Scientific Truth September 11, 2008

As I was writing my journal for an Ed science class I am taking, I started to reflect on what we were learning and how we teach.  I have been thinking a lot lately about scientific truth, and how there really is no standard to measure scientific truth with. If you would like to read the whole journal entry click here.  But if not, here is an excerpt with some of my thoughts.

 ”For this reason, I honestly think that we as teachers need to be very open minded when teaching Science.  In my own opinion, I think that the scientific theory of creation should be taught in schools along with evolution. I have studied many creation science journals that use evidence to back-up creation just as evolutionists find evidence to back up their beliefs.  I also think that children should get to choose whether they believe they were ”created” by the Big Bang, or whether they were created by God.  Another positive thing I see about teaching creationism is that it relates to the whole child; it incorporates spirituality along with the intellectual side of science.  It gives children meaning in their own life.  I think we as teachers need to be the first ones to question society’s norms, and we need to be critical and challenge the pre-conceived ideas that we all have in our heads.”

As teachers, we have the responsibility to be critical AND open minded about science.

Blog on Blogging February 14, 2008

For the last month I have been an official blogging buddy for Kathy Cassidy’s grade one classroom.  My buddy is Mathew.  I try to comment on his posts as soon as they are posted.  These blogging exercises have been a great tool for his writing and my teaching.  My buddy is such a great writer already, but it is so good to see him grow and use the advice I am giving him.  I mostly try to remind him of spelling, or grammar that he’s probably seen before.  I also try and comment on the content of the blog. I have mentioned that I would love to see him talk about new and interesting things going on in his life.  This type of journaling is so interactive.  Imagine, a global audience at the age of 6! It is so great to see the grade ones progressing in their writing while having fun.  I can’t wait to see what else Mathew is going to write and how he will continue to grow in his writing.

K12 December 10, 2007

When I listened to one of the K12 conference speakers he spoke about computers in the school and how to implement them.  One of the things he mentioned really interested me.  He talked about how you shouldn’t give out the same “amount” of computers to each teacher and classroom.  At first I thought this sounded unfair, but he explained it well.  He said in the school district he works for, he needs a small written letter explaining what the teacher wants to use the technology for.  If this teacher wants a new computer so he/she can check their email and put together a powerpoint for their class, it’s not being fair to the teachers who are going to use the technology for bigger and better things like blogging, “Google Reader,” online collaboration, video tools, voicethreads etc.  Also, his job is to hold the teachers accountable.  I think this is equally as important.  A teacher might have good intentions to use those types of tools in the classroom, but never give it the time, and the technology could go to waste.  This podcast just interested me because he was coming from the other side of the wall.  He was the one that allocated where the computers go, who used them, and if they used them.  I am on the other side.  I am the ambitious teacher with dreams to use all sorts of technology in the classroom as long as I have the means to do so.

stayin’ organized October 10, 2007

I find that as I get busier, I get messier and less organized. I came across an educational blog that discussed what to do with email. I think he’s got a good idea going. I work in an office, and I get emails coming in at random times. I don’t work everyday, and I find that I go back a week later and wonder if I had dealt with one of the emails! I had read the email, but had I completed the task? Joeal has said that it’s best to read the email and drag it into the correct folder right away. Then anything left in the inbox means that it’s urgent and it needs to be dealt with the next time you look at your inbox. Here is the link to his blog.