People, Passions ~ Classroom Rules of Engagement

     Every classroom, classroom environment, students and individuals are different.  The main rule is to be aware of as many variables in the classroom as possible and use it to the advantage of getting the students involved in their learning.  It is important to take note of what is working with a given group of students and what is not.  Learn the individual passions of each student then incorporate these passions into lessens and activities to motivate students, and groups of students.  Everyone has something they like to do when they are not required to do other  things for other reasons.  If an individual does not seem to be engaged in an activity try to have them take the scenario into their world and see how they could apply it there.
     Diversification is a integral part of modern education.  It requires facilitators, and individual students to be some what flexible in the educational process.  What works well for one class in the morning may not be effective in every class throughout the day.  This takes a certain amount of role-playing on the part of the facilitator to be able to change formats for different groups of individuals.  Some individuals may need more structure and direction than others.  Other individuals may need more visualization.  With the ever growing role of technology there is an ever growing network of possibilities as to incorporating different ideas and styles into a day of education.
     The challenge of today is to make education meaningful, engage the individuals, incorporate their passions and motivations.  If at all possible, make it enriching and fun for everyone.

An Ever Changing World Seeks New Solutions

Dual Language-Turkish and U.S. English

Computer Turkish-English1.egg on Aviary.


     Pod casts, and Vod casts can be utilized in a variety of ways.  From simple updates on student or facilitator blogs, e-mails, web pages to incorporation into web quests or project instructions.  These can be very powerful tools used in a classroom with the incorporation of technology.  Their usefulness is varied on the amount and limitations of the technology available in any given classroom.  Unfortunately, not all classrooms are treated equally in these areas.  One day in the future the tables may turn to where it is possible in any classroom, but by then technology will have changed yet again.  The use of these tools is vast and varied.  The limit of creativity is endless.  As with many innovations a vast supply of various uses of these technologies.  This is a technology that can out reach the classroom.  Students, parents, administrators, and others can access these technologies and gain value, or give insight into their effectiveness.  Both  Vod casts and Pod casts can be useful for students to remember important points, catch up on missed topics, take learning outside of the classroom, and vastly increase the diversification of their education.  These technologies can also be used in multicultural and bilingual environments.  As technology advances, so do the possibilities.  If some students are more comfortable in their native language, there are programs and websites that can translate many different possibilities of reception.  With the eye on the target- the individual students, the facilitator should be creative in how these technologies can enhance the educational experiences of the individuals.  Diversify, and be creative.

Changing Paradigms

   This video makes it clear that the current education system is what has an illness, not the students. How has the current system continued for the past 40-50 years with little or no change? Generations have had their creativity, and their ability to learn suppressed by antiquated methods of paradigm regarding pedagogy used in the classroom. For centuries other methods have been tried, and proven successful- yet the old standard has remained fairly constant. Even though partnering is proven to be a better model of educating students, it is slow to catch on. Part of this may be that many school systems do not help teachers to continue their education, so their skill seldom get updating with current models of pedagogy. Many may be hindered by school systems and hierarchies of administrators that do not want to rock a boat that is viewed by lay politicians as a form of anarchy. For decades politicians have talked change in education. The only changes have been larger classes, less teachers, less resources, less funding, and less attention than it should be given, other than power speeches at election time. To add insult to injury, administration grows, and the coffers get thinner. Technology is slow to be integrated into classrooms. Much of this is taking place from fears of educators and administrators of those “electronic gizmos”. Unfortunately, those gizmos can be an integral part in the expansion of education for the student and the educators. By encouraging education among the educators it brings them closer to the loop of education and empowers them to be better facilitators, and thus, better educators.

ClassroomTechnology Integration

How would you, or have you, successfully integrated technology into a classroom environment?  Did you use traditional or partnership based pedagogy?

Donald Ramsey's Technology Education classroom,Newtown Middle School,