New Year
I am new to the web 2.0 blogsphere. I have taken a break from the relentless world as a music director and I am teaching web design this year. It has been an interesting year. I finally have the time to really investigate my content area and the blogs have been a great resource.
I started with David Warlick who I saw at the CECA conference in October. That drew me to several other blogs, my favorite being Tim Lauer (check out Lewis Elementary). The last few months in class I have thrown a lot of new ideas at my students and they are starting to respond. The blogs have been a great resource for that. The kids are starting to do this investigation on their own, at least thats what I am trying to get them to do. As a band director I would always say “I can’t practice for you..”. As a track coach I would say “you need to run the miles….”. I think “regular” teachers often spoonfeed their students too much and dont allow for students to develop self-reliance and self-direction. I havent figured out why, there is certainly more pressure in a coaching environment or music director job.
January 6th, 2007 at 10:37 am
So how do I get those coddled students to respond? I have the identical problem with spoon-fed students in the high school Basic English Skills. Now the 7th grade, they are a different story. Is it the age group or the cohort or something else?
January 6th, 2007 at 11:20 am
It has been difficult but I have seen a growth by my students into accepting the “modern” teaching. A few ideas:
1. I use the “chinese water torture” method. Everyday, just a little bit more. Eventually they submit.
2. The technology is not an “extra” grade. Their exams, etc…are done on the blog. This makes it not seem optional. Once they use it, most submit.
3. It doesn’t all work, but I learn a lot for next time.
4. Find something fun for them to do (the simulations my kids did were a big hit) and then have them blog.
Good luck.