Blog #3

The latest website that I have reviewed and have found to be immensely interesting and informational is K12 Education, http://www.k12connection.org/. The section that I have reviewed is name “Classroom Education Advice” and it offers advice to newly certified teachers, and in this case, aspiring teachers. Although we are not currently teachers of our own classroom, many of my peers and myself have already encountered “difficult” students in our field observation classes. Personally, what I have witnessed has been a “rude awakening” of what I may find in my future as an educator. As the website states, “students who may not be as respectful of their elders as was once commonplace, many teachers need to know as much as crowd control as they do about mathematics or English lessons. An unruly classroom is not conducive to learning, and if allowed to get out of hand can cause real problems for the teacher and the students.” There are four sections that offer advice: first impressions in the classroom, seating arrangements, music and body language. The section that I’ve found to offer the most information that can be useful in my future is Body Language. The reason why I found it to be most important is because I feel that this is the topic that can help me, since I tend to be shy and only want to be seen as friendly at times. Some of the suggestions that are given are that, “when you walk into the room, walk in like you mean it, stand up tall, walk with purpose and look like you mean business. When you speak, speak clearly and with authority, shouting isn’t the answer, but speaking in a loud and determined voice will soon let the class know that you are there and it’s time to start work.”  I feel that this suggestion will give me the means to take better control of my future classroom, and I would like to get better educated in this topic. We, the students in the blocks, can be taught all the strategies and be given all the resources to teach the content, but without proper classroom control, we cannot teach the class properly. Unfortunately, we will inevitably face a classroom within our career that will prove to be tough to handle at times, but perhaps with strategies and methods, we can learn how to take control of the class environment.

Blog #2

The most recent website that I’ve visited is Edutopia, http://www.edutopia.org/, and I’ve found it to have a wealth of information for educators. I find this site particularly interesting because I enjoy the fact that it has video’s that educators can utilize in instruction or for a demonstration. Personally, I do not particularly like using YouTube as a source to find videos because of the fact that there are so many different videos that can be posted that have irrelevant or inappropriate videos. Unlike YouTube, all the videos that are available are related to education in some form or another, and they seem to be all very appropriate for any audience. Additionally, Edutopia does not only offer videos but useful information as well, which is sorted by the type of strategies and the grade level that one may choose. An example of information that is available on Edutopia is a blog regarding the hiring process of charter school. I found this information interesting because it gives me the insight I need as not only a teacher, but a person whom is looking for employment. A topic that I would appreciate learning about is not in regards to teaching techniques, but instead information that we, the future educators, can utilize which can aid us in the hiring process we will hopefully encounter in the future.

Blog #1

One of the websites that I've visited recently is EDTECH, http://edtechisland.wetpaint.com/, and it describes how with the help of a simulation program named Second Life, teachers can receive a first hand experience in situations that they may not normally face in real life. In this specific website, they focus on how Boise State University created “EDTECH Island” on Second Life that focuses on helping education and hosting teaching events. In our Block I courses it was mandatory to do assignments on Second Life, and much like Boise State University, UTPA also has their own designated section in Second Life that focuses on students of the College of Education. Although I did not find it useful at the time of my Block I courses, perhaps I could utilize Second Life in order to learn how to deal with “difficult students.” I found during my first day of our current field observation that I was overwhelmed by the students that we in the school. Some students were hyperactive, others were “troubled”, and other students were unresponsive. Although I do not believe that it should be mandatory, perhaps utilizing Second Life for our own professional growth would be a great tool.