The New World of Classroom Settings

After reading the blog "Five Ways to Bring Technology into the Classroom Without the Gadgets" by Mary Moss Brown and Alisa Berger, I now fully support having technology in the classroom. Although I was born in the 80’s, I always imagined teaching in a classroom setting that was similar to the one I attended as a child. Simple tools such as a blackboard, couple of chairs and tables, desk and a nice red apple to snack on. Yet, after learning how a classroom can communicate with someone who lives in Zimbabwe in order to get a first hand glimpse on what is going on there blew my mind. It is the farthest thing that I would have thought about if I kept the old school mentality. Not all teachers are meant to be experts of SMART Technologies, or Jing, or even YouTube videos but they should make an effort to apply modern technology to the student’s advantage.


I have never used Jing in my life until a few weeks back. I had to complete a project using this crazy online tool that can help me teach a class by recording my every action on screen. Then I would be able to send the link via email. Craziest idea that has made a great impact on classroom learning. Now I think Jing is the one of the best tools that has been invented. Tomorrow who knows what may be next. The possibilities are endless. I’m not saying go out there and buy every piece of online tool available but at least have an open mind to explore what the students are into these days. Whether it is a new software, game, learning website, or just a new device, it would be greatly beneficial. I thank Mary and Alisa for opening my eyes to the list of endless possibility for future educators.

Flipping, the New Resource to Success

I wasn’t quite sure what “flipping” a classroom meant until I opened up one of the links for Flipped Classroom Examples. It was quite interesting how a video can teach so much. At first I did not approve of this teaching concept since the teachers cannot monitor their students at home to make sure they are studying using the videos. As a future educator, I am concerned with student’s educational needs. If learning the material at home in order to have more time doing projects in the classroom helps the student, then I am all for it. After reading The Flipped Class: What Does a Good One Look Like, I understand one of the main reasons to flip a classroom is to have more time in class for learning. It makes perfect sense. Allow a child to become self-sufficient, responsible, and engaged in the classroom by providing homework and lesson plans through videos.

There are several flip websites that can be helpful to teachers and students. An easy one to access is Youtube, also, there is the Khan Academy that even parents can access. Allowing a student to pause during a lesson can be beneficial especially since not all students learn at the same speed. Every educational tool should be available to students in order to help them succeed in the classroom. There are several videos available now that cover several topics that can help students who are not in a flipped classroom. Flipping a classroom can help a child understand the assignment at their own pace without the fear of embarrassment in the classroom. If a child does not understand the assignment, their self-esteem will diminish. As a future educator, my job will be to find new teaching techniques to encourage my students to strive for excellence. Flipping the class will be a start.

The Level of Appropriateness

After reading Associated Press, Karen Mathews' blog 'Should teachers 'friend' students?', I wonder how many teachers have become embroiled in a 'misunderstanding' regarding their on-line messages to their students. Male and female teachers walk a fine line when they interact with their students outside of the classroom. Mathew's states the downside of having students view a teacher's personal page such as Facebook. One of the examples she provided was a teacher's inappropriate pictures that students had access to. I can see how parents will be concerned when a teacher, regardless of their gender, interacts with their own child outside the classroom setting. No parent would want to have their child send a private message to their teacher without their knowledge. It is not appropriate and immoral. Teachers regardless of the circumstances, should know their limit. They are not allowed to post, message, or attach inappropriate messages to students. It is common sense. Yet, according to Mathews, in Missouri, a law was passed that barred teachers from using social media that gave them exclusive access to students eighteen years and under. That type of enforcement is extreme yet crucial in order to protect our children. It is enough to think about the boundaries teachers are crossing without the parent's knowledge.


As a parent, I hope I never have to experience a ‘misunderstanding’ between my children and their teacher. It is ridiculous to think that a person who is responsible for the safety of our children is sending sexy photos or responding to a student’s love life on-line. I believe teachers should have access to an on-line site in order to post class assignments or create a study group. Anything else, is inappropriate and the teacher deserves to be fired. Our children’s safety should be the number one priority in and off school grounds.

Being Held Accountable

There are several reasons why parents should worry about their children’s online access. The online world is just as scary and just as dangerous as the real world. There are predators searching for their next victims for sexual exploitation, bullying, and stalking. Children On-Line Newsletter states parents should be responsible for educating their children on the dangers of providing personal information online. Yet, I do not feel that is enough. Even though parents speak with their children of the preventions of being bullied or prevent their kids from being bullies, they are not monitoring their child 24/7. As a parent of two children who can be disruptive, it is easier to hand over an IPAD or computer. My children are three and four years old, not old enough to create an online account but they are aware of the functions of the apps I have on my phone. When they become teenagers, I have no doubt that they will be electronically proficient.

A parent’s schedule is hectic enough that it is a job in itself to keep track of their child’s computer use. Yet, that is no excuse when their child harasses their peers. Some kids have even committed suicide due to being bullied online. It is easy to say kids will be kids in and off school grounds. That is not an excuse to harass their peers, strangers, and closed loved ones. Children under the age of eighteen years old are not mature enough to take responsibility for their immature actions on line. Therefore, I strongly believe parents should be held accountable for their children’s actions toward another child. They should be prosecuted for not monitoring their child’s account if their child harms another child through online bullying. Hopefully seeing their parent in jail will prevent further bullying.

Introduction

My name is Elva Campos mother of two wonderful children, Sophia and Roy Douglas. I am pursuing a career in the education field because I love children and I know I can make a difference in the lives of under privileged urban students. My goal is to become a Special Education and ESL teacher.