tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post4182399364376939884..comments2024-03-28T05:35:07.354-04:00Comments on Lisa Nielsen: The Innovative Educator: 2 critical things to do & remember each day as a teacherLisa Nielsenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07759123507185453030noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-17923969877857627312012-03-31T03:31:29.784-04:002012-03-31T03:31:29.784-04:00I agree with you - a lot of our focus when we are ...I agree with you - a lot of our focus when we are teaching is placed on the students results of learning which is usually assess with testing. What does testing prove in the area of impacting the world through the students actually doing something more than watching a video or pushing a like button? <br /><br />If we can allow students to think critically and to analyze and look at areas where "issues" are "issues" only because we(society) have let them become "issues" this is a start. There are so many topics which can be integrated into curriculum. We do not need to keep teaching the same unit year after year. <br /><br />With the age of technology, communication and 24 hour news updates, teachers can find information that is relevant to today and can build areas of study around this. Then, through tasks preferably other than tests, like alternative assessments, performance based assessments and project based learning, students can apply their understanding and their learning becomes more meaningful. <br /><br />Students can start locally and then spread out from there. Technology tools can help students actually do something and to spread their message out to others to ask for help and to empower them as well. <br /><br />If we show our students that they matter, that what they are learning and doing has meaning and matters to someone other than just the teacher, we are on the right track - a step in a positive direction. <br /><br />I remember teachers who told me that I mattered. I also remember that we learned about real topics and events that were happening. We started social justice clubs and talked about issues, we looked within our community and we donated time and support to those in need because we chose to. <br /><br />Teachers really are teaching children - and you never know what that child will go on to do once they leave your classroom. So why not educate them about the world as it is today, inspire them, engage them, motivate them, and show them what they can do.cynthiaschultz1noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-40180459169056838502012-03-29T20:41:06.294-04:002012-03-29T20:41:06.294-04:00On the one hand, I absolutely love your message. ...On the one hand, I absolutely love your message. I think you're completely correct in that we need to teach students how to be self-sufficient, and when I say that I mean a great variety of things. Yes, they need to be able to keep track of their work on their own and they certainly need to be able to critically think on their own rather than waiting to follow some assigned task. But I also think of self-sufficiency as understanding not only what they *can* do but understanding how their skills fit into the real world and how to take their ideas, creations, etc. and get them out into the world, which is essentially what you're saying.<br /><br />I think this, possibly more than anything, because I've been a highly successful student throughout my educational experience, first studying science then returning to study education ... and I don't feel I myself am nearly as capable in this area as I wish to be.<br /><br />That being said, as another poster commented, I don't think you should be putting down things like virtual dissections or writing response papers. Both understanding how you feel about something and being able to convert that into meaningful written work is very important. Perhaps instead of "boring" suggest that a teacher have students write a response to a local issue they find important so they can then have the response published as a letter to the editor in a local paper -- this qualifies for getting students involved in the world outside their school and it's not so different from what you called "boring."<br /><br />What I think you need to remember is that most teachers out there have, like me, been successful in a school environment that does value writing papers about literature and doing dissections. It would be helpful if you gave more examples of what we could do differently from what our own experience was.<br /><br />Also remember that in many areas of this country, teachers are given little respect by the community. If we don't feel like our *own* work seems valued by the world at large, how are we in any position to help our students feel that way? Another interesting way of looking at an issue that seems vastly simplified here.<br /><br />Lastly, remember that although it should be very important to have our students engaging in meaningful work and that we shouldn't allow "subject area content" to get in the way of that, we can't let it go the other way, either. What I mean by this is: sure, it's great to feel like you're contributing something to the world. But maybe it's just as important for students to get a taste of contributing to help them understand that they need to do the dissections and write the papers in order to learn the skills they *need* to make future contributions.<br /><br />I am a science teacher, and if you look at the high school level students out there who are making actual contributions in a science field, they're students who've done the leg work and understand the principles. I'm not saying my students have nothing to contribute to the world yet, but I'm sorry, they're not going to be making any scientific breakthroughs until they have a thorough understanding of the basics.<br /><br />Instead of just emphasizing contribution, you should also think about how those contributions will look. Let's help students understand what they want to contribute and then use what might otherwise be "boring" (and I disagree that it all has to be boring) to help them get there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-71580289507813684452012-03-28T11:07:42.669-04:002012-03-28T11:07:42.669-04:00I am a teacher and I think the ideas presented her...I am a teacher and I think the ideas presented here are important. I take exception to the information posted at the top of the blog that says that writing an essay is boring or unimportant, that smart boards are dumb, and that wanting your students to do well on a test is foolish. Please make your point without punitively speaking down on other educational ideas and overgeneralizing them. If you can't dissect a real frog, then why not dissect a virtual one? Yes, social activism is important and giving children real world experiences is also worth important, but don't yawn at me. My students are engaged, excited and learning too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-57721673308334326662012-03-27T06:56:48.217-04:002012-03-27T06:56:48.217-04:00Nice blogs, being a teacher myself, i can say you ...Nice blogs, being a teacher myself, i can say you are doing a good job.<br /><br />check out my blogs on similar topic at<br /><br />http://pakistani-edu.blogspot.comUsman Shahidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623824762900015329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-43960218953951697612012-03-26T17:30:08.110-04:002012-03-26T17:30:08.110-04:00I really like your 2 things educators must remembe...I really like your 2 things educators must remember and do each day. POWERFUL. Concise. Going to write these down! ~Thanks.lauragilchrist.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05295344001597385506noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8318734518772387227.post-45885472044626037482012-03-26T16:03:04.036-04:002012-03-26T16:03:04.036-04:00YOU MATTER my friend! This is a powerful must read...YOU MATTER my friend! This is a powerful must read post- excited to share!!!angela maiershttp://www.angelamaiers.comnoreply@blogger.com