Edutopia: Join the Movement to Transform Learning: A Guest Blog by George Lucus

George Lucus talks about how school is "locked in a time capsule" and a student will receive a diploma if "the student can spit back facts correctly."   Technology has changed learning drastically and if we continue to follow this old model for learning, it may begin to fail.  While textbooks are still being used as the main resources for teaching and presenting information, technology needs to enter the world of schools more rapidly.  Schools need to transform into the world of technology and one-on-one computing needs to continue to happen. We need to "personalize student learning" to meet the needs of our students.

Education Week: Value of College-Admissions Test-Prep Classes Unclear

I found this article to be very interesting, because there is so much emphasis on preparing for the ACT/SAT exams.  I remember myself trying to prepare for what I thought was the biggest test of my life.  The anxiety was unbearable and I felt like if I failed that I would never get into college.  The article talks about how much parents spend on tutors, prep courses, and/or prep materials.  They challenge that, this last chance attempt for preparation will probably not benefit students much if any at all.  The article also stressed that college entrance criteria is not solely based on this test, so parents and students need to put there focus on the whole "student package."

ReadWriteWeb: Twitter in the Classroom?

Another great tool that I wish I could use in my classroom.  It is great to see students truly motivated to learn.  There are so many great tools at our fingertips, yet it is discouraging not to be able to utilize them in our classrooms.

Edutopia: Differential Instruction Ignites Elementary School Learning

If only we had as much technology and training as this school is able to have.  Another problem our teachers face is that our common planning time across grade levels and subjects do not exist.  Due to cuts, teachers are asked to teacher multiple grade levels and subjects, which eliminates common planning time to collaborate.

Education Week: Psst! Anti-Bullying Quiets Playground Gossip, Study Finds

This article written by Sarah Sparks highlights that early intervention decreases the chances of bullying occurring in the future.  The article mentions that having anti-bullying programs help to reduce bullying within a school.  I can't walk down the halls in my school without seeing or hearing bullying.  What could be worse than the bullying itself?  Those teachers and students who ignore it!  Why does this happen?  I think students are afraid to stand up to the bullies because they do not want to be bullied themselves and as for teachers, there is no excuse.  Typically you hear a teacher say they don't step in because they don't know how to effectively handle the problem.  The hardest form of bullying to detect are those that spread hurtful rumors.  I wish all schools had anti-bullying programs, my school needs one.

ReadWriteWeb: A Watson Victory? This is About a Contest, Not Science

I didn't actually get to see the three day Jeopardy show, but after reading this article by Alex Williams, I watched some clips of the show.  It is amazing that IBM has created this machine, Watson, and they are going to offer it for university research.  New scientific advances emerge every year and it is truly amazing how they have used these advances in medicine, education, etc.  I do worry that these advances will change use as humans.  The more machines or robots can do for us, the lazier we may become.  I heard on the radio this morning that teenage obesity is on the rise.  Could it be because of these great technology devices we call video games.  Someday we may have robots doing all of the service jobs that humans do.  Instead of doctors we will be diagnosed by machines.  I am not sure I like where the future may be heading.

Edutopia: Should Students be Labeled as Gifted?

Labels are useful and harmful.  I hear students yelling down the hall "You're in the retard room" to a student who has a learning disability in math computation.  Or you may hear other labels like "Queer, stupid, special ed" being directed at particular students.  In education, using labels can be a helpful tool for instructing students with learning disabilities, behavioral problems, etc.  Even students who excel, need to have specialized programs that challenge them.  However, labels can be negative and I feel they are unnecessary.  As an educator, my job is to know the strengths of my students and provide them with the strategies to help them become successful.  We may find that one student needs more than another, but by using assessments (both formal and informal) we can measure the best way to help students.  Being a special education teacher, labels are tools we use to categorize student needs, but I think if we eliminate labels and focus on strengths and weaknesses, this would be a more powerful approach.