NYT Middle School Article

The article Taking Middle Schoolers out of the Middle by Elissa Gootman is a debate on what settings might benefit the children more in school systems; k-8 schools or 6-12 grade schools. Many believe the 6-12 system allows the students to thrive around their older peers and be reminded of future goals, such as going to college. The system will allow the younger students to see the finish line, and excite them about being with the older students and going on to more education.
The k-8 option would nurture the students for three more years, and prevent them from making the harsh transition to a new school. Studies have shown that students in this system have done slightly better then the average student that age in a regular middle school. Students at that age are going through emotional, physical, and social changes. It’s important to keep them in a comfortable environment, instead of traumatizing them with new people, peers and school.

I personally believe that middle schools should not be taken out of the school district. I feel that the students enter the middle school before they start going through that emotional, physical and social changes. I believe that these students in 5-8 need their own system that helps them develop from the transition of elementary kids to high school students. If I had to choose between the two options of k-8 or 6-12, I would go with k-8. I believe it might stunt or change the student’s development. If I had to choose between the two, I would go with the system k-8. I feel that 6-12 systems will do more damage to students then good. I do not agree with the thought that students will thrive more around their role-models. Most high schooler’s are not good role-models, and I feel that the younger students would deal with more frustration because the lack of a support system, and would increase their chances of not finishing school. These students would spend more time on their own where they are not yet capable of knowing what is always right and wrong. The k-8 would give students that support system. Even though they would be babied, they would have more confidence and more discipline because they had the support.

QR: Podcast

I just happened to get an ipod for Christmas, so itunes is fairly new to me. It seems like everyday I learn something new about itunes that impresses me, and I must say that I was very impressed with the podcast selections they had. They had many subjects to choose from, and even more subtitles under them. I actually got under ESPN U, and listened to many of Andy Katz’s podcast’s about who he thinks should be number one, and what teams are on the bubble for making the tournament. I also got under Coach K’s pregame thoughts about tonight’s match up between his Duke Blue-Devils and the Clemson Tigers. My favorite was some fitness and nutrition podcasts I listened to. I want to find out how I can put these on my ipod so I can listen to them, I actually spent a good forty five minutes just listening to the sports and health ones.

LR: Podcast

Podcasting is a combination of an ipod and broadcasting put together. There are three different types of podcasts, and you can watch audio, look at photos or listen to recordings. It is very similar to a radio or television show, with the exception that you can pause, rewind, fast forward and play the podcast during any moment in the day. It reminds me of a tivo, with the exception that you can not record. It is similar to a tivo, with the exception that it has a combination of a video camera, recorder and camera.
Three examples for the use of a podcast in the classroom include: flash card use, downloading material for lessons, or class projects. Flash cards are a way for students to visually see the material, and also hear what the answer is. Podcast’s can download material that helps students better understand the material. An example would be if you’re describing how to properly do a fitness program, you could download a video of the fitness methods, and show the students. The last is for class projects, where students could get into more depth by using interviews, or video examples.
A teacher might use a podcast in the classroom to increase the enthusiasm and work ethic of the students. McGuire mentioned that it was proven students work much harder when they know there work is going to be broadcasted. Teachers could also podcast the student’s presentations, so that the students are able to place it in their portfolio. It’s an easy way for student to file their documents, which might help serve them later in school or life. Teachers could also download lesson plans to use for different topics.
The podcast might not always be a good idea for the classroom. It is important that the teacher and students understand all the copyright laws before they attempt to download, record of copy anything that might potentially jeopardize themselves and the school. Students might put something out on the internet with out citing it, or something that they do not have permission to use.
To be completely honest, I still have many questions about podcast. I feel that I missed out on a lot during McGuire’s speech when she was giving examples. All I heard was mumbling, and then the crowd laugh. What I have learned, I have thought of a few ideas that I could use podcast for in my class. The first would be as a project for the students, they could create a workout video that could be posted on the web along with an outline of the workout. I thought it would also be good for downloading guest speakers, and listening to them in class. I am sure once I understand podcast more, I then will have more ideas that I could use it for.

Copyright and Fair Use LR

I though question #14 was the most ridiculous of them all. I was confused on the description given; it said that it is not covered under fair use for entertainment or reward, and then went on to say it was entertainment. Either way, I can not believe that it is not permissible for a child care service to watch Disney movies. It’s not like the sibling are going to school, there basically just being baby sat. The most confusing part of it all is that it will become legal if you by a one time license from Disney for $25. I feel like the only responsibility that you should have when buying a movie, is paying for it, and not copying it. It does not make sense that you have to buy it, and then buy a license so some children can watch it. I might have the question confused, because the day care is part of the school, but still, they bought the video and are not doing anything wrong. I feel that Disney is just trying to make an extra buck, and is nitpicking.

Copyright and Fair Use QR

Question #2: I am confused on how you can put the photo shop on a server so that all the students can see it, but you can not use the copy simultaneously. I feel like it is basically the same thing

Question #6: I think this is great, and I am glad that I will be able to do this type of thing when I become a teacher, I was just surprised with the result, because it seems like every other question similar to this is false.

Question #7: I do not think the question gave enough information, because I feel like you would need a signature from the parents to post there students results, even though the school’s parents can only see it.

Question #11: I did not know you could edit yourself into a movie, I figured that would be illegal or something.

Question #15: I thought this was funny, because there was another question almost the same, which had true as the answer.

Question #16: This does not seem right to me, I feel like copyright laws would be broken if you did this.

Question #17: I am glad we are able to do this, but I was not sure if you would need permission since a lot of them are copyright material.

Question #19: It does not make sense to me that you can use part of the music, but not the whole thing.

QR Blogging

So far I have enjoyed my blogging experience, there is so many different things that you can do with it, and I feel that there is much more that I have yet to learn about it. I believe I will like this website, as it will be an easy way for my professors to check my homework or progress without handing in a hard copy. It also seems reliable, so I won’t have to worry about loosing any information. I feel I will get frustrated at times, as there is so much to do in the site, and I might get confused or forget how to do something. I think the first few weeks might be a little difficult as I get adjusted and comfortable with the site, but after that, I hope there will be no problems.

QR: Chapter 2

QR: Chapter 2
The best statement to describe this chapter is, “treat your students the way you want to be treated.” What I learned from the students in this chapter is, the more respect, trust, and fairness you show towards them, the more there going to do the same to you. The students do not look at themselves as children, and do not expect to be treated like them. The more the teacher pushes them and treat’s them like adults, the more the students will care.

QR: Chapter 1

QR: Chapter 1
In the first chapter, treating the students equally and caring about them is what stuck out the most to me. If you look at all the students as the same, and are interested in who they are and what they like, then the students will trust you and will be more willing to come to you if they need help. The key is to not force the issue; be interested, but do not go to deep into their personal lives. If you care, and they can trust you, then that gives them at least one person in their lives they can go to.

QR: Introduction

QR: Introduction
The introduction brought some nervousness to myself, after reading about the students who walked out of the teacher’s classroom. I thought about situations I might be in where a student refuses to do my orders. I thought the author handled the situation very well, she did a good job of being fair to the students helping them understand the consequences. I hope that I am able to take that same approach with the students if a situation similar occurred.

NetDay Results

As a twenty two year old college student, I would be considered part of the digital immigrant group compared to the digital natives. My first interaction with a computer never came until I was in fourth grade when my parents bought one, and I never started using it for anything but games until the next year in fifth grade when I had my first typing class.
I am not completely sure of the impact that technology will have in my classroom, as I will be spending as much time as possible outdoors or in the gym as a health educator and physical education teacher. I feel that I know enough to use it a little bit, but not enough to do much with it. I am sure I will use it for emailing, keeping grades and such things like that, but I also hope to use it as a resource to keep up with the constantly changing health information. I could also seeing my students using it for resources for a project, video camera’s for creating their own work out videos or excel to graph or map out charts of their weekly physical fitness, stressors or eating habits. I would also like it if the health program for the district had their own web-site, were students could get information or ask questions. I am currently not strong at many of these aspects, but I feel I will need improvement so that I am able to use some technology to get the most out of my students.
After taking the NetDay survey and studying the results of students from k-12 and teachers, I was surprised to find how similar my results were to that of the high school students. I thought they would be much more computer literate, and would rely on technology more then individuals out of high school, like myself. My results matched that of the teachers almost perfectly, and were not even comparable with the students that had not entered high school yet. I feel that students in high school, or the juniors and seniors, are the last true digital immigrants. The bulk of their technology use was more for communication or tasks that did not involve education. The students who had not entered high school yet, did not have as high percentage as the high school students and teachers, but it was apparent that the availability of technology in their lives was much more then when I was at that age. My overall belief on technology and the affect it has on children today is not as strong as the typical adult. As a community health major I feel that students are spending too much time using technology as an excuse not to be physically active, get outside, or spend more time with family and friends. I believe technology is defiantly helping students expand their knowledge, and that it is good for them; but at the same time, what good will that knowledge do for them if they are unhealthy.

QR: Preface

QR: Preface
While reading the preface, I recalled moments back in high school and how my principle would handle situations. The preface made a good point in that the troubled students are the ones that teachers focus more of there attention to. That was often the case in my high school, and typically the teacher would always give up on them and let them roam the halls, but we had a great principle who probably knew his students better then some of their parents. He did a great job of getting those students back into class, and focused on their studies.