Monday, December 1, 2008
Self Assessment
I believe I was in the 18 - 20 range in class participation. I completed all assignments, put in quite a bit of time, answered other blogs, asked questions in class and tried to offer other experiences to enhance class discussions.As far as the learning, I believe the class was very informative and useful for future lessons. I have already used some ideas from the class and the curriculum revision was a good assignment as I am using the lesson in US 2 to see how it works out. Overall, I think this class was more work than others, but the work was useful so it didn't seem so bad doing it!I liked the online classes because it is easier to work at my own pace. The one revision is on the final assignment: it was a good idea to offer pairs or trios, but for someone like me who does not know anyone in the class, I was not able to get a partner, so I had to do the whole project by myself. It would have been a better learning experience if I could have collaborated with someone else on the final project. Other than that, the class was great.
Posted by Alice at 6:59 PM 0 comments
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Self Assessment
I believe I was in the 18 - 20 range in class participation. I completed all assignments, put in quite a bit of time, answered other blogs, asked questions in class and tried to offer other experiences to enhance class discussions.
As far as the learning, I believe the class was very informative and useful for future lessons. I have already used some ideas from the class and the curriculum revision was a good assignment as I am using the lesson in US 2 to see how it works out. Overall, I think this class was more work than others, but the work was useful so it didn't seem so bad doing it!
I liked the online classes because it is easier to work at my own pace. The one revision is on the final assignment: it was a good idea to offer pairs or trios, but for someone like me who does not know anyone in the class, I was not able to get a partner, so I had to do the whole project by myself. It would have been a better learning experience if I could have collaborated with someone else on the final project. Other than that, the class was great.
As far as the learning, I believe the class was very informative and useful for future lessons. I have already used some ideas from the class and the curriculum revision was a good assignment as I am using the lesson in US 2 to see how it works out. Overall, I think this class was more work than others, but the work was useful so it didn't seem so bad doing it!
I liked the online classes because it is easier to work at my own pace. The one revision is on the final assignment: it was a good idea to offer pairs or trios, but for someone like me who does not know anyone in the class, I was not able to get a partner, so I had to do the whole project by myself. It would have been a better learning experience if I could have collaborated with someone else on the final project. Other than that, the class was great.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Something to think about.....
Last night in class, I thought that the discussion about technological possibilities for the future was extremely interesting and I spent my drive home thinking about it. The technological advancements are endless for students; but I wanted to throw this out there and ask if anyone else had the same thought:
First, I have worked outside of education for 13 years before becoming a teacher for the last 10, so I have experienced both. I believe today, that people in education are a bit out of touch with how bad the economy is as we, for the most part, are secure in our jobs. Most of us have not experienced downsizing, layoffs, etc., so it is hard to relate to other people who don't have jobs and can't easily find another. So my point:
With advanced tech I started to think of all the good possibilities such as students accessing work and activities from home, if they are sick can get homework; someone mentioned having the class log on at 7pm and have a class discussion, etc. The next logical step in years to come: snow days could be counted as a school day as long as the teacher can document all students logged on and participated; the next step, to save energy in cold or hot regions, cut out Fridays and or Mondays and work home home, thus eliminating transporation costs, energy costs, food, etc......
I guess you see where I am going with this, could teachers be downsized? When I did my first master's in history 4 years ago there were no on line classes, now there are many. At least at the high school level, I believe technology can eliminate jobs and teachers in the future may become a statistic like the 2008 financial sector employees who are losing their jobs by the thousands!
Just something to think about...
First, I have worked outside of education for 13 years before becoming a teacher for the last 10, so I have experienced both. I believe today, that people in education are a bit out of touch with how bad the economy is as we, for the most part, are secure in our jobs. Most of us have not experienced downsizing, layoffs, etc., so it is hard to relate to other people who don't have jobs and can't easily find another. So my point:
With advanced tech I started to think of all the good possibilities such as students accessing work and activities from home, if they are sick can get homework; someone mentioned having the class log on at 7pm and have a class discussion, etc. The next logical step in years to come: snow days could be counted as a school day as long as the teacher can document all students logged on and participated; the next step, to save energy in cold or hot regions, cut out Fridays and or Mondays and work home home, thus eliminating transporation costs, energy costs, food, etc......
I guess you see where I am going with this, could teachers be downsized? When I did my first master's in history 4 years ago there were no on line classes, now there are many. At least at the high school level, I believe technology can eliminate jobs and teachers in the future may become a statistic like the 2008 financial sector employees who are losing their jobs by the thousands!
Just something to think about...
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Results Now
I am the principal of a high school in a suburban New Jersey district. Traditionally, our teachers have been monitored closely for the first three years of employment until they received tenure, then after receiving tenure our teachers are evaluated once a year during a lesson of their choice. Administration encourages our tenured staff to invite a supervisor in for a lesson in which the teacher is trying something, new, unusual or experimental.
I recently attended a Principal's workshop which focused on how the United States can improve teaching methods to ensure the highest quality of education is available to all students. At this workshop, we read a book called Results Now by Mike Schmoker. After reading this book, I have decided to recommend some changes to teachers and supervisors at the high school.
"“If we leave virtually every instructional choice up to individual teachers who work alone, then inferior practices will dominate in most schools. (Haycook, 2005)
I am going to advise all the department supervisors to prepare a "to do" list of lessons and activities they would like to see in classes in their departments. Each month, supervisors will hold a department meeting and share these activities with teachers under their supervision and require that teachers choose at least one lesson a month to pilot in their classrooms. Supervisors will then randomly drop in to classes to assess how this system is working to include a variety of activities in the classrooms.
"Only 5 percent of Americans performed at the highest math level - compared with nearly a quarter of Finns, Koreans, Japanese and Dutch" (Peterson, 2005, p.3) Page 21
I am going to set up a committee of math teachers and/or supervisors, as well as some math students to research the criteria for graduation of the above mentioned countries at the high school and middle school level. The committee will take those results and compare them with the requirements for math to graduate from high school in the United States. From those results, we can assess what we need to do to bring our students up to a higher level of expertise in Math. Perhaps we need to change the graduation requirements, or offer incentives to students who take multiple credits in math.
"direct involvement in instruction is among the least frequent activities performed by administrators of any kind at any level" (Elmore, 2000, p.6) Page 29
I would like to share with other principals an idea that seems to be working at our high school. During our administrative meeting, we create a schedule of teachers to visit during each quarter. These visits are 5 - 15 minute informal "drop ins"; the idea is to offer positive encouragement when we visit a class that is engaged in a productive activity, and at the same time it alerts teachers to the fact that our administration's philosophy is an open door policy. We make sure, over the course of a semester, each teacher receives a visit at least once, maybe more. We realize that teachers have days that are not as productive as others, so what works with this plan is between our administrative group, we are able to assess if there are teachers in the building who are less productive than others. We use this information as input for supervisors to use during evaluations to suggest to teachers how they can improve lessons!! Try it.
I recently attended a Principal's workshop which focused on how the United States can improve teaching methods to ensure the highest quality of education is available to all students. At this workshop, we read a book called Results Now by Mike Schmoker. After reading this book, I have decided to recommend some changes to teachers and supervisors at the high school.
"“If we leave virtually every instructional choice up to individual teachers who work alone, then inferior practices will dominate in most schools. (Haycook, 2005)
I am going to advise all the department supervisors to prepare a "to do" list of lessons and activities they would like to see in classes in their departments. Each month, supervisors will hold a department meeting and share these activities with teachers under their supervision and require that teachers choose at least one lesson a month to pilot in their classrooms. Supervisors will then randomly drop in to classes to assess how this system is working to include a variety of activities in the classrooms.
"Only 5 percent of Americans performed at the highest math level - compared with nearly a quarter of Finns, Koreans, Japanese and Dutch" (Peterson, 2005, p.3) Page 21
I am going to set up a committee of math teachers and/or supervisors, as well as some math students to research the criteria for graduation of the above mentioned countries at the high school and middle school level. The committee will take those results and compare them with the requirements for math to graduate from high school in the United States. From those results, we can assess what we need to do to bring our students up to a higher level of expertise in Math. Perhaps we need to change the graduation requirements, or offer incentives to students who take multiple credits in math.
"direct involvement in instruction is among the least frequent activities performed by administrators of any kind at any level" (Elmore, 2000, p.6) Page 29
I would like to share with other principals an idea that seems to be working at our high school. During our administrative meeting, we create a schedule of teachers to visit during each quarter. These visits are 5 - 15 minute informal "drop ins"; the idea is to offer positive encouragement when we visit a class that is engaged in a productive activity, and at the same time it alerts teachers to the fact that our administration's philosophy is an open door policy. We make sure, over the course of a semester, each teacher receives a visit at least once, maybe more. We realize that teachers have days that are not as productive as others, so what works with this plan is between our administrative group, we are able to assess if there are teachers in the building who are less productive than others. We use this information as input for supervisors to use during evaluations to suggest to teachers how they can improve lessons!! Try it.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
UbD lesson and reflection
I enjoyed creating this lesson as I feel it is important to know what we are assessing before we ask students to perform a task. The format also allows me to focus on exactly what I expect from students and also allows students to know what performance level is expected of them as they perform.
The format is very clear, although I became a bit confused with the "Learning Activities" section and the Performance Task/Other Evidence as it was a bit repetitive.
I think the questions that would be raised with the UbD format is that some may feel it is "teaching to the test" a bit too much; I can see where very creative teachers may feel a bit stiffled. Overall, I think most educators would enjoy using this format.
UbD Lesson Plan
Title: World War I
Curriculum Area: United States History II Honors
Developed by: Alice Burnett
Grade: 11
Time Frame: (2) 60 Minute blocks
Stage I - Desired Results
Established Goals
NJSSS (12) 6.3.2, 6.3.1 - Identify and analyze major events in history.
Understandings:
Students will understand that....
The format is very clear, although I became a bit confused with the "Learning Activities" section and the Performance Task/Other Evidence as it was a bit repetitive.
I think the questions that would be raised with the UbD format is that some may feel it is "teaching to the test" a bit too much; I can see where very creative teachers may feel a bit stiffled. Overall, I think most educators would enjoy using this format.
UbD Lesson Plan
Title: World War I
Curriculum Area: United States History II Honors
Developed by: Alice Burnett
Grade: 11
Time Frame: (2) 60 Minute blocks
Stage I - Desired Results
Established Goals
NJSSS (12) 6.3.2, 6.3.1 - Identify and analyze major events in history.
Understandings:
Students will understand that....
- Power struggles between nations cause conflict
- In order to strive towards world peace, no one nation can dominate another nation
Essential Questions:
What causes conflict?
Why do countries go to war?
How do nations settle disputes?
Students will know...
- Causes and outcomes of World War I
- Key Vocabulary Terms
Students will be able to...
- Create World War I timeline
- Analyze a plan for world peace
Stage 2 - Assessment Evidence
Performance Tasks:
World War I Key Event Timeline: Racing through time! Students will be given a World War I timeline spanning from 1914 - 1919. In pairs, students will research information both online and using books to find and fill in the missing date or key event. (some dates, key events will already be filled in) Additionally, students can look at the pictures next to the missing date/key event for a clue to help them fill in the event. The first pair to complete the timeline will earn extra credit on the World War I test.
Other Evidence:
1. Quiz: Key Vocabulary Quiz
2. Primary Source: Read and analyze "Victory Without Defeat" Focus: what does Victory without Defeat mean and how does it relate to World Peace?
3. Journal Entry: Responses to Readings
Stage 3 - Learning Plan
Learning Activities:
- Introduce Essential Questions and outline activities and rubrics
- Complete definitions of key terms
- Racing through time: students will complete World War I timeline filling in important key events and dates in pairs
- Read and analyze "Victory without Defeat" and focus on how reading relates to world peace as an ongoing goal
- Complete response to primary source in journals
- Share and compare journal entries with classmates
Friday, October 10, 2008
What Has Changed on UTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MwHyvyqApk
Hopefully, this will take you to the mash up video
Alice Burnett
Hopefully, this will take you to the mash up video
Alice Burnett
What Has Changed on UTUBE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MwHyvyqApk
Hopefully, this will take you to the mash up video
Alice Burnett
Hopefully, this will take you to the mash up video
Alice Burnett
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