After Class Twenty-three

Due to our "snow day", this is the last blog for which you are asked to post.  In our last class we had the final research paper presentations; many thanks to those who provided interesting topics to discuss.  First we heard about the educational system in Kenya and a foster child case study.  Then we learned about the acculturation of immigrant students and their academic success in Canada.  Last but not least, we heard about schools in India and the differences in quality between public and private institutions.  Great work everyone!
Please note that we will be having lesson presentations both Tuesday and Thursday this week.  Hard to believe Thursday, Dec. 2 is our last class!
See you then.

Class cancelled for Thursday, Nov. 25

Due to bad weather, I'm cancelling class tonight.  Please spend this time working on your final assignments, the portfolio and blogs.  The lesson presentations will be pushed back one class (see posting below).
For more details about the portfolio, have a look at your syllabus.  You should choose three of your best works from your narratives and lesson plans.  The portfolio can be a combination of one narrative and two lesson plans, or two and one, or all three narratives, etc.  There should also be a one page introduction to the portfolio where you discuss why you included each piece and what you have learned from them.
**Please note:  both the blog and the portfolio should be e-mailed to me on their respective due dates.  This way I will be able to return them to you without your having to come to campus.  If you have a paper copy of the blog or have included artwork or other objects, either provide a self addressed stamped envelope or discuss with me how to return it to you.  You can edit the blog postings and/or add to them -- I'm only marking what you send me, not what's on the blog site.  Please also double check the criteria for the blogs.  This assignment should also be e-mailed to me, in one Microsoft Word document, with each of the postings dated. 
Stay warm!

After Class Twenty-one

PLEASE CHECK THIS BLOG AT 4 P.M. THURSDAY FOR INFO ON CLASS CANCELLATION NOV.25.  THE WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED WARNINGS OF SNOWFALL ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING, UP TO 15 CM. 

Please post on this prompt for comments on Nov. 16 & 18 classes.  Again, thanks to our presenters for providing interesting paper topics to discuss.  On Nov. 16, first we heard about the different views around corporal punishment and how it affects children at different ages.  Then we learned about the moral issues surrounding sex education and the parents who choose to have their children opt out.  Next we discussed Freud's impact on child psychology and education.  Then we explored the idea of alternate schools, their philosophical aims and what they teach.  On Nov. 18 we heard about different types of schools such as private, charter and magnet schools and their appeal to parents.  Next we compared the educational pros and cons of two countries' systems, China and Canada.  Then we learned about the value of school trips and how they can mesh with the classroom curriculum.  We also explored the issues surrounding students with ADHD, and also heard about research on autism.



Please note:  if there is no class Thursday, Nov. 25, groups scheduled to present will shift to Tuesday, Nov. 30 and the next group to Dec. 2nd.  The blogs will be due as scheduled on Nov. 30 and the final portfolio on Dec. 2nd.  (You should have eleven entries for the blog, not counting the introductory posting.)  I would prefer these assignments be e-mailed to me, unless you provide a self-addressed stamped envelope with a hard copy.  See you soon.

After Class Nineteen

Please post on this prompt for the Nov. 16 class.  (There was no Nov. 11 class.)  Many thanks to classmates who presented their research papers this week.  First we heard about gender and video gaming and unfortunately how stereotyping seems to be carrying over into the digital world. Next we learned about Aboriginal education and how school closures may affect the quality of education for students who need much support.  We also heard about multicultural education and the divide among teachers who encourage celebrating differences and those who want to avoid emphasizing divisions.  Next we heard about gender and music education; how certain instruments may be perceived as masculine or feminine, and again can be different according to culture. 
Just a reminder that we have about three weeks left in the semester.  It's not too soon to be editing your blog postings and making sure you have your three items in good shape for the final portfolio.  We'll be sharing our Group Lesson plans starting next week.  See you soon.

After Class Eighteen

Please post on this blog for classes Nov. 4 and 9.  Also, you can post about any of the research papers at any time.  The latest group of papers have been from a nice array of subject matter and given us much to discuss.  We've heard about the shortcomings of First Nations education and government policy, and also about how teachers ought to be given more professional development to utilize what is now termed "ubiquitous computing".  Also, we were given an inside look at the Montesorri educational system, and in another paper, what some of the factors are in becoming an ideal teacher.  There was also evidence given about the harmful effects of sleep deprivation, and another paper looked at the deadly connection between bullying and teen suicide.  We also learned about the benefits of small vs. large class sizes, and another topic raised our awareness of how we are but pioneers in finding ways to teach digital ethics.  The last paper explored the link between educational attainment and socio-economic factors.
Please continue to do the readings in our textbook; this week we are looking at teaching as a profession.  Also, please note we have no class on Thursday, Nov. 11 due to Remembrance Day.  See you soon.

After Class Sixteen

Please post here for classes on Oct. 28 & Nov. 2.  We started our work on writing lesson plans and examined the structure many lesson plans follow.  Then we got into groups to try our hand at writing the plans, using magazines, newspapers and books.  These plans will be presented in class in approximately three weeks and can be part of the final portfolio.   We also are continuing our research paper presentations, following the first one on social networking.  Feel free to make any comments on the papers.

After Class Thirteen

Please post on this prompt for the Oct. 21 and 26 classes.  You can comment on the film we watched in class, Stand and Deliver, how it illustrates what we've been covering in our textbook readings, and/or compare it to other films about education, such as Freedom Writers, Dangerous Minds, Akeelah and the Bee, Dead Poet's Society, Notes on a Scandal, Good Will Hunting, Mr. Holland's Opus, Lean on Me, Music of the Heart, To Sir with Love, Blackboard Jungle, and others. 
See you soon.