Final Post of 402!

Blog  5

Content knowledge

“Connected: An Autobiography about Love, Death and Technology.”

After Viewing the film, what particularly stuck you as powerful or important?

The film Connected brought a lot of questions about our future as a human race and the monumental changes going on right now.  I remember being young, about 6, my mother brought home a new device.  This device had a monitor like a TV but also typed and printed documents.  She used this ‘box’ to type tests for her students and mail co-workers.  I was baffled! What was this machine that could do so much and be so small? How has this rarity now become a must in our modern world? This computer my mother used is simply one of the first evolutions of the personal PC, an indispensible tool I personally use every day, for work, enjoyment and writing music.   The internet now connects us to the world as stated in the film, but it hit me that time and space have now shrunk.  Yesterday I emailed my friend from Israel and texted a friend in Boston as well as talking on the phone with my family in El Salvador. Our world is shirking and that brings us closer to problems and solutions, responsibility.  We can’t hide anymore, as Tiffany Shlain mentions “The world’s central nervous system” our minds are open now, how should we use this new power? Too sell more jewelry or end sex slavery throughout America and the world, should we make more commercials or feed every child in the world?

The battle between right brain and left brain very much interested me about the importance of societal community and the power of the sexes.  While women use more right brains and men can be associated with left brain activity, does this mean art (right brain) is girl. I view the two hemispheres as complementary and we live with both sides of our brains working together. 

Cheers One and All!

Gabriel Guevara

I responded to:

Anne Garvey

Kathryn Leonard

Blog Content Knowledge Session 5

1.      “Disciplines are not collections of certified facts; rather, they are lenses through which we look at the world and interpret it…they orient our attention to specific questions about the world…and provides us with standards for what counts as viable answers to such questions.” (Boix Mansilla, Gardner and Miller, OnDisciplinary Lenses and Interdisciplinary Work)

What is one specific way that your content research thus far has caused you to re-think about an idea, or question, or caused you to challenge assumptions that you had previously not considered—or—even pushed you further in your thinking? Discuss.

This week raised questions about the view of dance our state holds, not to offer dance in our public schools, while charter schools and more art oriented school have dance programs. Some children learn kinesthetically, and I feel we are leaving them out.  

My research has opened my view to the many struggling music programs around the state.  At first I thought our bay area was hit hard by budget cuts and teacher layoff but many school districts around the state are in worse situations.

Most importantly this week I renewed my love for Ballet.  During my undergraduate education, ballet was readily available to be viewed and enjoyed.  This week I focused on watching great works of art by classical artists and even as far back as early baroque ballet.  Although videos are not as magical as a real production it was wonderful to return to an art form I truly cherish.

2.      How do you think the Common Core standards might fit in this narrative of school reform?

The common Core will address some needs that need to be focused on, but I worry about the way that tests will be individually corrected. NCLB focused on bubble answer, which a machine could correct. How will the new Common Core standards be corrected with answers inquisitive and elaborate? I personally fear reading robots, but I feel a system like our P.A.C.T. uses.

As school progression continues and we test new ideas of how to teach our children effectively, I think Common core will be a good start.  The one question I must raise, is how will computer- less schools take the test? Many schools in Mount Diablo district do not have computers, nor do the children know how to type.

3.      My view of unions is a split one, while I believe in teaching unions to protect teachers from injustice, I have heard my mother (a teacher) complain about the teaching union my entire life.  Unions were created in America during the late 1700’s to protect workers from corrupt bosses.  Power must be balanced, but that is a hard scale to get perfect.  I do disagree with some of the teachers union practicing on firing incompetent teachers, but I also believe teachers must be protected.

“Let’s start with the hardest question: should teachers’ unions exist? Do the protections they offer their members depress student achievment? Are they an “adult interest group,” as their critics charge, whose priorities conflict with the needs of their students? Would schools improve if there were no unions to represent the teachers?”  (Ravitch, 173).

I responded to:

Jennifer Steele

Monica Mitra

The Raising of America, Session Three

Videos: http://www.raisingofamerica.org/

What strikes you as most important in this discussion of the relationship between social policy, child development and later achievements?

As the videos played I wondered: Is well being comparative? How do we measure test scores from different countries with no worldwide tests for our children? By comparing our “stats” of workers, development, ext. to over countries what is our goal? Our goal as a society should not be the best country but rather have the happiest, free people as our forefathers penned.   Does being the best mean our children will be happy and free to pursue their passions in life or does it mean more tests?

A fact I found disturbing in Raising of America was the fact that America gives such a short maternity leave.  This disrupts me to the bone, forcing women to return to work so soon after giving birth, what does that say about the rights women have in America?

Investing in our futures-educate our children, reduce crime, poverty=less educated

What do you think perspective adds to the discussion of school reform?

Parents, teachers, politicians, law writers, governors and students all differing views and perspectives.   These conflicting views seem to halt development and practices to better educate our children.  While parents and teachers want similar outcomes I have seen many times the two fighting over funding and pedagogical practices.  I think we should pay attention to what our students want out of their education and listen to their ideas.   

What is one question these videos raise for you?

Do we really see ourselves in a race for the best educated nation or do we truly want our friends and neighbors’ children thrive?

Responded to:

Taylor Franceschi

Sara Carver

"Mind the Gap: Session 2"

Mind the Gap

1.    Chapter 1: In recounting her journey through many education reforms, Diane Ravitch makers a number of provocative statements. Choose two, quote them and personally respond.

Quote 1

…Chandler Bagley complained about the “fads and reforms that sweep through the educational system at periodic intervals”.  (pg,3)

It is nice to hear that fads in teaching come and go, in a time with so much negative feelings toward NCLB we know that the sun will rise again.  We might find ourselves frustrated with the new common core standards, but again we will see them pass and new ideas take shape.  Our mission is to promote new/old ideas that work and apply them to our classrooms.  We do not need to be pigeon holed into a single theory or practice, but rather teach with our students at the front of our minds.

Quote 2

“Over the past two decades, the state of California replaced its reading curriculum, its mathematics curriculum, and its science curriculum, but the history curriculum-touching on some of the most sensitive and controversial topics and events in American and world history-endured.” (pg, 7)

This quote definitely hits a personal chord in my early upbringing as a Hispanic male in a majority Caucasian focused history curriculum which our state still subscribes to.  In our present time Caucasians are no longer the majority and the harrowing stories of minorities need to be taught and discussed.

2.  2     How would you characterize a well-educated person? What should any well-educated person know in today’s world?

Teachers need to not only know the most current pedagogical approaches, but also be well educated.  What does it mean to be well educated? Go to an accredited university or get high marks? Is being well educated have to do with flexibility and understanding of other’s opinions as Ravitch states? I agree with Ravitch’s statements that to be well educated has more to do with thinking and learning a variety of subjects, as well as “listening respectfully to others”.

3. 3      What would you like to say that you did not say?

I’d like to state that I am greatly enjoying this book, whose author is both engaging and interesting, recalling history and current events. I would also like to know why the performing arts standards have not been undated, in a time of curriculum change it seems the arts are getting forgotten again.

4.   4   Choose one gap listed from your subject area and identify 3 resources: a website, an article, and a book that can help you fill that gap.

Mead, V. H. (1994). Eurhythmics: In Today's Classroom. New York: Schott.

The prime text book for students of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, containing games, music and pedagogical techniques. The back of the book contains a library of movement/music games to be played with students of all grades.

My lack of knowledge about Dalcroze Eurhythmics has been filled by this wonderfully complex and beautiful hand book to teaching movement and music in the classroom. The book gives great ideas for integrating music and dance into everyday routines and holidays.  After reading sections of this book I am already playing music games with my summer campers daily.

Mackie, J. (1978). Basic Ballet: The Steps Defined. New York: Penguin Books.

Grau, A. (2005). Eyewitness: Dance. New York: Dorling Kindersley

The next two sources expanded my understanding of dance and its many forms and styles.  My experience with dance has mostly been as a fan with a few dance classes over the years.  These books give me a better idea of the complex movements and techniques I need to research in order to become more acquainted with the beauty of movement.

5.5      Why/how any two of these articles were useful to you topic/questions?

Focusing my ideas and imagination and allowing for exploration within my field of interest.

I responded to:

Ashley Gould

Kelly Bull