It's funny how life seems to take many twists and turns, but always seems to put you on the right path. I just find myself wondering what that path is for me. When I talk to other teachers I find that I am constantly sharing various tools I have been learning and finding that I can easily come up with either a list of web 2.0 tools or app applications that would be useful if only teachers had more access to some technology.
There is a part of me that wonders if I should have pursued a different masters for it seems that science education may not have been the most employable course of study. Ok, let's be honest...being a teacher really isn't an employable field right now. I just wonder how long it will take for the economy to turn around and rehire teachers in this region. Even so, my lesson plans today (substituting) included introducing our fifth graders to science inquiry...all I had to work with was a 8 page print out from Khan academy ( I need to check out more and see what else they have to offer). Now, although I didn't read the whole thing (it was just information and totally boring, but well written--I wasn't told what to do with it--told to do what I wanted)--didn't feel the need since my background was in this. I spent the 30 min. in the morning just talking about it and having them take notes of the steps, then I spent my lunch period designing a quick inquiry for the 30 minutes I had in the afternoon. It turned out ok for short notice and I decided to leave everything for the teacher to see. We actually did a mini lab and I projected an excel spreadsheet on the board in which we compiled our data, found the averages, and drew our conclusions. This may be about all they get this year but perhaps their teacher will use what I gave to the teachers last year in my workshops. I hope so...kids deserve to learn to love science. The great feeling was that I have been around the school enough to be able to build off prior experiences for the kids and hopefully make it more fun!
I often find myself looking back and wondering what it would have been like had I not given up my science teaching position? Where would I be and what would I be doing with iPads in my classroom? One of Weston's students moved to my home town today and I happened to be substituting in his new classroom. It was sad to see a student so used to having an iPad all day to learn with, not have one at his disposal. What does this do to a student? I am sure he will adjust...he'll have to, but what are the affects? I knew this student a little since I worked in his classroom at Weston so we discussed some of this! Least to say...he misses his class and his iPad! It really had become of part of him. Now the question is what are we going to do when the iPads are out dated and not compatible with the newer apps and updates and out of memory? Then what? At some point we have to begin thinking about the future and figure out how to sustain the monster we have created!
Can I also say that I instituted a little BYOD in the classroom today...I needed stop watches and had the kids get their cell phones. Almost every group had one! Sure helped. But for those that didn't they used the classroom clock! One girl even used the lap timing feature to record all her group members times. She just had to go the extra step and subtract the differences! Smart thinking on her part. Interesting.
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