tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408098941899321152.post6482248771563501274..comments2011-05-03T21:48:41.055-04:00Comments on tech4teachers: “Are we doing what is best for our students, or are we doing what is most convenient for us?” Well, are we?tech4teachersbloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874335835751268990noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408098941899321152.post-3243020246876727322011-01-28T19:17:28.040-05:002011-01-28T19:17:28.040-05:00I love that you brought up the point of having the...I love that you brought up the point of having the private sector pay for technology in schools! I have thought for a while now that if companies would like students that are better prepared to enter the workforce or more specifically, work for their company, then they should chip in and help fund the education of these students. Imagine how different things would be if companies funded education and helped prepare students for successful careers in their own companies.<br /><br />I also thought it was interesting that you brought up the idea that schools simply lack the technology to do what is best for students. It's a shame really that we don't spend more money on upgrading technology to help our students and to do what is best for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408098941899321152.post-29918222350308940512011-01-27T12:47:42.208-05:002011-01-27T12:47:42.208-05:00Can anyone answer where all the states gambling mo...Can anyone answer where all the states gambling money goes? I thought the whole reason we had state lottery approved was because they promised to pay for schools being built as well as upgrading them? I am just curious if anyone knows where this money is actually being spent. I feel that the state should be held accountable for every dime they spend. We have some of the worst schools and it’s not the teachers fault, the schools are falling apart and they aren’t given the proper tools to teach with. <br /><br />I think everything you said is absolutely correct; teachers can only do so much with the tools they are provided. I hope that the community will one day recognize this issue and fund the schools properly. <br /><br />DarleenDarla82https://www.blogger.com/profile/14527633097680890119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408098941899321152.post-68789742742401667312011-01-25T19:12:03.237-05:002011-01-25T19:12:03.237-05:00As we all know funding will always be an issue in ...As we all know funding will always be an issue in public education. So what can we do to overcome this? This is the question I constantly asked myself. Until recently, I have given up on the notion that the funding is coming. Through the technology I've been given in my classroom I have gone through a lot of searches for free software and programs that I can use with my kids. I've gotten away from worrying about the funding because it puts such a negative feeling inside me. <br /><br />I've told myself that I will no longer worry about things that are out of my control, but I will put to good use what I have and what I can find using the technology I have. I think teachers need to come together with their peers (possible PLC's) and talk about and come up with technology ideas and searches that will help to teach our students.kboyle12https://www.blogger.com/profile/12084993721739113221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408098941899321152.post-15741719183902317002011-01-24T22:05:57.427-05:002011-01-24T22:05:57.427-05:00I agree on many of the points that you made in you...I agree on many of the points that you made in your blog. While doing my undergraduate program for education I was immersed with a lot of the new technology that was provided by a national grant. Then when I graduated and took my first teaching job, I got a wake up call on the lack of technology that was available to me and the lack of funds to try to integrate the technology I had just learned in my undergraduate studies. I think that we can all relate that a first year teacher is also in survival mode and spend much of their first year just making sure they cover the material that needs to be taught. I do, however, have a different perspective on the technology issue now that I have been teaching ten years. I have a lot of the newest technology that has been provided for me via newly constructed classrooms and a pilot program with Texas Instrument. Before the pilot program, I had been at a workshop and got exposed to the technology created by Texas Instrument. I left that workshop saying to myself that I must have that for my classroom. I begun researching ways to apply for grants and asking administrators at my school for ways that I could accomplish this goal. By talking with administrators and also exposing myself to other workshops, I was selected to pilot a new program for Texas Instrument, and in turn, I received the technology I had been seeking.<br /><br />Do I believe this will work for everyone? No. But, I do think as teachers we need to be active advocates for our students and continually try to find creative ways to expose our students to the technology that they so truly deserve.Triciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11522277924157484894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4408098941899321152.post-445199120217331802011-01-24T21:10:23.108-05:002011-01-24T21:10:23.108-05:00I have to agree with quite a few of your points th...I have to agree with quite a few of your points that you made. I often hear from snow-birds that why should they care about the education of the young people today. I think everyone should care, you know it takes a village to raise your child! It will be my 8th grade students who will start working in the grocery store soon. I would like them to be efficient at the check out, and how to count back money. Some time soon those snow birds will have interactions with my students out in the "real" world, I hope my students will be willing to help when it gets confusing to even check out library books.<br />Also, since everyone has attended some sort of school, they all seem to be experts in the subject of teaching. They forget that while I worry about data, I also have to worry about if they had breakfast this morning. I need to differentiate my classroom and help each student to learn in their own way. Then they are assessed on one test, one way. If we could incorporate the computers more, it will only help when the students are expected to take their standards test on the computers! <br />Again it takes a village, I agree the private sector should realize we are producing their "apprentices" What do they feel the students should be learning? Do we really want them having so much control? I don't know that answer but we could sure use the help!<br />RachelRachel's Grad Schoolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07580455704023275457noreply@blogger.com