We have all done it....read and article on any of the major internet news sites and what do you see at the end of the artcile......................the dreaded reader comments.
One one hand, the internet is an amazing forum to express ones first amendment rights. Web 2.0 capablities have given people a voice that were at one time not heard. It is a great evolution in communication. It is a great expression and can spur amazing dialogue and discussion.
However......................
People/Readers/Commentators think they can say anything and hide behind an anonymous post. And while I agree with their first amendment rights....I question the basis in which they make comments. Here is an article from the Huffinton Post on 6/14. The following was a comment about the flipped classroom:
Since the computers are now "teaching the students" and the teachers are
essentially
becoming facilitators or babysitters, I don't think they
should be receiving high salaries.
I'd expect to pay teachers who teach the class a higher salary than one
who just facilitates.
There could not be a comment more further from the truth. I teach MORE with a flipped classroom. I work with my students individualizing in a one to one format on a daily basis. I cannot get more exhausting than that!
Just becuase someone stands in front of a classroom and lectures does not mean they are teaching.
Just becuase someone gives a multiple choice test does not mean they are teaching.
Lecturing IS babysitting.
Using the old factory model of schooling is babysitting.
Denying that students live in a different world and trying to educate them with a square peg and round hole IS educational malpractice.
I will, however, stake claim to the title of facilitator. If I were a teacher that "just facilitates", then I would be doing the most important job that a teacher holds, requiring students to think...I'll do that all day!
If computers can teach students well then I will be the first in line to find a new profession...............
I am not a person that leaves comments on news stories. But I am one that needs to ignore them....to keep my own sanity.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Negativity
Teaching an AP class is an interesting challange. People think that it must be easy becasue you have all great kids. And yes...I have great kids but teaching an AP class presents unique challenges.
That is the preface to my rant today. Each AP class has a College Board run message board/list serve. I like to read them for curriculur ideas and general conversation about education and speicigcally teaching AP US History. Today I read some things about the flipped classroom that I think misrepresent what a flipped classroom should look like. So...here goes my venting:
Myth: Flipped classroom teachers do nothing. Reality: I work more in a flipped classroom than I did when I lectured to my AP students. It is easy to stand in front of the class and vomit content. It is difficult to come up with genuine learning activities that involve higher order thinking skills.
Myth: The flip classroom is about the videos. Reality: The flip classroom is NOT about the videos. The videos help in content acquisition, but kids can get content anywhere these days. Ask your students a question and more than half can get their phones out and get the answer within minutes. Content can be done at home, and the videos help that.
Myth: Kids wont watch the videos. Reality: Some kids wont...those are the ones that tune you out in a lecture. Most will...I enable the views on my videos and I was astonished how many were being watched. As with most things in the classroom, if you make it a priority or show it is important the kids will follow.
Myth: Flipped is a "fad". Reality: This one is hard to prove, but this I know for sure...as educators we cannot stay in the industrial model of the 19th and 20th centuries. Kids are changing...and we need to meet them where they are as learners. Flipped videos allow my students to access me when and where they want. That includes outside of the 4 walls of my classroom and the 47 minutes I see them on a daily basis.
Myth: Flipped classroom is the end all be all of education reform. Reality: It still takes great instruction for students to succeed. A great flipped classroom is one in which students are exposed to high quality instruction that includes 21st Century Skills. Great teachers are still needed for that to happen.
Finally, I am sure that many of you have seed the Sir Ken Robinson Changing Paradigm video. If you haven't it is below. This...for me...is truly the essence of the flipped classroom.
That is the preface to my rant today. Each AP class has a College Board run message board/list serve. I like to read them for curriculur ideas and general conversation about education and speicigcally teaching AP US History. Today I read some things about the flipped classroom that I think misrepresent what a flipped classroom should look like. So...here goes my venting:
Myth: Flipped classroom teachers do nothing. Reality: I work more in a flipped classroom than I did when I lectured to my AP students. It is easy to stand in front of the class and vomit content. It is difficult to come up with genuine learning activities that involve higher order thinking skills.
Myth: The flip classroom is about the videos. Reality: The flip classroom is NOT about the videos. The videos help in content acquisition, but kids can get content anywhere these days. Ask your students a question and more than half can get their phones out and get the answer within minutes. Content can be done at home, and the videos help that.
Myth: Kids wont watch the videos. Reality: Some kids wont...those are the ones that tune you out in a lecture. Most will...I enable the views on my videos and I was astonished how many were being watched. As with most things in the classroom, if you make it a priority or show it is important the kids will follow.
Myth: Flipped is a "fad". Reality: This one is hard to prove, but this I know for sure...as educators we cannot stay in the industrial model of the 19th and 20th centuries. Kids are changing...and we need to meet them where they are as learners. Flipped videos allow my students to access me when and where they want. That includes outside of the 4 walls of my classroom and the 47 minutes I see them on a daily basis.
Myth: Flipped classroom is the end all be all of education reform. Reality: It still takes great instruction for students to succeed. A great flipped classroom is one in which students are exposed to high quality instruction that includes 21st Century Skills. Great teachers are still needed for that to happen.
Finally, I am sure that many of you have seed the Sir Ken Robinson Changing Paradigm video. If you haven't it is below. This...for me...is truly the essence of the flipped classroom.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Its Been a While...
I have not been able to sit down and blog for a while...no real excuses other than I have been engulfed in my work. I give credit to those educators that find time to blog on a regular basis. It takes a real commitment to run a great blog and I am going to try my best to find the time....
Moving on....flipped classroom has been getting a lot of press lately. From Education Week, to USA Today, to my favorite article from Wired, flipped classroom has become somewhat of a cult phenom in education. But if you really get into flipping you learn something really fast...its not really about the videos. Sure...the videos are a part of the puzzle, but it is really about high quality instruction that is NOT lecturing. Students need to be ENGAGED and a part of their own learning.
In my own crazy little world flipping and video lectures give me the class time and freedom to do this. Flipped classroom is not for everyone or not for every unit. For me....it is every unit it is how I believe in education and teaching. I have spent more time with my students one on one, or in small groups than I ever have in my 12 years of teaching. That is HUGE for the success of my students. I was just talking to one of my students yesterday and loved being able to access content on our website whenever he wants to watch. Pause, rewind, rematch are all things that my student can now do for homework and that is a great resource to provide for students. But the real winner in the flipped classroom is engagement and ownership of learning for students. That's the name of the game...
Add in 21st Century Skills like collaboration and creation and my students will be ready for the world...
Moving on....flipped classroom has been getting a lot of press lately. From Education Week, to USA Today, to my favorite article from Wired, flipped classroom has become somewhat of a cult phenom in education. But if you really get into flipping you learn something really fast...its not really about the videos. Sure...the videos are a part of the puzzle, but it is really about high quality instruction that is NOT lecturing. Students need to be ENGAGED and a part of their own learning.
In my own crazy little world flipping and video lectures give me the class time and freedom to do this. Flipped classroom is not for everyone or not for every unit. For me....it is every unit it is how I believe in education and teaching. I have spent more time with my students one on one, or in small groups than I ever have in my 12 years of teaching. That is HUGE for the success of my students. I was just talking to one of my students yesterday and loved being able to access content on our website whenever he wants to watch. Pause, rewind, rematch are all things that my student can now do for homework and that is a great resource to provide for students. But the real winner in the flipped classroom is engagement and ownership of learning for students. That's the name of the game...
Add in 21st Century Skills like collaboration and creation and my students will be ready for the world...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Reflections...or Random Thoughts
So far so good on an AP US History Flip classroom. I am amazed how much 1 on 1 interaction that I am now able to have with my students with the spectre of lecturing off of my back. While I believe I had a great classroom environment before, it is even better now. I also think kids appreciate that fact that I am trying to do something different.
Students reactions have been pretty positive...but some are unhappy because...gasp...they have to apply knowledge in class. It was easy before...sit and listen to a cool presentation by myself, be entertained, and learn some historical facts. Now, with more class time for higher level activities, kids must apply knowledge.
Finally...this week has given me one the great benefits of a flipped classroom...giving my students one on one feedback on essay writing. It has been so great to be able to work with each one of them and give them specific feedback on their writing...why haven't I been flipping all along????
Students reactions have been pretty positive...but some are unhappy because...gasp...they have to apply knowledge in class. It was easy before...sit and listen to a cool presentation by myself, be entertained, and learn some historical facts. Now, with more class time for higher level activities, kids must apply knowledge.
Finally...this week has given me one the great benefits of a flipped classroom...giving my students one on one feedback on essay writing. It has been so great to be able to work with each one of them and give them specific feedback on their writing...why haven't I been flipping all along????
A Great Blog...
Many times I am so excited with the direction of education...
Many times I am dismayed at the direction of education...
Take a read here...this is a great post that really makes you think...
Many times I am dismayed at the direction of education...
Take a read here...this is a great post that really makes you think...
Thursday, February 2, 2012
BYOD....Lets do this thing!
http://www.jsonline.com/news/education/school-to-kids-byo-gadgets-a941i6k-138537694.html?page=1
I think BYOD is one of the great advances in education. Soooooo many kids already have their own deceives. What if we unleashed them and allowed them to have their own device to help with their own learning? Let's put the learning in the hands of the kids...
In the days of shrinking budgets lets think smarter not harder. If a school is equipped for student wifi access then we should encourage them to bring their own devices.
What if a kid doesn't have a device????? Schools should provide low-cost tablets or net books for check out for students. Schools can also have desktops available in and around the school.
Here is a novel concept...lets stop spending so much money on copy machines and more money on computers! Teachers have tools like Google Docs and any number of LMS's that allow to be as paperless as possible.
Lets stop teaching in the 20th century and move forward to the 21st century!!
I think BYOD is one of the great advances in education. Soooooo many kids already have their own deceives. What if we unleashed them and allowed them to have their own device to help with their own learning? Let's put the learning in the hands of the kids...
In the days of shrinking budgets lets think smarter not harder. If a school is equipped for student wifi access then we should encourage them to bring their own devices.
What if a kid doesn't have a device????? Schools should provide low-cost tablets or net books for check out for students. Schools can also have desktops available in and around the school.
Here is a novel concept...lets stop spending so much money on copy machines and more money on computers! Teachers have tools like Google Docs and any number of LMS's that allow to be as paperless as possible.
Lets stop teaching in the 20th century and move forward to the 21st century!!
Monday, January 9, 2012
So Here’s What I’d Do
So Here’s What I’d Do
My first share comes from a fellow blogger, David Warwick, who explores 10 technology solutions for schools. (His blog by the way is amazing...you should follow and read)
While not all of these solutions would be practical at the school I teach...I think many would apply and would be great upgrades for all high schools.
My favorite is the first...go as paperless as possible! LMS systems, both paid and free are readily available. In the right circumstances paper copies should become a thing of the past. Students can email or share through Google Docs. In the LMS environment students can upload their work for teachers to see and assess. Memos and other administrative tasks can be accomplished with any of these avenues.
In short...go paperless and reinvest the money into more computers for our students...
My first share comes from a fellow blogger, David Warwick, who explores 10 technology solutions for schools. (His blog by the way is amazing...you should follow and read)
While not all of these solutions would be practical at the school I teach...I think many would apply and would be great upgrades for all high schools.
My favorite is the first...go as paperless as possible! LMS systems, both paid and free are readily available. In the right circumstances paper copies should become a thing of the past. Students can email or share through Google Docs. In the LMS environment students can upload their work for teachers to see and assess. Memos and other administrative tasks can be accomplished with any of these avenues.
In short...go paperless and reinvest the money into more computers for our students...
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