Session 3: Distance Education

Now, obviously the world of distance learning has been strongly entrenched in graduate programs throughout the country for more than a decade. However, over the last half decade, the trend of distance learning has begun to also make strong appearance in the K12 world. There is even now an Internationl Association for K12 Learning (iNACOL). Watch this video of Susan Patrick who is the current President and CEO of iNACOL:

Next read this recent article from the NY Times entitled "Study Finds That Online Education Beats the Classroom".

Finally, read this third article entitled Ed Tech Trends to Watch for 2010.

Now to post your comments, be sure that you have clicked on the Session 3 title above which will take you to the postings page. Then click on the "Post a comment" link and then write your thoughts. Your comments should be 300-500 words... give specific references to each article. After you've finished and reread your comments, be sure to choose an identity and to click on the "Publish your Post" button.

Session 4: Parent-Teacher Conference

Often new teachers feel very intimidated by the Parent-Teacher Conference. I remember my first conference. I was closer to the age of my students. Their parents were close to the age of my parents. Consequently I didn't feel like I had any authority. In short, I was terrified! Here is an excellent article entitled Meeting With the Parents -- Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences. Read the article carefully, then, in 200-500 words, share what you believe are the four most valuable suggestions. Don't just list the suggestions... be sure to make a comment why you believe that those suggestions are particularly helpful.

Session 5: Do Schools Kill Creativity?

I was really captivated by Ken Robinson's talk about creativity... or the lack of creativity... in our schools. Watch this video and then let me know your thoughts. Again be specific when referring to his points.

Session 6: A Vision of Students Today

In Session 1, we watched a famous video, called The Connected Classroom. This is a more recent, but even more famous video called A Vision of Students Today... note that the video has had over 3 1/2 million viewers. However, while that video focuses on is the university classroom, another more recent video is entitled, A Vision of K-12 Students Today. What message do these videos bring to you? Do you think that teachers need to adjust or is it the students who need to adjust?

Session 7: DIY University

DIY stands for Do-It-Yourself. In Session 3, we read about Distance Learning and you expressed your opinions. Now, we'll read a couple articles about how you too can go to Princeton... or MIT. Too expensive, you ask? Well, can you afford Free? This is often refered to as a "Do-it-yourself education". First read the following article entitled "Online Lectures Making Learning Free and Fun". Also read the article about how this has impacted the international community, "Free Online Lectures from Top Colleges and Universities". Comment on both articles... mention the value that this might have to you personally and to you as an educator.

Session 8: Finding Videos

OK, now it's your turn to find videos that you feel that you could use either in your own K12 classroom or for reference in your own studies. Locate two videos... one from each site below. Both were highlighted in last's sessions work:

• Academic Earth
• YouTube EDU

List the two sites in your comments... with the specific URL address for each one... and, also with each listing, mention briefly (100-150 words) why you believe that they might be useful to you.

Session 9: Humor in Schools

Humor? Does humor really have a place in the classroom? Won't you lose control of the classroom if you use humor? Watch this video and let me know your thoughts.

Then also watch the lessons presented by these two history teachers. The first gives a lesson on Patrick Henry? Then this second teacher teaches his students about kamikaze pilots. Do you think that those were effective lessons?

Finally, check out this list below that a former student sent to me, in his reflections about the links above. The list is from an essay entitled, “Ten Specific Techniques for Developing Humor in the Classroom” by Richard L. Weaver II and Howard W. Cotrell:

Session 10: The Powerful Influence of Teachers

As we all know, there are days when teachers find their profession demanding and stressful. Well, perhaps there are even weeks like that. Regardless, teaching is an awesome profession... a profession where you can both save lives... literally... and impact the future... positively. Discuss your thoughts about the following videos. The first story is a sad, but true story from the 1960s. A movie was made in the 1970s that has let the story be retold over and over... hopefully alerting future teachers to the power that they have to literally save lives. This story can be read in full at this site"... or the movie may be watched from these recently posted YouTube videos (Part 1 and Part 2) Teachers have a tremendous opportunity to reach out to "lost" children who may otherwise feel abandoned by the world. It's hard work to teach all the subject matter and then teach the "children" as well. Now consider this video, entitled "Encouragement to Teachers". Comment on both videos.

Session 11: Best Practices

Now this Best Practices site is truly "what it's all about". That is, I once thought about structuring this whole course around this site. However, there was so much else I wanted to include also. But now, as we are approaching the end of the course, take a moment... in fact, several moments, to look through this site. Do you ever use the Jigsaw method in your teaching? ... or Inquiry Learning... or Project-based Learning. Those teaching strategies, as well as others mentioned on this site, should used periodically in every teacher's classroom. Research shows that those strategies lead to fuller student learning and understanding. If we know that, why do we ever still use the least effective way of teaching.... lecture?