Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Ground-Changing:MOOC

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.

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?
  • 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!
I do miss the relationships one makes with the children and families over the span of a year, or in the case of looping, two.  Two years with a family, for 180 days each, provides an amazing window into the lives of 25. If you think about it, we do not have that much time to spend with our own friends throughout a year.  I know my students and their families better than I know my best friends.  While that creates an intricate foundation to build learning experiences from, it certainly tugs at your heart as the students move on to the next class, the next school and the next stage.