Checking for understanding on the Internet and Copyright Issues

The ? is: You have found an article in Time magazine that you would like your students to read, so you digitize it and give them access to it using your school's server. Is this legal?

I would say no. Somewhere in the reading in our Text, TechTactics-Technology for Teachers, it states that items that are already offered in an electronic form, can not be "remade" and used as new. I would however, but a hyperlink to the related article from Time magazine that you want your students to read. That way your only citing what you want your students to read, instead of infringing on a copyrighted article.

Word Processing

I use Word on a daily basis. For cutting and pasting, helping students type reports and such, and documenting anecdotal thoughts about behaviors when the need arises.
I don't usually use Word to do most of the elements required in the documents that we did while working on this weeks assignments. I am able to manipulate the ways things look to my satisfaction in Publisher and Excel more easily.

Jigsaw Method

This weeks blog assignment asks us to consider our thoughts, ideas, and concerns about the Jigsaw Method.

1. How could you use the jigsaw method in your classroom if you had only 5 computers?

I have used the jigsaw method a few years ago, while working in a 6th grade classroom. The complete project was to make a classroom PowerPoint presentation on Central America. The class was then broken into partners, and they were to select from a large list of topics about Central America. Each team then became the expert on their chosen topic, and produced slides depicting what they learned. At the end of the given allotted time, the teacher then compiled all the slides into a PowerPoint. Each Team presented their piece of the presentation to the class. The presentation was shared with the other 6th grade classrooms in the building. The students became the teachers.

2. What could be an advantage of this method?

The advantage that I see from the above example, is that the student becomes very knowledgeable about a certain portion of a topic. They then are able to share what they have learned and pass it on. When done in a combined presentation form, as per mentioned above, the students then learn more in a shorter amount of time and probably more information is covered then the Teacher would have had time to commit to this one topic.

3. What could be a disadvantage?

I could still see certain students playing a larger role. One doing all the work and the other student not pulling his/her weight because they don't care. Or one student could be domineering, and not allow the other student do any of the work or have a say in the process.

What standards and evaluation methods I might use in my classroom.

In my current "Dream Job", assignments like a powerpoint presentation for our class is a little bit unrealistic. We spend alot of our time helping our students with "mainstreamed" classroom projects, which includes a rubric usually. We also work with the teachers to accomedate projects so that appropriate accommidations are meet in accordance with the students IEP's.

I like the use of rubrics. It gives the students a clear, concise idea of what you expect. Not just for an "A" paper/project, but what a "B", "C", "D" and "F" paper/project looks like. I know that for me, when I know how much effort I need to put into something, and when I clearly know what is expected, I feel more at ease and confidant.

In our program, we use a daily progress report to track and evaluate our students behavior and attitudes throughout the day. We use these progress reports to plot patterns and rectifiy promblem behavior.

My Goals & Educational Philsophies as a Future Teacher

My first and formost goal as an educator is to create a safe environment for students
to learn and discover themselves. I have seen much sucess from students when they know and feel that you respect them, and will help them no matter what is going on in their lives. That they are forgiven for any wrong doings, and not feel like it is going to be over their head for the rest of their school career. That when you have enough repore with a particularly "difficult student", you are able to bring up those past wrong doings as a learning tool, and be able to show them the growth in any areas you want to bring up. You are also able to talk to them on a "deeper", personal level; using all the teachable moments.

Teachable moments are key to any students life. Helpings students, by their encouraging interests, can spark new interests and life long learning. Even "riding" a student until they see the importance in things, can be affective.

My first goal is to gradaute!!!! When I watched a younger brother and sister both graduate with a BA, and then my brother from Law School, it was both bitter and sweet. Awesome that they had graduated, but feeling bad about myself. Feeling that it was never going to happen to me.
But I am determined! I've already been going to school or working in a school since I was 5. I plan on doing so until I have my rule of 90! So look out world...

My second goal is for my own children to get a excellent education. My six year old wants to be an eye dr. She asked her's how many years of school she had to complete. 12 after high school. If my daughter does become an eye dr., she will have been in school for 27 years before she even practices (Pre3-12, plus 12 of university).

My third goal is to just make a difference in one kids life. Just one, will affect 100's of others.