As a student studying history, I rarely used the computer. I would use it to find out what floor of the library the books I needed to write about were on, I would use it to type my papers, and to submit those papers. I didn’t tweet, I barely “surfed” the web, the craziest thing I would use the computer for is Facebook to keep in touch with friends and family. I am growing though, and increasingly seeing the significance of the wonderful world wide web. Between my technology class at CSUSM, and after reading “Redefining Teachers with a 21st Century Education ‘Story’” by Thom Markham, I am beginning to understand the idea of a PLN (Personal Learning Network) a little better. It’s warming up to me, or I am warming up to it. I am definitely a creature of habit, but I am converting.
I have now taught at two different schools, and can agree and disagree with Markham’s portrayal of schools today; depending on which school I have taught at that we are talking about. When Markham says teachers have become “under-empowered participants in a stagnant system designed to broadcast standardized information,” I can say that yes that applies to my first student-teaching assignment. There was no collaboration, no support, and the students were not the top priority on the teachers’ minds. The focus was entirely on test scores and my subject, history, was brushed under the rug. That being said, my current placement is the opposite. Sure they are worried about test scores, like Markham said “Test scores may affect funding and hiring” but the teachers at my current placement have not become stagnant as the article suggests most have. So I agree and disagree with Markham, just based on my two experiences so far. I think this has everything to do with the staff at the school, the administration, the teachers, and that trickles down and shows through the excitement level in the classroom, and the students’ performance.
As far as the “remedies” Markham suggests, I agree. Teachers need to be willing to change, move with the flow instead of against it. I agree with that, because as I have mentioned, I have seen it work in favor of the students’ learning and desire to learn at my current placement.
I have now taught at two different schools, and can agree and disagree with Markham’s portrayal of schools today; depending on which school I have taught at that we are talking about. When Markham says teachers have become “under-empowered participants in a stagnant system designed to broadcast standardized information,” I can say that yes that applies to my first student-teaching assignment. There was no collaboration, no support, and the students were not the top priority on the teachers’ minds. The focus was entirely on test scores and my subject, history, was brushed under the rug. That being said, my current placement is the opposite. Sure they are worried about test scores, like Markham said “Test scores may affect funding and hiring” but the teachers at my current placement have not become stagnant as the article suggests most have. So I agree and disagree with Markham, just based on my two experiences so far. I think this has everything to do with the staff at the school, the administration, the teachers, and that trickles down and shows through the excitement level in the classroom, and the students’ performance.
As far as the “remedies” Markham suggests, I agree. Teachers need to be willing to change, move with the flow instead of against it. I agree with that, because as I have mentioned, I have seen it work in favor of the students’ learning and desire to learn at my current placement.