What is going on? Well during this free choice blog I will write about education. The movie "Waiting for Superman" has created quite a stir in the education community. Many educators are taking offense to it, many parents applaud it, myself- I haven't seen it yet but have heard quite a bit about it.
Interesting enough many are criticizing the United States public educational systems. They state that our standardized tests scores are lousy, very low compared to those of other countries. Many politicians are constantly using public education as their platform promising to fix the "system". Well, my take on it, is that despite the complaints, this country houses the best university of the world. Looking at the top 20 you can see that we are still a country to reckon with "educationally". Top 20 Universities/colleges of the world.
Despite our great accomplishments here, there is constant bickering and complaining on how our children are failing- and guess what - the teachers are labeled as the ones responsible for this. In the advertisement of the movie it states: "Waiting for "Superman" is an inspiring call for reform and includes special chapters that provide resources, ideas, and hands-on suggestions for improving the schools in your own community as well as throughout the nation." Check out the trailer:
Waiting for Superman -- Trailer - Watch:
Waiting for Superman -- Trailer - Watch more Movie Trailers
The movie portrays teachers' union as one of the mayor culprits behind the "failing" public educational system. In a letter to the press, Randi Weingarten, the American Teacher's Union president, wrote the film portrays "teachers and teachers unions as the villains, and charter schools as heroes ready to save the day. The problem is that these caricatures are more fictional than factual"(click here to read article).
It seems that everyone is blaming everyone for everything. No one wants to assume responsibility for anything. Our world is becoming a chaotic place to live in. Financially, socially, educationally and environmentally we are out of control. The problem I see, is that everyone points to the problems but they do not offer a solution!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Videos in Education
Videos in education are very helpful because they emphasize and bring to "light" what is being taught. In language education visual learners gain much from subject matter videos. I use many videos that incorporate music and humor to teach Spanish. One of my student's favorite is the following that uses a popular pop song to show how conjugations work.
and livemocha.com and another site that is great for learning Spanish and incorporates videos using "real life" scenario is lingus.tv . Here you search for a topic, it gives you the dialogue of what is being watched. My students enjoy videos from here very much. This is a video I showed to describe other people in the past. Click here to check out the video. This video is for those studying Spanish in the intermediate level. It's entitled "My first boyfriend"(Mi primer novio)
A great site to use as a visual aid in having students understand the basics and rules of Spanish that have good video podcast is: http://www.rollingrs.com
and livemocha.com and another site that is great for learning Spanish and incorporates videos using "real life" scenario is lingus.tv . Here you search for a topic, it gives you the dialogue of what is being watched. My students enjoy videos from here very much. This is a video I showed to describe other people in the past. Click here to check out the video. This video is for those studying Spanish in the intermediate level. It's entitled "My first boyfriend"(Mi primer novio)
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Blog #8- Reflections
WOW!- What can I say? This course has opened up windows of technology that I never knew existed. Web 2.0 carries so many applications with it that its potential is endless. It has had a dramatic affect on how we use the web and what we can do there as well. Businesses are beginning to see Web 2.0 as its "golden egg" in marketing. "The consumer adaption of video and Web 2.o has grown" as documented by a research done by Cisco(click here to read the document).
Basically, Web 2.0- a question to ponder are we really using its techonology or is- "the machine using us...." as depicted by this video- this is only the beginning- you decide!
Basically, Web 2.0- a question to ponder are we really using its techonology or is- "the machine using us...." as depicted by this video- this is only the beginning- you decide!
Blog #7- Second Life
Second Life, it's actually that- a "second life". What amazes me about it is that "anyone" can be whatever he/she desires. The avatar becomes your "dreams". Second Life is a world within itself. All the interests are displayed and communities are established. Visiting has never become so easy! I realized that after awhile in Second Life, you begin to believe what your
"avatar" is. The animation is okay. Below is a video of how humans would behave if their actual world was "Second Life"!
All in all, Second Life is on its way to becoming a valuable tool in communication, education and socialization. Its potential is limitedless!
"avatar" is. The animation is okay. Below is a video of how humans would behave if their actual world was "Second Life"!
All in all, Second Life is on its way to becoming a valuable tool in communication, education and socialization. Its potential is limitedless!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Blog #6- Communities of Practice
CoP, or "Communities of Practice" is a term founded by the cognitive anthropologistsBarbara Rogoff (1985) and Jean Lave .
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communities_of_practice)
In a nutshell, CoP are groups of people "who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly"(http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9082958454684852594)
Three (3) characteristics most be crucial in order for a CoP to exist. They are:
1. The domain
2. the community
3. the practice
Here is an example of a CoP: Green for All , this is a community whose interest is: a "national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty." This is an American community whose interest is on environmental issues.
A great video explaining what is and how to develop a CoP can be seen at this site. Is by an organization "Green Chameleon and Strait Knowledge" it is a lengthy video but extremely comprehensive.
When people worldwide in communities of practice “share their experiences and
knowledge in free-flowing, creative ways that foster new approaches
to problems" it will open the doors to a better way of life. (www.audiology.ufl.edu/files/practice.pdf).
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communities_of_practice)
In a nutshell, CoP are groups of people "who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly"(http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=9082958454684852594)
Three (3) characteristics most be crucial in order for a CoP to exist. They are:
1. The domain
2. the community
3. the practice
Here is an example of a CoP: Green for All , this is a community whose interest is: a "national organization working to build an inclusive green economy strong enough to lift people out of poverty." This is an American community whose interest is on environmental issues.
A great video explaining what is and how to develop a CoP can be seen at this site. Is by an organization "Green Chameleon and Strait Knowledge" it is a lengthy video but extremely comprehensive.
When people worldwide in communities of practice “share their experiences and
knowledge in free-flowing, creative ways that foster new approaches
to problems" it will open the doors to a better way of life. (www.audiology.ufl.edu/files/practice.pdf).
Blog #5- Social Media
Social Media is now a way of life. Everything that makes headline news will find its way immediately on "Twitter", "Facebook" and many other sites. Our world has never had such an
instant flow of information that reaches million instantly. When the masses in Iran were displeased at the "rigged" elections, the world knew of it instantly via the social media outlets.
From "Twitter, to "Flickr" and many other Web 2.0 apps, the world can see, hear and read of all that happened, and is happing in Iran. Today the world is tuned in to real time events. The video below gave the world more than a glimpse of what was happening!
Many knew of Michael Vick coming to the Philadelphia Eagles before mainstream media received a hint of it. Twitters were all over it!
Where is social media heading? Businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. The old way of doing business is gone. Many business now have blogging, delicious sites and their ads are finding their way on the "net". The future is coming faster than we know it. According to an article by a coder and helper of the "Blackberry", there will be 7 upcoming technologies that will shape the future of social media. It is incredible what awaits us. We are only on the tip of the iceberg! Please check out this video on The Future of Social Media and take a look!
instant flow of information that reaches million instantly. When the masses in Iran were displeased at the "rigged" elections, the world knew of it instantly via the social media outlets.
From "Twitter, to "Flickr" and many other Web 2.0 apps, the world can see, hear and read of all that happened, and is happing in Iran. Today the world is tuned in to real time events. The video below gave the world more than a glimpse of what was happening!
Many knew of Michael Vick coming to the Philadelphia Eagles before mainstream media received a hint of it. Twitters were all over it!
Where is social media heading? Businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. The old way of doing business is gone. Many business now have blogging, delicious sites and their ads are finding their way on the "net". The future is coming faster than we know it. According to an article by a coder and helper of the "Blackberry", there will be 7 upcoming technologies that will shape the future of social media. It is incredible what awaits us. We are only on the tip of the iceberg! Please check out this video on The Future of Social Media and take a look!
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