So we are at the crescendo of this marvelous symphony of clicking keys before us, as we hurry to post, comment and complete (or in my case, start), our portfolios. It is at this juncture as I make this post, that I reflect on Vygotsky's zone of proximal development. He hit it on the button where he defined that zone as "the student's developmental level between independent problem solving and a higher level of development attainable, "with proper guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers."
My colleagues, you have been an effective group of capable peers helping me as an individual to succeed beyond a level that working on my own might have taken me. Thank you. This ICT course has been intense, rewarding and visionary. Thanks too to our tutors and as the title says vive` Vygotsky!
Let us take his concept of the zone of proximal development with us wherever we go as we continue to share and collaborate our learning. Let us also take it into our classrooms to our students with our new knowledge in the 21st century literacies.
Blog on!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Buying into the Vision
I have heard mentioned in the past few weeks, the role Instructional Leadership plays in the successful running of our schools. This is especially important for us as Reading Specialists in training and the roles we are to assume. But I am sure that none of us will wait for the certification and (?) promotion, to implement the numerous things we have learnt. The pedagogical paradigm shifts we should make should not be postponed until 2011. We should hit the ground running as soon as we learn about a research based best practice. This ITC course has really made an impact on me as intense as it has been and I am looking forward to applying the new things I learnt in the classroom.
I am also fully aware that there are draconian type administrations out there (thankfully, I have never had the displeasure of working with any), bent on preserving the chalk and talk, who measure covering a syllabus by the amount of notes in a student's notebook, and no I am not talking about an Acer, or a Dell notebook. Then there are effective administrations, who are dedicated to taking their staff and students into the 21st century.
But shouldn't we make the difference, even if it is one convert at a time. The administrations may need convincing, but if we persevere in our classroom, presenting actual indicators of progress and get parents on board, we have a start. We must keep in mind some are daunted by the technology of our time. We need to sell them our vision, respectful of their inhibitions and hesitancy, a vision of empowered students in networked classrooms. Patience and perseverance, patience and perseverance....... they'll come around, eventually, and buy into the vision. I am by no means an administrator, but I will be an instructional leader in and from my classroom!
Keep Blogging!
I am also fully aware that there are draconian type administrations out there (thankfully, I have never had the displeasure of working with any), bent on preserving the chalk and talk, who measure covering a syllabus by the amount of notes in a student's notebook, and no I am not talking about an Acer, or a Dell notebook. Then there are effective administrations, who are dedicated to taking their staff and students into the 21st century.
But shouldn't we make the difference, even if it is one convert at a time. The administrations may need convincing, but if we persevere in our classroom, presenting actual indicators of progress and get parents on board, we have a start. We must keep in mind some are daunted by the technology of our time. We need to sell them our vision, respectful of their inhibitions and hesitancy, a vision of empowered students in networked classrooms. Patience and perseverance, patience and perseverance....... they'll come around, eventually, and buy into the vision. I am by no means an administrator, but I will be an instructional leader in and from my classroom!
Keep Blogging!
All about MEE -Motivation, Enjoyment and Engagement
According to Kamil 2003, Sen, Partelow & Miller, 2005, it appears that progress in lifelong learning in literacy is heavily impacted on by motivation, enjoyment and engagement. This has to do with the 'how' and 'why' of reading with how a person reads having to do with the content and form of the literature before him, the conventions of the language, text based skills and the reading strategies used, among other considerations.
Why a person reads has to do with motivation, the individual's background, the personal interest in a subject/ topic/genre. This is true for me and I am sure for many other persons. In fact, right now I would prefer to be reading some historical novel, fraught with adventure and susupense, (but alas! current reality with deadlines is more presssing).
Research supports the view that to promote reading and writing in our students we should focus on their areas of interests as it will lend itself to mastery in reading and in content areas. They need to own their literacy and Kathryn Au (1999), defines ownership as "students valuing literacy." (p.5)
The Internet may well prove to be the most effective facilitator of this ownership as we can use it to schedule time to read in our classrooms, where students will have a wide choice of material that suits their fancy, there could be student to student discussions as well as student to teacher discussions online about texts read and well we know by now the benefits of online literature circles (older post - Preferred Environment). In effect, the Internet can be used to successfully scaffold our students' learning.
Here are some links I hope you might find useful:
http://fac-staff.seattle.edu/kschinoe/web/LitCircle
www.allamericareads.org/lessonplan/strategies/during/litcircl.htm
http://teacher.scholastic.comprofessional/techexpert/litcircles.3.htm
Why a person reads has to do with motivation, the individual's background, the personal interest in a subject/ topic/genre. This is true for me and I am sure for many other persons. In fact, right now I would prefer to be reading some historical novel, fraught with adventure and susupense, (but alas! current reality with deadlines is more presssing).
Research supports the view that to promote reading and writing in our students we should focus on their areas of interests as it will lend itself to mastery in reading and in content areas. They need to own their literacy and Kathryn Au (1999), defines ownership as "students valuing literacy." (p.5)
The Internet may well prove to be the most effective facilitator of this ownership as we can use it to schedule time to read in our classrooms, where students will have a wide choice of material that suits their fancy, there could be student to student discussions as well as student to teacher discussions online about texts read and well we know by now the benefits of online literature circles (older post - Preferred Environment). In effect, the Internet can be used to successfully scaffold our students' learning.
Here are some links I hope you might find useful:
http://fac-staff.seattle.edu/kschinoe/web/LitCircle
www.allamericareads.org/lessonplan/strategies/during/litcircl.htm
http://teacher.scholastic.comprofessional/techexpert/litcircles.3.htm
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
No danger of becoming obsolete!
In one of my previous posts I had raised the issue of flesh and blood teachers becoming obsolete. I am happy to say that no we are not. This is so because the internet cannot replace us. What it does, is afford us deeper glimpses into our students' literacy development and the processes at work, and also, to gauge the progress made.
It allows us in local classrooms with students of mixed abilities to scaffold the learning in ways that cater to the diverse needs of each student, so that in truth no child should be left behind.
But what the computer does not do is invalidate our students, express frustration when something is expressed or spelt wrongly, is repeated numerous times, nor does it do anything that invalidates them and their capabilities or lack thereof. the faceless, value/judgmental less computer gives them that needed safe environment to express freely and take risks in their learning. All this may be oversimplified I know, the computer has no emotions or spouses or children, bills to pay etc., or even ears to hear 600 screaming boys. What I am getting at is that as educators we are needed in the 21st century literacy, and we are needed in ways that validate and which make our students feel safe. The only way to create that is if we lock on to the technology and embrace it confidently, guiding them with patience and genuine concern for them and their learning.
Blog on!
It allows us in local classrooms with students of mixed abilities to scaffold the learning in ways that cater to the diverse needs of each student, so that in truth no child should be left behind.
But what the computer does not do is invalidate our students, express frustration when something is expressed or spelt wrongly, is repeated numerous times, nor does it do anything that invalidates them and their capabilities or lack thereof. the faceless, value/judgmental less computer gives them that needed safe environment to express freely and take risks in their learning. All this may be oversimplified I know, the computer has no emotions or spouses or children, bills to pay etc., or even ears to hear 600 screaming boys. What I am getting at is that as educators we are needed in the 21st century literacy, and we are needed in ways that validate and which make our students feel safe. The only way to create that is if we lock on to the technology and embrace it confidently, guiding them with patience and genuine concern for them and their learning.
Blog on!
Preferred environments - Online literacy circles
I was reading up on online literacy circles and was really pleased to see the numerous benefits that are to be derived from the process. One in particular, McNabb (2006), in Literacy learning in networked classrooms, talked about
When we integrate the internet into our classroom in ways that foster a sense of safety for our students, they will take more risks and feel more comfortable to share. The fact is "getting students to read print materials such as books .... has become quite a challenge in networked cultures in which interactive texts abound. Once they learn how, students prefer to go online to conduct their literacy activities." (McNabb 2006, p. 56)
This preferred environment warrants some more exploration on our part.
Happy Blogging!
- the freedom with which some students who were hesitant in classrooms, expressed ideas,
- discussed their difficulties in comprehension,
- those who struggled in putting pen to paper to transcribe their thoughts and ideas actually wrote fluidly on the computer
- began to post questions and challenge peers
- became involved in peer coaching
- took ownership of their learning
- create better writing artifacts overall
When we integrate the internet into our classroom in ways that foster a sense of safety for our students, they will take more risks and feel more comfortable to share. The fact is "getting students to read print materials such as books .... has become quite a challenge in networked cultures in which interactive texts abound. Once they learn how, students prefer to go online to conduct their literacy activities." (McNabb 2006, p. 56)
This preferred environment warrants some more exploration on our part.
Happy Blogging!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Lady Blogsta for life!
Lady Blogsta for life
Hey everybody, I am on the way to becoming a bonafide blogsta. I am so proud of myself for creating posts, posting comments and in general, maintaining the Lady Blog. I actually uploaded a photo after troublehooting and conforming it to a jpg image. That was a big thing for me because I did it while alone in the UWI library.
I have come to realise that to become confident in the operations of cyber space I need active engagement. That means an uninterrupted period of no children, no husband, cat, dog or parrot, or whatever lifeforms inhabit my sphere of existence. This 'me time' was really helpful as I got to immerse myself in the process and not just post to make up the required 12.
I have also come to realize and internalize that to create a post, I really have to take time and reflect, ruminate on what thoughts I am going to verbalize and put out there for people to see. By the way, reading your posts and comments has really been an enlightening experience.
I am therefore on the road to becoming a blogsta for life.
Hey everybody, I am on the way to becoming a bonafide blogsta. I am so proud of myself for creating posts, posting comments and in general, maintaining the Lady Blog. I actually uploaded a photo after troublehooting and conforming it to a jpg image. That was a big thing for me because I did it while alone in the UWI library.
I have come to realise that to become confident in the operations of cyber space I need active engagement. That means an uninterrupted period of no children, no husband, cat, dog or parrot, or whatever lifeforms inhabit my sphere of existence. This 'me time' was really helpful as I got to immerse myself in the process and not just post to make up the required 12.
I have also come to realize and internalize that to create a post, I really have to take time and reflect, ruminate on what thoughts I am going to verbalize and put out there for people to see. By the way, reading your posts and comments has really been an enlightening experience.
I am therefore on the road to becoming a blogsta for life.
Are Flesh and Blood teachers becoming obsolete?
I have a vivid imagination. Years ago there was a 'teach you to type' computer programme called Miss Myrtle or some similar name designed to assist persons who did not know how to type. I am still a one finger specialist whose speed has been increased by e mailing and creating documents for my students. So this ICT course has got me thinking, and I have a wild imagination (within the confines of decency, I am quick to add). If years ago this was available, what's the deal now? Will fiture students be able to learn in cyberspace in totality so that we flesh and blood teachers will no longer be required in large numbers at least?
If that is so then more than ever we need to get with the program. Literally. As an educator, a parent, a member of the society, I am going to learn as much as I can about this present Technology. After all if they do not need the teacher, they will need program designers and evaluators for assessment etc. I intend to be invaluable and not be made redundant by this movement occurring in leaps and bounds. Hey, I did tell you that I have a wild imagination.
In the interim, I promise that I will not procastinate, I will accept the training and design my instruction accordingly. And if what I imagined comes to pass then I will be ready for it. As the paradigm continues to shift so will I.
Blog on!
If that is so then more than ever we need to get with the program. Literally. As an educator, a parent, a member of the society, I am going to learn as much as I can about this present Technology. After all if they do not need the teacher, they will need program designers and evaluators for assessment etc. I intend to be invaluable and not be made redundant by this movement occurring in leaps and bounds. Hey, I did tell you that I have a wild imagination.
In the interim, I promise that I will not procastinate, I will accept the training and design my instruction accordingly. And if what I imagined comes to pass then I will be ready for it. As the paradigm continues to shift so will I.
Blog on!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Blogging for cultural retention
In this 21st century, so much of our culture is being eroded by globalization and its attendants that we need to start codifying many aspects before they are lost in entirety. As part of my curriculum for Caribbean Studies, culture features heavily and we look at natural medicine as part of it. My students often spend time with the elders of their community trying to source invaluable information on types of herbs used, dosages, preparations etc. This process is symbiotic as the elders are engaged with the young people, the young get their information and produce artifacts, their social skills are developed, as is their self confidence.
We can use other topics for engaging the elders, but whatever we do, we need to do it soon before the passage of time means the passage of the elders and all that they embody. How many of us know all the old time fruits or local sweets, or how your village was back in the day or what interactions locals had with the U.S. soldiers stationed here in WW 11? Our elders have a lot to tell and to teach and blogging might be one way of getting and keeping the information.
Just in case you are interested here is a link you can visit to see where students in the US can publish their interviews of the elders generationscanconnect.ic.gc.ca. We can get ideas, tweak it and possibly create our own. So let's blog for cultural retention. I give myself that challenge.
We can use other topics for engaging the elders, but whatever we do, we need to do it soon before the passage of time means the passage of the elders and all that they embody. How many of us know all the old time fruits or local sweets, or how your village was back in the day or what interactions locals had with the U.S. soldiers stationed here in WW 11? Our elders have a lot to tell and to teach and blogging might be one way of getting and keeping the information.
Just in case you are interested here is a link you can visit to see where students in the US can publish their interviews of the elders generationscanconnect.ic.gc.ca. We can get ideas, tweak it and possibly create our own. So let's blog for cultural retention. I give myself that challenge.
Shutter Bug
Pictures really do speak volumes if you tune in to them. In that one piece of celluloid are captured all the emotions that quintessentially represent the image of that moment in time. Some images make you wonder what the photographer went through to get them as you interpret the subject. I love taking photos and I am more comfortable behind the shutter than as the subject. This is shared by my 10 year old son who is as rambunctious as 10 year olds come. But this same 10 year old was able to capture the image of a hummingbird at Crown Point last November. I marvelled at how he critically thought his way through the process of trying to snap the bird without frightening it away. He was able to solve the problem on his own and come away with what I think is a decent image.
Imagine using pictures as assessment in our content/literacy areas at school. Some research suggests that in the context of the classroom the application of " assessment as a photo album is most feasible and natural" .... and ... "may be used to gather evidence of learning" ... as a "performance assessment task, yielding a visual product." ( Tomlinson, G., & McTighe, J. (2006) ASCD. (www.ascd.org.)
With a proper rubric, students could submit photo books with attendant captions, explanatory notes and an introduction. They would have to critically think to justify the inclusion of the photos in the portfolio.
So happy blogging and keep those shutters snapping!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Let's hear it for the blogs.... Let's give the boys a hand...
Those of us who grew up in the 80's might recognize the lyrics of that song (minus blogs as it should read boys). Great song. Brings back fond party memories, but on a more serious note, Blogging may actually hold the key to engaging our students, and in particular our boys. Goodness knows, (as do their parents) that they could use a hand, a helping one at that in their literacy development as so much hinges on it.
I know I might be preaching to the choir but the real benefit of blogging lies in the plethora of topics that they could personally select from. Imagine if someone's interest lies in something such as aquarium fish rearing, they could set up a blog that they would have to make posts to and comment on. And all this done in words! How more literacy accommodating could it be?
A study out of Jamaica done by Warrican, entitled 'Hard Words', revealed that student engagement in reading at the school under study was significantly reduced when their choice of reading material was discarded in entirety by the librarian who thought adventure stories, fantasy and horror genres like 'Goosebumps" were inappropriate. Shelves were then restocked with what the librarian thought was proper reading material. Thus unempowerment(?) in choice of reading material has significant impact on time spent in reading. Blogs allow students to choose topics. If they have empowerment in choice then they will be motivated. If they are motivated, they will be engaged. And the benefits are endless. So let's hear it for the blogs and let's give the boys (and girls) a chance.
I know I might be preaching to the choir but the real benefit of blogging lies in the plethora of topics that they could personally select from. Imagine if someone's interest lies in something such as aquarium fish rearing, they could set up a blog that they would have to make posts to and comment on. And all this done in words! How more literacy accommodating could it be?
A study out of Jamaica done by Warrican, entitled 'Hard Words', revealed that student engagement in reading at the school under study was significantly reduced when their choice of reading material was discarded in entirety by the librarian who thought adventure stories, fantasy and horror genres like 'Goosebumps" were inappropriate. Shelves were then restocked with what the librarian thought was proper reading material. Thus unempowerment(?) in choice of reading material has significant impact on time spent in reading. Blogs allow students to choose topics. If they have empowerment in choice then they will be motivated. If they are motivated, they will be engaged. And the benefits are endless. So let's hear it for the blogs and let's give the boys (and girls) a chance.
Welcome from a lady blogger to the Lady Blog
Welcome to my blog and my first ever post! I chose the title Lady Blog as a play on the lady bug. Whilst I do have the girly squeamish approach to most bugs, I find the lady bug to be happy and cheerful if a bug may be thought of in such a way. It makes you want to hold the little creature in your hand for closer scrutiny, let it walk around your palm without you trying to splat it. I am told that lady bugs are assets for any garden since they consume mealy bugs, aephids and other pests. Who wouldn't want a healthy fertile piece of ground to mold and work with. I hope you see where I am going with this metaphor thing.
For most of my teaching life, I have schooled boys. And for some reason on God's green earth, boys like bugs. Imagine if you will boys (and girls) huddled around a glass jar absorbed by the bugs in a jar. They are engaged, they are collaborating and they are motivated. What more could we ask for in our students' learning experiences? (Actually there is more but we're talking about my blog here). In short, I am actually talking about the conceptualization of my blog, one that I hope will be a healthy garden of thoughts, with happy, cheerful and intellectually enriching posts. Seems a lot to ask of a small blog/bug, but this lady is willing to try. Happy blogging everybody.
For most of my teaching life, I have schooled boys. And for some reason on God's green earth, boys like bugs. Imagine if you will boys (and girls) huddled around a glass jar absorbed by the bugs in a jar. They are engaged, they are collaborating and they are motivated. What more could we ask for in our students' learning experiences? (Actually there is more but we're talking about my blog here). In short, I am actually talking about the conceptualization of my blog, one that I hope will be a healthy garden of thoughts, with happy, cheerful and intellectually enriching posts. Seems a lot to ask of a small blog/bug, but this lady is willing to try. Happy blogging everybody.
How cool is this everybody?
Wow! Whoever thought we'd be living the day when PowerPoint would do more than deliver info.? Imagine using the software (is that the right term?) for the creation of e books for our kids where they can interact to some extent with the material, have fun, be motivated as a result and improve their literacy in the long run. Why didn't we think of this sooner? Reflect on our first intercourse with computers, PowerPoint was one of the first thing we were taught and at the time, it seemed so laborious. Now we have so many toys to play with to 'trick up' our presentations. I have been so motivated that I have started working on several for my students and I anticipate getting from them in return as assessments. I have been excitedly exploring the voice over, the fly ins, the whooshes and clicks, importing clip art, images and making links and everything that the technology offers. In short I am having fun and I realize that if I am motivated then I would be infectious. Effective leadership is the key! I can get my students and co-workers excited about the technology to help us work smart with improved results, and not necessarily hard the old way with minimal results. Power to the Point!
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