In the article The New Role of Money In Admissions: Is This The End of the Meritocratic Ideal states that prestigious schools such as Oxford and UCLA may be allowing students to buy their spots in the schools based on nothing but financial ability to pay. These schools believe that they will be able to gain a huge financial profit form doing this.
The problem I see is that students are no longer going to be judged on their performance in school but their check book. This gives the wrong impression to affluent kids that may lack the motivation to work hard in high school. College is a place students should have to earn the right to attend through hard work in high school. I also believe that college should be affordable, but from what my degree tells me from an economical standpoint is that the demand for these schools will rise and so will the price making it even less affordable for the average family. Other than the financial gain these institutions will receive, I do not see much positive.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Education Weekly #24
In the article Discuss: 2 million dollars to track what kids eat it states that they have designed technology that will be able to take pictures of what a student eats and the student eating it. Then the camera will take a third picture with what is left on the students plate. This data will allow for tracking of what and how much food each student eats to see if they are eating correctly and receiving enough nutrition.
I feel the concept is a great idea but the implementation is incorrect. By teaching students the proper way to eat and having the cafeteria follow those guide lines will help keep students off the junk food. The problem is that students eat off each others trays and may even throw their food on the ground. Taking this into account you will have some skewed data with the cameras. I also think the article hits the nail on the head when they said it does not matter if we track what they eat at school if the second school is over they walk to the quicky mart and grab junk food or go home and eat the junk food. In the article it states that these changes need to happen at home first before we can make the changes in school.
I feel the concept is a great idea but the implementation is incorrect. By teaching students the proper way to eat and having the cafeteria follow those guide lines will help keep students off the junk food. The problem is that students eat off each others trays and may even throw their food on the ground. Taking this into account you will have some skewed data with the cameras. I also think the article hits the nail on the head when they said it does not matter if we track what they eat at school if the second school is over they walk to the quicky mart and grab junk food or go home and eat the junk food. In the article it states that these changes need to happen at home first before we can make the changes in school.
Education Weekly #23
In the article Reading at 16 linked to better job prospects says that students who read where shown to have a 10% greater chance or having a career at age 33. It also states that if these same students where to play an instrument they would be twice as likely to have a career at 33. Their data also shows that if a student only plays video games then they are a third less likely to succeed. In conclusion if you are into the arts and or reading you have a better chance to have a career later in life.
I believe that reading and playing an instrument makes the mind stay sharp and allows for the imagination to grow. When a student uses their imagination they are capable of anything. I also feel that the students who are reading for pleasure at 16 already have their head on straight, and will attend college and go onto a career later in life. What reading does do for students is it allows them to relate the material to everyday life. This gives students a deeper understanding of what is going on around them and how it relates to them. So the question is, does reading for pleasure at 16 help you later in life, yes.
I believe that reading and playing an instrument makes the mind stay sharp and allows for the imagination to grow. When a student uses their imagination they are capable of anything. I also feel that the students who are reading for pleasure at 16 already have their head on straight, and will attend college and go onto a career later in life. What reading does do for students is it allows them to relate the material to everyday life. This gives students a deeper understanding of what is going on around them and how it relates to them. So the question is, does reading for pleasure at 16 help you later in life, yes.
Education Weekly #22
After reading the article Feds: All kids, legal or not, entitled to school, I can not agree with it more. In 1982 a federal law was passed stating that you may not deny a student public education based on whether they are legal or not. In the article schools in the South have been getting warned that denying students because they are not able to show proof of citizenship is not legal. These schools are choosing to hassle these families because of the financial cut backs they are facing in the coming year.
I can understand the frustration that these schools and districts are going through with the financial cut backs and funding issues, but I don't believe it to be fair to deny a student education. We are a free country where as the law states all students are eligible for free schooling. I agree with this law. I work in special education were 20 years ago these students were not allowed in schools either. It is wrong to not give a student an opportunity to be educated and given a chance to be successful.
I can understand the frustration that these schools and districts are going through with the financial cut backs and funding issues, but I don't believe it to be fair to deny a student education. We are a free country where as the law states all students are eligible for free schooling. I agree with this law. I work in special education were 20 years ago these students were not allowed in schools either. It is wrong to not give a student an opportunity to be educated and given a chance to be successful.
Education Weekly #21
In the article Chicago Study Finds Mixed Results for AVID Program, studies have been showing that students who are in the AVID program have not been scoring higher than the students who are not in the program. AVID is a program designed to assist students with their study skills, note taking, reading for understanding, and teaching them the proper steps to get in and succeed in a four year university. Some of the cons to the studies they have been doing is that the data they are collecting is over a 1 year bases. The experts believe that this program is designed to have students make progress over a 4 year period to where they are proficient in the skills by the time they leave high school.
I believe that for a program that is teaching students study skills, reading for understanding, and note taking, will take data more than a year to see results. I am not saying that this program is helping or hurting our students but that for students who are middle of the road in school as it is, to gain these skills over night is just not possible. It takes time to break bad habits and them implement the system you wish the students to follow. I feel taking the time to check on students 3 even 4 years down the line will give a true understanding of how the program is helping.
From further research I believe this is a program that can help students succeed in school. Teaching students the proper way to take notes will help them out later in more advanced classes. These students will also gain from this more intensive program. I would like to see results from students who have been apart of the program for 4 years and see the progress they have made.
I believe that for a program that is teaching students study skills, reading for understanding, and note taking, will take data more than a year to see results. I am not saying that this program is helping or hurting our students but that for students who are middle of the road in school as it is, to gain these skills over night is just not possible. It takes time to break bad habits and them implement the system you wish the students to follow. I feel taking the time to check on students 3 even 4 years down the line will give a true understanding of how the program is helping.
From further research I believe this is a program that can help students succeed in school. Teaching students the proper way to take notes will help them out later in more advanced classes. These students will also gain from this more intensive program. I would like to see results from students who have been apart of the program for 4 years and see the progress they have made.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Education Weekley #20
In the article Developing Better Teacher Evaluation Systems they ask the big questions on whether teacher evaluation systems are working and how should we evaluate our teachers. This has been a question that has plagued school districts from adopting a value added system. Some issues that arise are what weight do you put student testing performance and administration evaluations. The article states that some states are thinking 50/50. The toughest part about student test scores is that students come to your classroom with prior knowledge or lack there of. In Hillsborough County, FL they believe they have a solution to this problem. They have students take a pre and post test for the year. This allows for administrators to see the progress a student makes during the course of the year, or the teachers 'added value'. I feel as a future teacher it would be unfair with out a pre and post test to be judged on a 'value added' system because you may have students that do not have the core curriculum to make the advancements in the subject matter. I feel 'value added' can be a great way to evaluate teachers but there still is work to do on the current system.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Education Weekly #19
In the article Work-related "burnout" more likely to affect the best lecturers, study's suggest. The article states that the more involved you are with your students and their needs the more likely you are to burnout. The reason behind this is because you have added extra stress into your life to make sure your students have the right support to make them successful. So in other words being a great teacher who cares and wants to be their for their students with burnout sooner? The studies have shown that this is more likely at the college level. Students need an extra level of support to make the jump from high school to a college level course.
As an employee in the school district and an after school tutoring program I feel that one can burnout very fast by being the best teacher they can be. You show up everyday and work your butt off to better yourself from the day before. You try and make those connections with your students and teach that days lesson with enthusiasm that will make all the students beg for more, can be exhausting. I see one major flaw in this idea. As a great teacher you have to know that taking time for yourself and making sure you are fully prepared for each day of work takes a personnel commitment to yourself and your well being. So I believe that to be a great teacher you must first make sure number 1 is taken care of before you can support your students successfully. I am so excited for the challenge.
As an employee in the school district and an after school tutoring program I feel that one can burnout very fast by being the best teacher they can be. You show up everyday and work your butt off to better yourself from the day before. You try and make those connections with your students and teach that days lesson with enthusiasm that will make all the students beg for more, can be exhausting. I see one major flaw in this idea. As a great teacher you have to know that taking time for yourself and making sure you are fully prepared for each day of work takes a personnel commitment to yourself and your well being. So I believe that to be a great teacher you must first make sure number 1 is taken care of before you can support your students successfully. I am so excited for the challenge.
Education Weekly #18
In the article What Does IQ Really Measure takes into account peoples IQ's based off motivation and intelligence. The article states that students who are motivated to be successful on the test do better more often. They were able to study this by offering everyday students a monetary gain for performance on the test and saw amazing results. What they concluded was students who show effort and drive towards a goal show promise in the future. Intelligence and a bus pass only gets you into town.
This article hit home with me. I am a strong believer that effort and a strong will to accomplish everyday goals will take you farther than anything else will. I have a motto for my football players. TINE- Talent Is Not Enough. Same expectation I will hold for my students in class. BANE- Brains Are Not Enough. I will expect my students to to show a level of effort that will make them successful in my class. Where there is a will there is a way. After reading this article and the studies they did it brings a new meaning to this phrase.
P.S. I have patented BANE.
This article hit home with me. I am a strong believer that effort and a strong will to accomplish everyday goals will take you farther than anything else will. I have a motto for my football players. TINE- Talent Is Not Enough. Same expectation I will hold for my students in class. BANE- Brains Are Not Enough. I will expect my students to to show a level of effort that will make them successful in my class. Where there is a will there is a way. After reading this article and the studies they did it brings a new meaning to this phrase.
P.S. I have patented BANE.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Education Weekly #17
In the article Primary Sources Enliven Civil War a group of middle school students reenact important civil war battles to gain a better understanding of what the men and boys went through during this time period. At Stonewall Middle School they strive to bring history to life. They have accomplished this by having their students research battles, use personal journal accounts, and then act it out in a real life setting. The students build sets, costumes, and even eat the food from the time period. These students are receiving a deeper understanding of what the civil war was about and why it was important in shaping our world today.
In my literature and theory class that I am taking right now we are working on a class lesson very similar to what the students are doing at Stonewall Middle School. We are exploring a multi-genre project where we take three or more different genres that have one relative concept and make them into a lesson plan. The topic I chose was the civil rights movement. Very similar to the article my students will take into account what it took for a black American to vote, songs from that time period, and expressing themselves and their feelings in a letter to their state congressman. I believe by making students research a topic through multiple points of view they will gain a better understanding of why this moment was important in American history. With this deeper understanding the topic can be related to the students and breed interest out side of the classroom.
In my literature and theory class that I am taking right now we are working on a class lesson very similar to what the students are doing at Stonewall Middle School. We are exploring a multi-genre project where we take three or more different genres that have one relative concept and make them into a lesson plan. The topic I chose was the civil rights movement. Very similar to the article my students will take into account what it took for a black American to vote, songs from that time period, and expressing themselves and their feelings in a letter to their state congressman. I believe by making students research a topic through multiple points of view they will gain a better understanding of why this moment was important in American history. With this deeper understanding the topic can be related to the students and breed interest out side of the classroom.
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