MOOC or Massive Open On-line Courses, according to my favorite information resource, Wikipedia. (More on Wikipedia later) MOOC offers opportunity to explore some new ideas mostly for free. On this site, mooc-list.com I found courses on sustainable foods, Introduction to Public Speaking, Math refresher courses, etc.
The idea that today, immediately relevant information from reputable places like MIT is available to everyone with an internet connection, is ground-changing!
Ground-changing, is like the newly leveled playing field offered when just 'anyone' has access to what used to be reserved for elite.
If we all have access to high-level learning, then we can collectively work together to solve today's problems and change the path for tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Monday, June 10, 2013
The View from Here
As a Technology Specialist, in a 3-5 Elementary School, ( dotts.deerparkpages.com ) my view of the end of the school year is remarkably different than it was as a classroom teacher.
See, I spent my teaching career in a variety of classroom situations, for Math and Science Specialist in a 1st grade classroom, 3rd grade, regular 4th , full-inclusion 4th, to a 4th Grade teacher who loops with the same students to 5th. I earned my National Boards Certificate as a Middle Childhood Generalist in that setting.
Now, I am exploring the world of teaching to every single student in the entire school.
How does this time of the year look different to a Specialist?
See, I spent my teaching career in a variety of classroom situations, for Math and Science Specialist in a 1st grade classroom, 3rd grade, regular 4th , full-inclusion 4th, to a 4th Grade teacher who loops with the same students to 5th. I earned my National Boards Certificate as a Middle Childhood Generalist in that setting.
Now, I am exploring the world of teaching to every single student in the entire school.
How does this time of the year look different to a Specialist?
- For one thing, I know that I will get a chance to work with almost all of the students again next year. So, the sense of closure is different. I do not feel as if this week is my last chance to impart all of those nuggets of knowledge and life lessons.
- I had my 525 grades to the teachers last week. I am not poring through all of the data creating this child's last evidence of what he or she accomplished in this grade.
- I am not creating individual bundles of memories for a portfolio, signed with a note from me, for their future tied with a bow in a tidy little portfolio that will easily fit into a parent's memory box.
- I can easily make summer plans without feeling like I am in a tornado!
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