "real" novel. Some graphic novels are award winning literature. Just think of the graphic novel "Maus". It is a classic. Oh same. Just because I have the kids use our digital curriculum for a learning activity doesn’t mean I’m not teaching music. It’s just a tool. To me this whole argument has some serious “get off my lawn” energy. Electronic tools allow us to both better engage learners and differentiate for them. The good old days weren’t necessarily all that.
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taliakat
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Oct 31, 2023 4:22:28 GMT
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Post by taliakat on Nov 20, 2023 7:05:04 GMT
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Post by Merge on Nov 20, 2023 21:10:45 GMT
Thank you for your perspective. I am not a teacher of color. I do teach in a majority minority district, vast majority receive free/reduced lunch. Large, urban district recently taken over by the state for reasons that have much more to do with politics than performance. Our middle and high school students, every single one of them regardless of income, are issued a laptop each year through our PowerUp program. Until literally today, we had a partnership with Verizon where 25,000 of our lowest income learners received not only a laptop but an internet-enabled one that allowed them to connect to Verizon's network at home for no cost. Our new superintendent, who was sent here by the state to destroy our district, just discontinued this program and left all those learners without a way to do online homework at home. He wants everyone doing only old-school work with packets. A nightmare for students AND teachers. We were able to put that technology in the hands of all of our students, in addition to giving them access to a portfolio of public magnet schools - including free busing and meals - to meet their needs and interests, through literal decades of committed work. We did it despite the de-funding of public schools in this state. And now this new superintendent and the unelected board of managers installed by Greg Abbott are dismantling brick by brick the work we've done for underserved students. If we weren't failing our underserved students before, we're certainly failing them now. And honestly that's just the tip of the iceberg of what's happening here. There will eventually be federal civil rights lawsuits over the dismantling of the country's 8th-largest school district.
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taliakat
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Oct 31, 2023 4:22:28 GMT
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Post by taliakat on Nov 21, 2023 7:49:57 GMT
@merge thank you for replying. It feels hopeless. We are failing our at risk students. I hate the term at risk. The only reason our kids are at risk is because the government failed them. I am in a Red State. Politics do not belong in the classroom. The kids in my area do have computers and kind of good Internet in the classrooms. Kids can't have computers outside the classroom. I know of parents who took these computers to pawn stores or tried to return them to WalMart. Kids are at McDonald's using free Wi-Fi to submit homework packets. Bussing is only for physical handicap. Parents must still pay.
I am not attacking members. Referencing topics that have been posted- Robotics in classroom. I can not see that realistically in my area for the next twenty years. iPads & SmartBoards. Ipads yes to high school. No to SmartBoards. I think one class has a SmartBoard. I am sure the counselor is not using it to compile data to help narrow down topics the students need help with. The guidance counselors know the kids around here would lie for a laundry list of reasons. I have lived here since my teen years. I know I would lie because I could lose my home, or family.
My grandson has speech/reading disabilities. With the limitations of his class he still has computer time. He has made amazing progress playing video games in his classroom to help with his speech. He had trouble reading. He has started reading. The school can not afford iPads for grade school. They still read physical books. Many of the students do read graphic novels. My grandson is reading block text but also graphic novels. They are not on an iPad. It will probably be until his late teen years before he has an iPad or Ereader. I bought him a Kindle but it was stolen. His Mother (Ex DIL) is now in a religion that does not allow tech at home.
I am for technology in classrooms. I would love for my grandson to have robotics in his classroom. I know kids in my area would implode if it was too much. It has to be balanced. I know they would lie on tests but open up to a mentor/teacher.
I just joined Splitcoast Stampers. I have been lurking. I read "donated to Poor Indian School". Most reservations are in Red States. This woman is voting to defund programs for at risk students. When I say white woman that is a white woman. It is not color. A white woman donates to at risk programs, votes to destroy and hold back those she gave a donation too and posts racist slang. I know you understand @merge. It is frustrating. I want my grandson to have Robotics in his classroom.
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The Great Carpezio
Pearl Clutcher
Something profound goes here.
Posts: 2,936
Jun 25, 2014 21:50:33 GMT
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Post by The Great Carpezio on Nov 21, 2023 12:30:24 GMT
I am coming into this late, but I teach high school, and at that level, technology is imperative imo. My school issues MacBooks and my boys go to a district that issues Chromebooks. They use iPads in the elementary and middle schools I will come back to that if I can later. I am not a teacher of color, and I teach in a predominately white school. My kids attend a school that is over 50% students of color---many are Somali-American. Everyone gets Chromebooks. The classrooms have smartboards, they have a robotics class, and a robotics competitive team my son is on---but I also live in a state that still tends to value education. I wish it was that way everywhere.
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huskergal
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,017
Jun 25, 2014 20:22:13 GMT
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Post by huskergal on Nov 21, 2023 15:18:24 GMT
I am not dissing technology in the classroom. I teach Computer Science. I have to have computers. But like any other tool or type of technology, there is a downside.
I think every student in public school should have access to technology and access to internet at home. It is the only way for them to keep up with all the changes.
I am just saying, there are downsides to students using technology all of the time. Cheating is a huge concern.
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taliakat
Shy Member
Posts: 38
Oct 31, 2023 4:22:28 GMT
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Post by taliakat on Nov 22, 2023 8:46:13 GMT
@thegreatcarpezio Thank you. That gives me hope. My state use to value education. That was when it was purple and not red. I have lived here thirty years. When I was in high school I had advance college programs. I was a Senior in high school. Had Sophomore college credits.
My DS same school district. Had his CNA by the time he left high school. Was allowed to start taking nursing classes early. He is now an ER nurse and Life Flight.
Grandson same district. He has computers in his classroom and ok Internet. If it wasn't for McDonald's owner accommodating the kids around here I don't know what they would do to turn their homework in or after hours school work. This is a generational area. The majority that live here have generations who have attended the same school district. My family is three generations. My grandson can not have the same education opportunities that I or my son received. All due to politics. I have a lot of frustration and anger. My grandson is only in first grade. I do hope things improve when he is in high school.
I do think too much tech is unhealthy. A few districts over high school tech. Less teacher interactive. The high school is on three days, relying on computer courses. Do not have enough teachers or aides. Teacher and Aide shortages are a huge problem here. Test scores are tanking. A lot of frustrated parents and educators. I have talked to parents and grandparents who have told me the kids in this district are struggling and not retaining. A teacher told me the high school is seeing high drop out rates, higher than my own district.
My district is what many here would call blighted. We are lucky to keep our teachers. I know it is because the teachers taught the grandparents, parents and grandkids. I noticed new teachers pick our district over others. I do not know the reasons. Maybe they feel like they can make a difference.
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