Comments on: The Future: Where “winging it” becomes best practice http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/ Professional Development for teachers who are also learners Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:37:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: | Chris Wondra . com http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-149 | Chris Wondra . com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:12:03 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-149 [...] In the future, teaching will be more about coordinating and less about planning. [...] [...] In the future, teaching will be more about coordinating and less about planning. [...]

]]> By: Matt Kumershek http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-130 Matt Kumershek Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:35:15 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-130 William, You are right, the beautiful thing about math is that it builds on itself. I didn’t mean to say much of the math curriculum could be thrown out. What I am saying is this mathematical “structure” can be built higher and become more elaborate. However, assessing some of the mathematical skills can be minimized or eliminated. For example, if calculators were never invented, then it would be important for teachers to assess students making accurate pencil/paper calculations. A lot of time would need to be spent practicing these skills. Now, we don’t need to spend as much time on these topics. We want students to understand the concept of addition/multiplication and be able to “do” these calculations but the calculator can handle the majority of the nitty/gritty calculations. Then we can build on these skills more rapidly and build a bigger and higher “structure” which lead to these higher order thinking skills. I hope that made sense. William,

You are right, the beautiful thing about math is that it builds on itself. I didn’t mean to say much of the math curriculum could be thrown out. What I am saying is this mathematical “structure” can be built higher and become more elaborate. However, assessing some of the mathematical skills can be minimized or eliminated.

For example, if calculators were never invented, then it would be important for teachers to assess students making accurate pencil/paper calculations. A lot of time would need to be spent practicing these skills. Now, we don’t need to spend as much time on these topics. We want students to understand the concept of addition/multiplication and be able to “do” these calculations but the calculator can handle the majority of the nitty/gritty calculations. Then we can build on these skills more rapidly and build a bigger and higher “structure” which lead to these higher order thinking skills. I hope that made sense.

]]> By: Matt Kumershek http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-129 Matt Kumershek Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:00:38 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-129 As far as assessing web 2.0 skills, I think that it won’t be necessary. For most students, just using these technologies will be a huge motivation factor. If a student doesn’t know how to edit a wiki page, they will quickly figure it out by asking the teacher or classmate and fix the problem. Therefore I think it will be very easy for a teacher to informally assess these 2.0 skills. The only thing that the teacher will need to monitor is proper digital etiquette. Digital citizenship will be something that needs to be talked about and modeled on a continual basis. As far as a grade of some sort, students merely participating in a blog discussion “properly” could count for some sort of participation grade. As far as assessing web 2.0 skills, I think that it won’t be necessary. For most students, just using these technologies will be a huge motivation factor. If a student doesn’t know how to edit a wiki page, they will quickly figure it out by asking the teacher or classmate and fix the problem. Therefore I think it will be very easy for a teacher to informally assess these 2.0 skills.

The only thing that the teacher will need to monitor is proper digital etiquette. Digital citizenship will be something that needs to be talked about and modeled on a continual basis. As far as a grade of some sort, students merely participating in a blog discussion “properly” could count for some sort of participation grade.

]]> By: JessicaSlaikeu http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-128 JessicaSlaikeu Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:59:49 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-128 Critical thinking and problem solving seems to be a reaccuring theme throughout these posts. And, I mentioned it as well. When we think about how educaion evolves and where we want education to head, I trully feel it needs to be centered around giving our students the necessary skills to think on their own, to respond to both current and future problems, to reason, and to innovate. And I think a huge part of this will stem from our ability to incorporate technology into the classroom. Critical thinking and problem solving seems to be a reaccuring theme throughout these posts. And, I mentioned it as well. When we think about how educaion evolves and where we want education to head, I trully feel it needs to be centered around giving our students the necessary skills to think on their own, to respond to both current and future problems, to reason, and to innovate. And I think a huge part of this will stem from our ability to incorporate technology into the classroom.

]]> By: Lacy Ament http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-127 Lacy Ament Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:56:21 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-127 Brooke, I completely agree that as Special Education teachers, we have to focus on the enduring understanding and most critical content to cover with our students for the sake of time. We continually think long-term about the skills and strategies that our students with disabilities will need to have in place as they enter the real world. We work on developing self-determination and self-advocacy skills so that our students have the confidence to apply the knowledge they are learning in school, whether it be reading, writing, math, social skills, cooking, cleaning, etc. The best way we can teach these skills effectively to our students so that they will understand and eventually apply their knowledge in real life is to simulate real life problems and experiences throughout the learning and assessment process across all content areas. I think utilizing technology plays an incredible role in how we can be teaching our students these skills because they are intrigued by it and have a desire to want to participate in it. It can offer endless possibilities for accommodating the needs of our students (typing is often faster, neater, and more accurate than handwriting a paper and following along with auditory text online allows the student to raise comprehension more so than trying to read grade level text on their own). Our students typically shy away from learning experiences due to a lack of confidence, but technology has the potential to open the doors for more comfortable and successful learning experiences in school for students who have disabilities. Brooke,
I completely agree that as Special Education teachers, we have to focus on the enduring understanding and most critical content to cover with our students for the sake of time. We continually think long-term about the skills and strategies that our students with disabilities will need to have in place as they enter the real world. We work on developing self-determination and self-advocacy skills so that our students have the confidence to apply the knowledge they are learning in school, whether it be reading, writing, math, social skills, cooking, cleaning, etc. The best way we can teach these skills effectively to our students so that they will understand and eventually apply their knowledge in real life is to simulate real life problems and experiences throughout the learning and assessment process across all content areas. I think utilizing technology plays an incredible role in how we can be teaching our students these skills because they are intrigued by it and have a desire to want to participate in it. It can offer endless possibilities for accommodating the needs of our students (typing is often faster, neater, and more accurate than handwriting a paper and following along with auditory text online allows the student to raise comprehension more so than trying to read grade level text on their own). Our students typically shy away from learning experiences due to a lack of confidence, but technology has the potential to open the doors for more comfortable and successful learning experiences in school for students who have disabilities.

]]> By: Sean Slaikeu http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-126 Sean Slaikeu Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:53:43 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-126 Cara, I was reading your comments and I realised that I agree with you fully, our students need to be able to problem solve by themselves, our students feel like when a problem arises that someone/something will fix it, and they dont try to solve the problem themselves. Our students today have so much more then we ever did but he lack of motivation and desire to work hard is lacking. As far as collaboration, their is no replacement for human interaction. We just have to adapt our teaching to allow for the "gadgets" to be tools for student success. Cara, I was reading your comments and I realised that I agree with you fully, our students need to be able to problem solve by themselves, our students feel like when a problem arises that someone/something will fix it, and they dont try to solve the problem themselves. Our students today have so much more then we ever did but he lack of motivation and desire to work hard is lacking. As far as collaboration, their is no replacement for human interaction. We just have to adapt our teaching to allow for the “gadgets” to be tools for student success.

]]> By: Brooke Nelson http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-125 Brooke Nelson Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:50:26 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-125 I agree with Lacy when it comes to being scared for our students as they enter the work force. As a parent, I am fearful of my own child(ren) as they enter school. I will need to learn more and more to keep my students and chidren up to date with the latest technological advances. What will the future be asked to do? What will they be asked to know? It is a constantly changing world where we need to be researching and learning the latest skill. Thinking "outside the box" will be the expectation of our students. I agree with Lacy when it comes to being scared for our students as they enter the work force. As a parent, I am fearful of my own child(ren) as they enter school. I will need to learn more and more to keep my students and chidren up to date with the latest technological advances. What will the future be asked to do? What will they be asked to know? It is a constantly changing world where we need to be researching and learning the latest skill. Thinking “outside the box” will be the expectation of our students.

]]> By: Lancer Lumby http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-124 Lancer Lumby Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:48:53 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-124 Justin, Today's youth are truly blessed to have you in thier lives. Your dedication to our profession is inspiring to PE/Health teachers everywhere. I am interested to see how your backward design volleyball unit turns out and if you put it on your Wiki. Will you have an overhand serve target test? Anyway, I agree with your insight as it relates to Web 2.0 Technologies and can only hope that our paths cross again in the future. Maybe I will get lucky and we can chat on a blog! C U in Cyberspace Justin,

Today’s youth are truly blessed to have you in thier lives. Your dedication to our profession is inspiring to PE/Health teachers everywhere. I am interested to see how your backward design volleyball unit turns out and if you put it on your Wiki. Will you have an overhand serve target test? Anyway, I agree with your insight as it relates to Web 2.0 Technologies and can only hope that our paths cross again in the future. Maybe I will get lucky and we can chat on a blog!

C U in Cyberspace

]]> By: Liz Kumershek http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-123 Liz Kumershek Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:48:13 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-123 Response to assessment and 21st century skills: If web2.0 and 21st century skills is the future it makes sense to assess students on those skills, to an extent. I think this will become more and more important as higher education institutuions/businesses start implementing these types of technologies and our goal as educators is to prepare our students for the next "leg" of their journey. However, the focus still needs to be on the learning not the technology. Response to assessment and 21st century skills:

If web2.0 and 21st century skills is the future it makes sense to assess students on those skills, to an extent. I think this will become more and more important as higher education institutuions/businesses start implementing these types of technologies and our goal as educators is to prepare our students for the next “leg” of their journey. However, the focus still needs to be on the learning not the technology.

]]> By: Justin Schuh http://www.weteachwelearn.org/2009/07/the-future-where-teachers-abandon-traditional-practices-and-just-wing-it/comment-page-1/#comment-122 Justin Schuh Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:40:43 +0000 http://www.weteachwelearn.org/?p=586#comment-122 Lancer, you really had a thoughtful answer to things that will be staying the same in our global society. I wish you would have gone into greater detail with your answer, but would love to have a discussion with you about these possibly staying the same or changing slightly. When it comes to the research papers, I am interested to hear your thoughts on what we can or will use instead of the paper style. Will it be via blogs, video, songs, or other type of memorable virtual presentations? I feel this is very interesting and a man with your knowledge may be able to give me greater insight on these topics! Lancer, you really had a thoughtful answer to things that will be staying the same in our global society. I wish you would have gone into greater detail with your answer, but would love to have a discussion with you about these possibly staying the same or changing slightly. When it comes to the research papers, I am interested to hear your thoughts on what we can or will use instead of the paper style. Will it be via blogs, video, songs, or other type of memorable virtual presentations? I feel this is very interesting and a man with your knowledge may be able to give me greater insight on these topics!

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