Discussion Post Week #6

Discussion Week #6

There are many things to think about, talk about, and be worried about as we review this week’s materials. For example, can we empower students through the right infrastructure, the right culture, and/or the right processes? Should we start with outcomes first, or should that now change to meet new learners and the types of engagement/experience we want for them? How do we connect the real world to the other real world? Should we actually be worried about big brother and privacy as we try to engage 21^st century learners in a connected environment? Is the cloud the right way to go as we begin to embrace ubiquitous learning? Are there ethical and legal implications of this new embrace to connectivity? The list is endless it seems. Please reflect on what resonated with you this week and why.

I think that we can empower students by differentiated instruction.  Prior to beginning the instruction we need to think of three things mentioned in the Connected Learning video.  Ultimately what do we want the students to learn, what is the outcome of their learning and do we keep the pace that is the starting point. 

Based on my grade and subject matter I do this everyday.  For example students participate in literacy workstations.  In my class I have some beginning readers, some students who are starting “to get it”, and I have some that are still struggling with the concepts that were first introduced in September.  I am constantly working to figure out what learning activities will challenge my students but not force them to struggle or be unable to complete the task.  The students who are beginning to read might write sentences using sight words or “writing the room”, my students who are emerging might do a sight word search looking for sight words in text, and my struggling students might try to build the sight word using magnetic letters or practice writing/name letters of the alphabet.  I am trying to empower my students based on their needs but I am so thinking about the outcome.  All of my students will be exposed to the sight words but they will complete their work so they can be successful.

I really enjoyed the video about internships offering meaning to students.  The internship allows students to explore new opportunities.  The internship lets the students explore and experience something that they may want in the future with an individual learning plan.  It also allows students to see what they might not want to do.   Rather that using real life scenarios as examples students get to experience first hand their possible future job, real life academics.  Prior to the summer before college my dad hired me to work at his office.  Answering phones, typing up reports, and various other office tasks.  I HATED it!  I couldn’t have been more bored and less motivated to do anything.  In a way it was an internship I saw what some people do in an office job and I knew working in an office wouldn’t be my future.   It solidified my choice to be a teacher.  Since my mom was a teacher I participated in an extended internship prior to my first year of actual teaching.  I would help set up her classroom, watch her plan, help photocopy and laminate, I would volunteer in her classroom providing extra support to students in need, etc.  My twenty-year-old internship only slightly prepared me to be a teacher but I knew I would like it much more than an office job!

I was sad watching the Reimagining work video.  71% of people working are disengaged and unhappy at their jobs is a sad statement.  Doing something that you don’t like doesn’t make your job any easier instead it makes it harder.  You do enough work to get by but aren’t giving it 100% because “its just a job”.  Productivity becomes a problem and standards are lowered in a sense.  Flexible working allows you to be in control of where you want to be, it makes you more mindful of what is in front of you. I have had many friends tell me they are more productive when they work from home because they are comfortable in their own space, less interruptions from coworkers, etc.  My job doesn’t allow me to be in a flexible workplace but on snow days, vacations, etc. I find I’m more productive because I have fewer distractions.