Blog Post #5

If You Built A School

I looked at Krissy Venosdale's blog and discovered that she is a special education teacher and has been teaching and loving it, for 10 years! The name of her blog is Venspired. She says that her students and classroom inspire her. She wrote a blog about what her dream school would look and be like if she could build one. I thought that it sounded incredible. I imagine mine would look more like a huge home. It would have classrooms but it would also be subjects that the kids choose. No more state curriculum or exams! It just puts pointless pressure on students and teachers. There would be a dance hall, a theater, band room, marine biology center, a green house, swimming pool, wood-workshop, mechanics class, basketball court, tennis court, science lab, technology lab(which would include computers, ipads, cellphones, video recorders, and more). The possibilities are endless. The walls would be covered with projects and photographs, and articles, and just whatever the work is done by the students. It would be a second home. Not where kids have to come to school, but where kids want to come to school.

Virtual Choir

I just got done watching Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir- 'Lux Aurumque' on you tube and I have to say, Wow! I didn't even know something like that was possible. 185 people performed Lux Aurumque. It doesn't sound all that amazing until you find out that these people didn't do it all together. They never met each other. The performance was put together over the internet and then posted to you tube. The music was beautiful and it's crazy to watch, knowing these people never rehearsed or practiced together. What a great idea he had! and what a great tool to be used in connecting with other people in the world.

Teaching in the 21st Century

What does it mean to be a teacher in the 21st century? I watched Teaching in the 21st Century by Kevin Roberts and I agree with many of his view points. What does it mean to be a teacher when most people know how to use a computer. And if most people know how to use a computer this more than likely means that they know how to use the internet. You can find out anything you want to know anywhere and at anytime. My favorite search engine is Google. There are countless ways. Google, YouTube, Facebook, twitter, Bing, Pinterest, cellphones, ipods, ipads, etc. The ways are endless. I like the statement in the video: Teachers are no longer the knowledge of information, they are the filter. Anybody can type a few words in a search engine, but who will be the ones to teach students how to communicate information. Should the basis of school be learning facts or taking quizzes? I think not. It should be based on skills. We need to try harder and do our best to come up with ways to teach students the skills they need to know.

"Flipping" the Classroom

I love this idea. I had already wanted to do something similar to this going in to teaching. I believe that studying outside of the classroom off of the computer is a great way to do homework and really comprehend material. The kids who are terrible at math (like myself) can re-watch the videos and gain more understanding from that. It's a great replacement for the boring homework and you can do more actual math and practice in class with the students.