Comments for Finding Common Ground http://mkrill.edublogs.org Talking Education (& Technology) Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:27:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 Comment on NECC from the Exhibit Floor by dogtrax http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/07/02/necc-from-the-exhibit-floor/#comment-180 dogtrax Thu, 03 Jul 2008 10:44:04 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/07/02/necc-from-the-exhibit-floor/#comment-180 While I may not be of the $25 Tech Budget crowd, I do believe that the commercialization of technology rubs me the wrong way and I wish it weren't so. I almost a realist and where there is interest, there is bound to be marketing and commercial products. I think DIY is the best route, but I know it is not for everyone. Kevin While I may not be of the $25 Tech Budget crowd, I do believe that the commercialization of technology rubs me the wrong way and I wish it weren’t so. I almost a realist and where there is interest, there is bound to be marketing and commercial products.
I think DIY is the best route, but I know it is not for everyone.
Kevin

]]> Comment on Shame as Punishment by Lori Sheldon http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/06/12/shame-as-punishment/#comment-179 Lori Sheldon Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:55:21 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/06/12/shame-as-punishment/#comment-179 Michelle, I remember sitting in a similar training, discussing this. Personally I think things like this need to be decided on a case by case basis. In this case, I think the punishment fit the crime, but I have to wonder how the victims feel? Would they just want this ordeal over with, did this make things worse for them? Tough call, but thanks for blogging about the topic and for sharing the apology. Lori Michelle,

I remember sitting in a similar training, discussing this. Personally I think things like this need to be decided on a case by case basis. In this case, I think the punishment fit the crime, but I have to wonder how the victims feel? Would they just want this ordeal over with, did this make things worse for them? Tough call, but thanks for blogging about the topic and for sharing the apology.

Lori

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Carrie Cullums http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-177 Carrie Cullums Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:40:57 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-177 Sounds like somethings are getting personal. Kyle you are absolutely correct. I am signing off of this subject, but leaving you with an e-mail I just received that makes the need for leaders and looking back on life very real. This is by a man who has made a difference in the lives of Americans. Hope you enjoy an appreciate the information that is provided. Leadership and understand of our past, present and future is essential to the success of our nation. May God Bless America in whatever way we get the information to the next generation. Note from mkrill ~ I edited out the text of the email from the commenter due to language. Here is a link to the content ~ http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=wherehavealltheleadersgone . Sounds like somethings are getting personal. Kyle you are absolutely correct. I am signing off of this subject, but leaving you with an e-mail I just received that makes the need for leaders and looking back on life very real. This is by a man who has made a difference in the lives of Americans.

Hope you enjoy an appreciate the information that is provided. Leadership and understand of our past, present and future is essential to the success of our nation.

May God Bless America in whatever way we get the information to the next generation.

Note from mkrill ~ I edited out the text of the email from the commenter due to language. Here is a link to the content ~ http://www.bordersstores.com/features/feature.jsp?file=wherehavealltheleadersgone .

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Kyle S. http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-176 Kyle S. Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:43:30 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-176 Short and sweet: If a teacher is saying, "These are the dates that you need to know. Study and know them and you should do fine on the test," then it is an issue. Lets not assume that the dates are only being used in this way. What if the teacher informed students that should know those dates for an activity they were planning for the following day? What if that activity were analyzing economic or societal trends in relationship to world events? Short and sweet: If a teacher is saying, “These are the dates that you need to know. Study and know them and you should do fine on the test,” then it is an issue.

Lets not assume that the dates are only being used in this way. What if the teacher informed students that should know those dates for an activity they were planning for the following day? What if that activity were analyzing economic or societal trends in relationship to world events?

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Woody http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-175 Woody Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:53:11 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-175 Hello to all: Hey, Carrie gave us a great idea. Why don't we meet at Bill's on Friday night , have a good conversation, get a little tipsy and starting creating a way to build our schools from the ground up since our administrative teams are becoming younger and dumber. We can even submit the time for Act 48 Credit. To think the upper echelon wouldn't know what to do with us if we were all agreeing and not arguing. Creating dramatic changes in the lives of the youth we are teaching is what we are looking to develop. Mkrill you can pay since you started this. Ally, Ian, Dave, and Carrie can join us. Hope none of you are faking what you do. Wouldn't want the top brass to think we are starting WWIII in 2008. Always, Woody Hello to all:

Hey, Carrie gave us a great idea. Why don’t we meet at Bill’s on Friday night , have a good conversation, get a little tipsy and starting creating
a way to build our schools from the ground up since our administrative teams are becoming younger and dumber. We can even submit the time for Act 48
Credit.

To think the upper echelon wouldn’t know what to do with us if we were all agreeing and not arguing. Creating dramatic changes in the lives of the
youth we are teaching is what we are looking to develop.

Mkrill you can pay since you started this.

Ally, Ian, Dave, and Carrie can join us. Hope none of you are faking what you do. Wouldn’t want the top
brass to think we are starting WWIII in 2008.

Always, Woody

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Carrie Cullums http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-174 Carrie Cullums Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:40:13 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-174 Ian, Dave and mkrill, Ah – A good conversation with someone that understands. Placing the dates beside the events allows the students to see the timeline in history to be able to see the relationship of events. Many low functioning students cannot visualize the process of historical events without the dates. The ironic part is the dates are the stepping stones to be able to advance the higher level thinking skills. The Archduke had to be assassinated first, before Europe became involved in the war. The Lusitania had to be sunk before the USA enters WWI. That is the shorten version of the history lesson. It is amazing to me when students are unable to piece details without the attached date so higher level thinking skills can be analyze and evaluated. Building the relationships of events is important to determine –“Why the war started, why the US became involved, and why it ended - with a notion that the time frame was in the early 1900’s?” Considering why the bottom of Bloom’s Taxonomy is designed as a triangle is important in our discussion. You need a strong knowledge base to be able to comprehend information. You cannot apply, analyze or evaluate without the knowledge base, so without that framework one would not be able to create and invent solutions for world issues. Wouldn’t we all prefer being at the top of the pyramid without the finite steps in the process? We’d be a little tipsy in thought and development without a centered, well grounded foundation of knowledge. Additional thoughts for creating a more balanced educational system. Ian, Dave and mkrill,
Ah – A good conversation with someone that understands. Placing the dates beside the events allows the students to see the timeline in history to be able to see the relationship of events. Many low functioning students cannot visualize the process of historical events without the dates. The ironic part is the dates are the stepping stones to be able to advance the higher level thinking skills.

The Archduke had to be assassinated first, before Europe became involved in the war. The Lusitania had to be sunk before the USA enters WWI. That is the shorten version of the history lesson. It is amazing to me when students are unable to piece details without the attached date so higher level thinking skills can be analyze and evaluated. Building the relationships of events is important to determine –“Why the war started, why the US became involved, and why it ended - with a notion that the time frame was in the early 1900’s?”

Considering why the bottom of Bloom’s Taxonomy is designed as a triangle is important in our discussion. You need a strong knowledge base to be able to comprehend information. You cannot apply, analyze or evaluate without the knowledge base, so without that framework one would not be able to create and invent solutions for world issues. Wouldn’t we all prefer being at the top of the pyramid without the finite steps in the process? We’d be a little tipsy in thought and development without a centered, well grounded foundation of knowledge.

Additional thoughts for creating a more balanced educational system.

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Dave S http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-173 Dave S Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:09:59 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-173 Hmmm. I would think that it is more important for a student to remember the progression of events and how they inter-relate than the specific date of an event. For instance, which of the following do you deem more important: 1. That a student spends their time remembering the exact dates that WW1 started, the date the US entered, and the date it ended. OR 2. Why the war started, why the US became involved, and why it ended - with a notion that the time frame was in the early 1900's? I'd rather students spend their time and energy on #2 than #1. Unfortunately, I'm a good example of just this thinking: I can remember all the linking and being verbs from 7th grade English with Mrs. Thornton: have, has, had, do, did, does, may, might, must, can, could,will, would, shall, should, be, am,is, are, was, were, being, been. (Yes, they are burned in my memory!) However, (and I REALLY hate to admit it) but without an grammar book (or Google,) I couldn't tell you *why* that information is relevant to me. Although, if someone offered me a dollar for everyone I can remember, I could take you out to lunch to discuss this further! (Ok, flame away on me -- I've put on my fire-proof jumpsuit!) Hmmm. I would think that it is more important for a student to remember the progression of events and how they inter-relate than the specific date of an event. For instance, which of the following do you deem more important:

1. That a student spends their time remembering the exact dates that WW1 started, the date the US entered, and the date it ended.

OR

2. Why the war started, why the US became involved, and why it ended - with a notion that the time frame was in the early 1900’s?

I’d rather students spend their time and energy on #2 than #1.

Unfortunately, I’m a good example of just this thinking:

I can remember all the linking and being verbs from 7th grade English with Mrs. Thornton: have, has, had, do, did, does, may, might, must, can, could,will, would, shall, should, be, am,is, are, was, were, being, been. (Yes, they are burned in my memory!)

However, (and I REALLY hate to admit it) but without an grammar book (or Google,) I couldn’t tell you *why* that information is relevant to me.

Although, if someone offered me a dollar for everyone I can remember, I could take you out to lunch to discuss this further!

(Ok, flame away on me — I’ve put on my fire-proof jumpsuit!)

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Ian http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-172 Ian Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:55:24 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-172 As a tech coach and former social studies teacher, let me throw in my two cents. Memorizing those dates is definitely only hitting the understand portion of New Blooms. Knowing those dates is important, but not as important as knowing their significance. If the teacher can expand upon not only why 1914 is important, but also how the events of 1914 led to the events of 1917 and 1918, we are then talking about analysis and possibly even evaluation. As a tech coach and former social studies teacher, let me throw in my two cents. Memorizing those dates is definitely only hitting the understand portion of New Blooms. Knowing those dates is important, but not as important as knowing their significance. If the teacher can expand upon not only why 1914 is important, but also how the events of 1914 led to the events of 1917 and 1918, we are then talking about analysis and possibly even evaluation.

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Woody http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-171 Woody Thu, 03 Apr 2008 01:17:39 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-171 In regards to Aly: I did not mean to imply that older educators are unable to adapt to change. Younger educators, however, are not staying in the field of education due to many reasons. One reason is teacher burnout from demands that are placed on them and not having support from the administrative team. In the district where I currently teach, over 50% of new teachers leave the field within the first 5 years. Additionally, those that stay in education, typically pursue a position within administration or exit the field of education completely. In regards to Aly:
I did not mean to imply that older educators are unable to adapt to change. Younger educators, however, are not staying in the field of education due to many reasons. One reason is teacher burnout from demands that are placed on them and not having support from the administrative team.
In the district where I currently teach, over 50% of new teachers leave the field within the first 5 years. Additionally, those that stay in education, typically pursue a position within administration or exit the field of education completely.

]]> Comment on Do They Know? Will They Remember? by Carrie Cullums http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-170 Carrie Cullums Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:13:00 +0000 http://mkrill.edublogs.org/2008/03/17/do-they-know-will-they-remember/#comment-170 Many times the connection is simply made by establishing timelines in history and relating it to times in their lives. My father served his country in WWII. He related historical events to family history and the belief of the generations. He was very uptight when Osama Ben Laden and Saddam Hussein’s names were brought up. He remembers when Ben Laden was trained by our own military. He could relate to his children and students the necessity to know history, religion and society in the perspective of events and world affairs. I do not think we are agreeing. I feel it is important to know fundamental dates so the world events flows smoothly in the minds of society’s youth. Lest we forget … 9/11 Many students belief the first site they find on the computer as fact. Grant it – written documentation can be inaccurate as well. I think this piece of paper had you speculating on things that you are missing some facts that created misconceptions in your mind. As a history teacher I have a pretty good grasp on that piece of paper. Working with high school students has given me insight into learning patterns. If I may be so nosey – What do you teach? How many children do you have in your class? Our school is under staffed in the history dept. and the demands are great. I am more than willing to give my students key opportunities to make learning relevant. Computers are just one tool in life. Communication and concern about society and interactions of world affairs are essential in the training of youth to be the future generation of leaders in the USA and the world. I just had a issue today regarding a student who did not have a computer and he possibly could have been embarrassed to share that so he lied about a situation. Technology is great – having access for some is impossible in the realm of economical and societal issues. Just for your thinking ----- Many times the connection is simply made by establishing timelines in history and relating it to times in their lives. My father served his country in WWII. He related historical events to family history and the belief of the generations. He was very uptight when Osama Ben Laden and Saddam Hussein’s names were brought up. He remembers when Ben Laden was trained by our own military. He could relate to his children and students the necessity to know history, religion and society in the perspective of events and world affairs.
I do not think we are agreeing. I feel it is important to know fundamental dates so the world events flows smoothly in the minds of society’s youth. Lest we forget … 9/11
Many students belief the first site they find on the computer as fact. Grant it – written documentation can be inaccurate as well.
I think this piece of paper had you speculating on things that you are missing some facts that created misconceptions in your mind. As a history teacher I have a pretty good grasp on that piece of paper. Working with high school students has given me insight into learning patterns.
If I may be so nosey – What do you teach? How many children do you have in your class? Our school is under staffed in the history dept. and the demands are great. I am more than willing to give my students key opportunities to make learning relevant. Computers are just one tool in life. Communication and concern about society and interactions of world affairs are essential in the training of youth to be the future generation of leaders in the USA and the world.
I just had a issue today regarding a student who did not have a computer and he possibly could have been embarrassed to share that so he lied about a situation. Technology is great – having access for some is impossible in the realm of economical and societal issues.
Just for your thinking —–

]]>