Blog Post #5

Imagination

This weeks blog to pay attention to is Krissy Venosdale's. Krissy is a teacher who seems to look for the inspired everyday. Her blog is full of interesting thoughts and ideas. There are great free poster and information on the what she loves to do and teach.
She has one blog post in particular that talks about what she would do if she built a school. She has some very brilliant ideas about what she would include in a school. She focuses on creativity, innovation, character, and instilling the desire to learn, which I think are the most important things to teach.
I have said for a long time that if a child is eager to learn something you should give them the means and opportunity to do so. A child is going to retain more knowledge if they have a passion for a particular subject. Educational desires and passions should be nurtured and encouraged so that the child feels secure in their abilities to learn and discover new things.
I was asked to share what I would do if I were able to build a school, and honestly the question baffles me, because I would have no clue where to start with educating the masses. I think the one thing that stands out in my mind is more individual attention and helping a child figure out how best they learn. I was never taught that in school, ever and I am still constantly figuring out things about the way I learn best. It has made school somewhat of a struggle over the years. Also, I would probably focus on community with my teachings. That is something we have lost a society. How can I do what is best for me, but at the same time how can it benefit my community. People use to help their neighbors, now most people don't know them. I guess it boils down to how can I make my world a better place for myself and those around me.

New Frontier
Virtual Choir
Interview with Eric Whitacre
This is something that blows my mind. That is the one thing I miss from high school is choir and maybe if I would have known about this years ago I wouldn't have missed it so much. I think this is just amazing on so many levels. It gives you a sense of how music connects people on so many levels. What also blows my mind is that someone actually sat down and took the time to do all that editing. That is a big task if I have ever heard of one.

Teaching in the 21st Century
Teaching in the 21st Century is something that Kevin Roberts is very much spot on about. Although I will not be teaching in a class room setting I do feel very strongly about teaching skills instead of just facts. In America we spend 13 years of a child's life cramming facts down their throats and a majority of them will not be retained. The basics will stick, but unless someone is a scientist then they probably will not remember symbols from the periodic table of elements. That is unless you can make a corny joke about them. I feel we spend too much time on facts and not enough time on important things like sorting through the facts and how to make the best decision with the information that you have. Those are the types of things that they will use throughout life.

Flipping the classroom videos Katie Gimbar
Dr. Lodge McCammon
Ms. Munafo
We were asked if flipping is something that we could use in our classrooms when we become teachers, personally this is something I would not use since I am not going to be in a classroom setting, but I do think it is a good idea. I think there would be some technical issues you would have to work out like what do you do with those students who never do their homework, not because they can't, but because they don't want to. I would be interested in seeing an example of it working. The whole concept makes sense to me.