Since I am going to be teaching both English and Spanish next year, it is very important to me that I find ways to become more proficient at both. As I was investigating different kinds of online communities I could join I purposefully searched for an online community that would allow me to interact with both lovers of English and Spanish. I found a very useful website that allows me to both edit work of non-native speakers of English, as well as post my own questions about Spanish for native speakers of Spanish to respond to.
Part of what was so interesing about this website is that it is not just a translation service, in fact they have specific rules against posting documents to be translated by other people. The purpose of the website is to deal with questions surrounding the ambiguities of language. I posted a question asking about when it is appropriate to use the phrase "Que onda" which literally translated means "what wave." I have used that phrase with my Mexican friends for a long time, and I was wondering whether it was OK to use the phrase with a respected adult. Within a day I had a response from an Argentinian saying they had never heard that phrase and would be confused by it and also a response from a Mexican saying that although it wouldn't be rude to say it to a professsional, it would be the equivalent of saying something like "what up?"
I also really enjoyed that there is a section where you can post about "jargon" related to your profession. There have been many times when I have wanted to say something like "self esteem" in Spanish and not known the right words for it. Instead of just calling my mom and getting her opinion, it really is helpful to have the input from millions of other users on the site. I definitely enjoyed using the forum and got some really helpful feedback and I look forward to the chance to continue posting my questions as well as answering those from other members.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How might you apply the ideas summarized by Karppinen when using videos in your teaching? Describe (or provide a link to) an example of a videoclip that you might incorporate into a lesson, or a video-production project that you might ask your students to complete, and explain how you would use this videoclip/project to achieve a particular learning objective.
"Learning is the proccess of constructing rather than accquiring knowledge"
This quote from the Karppinean article really struck me because it reminds me of how I want to run my classroom. This idea of constructing knowledge whollistically and in a manner that does not subtract from what students already know is very appealing to me. I think that one way students could collaboratively work on a project incorporating digital video technology would be to make a digital essay about themselves. They could use sound, images and words to descrube themselves, their families, their communities, or virtually any other subject. This process of incorporating the multiple forms of media would serve students who had multiple learning styles and honor students who are visual and auditory learners.
It might be difficult to gain access to enough cameras or compatible PC's but the investment would be well worth it. A way to perhaps overcome the hurdle of limited access to these materials would be to have students work on creating their personal video essays throughout the year. Instead of just having alll students do the project at the same time, there could be an established rubric and trhoughout the year the kids could take turns documenting their lives and stories. The primary goal of the project would be to ask students to look critically at themselves and their surroundings and how their individual histories serve to shape their interpretations of literature.
"Learning is the proccess of constructing rather than accquiring knowledge"
This quote from the Karppinean article really struck me because it reminds me of how I want to run my classroom. This idea of constructing knowledge whollistically and in a manner that does not subtract from what students already know is very appealing to me. I think that one way students could collaboratively work on a project incorporating digital video technology would be to make a digital essay about themselves. They could use sound, images and words to descrube themselves, their families, their communities, or virtually any other subject. This process of incorporating the multiple forms of media would serve students who had multiple learning styles and honor students who are visual and auditory learners.
It might be difficult to gain access to enough cameras or compatible PC's but the investment would be well worth it. A way to perhaps overcome the hurdle of limited access to these materials would be to have students work on creating their personal video essays throughout the year. Instead of just having alll students do the project at the same time, there could be an established rubric and trhoughout the year the kids could take turns documenting their lives and stories. The primary goal of the project would be to ask students to look critically at themselves and their surroundings and how their individual histories serve to shape their interpretations of literature.
Teaching strengths and weaknesses through video
Think about the teaching strengths and weaknesses that you would like to highlight or receive feedback on for your PACT videotaped lesson. How could you capture those aspects of your teaching on video in a meaningful way that would demonstrate your teaching philosophy for your portfolio?
One of the skills that I am most proud of as an educator is my ability to connect with students on an individual level. I am able to form relationships based on mutual respect and I meet students at their level. I do my best to always make my intentions with the students transparent and to know what I am asking them to do and why.
On my video recording I would like to portray a conversation between myself and a student where I am making my intentions very explicit for them. I know that often students do not believe there is a purpose to the work that they are engaging in and I belive if I can effectively articulate my reasoning to the students I will make positive steps towards achieving their buy-in.
In terms of weaknesses. I struggle (as I believe all first-year teachers do) with discipline issues. It is still very difficult for me to take a stand and be firm with my students. I know that at times my desire to achieve student buy-in can be percieved as weakness and students will attempt to push boundaries and question my authority. I can only hope that if these issues arise I will be able to be firm and fair in my responding to student dissent.
One of the skills that I am most proud of as an educator is my ability to connect with students on an individual level. I am able to form relationships based on mutual respect and I meet students at their level. I do my best to always make my intentions with the students transparent and to know what I am asking them to do and why.
On my video recording I would like to portray a conversation between myself and a student where I am making my intentions very explicit for them. I know that often students do not believe there is a purpose to the work that they are engaging in and I belive if I can effectively articulate my reasoning to the students I will make positive steps towards achieving their buy-in.
In terms of weaknesses. I struggle (as I believe all first-year teachers do) with discipline issues. It is still very difficult for me to take a stand and be firm with my students. I know that at times my desire to achieve student buy-in can be percieved as weakness and students will attempt to push boundaries and question my authority. I can only hope that if these issues arise I will be able to be firm and fair in my responding to student dissent.
Technology in the Classroom
Working at a large urban high school with limited resources makes me wonder about the issues of equity surrounding incorporating technology in the classroom. On the one hand, computer and digital literacies are going to be vital to almost any job these students encounter yet the resources are not available for me to do an effective job incorporating these skills in the classroom. From what I have seen in my very limited exposure to students in a secondary setting students seem to love products that incorporate technology and computers and some of the most interactive engaged learning I have seen has taken place as a result of this technology.
Additionally, one must wonder at the skills possesed by the teachers who are being asked to teach these students about a skill set they themselves might not possess. I believe that in order for educators to be effective teachers of technology they need to undergo a constant process of training and professional development so that the skills they are teaching the youth are relevant, and meaningful.
Additionally, one must wonder at the skills possesed by the teachers who are being asked to teach these students about a skill set they themselves might not possess. I believe that in order for educators to be effective teachers of technology they need to undergo a constant process of training and professional development so that the skills they are teaching the youth are relevant, and meaningful.
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