Education Weekly #2

Research in schools has become a hotly tested subject among teachers and administrators. The reasoning for this is because data that has been recorded is confidential. In California and Arizona they are experiencing a situation where private data has been publicized by the papers. The research data was of state testing for the past seven years. Along with the test scores was the teachers code who taught the students. This is where the problem arises. The papers are questioning the teachers and their performance as instructors.

Teachers and administrators are fighting to have the information confidential and believe that by law they should be protected. The Vice president of Washington American Institutes for Research believes that the schools and teachers need to be more transparent. He believes that teachers do a job of service and should be held accountable for the service they are providing.

If research data is made public for teachers and administrators you could face problems having schools volunteering for research trials in their schools. This could affect government funding for schools along with the test makers ability to adapt to the students and their needs. You may run into people judging teachers strictly on performance in testing. This then limits the teachers on their ability to teach in a constructivist style. They will have to start conforming lessons to what will be on the test to improve test scores. This could lead to our students not receiving a well-rounded education.

I believe that research is very important to change in our schools but I think the information should be confidential. This allows for research results to be more accurate.

Education Weekly #1

Arizona has been having a lot of controversy when it comes to the government making and enforcing laws that single out specific ethnic groups. One of the big issues in Tucson is the state government is trying to outlaw ethnic studies, specifically Mexican-American history classes.

In the Tucson School District students have taken a strong interest in ethnic studies, almost doubling the amount of students enrolled. Last year there was 781 students taking an ethnic studies course while this year the number has jumped to 1400 students. Students are saying "Ethnic studies allow me to read and view and analyze different forms of literature and learning from another perspective." With insight and excitement like this from the students on the subject, one would think hard about taking it away.

The reason the government is trying to ban the ethnic studies in this school district is because of fear. The fear that teachers will have a negative spin on American history. They also fear that they will empower the students through knowledge to challenge the system that they live in.

I feel that this banning of a preferred course where students are excited about learning is wrong. I think that courses like this help to make our kids today well- rounded and educated. I also believe that there should be rules and regulations on the curriculum being taught. Kids should be made to make comparisons and contrasts on American history compared to the ethnic study being taught. The lessons themselves should be done without bias. With these rules strictly enforced we should have no foreseen problems with these courses.

Yodio - OTEN Conference

On Saturday I attended the OTEN Conference at Pacific University. It opened my eyes to all the ways I could use technology in my classroom to help engage and teach my students. In this YODIO are some of my thoughts.

Blogs and their Possibilities

Blogs have many applications that can help teachers access their students in a quick and easy way not commonalty used.  Some of the ways teachers can access their students is by setting up an online syllabus, the days lesson summarized, learning targets, and the homework for the day.  With these possibilities it allows students a second place to get the information presented in class.  It also allows parents to see what their children are learning and the expectations of the teacher.

Other advantages to blogging is being able to display students work. This allows all students and parents to see what is going on in class.  It also allows the students to see the different perspectives their classmates have on similar projects.  Students can then comment and have open class discussion online.  An online discussion can get students to think and reflect on assignments.  It allows all students even the quite ones to have a chance to state their views and ideas that they have. 


Blogs are a great tool but they also can have negative repercussions if not used properly.  These issues can be resolved by having rules and guidelines for proper use when using blogs.  With these guidelines you will be able to protect your students, your school, and yourself.  These guidelines will also create a safe and educational environment for learning.

Blogs have many applications that can be beneficial for the Teacher-Student, Student-Student, and Teacher-Parent learning.  It allows everyone to have one on one interactions and feed back on what goes on in class.

Its all about ME

Welcome to my blog.  Hi, I am Brandon Bennett.  I am enrolled in the Masters of Art and Teaching program at Willamette University.  I recently graduated from Willamette in 07' with a BA in Economics.  I have spent the last 3 years pursuing a professional football career.  Playing over seas in Italy and in Arena Football in the states.  I also have been coaching Offensive Line here at Willamette since I graduated.  My day job has been working in the school district as a special education program assistant.  It has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever been a part of.  Hence the reason for pursing my schooling in Teaching.  I plan on teaching Special Education (SPED) or math at the middle or high school levels. 

Some of my hobbies/interests are football football and more football.  I have the pleasure of spending 7 hours a day in a dark film room or on the practice field studying and coaching the game.  The thrill you get when you have schemed up a team so well that no matter what they do they have no chance of winning is amazing.  Some of my other hobbies/interests are traveling, exploring national parks, camping and reading.  Some of my most recent adventures have come this summer at Yellow Stone National Park and Glacier Nation Park. 

9.8 mile round trip hike to Ice Berg Lake