Blogging

Until taking a class, I hadn't really blogged before. Sure I used status updates on social networking sites such as facebook and myspace. Through blogging, I have learned that it is a great tool for those in education. I know that I have even used blogs on projects for different classes. I think it is a good idea and goes along with what Will Richardson said about the 10 big shifts is that there are many many teachers. This is a good idea to get information from different teachers and works as a collaborative tool. It is a good idea to have a blog as a tool to get those ideas. It can also be a good idea from students to get ideas on different things.

I'm not sure if I'm going to continue my blog or not. I have a very busy spring semester coming up so it will probably depend on how much extra time I have.

Cutting Costs

I was reading an article on cutting higher education costs. To cut the costs, in California, some schools are cutting the amount of students enrolled. Over the next few years, it is believed to end up with 40,000 cuts in the enrollment. The students who do get in, will have to pay more money and not have as good of an education. Even though this is happening in California, I believe that it is something that we should pay attention to in other states. Why should college students have to suffer for wanting a decent education? It's ridiculous.

Students and faculty protest outside the Cal State trustees' meeting in Long Beach, seeking to end the continual "academic restructuring" that comes with budget cuts. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times / November 18, 2009)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks30-2009nov30,0,2466114.column

Technology for me

The technology I use the most are my digital camera, cell phone, laptop, ipod touch, and a recorder that I use to help my friend understand his lectures in his class. I think for me, a technology penalty would be not having my phone. I use it every day when I need a ride back to my apartment from school.

I'm always saddened when I hear about job layoffs and lack of money for programs because of the economy. What makes me even sadder is hearing about education cut backs. One program in particular that is being cut back is free preschool programs. This is horrible. Many people can not afford to pay for preschool and free education for this age group is great because then the children have (more of) an equal opportunity as those who can afford it. Children learn so much being in a preschool. This article explains more about it:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2009/nov/02/state-nurseries-funding-education

Even if this article is about another country, it shows that everywhere we are facing hard economic times.

Today while I was reading news articles, I came across one that talked about this plan sponsored by the Obama's education department is calling, "The Race to the Top." Basically, from the information that I have read, this plan goes along with No Child Left Behind, but the way this works is that schools will be basing teacher pay off of how well their students do well on testing. While I believe there are some benefits to this plan, such as maybe not having teachers who maybe should not be teaching, I think that there are a lot more downfalls to this plan.

The teacher's pay will be based on testing. This most likely will be standardized testing which already does not work for many children and then the teacher will be compensated poorly, not because of their teaching, but because the system in place already is not working. There are many other ways to document children's learning that should not be by standardized testing.

http://www.examiner.com/x-2157-Charter-Schools-Examiner~y2009m10d25-Gates-Foundation-and-Obama-Administration-unequally-yoked

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/10/race_to_the_top_teachers_left.html

http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/news/photos/story/885203.html

I just read an article that will help save 250,000 education jobs. I think that is pretty awesome because of how bad the economy is. I've kinda had first hand experience with job cuts as my father lost his job last September because of the economy. I think that anything that will help save jobs, especially in the education field are especially important.

After all, the children are the future and what we teach them now will affect what the future is like for us.

http://education.change.org/blog/view/stimulus_funds_create_and_save_250000_education_jobs

Texting While Driving

I was just reading an article on texting while driving. It seemed kind of sad to me because it said that in the past 5 years, about 100 teenagers have died while texting and driving just in New York City and Long Island. While that number may not be all that great, the number keeps on rising each year and that tells us that something needs to change.

Texting can be useful and a good tool for communication if there isn't much service, but while driving, really, it should be put away. It's so dangerous; not only for the driver, but the others on the road.

This is a case where technology is not all that useful.

http://www.philly.com/philly/wires/ap/news/state/new_jersey/20091004_ap_textingdrivingwreckskill95nyteensin5years.html

So I was reading a little bit about what other bloggers had to say about the Early Learning Challenge Fund, (my post from last week). They found an article in the New York Times stating just how early childhood programs would be granted the money for funding.

I wonder though...

It says, "To qualify for grants, states would have to demonstrate that they have established or improved what the bill calls a “governance structure” for their networks of child care centers and prekindergarten programs.

The structure would include quality standards; a curriculum of sorts, appropriate for young children; a mechanism for reviewing programs and assigning quality ratings; minimum training requirements for providers; a plan for reaching out to parents; and a system for collecting data on children and families. The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services would jointly administer the Challenge Fund."

-New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/education/20child.html?hp

Early Learning Challenge Fund

I was just reading about a new initiative in the news. It's called the Early Learning Challenge Fund. Basically, the House has come up with a plan to increase funding to early childhood education programs, which would be $8 billion over 8 years. 

Many children in the United States don't have the same opportunities to go to any type of preschool and therefore, they do not start out on the same page as other children whose parents may be able for them to afford to go to a preschool program. Hopefully, by making a program like this, it will make more spaces for children to enter programs and better quality programs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/education/20child.html?hp

Technology in Early Childhood Classrooms?

In early childhood classrooms, there are many that believe technology may not be the best idea for young children. However, this really isn't the case. There are so many tools that can be used that not only enhance education but give students a chance at using items they would use in real world settings. Just because they are young, does not mean they are not capable or do not have the capabilities. We are teaching children how to live in the world, so why not give them the most that we can?

I found a website that gives many examples of why technology is so important in the classroom and ways that it can be incorporated and which tools are appropriate. 

http://www.nwrel.org/request/june01/intro.html

Like the site says, there are many more options for technology than just computers. A couple examples of these are:

-Tape recorders allow children to listen to books or allow for playback in their own stories 

-Cameras allow children to capture their special moments, and can self reflect on pictures that they have taken. They not only learn to use the tool, but they also learn how to tell stories.

It may not be such a bad thing after all.