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Education article on high achieving schools

YF — Oct 11, 2006 - 7:16pm

I chose this case study as my article because it has influenced me on many levels. There are perhaps other articles which really rekindled my passion for education and for helping students pursue an education past high school, but this article not only did that but provided me with research of ideals I have long held as well as provided me with a model of research conducted in the manner that I have had an interest in. This article focuses on 6 schools which are similar in demographics to many schools in our area that have achieved success based on NRT data. It provided concrete evidence of how all students can succeed and how high expectations even in low performing schools do go a long way. It also showed that although standards based instruction is scoffed upon, students can show gains and with support, teachers are able to provide quality instruction and have students learn despite the external factors that influence education. In addition, it is a study done using quantitative as well as qualitative research methods and that is what was most influential for me. I believe in triangulated data and using multiple assessments to evaluate as well as different methods of research to gather data and this article does it all. It provides a good model for administrators, gives me hope and also provides me with a good framework of the type of research I wish to pursue.

File publish: Education Article

News — Oct 11, 2006 - 4:17pm

Reaction to others' Blogs

YF — Oct 9, 2006 - 8:10pm

Banal Ngin explained some of the drawbacks to using e-learning, one being the fact that students are becoming passive and that there is diminished interaction with the professor. While I do see the benefits to e-learning from a professor using powerpoint in class to having them email the class power point and lectures and readings as time saving and allowing for multitasking, I agree that e-learning does away with the real world interaction which helps students grow as professionals. There is nothing which can replace the face to face interaction, getting feedback on the spot and being able to make a professional connection with a professor. While e-learning allows for an increase of college going individuals who would otherwise not attend and it provides enriching experiences with technology, it takes away the human element imperative in education; students read from a powerpoint but do not get the opportunity to read into a professor’s delivery of that lecture nor are there those teachable moments which often arise during the delivery of a lecture. Thus students are not active learners who are inquiring and taking from the professor; they are teaching themselves.

Seth Andersen discussed the issue of privacy with developing technology. Current thinking is that technology will make life easier and more efficient and in some cases it has but when you start talking about things being implanted on bodies, medical records in phones, teaching through the internet, buying and selling on line and bill paying online, now technology is opening up a Pandora’s box. Our privacy is now being attacked; before we continue this shift towards having everything done through the internet and electronically, those who come up with this stuff definitely need to first make sure it is safe and that it will be more universally accessible. It is apparent that all these services are helpful and will bring us to a new form of living but before we continue to try to implement this technology, those who come up with this stuff need to spend more time making it secure now, and not wait until a rash of identity theft occurs to come up with a solution to the problem; if they are so innovative, they should think of these issues before they put this out there and wait for a consumer to figure out what the glitches are for them.

I just have to react to brian thoms’ blog about Blink simply because it was just so enjoyable to read; it was a mini short story in which he managed to allude to everything from his experiences with quasi magicians at bars in NYC to a classic movie Groundhog Day, and in virtually the same breath, etymological analysis- what can I say, I love a great read. He does, more importantly, also manage to make a statement to perfectly encapsulate the book in, “…we begin to operate unconsciously based on our own experiences. We build intelligent tools and operate on rapid cognition in the areas of our own individual expertise.” It is this expertise which informs our thin slicing and ultimately our on the spot decision making and judgments. Our instinctive decision making or actions are actually educated and informed by the unconscious expertise which governs them.

YF — Oct 4, 2006 - 6:47pm

Assignment 4 Due Sept 20^th

1. The Soul of a New Machine is definitely a study based on the six criteria outlined in “The Enlightened Eye.” The book is essentially a narrative detailing the computer industry in general and a man’s journey within that industry in particular. Moreover, it is a qualitative analysis of a how a man and a company work within a specific field. Thus it meets the first criterion, being field focused. The main character is studied reflectively; the self is the instrument of the study. The readers are given a glimpse of the subject’s travels in an interpretive manner. The book makes connections and analysis of the what happens in the field through the narrative detailing of this character, as a result both the second and third criteria are met. The way the study is written, in addition, is through expressive language detailing particulars. The books is almost an ethnography of the computer industry in such a style as a researcher would write an ethnography of a school and as such, it provides observations and details of the observations in using expressive language. The 4^th and 5^th criteria are met. Finally, the final criteria is the only one which is a little iffy but it could just be because I didn’t quite get what the goal of this book was. I learned a lot about the inner workings of the computer industry and a computer guy, but was that the goal? It was a well written book certainly and a well written ethnography but I am just not sure what goal was supposed to be for the study.

2. The one similarity they all share is that all interpret reality and simply give an interpretation of what someone’s everyday life is. Thus, the knowledge these try to bring forth is tainted by the presenter’s interpretation of the reality. There is no such thing as non fiction; documentary films are also not simply the facts and naturalistic science does not present everything. All is tainted by what the author of any of these chooses to show or to leave out. A reader or viewer does not get complete knowledge of everyday life through any of these; they receive only what the writer decides to show them. There is however, more left to the reader to decipher in naturalistic science than in documentary films since there are much more cues through background music and the people or other aspects of the setting in a documentary film.

Assignment Due Oct. 4

YF — Oct 3, 2006 - 9:36pm

My favorite gadget is my cellular phone. I am simply less efficient and feel ill-equipped without it. I feel I am able to accomplish more with my cellular phone than if I didn’t have it. There have been countless times when I have run out of the office for a meeting at the District and my secretary has told me I forgot to call someone back and I simply take the message and call the person while I am on my way to my car. That has allowed me to complete a task while transitioning to another task. In addition, I use it to keep connected to my family and friends both here and in Mexico. Because of my hectic schedule, I sometimes am only able to speak with some people during drive time or communicate with them during breaks in classes via text messaging. This gadget allows for that interaction. I am also able to send a text via email to my secretary when I have neglected to do something and she is able to then help me be more efficient. This is collaboration. It helps me when I am lost out on the road and also to capture special moments such as my dog eating an ice cream bar or my niece at a cheer competition. I can stay connected, be more efficient at work and capture memories all with my favorite gadget, my cell phone.

Assignment 5

YF — Oct 3, 2006 - 9:35pm

I was glad to hear from the president of the university. Specifically, his thoughts on the purpose of higher education being more than a practical step to earning more money underscored the importance of T courses. Whether one calls it trespassing or intellectual collaboration with a different discipline, the point is that in an individual’s ability to affect change and “donate” is greatly increased when one’s mind is open and able to see reality from different perspectives. He made a point of explaining that and it did help frame the course as well as provide insight to why I am continuing with this course work. I was also glad to hear that he too threw around the concept of insight and in fact wanted to contribute to our discussion. Being an administrator myself, it showed the importance of always being a learner and a teacher and not allowing the administrative duties to overshadow those two parts of being an educator.