Post One
This week I was assigned to read Mr. Wesley Fryer's blog Moving at the Speed of Creativity. I read his July 8th post Hallelujah: Oklahoma Withdraws from Common Core PARCC Testing Consortium . Since I barely understand other school systems and how they function, I had a little trouble understanding his post at first. I read it a couple of times, and I was able to grasp the concept. Fryer's main message, "We should not be purchasing technology hardware in Oklahoma, or any state in our nation simply to test students online and raise test scores." Fryer's argument is reflected through his use in Twitter. I agree that testing shouldn't be the only way to educate children and evaluate their learning.
My comment: I am an EDM310 student from the University of South Alabama. I am going into my second year at the College of Education. I enjoyed learning from this post, but what are ways I can better chose which school system fits my teaching style? Thank you and my blog is here.
Post Two
I read Mr. Fryer's Write Well, Sell Well Conference Sept 21, 2013 in Oklahoma City that inspired me.
My comment: I am an EDM310 student at the University of South Alabama. I get so excited when I see somebody succeeding in the publishing business. I've been an aspiring author ever since I was eight and work towards it everyday. I really enjoyed reading this, and it motivated me to work hard to finish my two books this year.
What is your "teaching style?" You will probably never be able to choose a system in which you will teach based on your "teaching style". First, I doubt that you know yet what that will be. Second, it will probably change over time. Third no district that I know of has a uniform mandate on teaching styles that can be enforced. Some superintendents and principals want their teachers to teach in a certain way but principals and superintendents come and go rather rapidly. Finally, no teacher that I know of ever teaches using only a single "style" if we can even call it that.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. Dr. Fryer does not want money on technology that will be used to test. If money is to be spent on technology, spend it on learning technology. I feel the same way about SMART boards. I would much rather spend the money on personal learning tools (at the moment computers, tablets, internet access, audio and video equipment for student use. The problem is that big vendors (like McGraw Hill) sell to superintendents and school boards who want "big" solutions. Instead the tools should be in the hands of the learners (And since teachers should be learners as well, they should get the technology tools also.)