A lot of our teachers have mentioned that it is important to stay current with what the students are into and what is cool. I think that staying current is definitely an important thing to do. However, sometimes it can be quite rough, during my PS1 I was in a rural elementary school. Can anyone guess who was really cool at that school? Hannah Montana, so my friend (student teacher as well) who was in the same school, 2 grades up, sat down and decided we needed to know what this intense love was about!! We made it through about 5 minutes of the show before questioning what was going through our kids' heads? I am guessing we watched a bad episode, I have seen a snippet before that was not that bad, but for the mass love of the show, we were confused.
I understand that I probably went through those phases that teachers also didn't understand, Where in the World is Carmen San Diego? (just discussed it today actually), Rugrats, Alex Mack (she was touched with toxic waste and then could just disappear because of it)Home Improvement, Step by Step, and I could probably go on for quite a while (I am currently feeling really old so I will move on). I wonder what my teachers thought of these shows when I would talk about how great they were.
I wonder if our generation was as influenced by the television as the current generation is? I had a student in grade 1 who did not own a ball. Can anyone honestly say that any of their friends didn't own a ball? Any form of ball! I think that this generation is so far removed from physical life that it is hard to relate my life to theirs. I know we can always make a connection, but sometimes it is irritating to me that they have moved so far away from the physical activities and to a sit on the couch and watch a box or look at the computer.
I may be more irritated by this currently because I am taking Physical Education for Non-majors and am seeing disgusting statistics about obesity! It is disgusting to learn how many children are obese and that the new generation may be the first generation in a long time, that won't have a longer life expectancy than their parents, it's crazy.
Now to come back to the real issue at hand, we need to realize that students are obviously influenced by their peers and popular culture, so we need to use that to our advantage. We need to show good examples of popular culture or connect it to what we are teaching. Ie. Miley Cyrus teaching dance moves, that can be connected to physical education or just some point in class when you need a bit of movement, perhaps a class project?
I think as a teacher, I will need to buckle down and experience some of these activities that the student enjoys, so I can relate a bit better to my student. I think I have got quite a good thing going with this Twilight series, I enjoy it and so does most of the world! Maybe my students will call me hip :)
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I know what you're talking about, technology has failed on me several times as well. I've had to do a presentation off the top of my head because my powerpoint didn't show up, and as you mentioned, I've also lost a paper. However, my couple bad experiences with technology certainly does not outweigh how much easier it has made my life. Even with taking notes in class, a computer is just so much easier for me since I can type information much faster than I write.
ReplyDeleteAnd in schools, I agree that the expansive use of technology has been both a hindrance and a benefit. I agree that increasing dependence on calculators is a bad thing as you noted. But, consider newer technology like smart boards and all the benefits it offers. The school I did my practicum in had several smartboards, and the students loved the interactive aspect of it. Also, it works to the teachers benefit because it makes lessons that much easier.
Hey Eric,
ReplyDeleteI do think there are definitely times when life is so much easier with technology. For instance, just last night I was able to organize my trip for this weekend with 2 of my sisters via email. I got flight information(when I needed to pick up sister), maps, and planned some events all within probably 5 minutes because we were able to email each other the information we each had found.
I do appreciate technology, but I do think we need to use it in moderation. Just like the homework that we assign to our kids, moderation is key.
I do appreciate learning how to use all of these technologies, because I sometimes think that we take for granted that all computer skills are already ingrained in us. For me this is definitely not the case, but I think we need to also realize that not every classroom in Alberta has these technologies.
Thanks Eric for responding.. I was actually thinking it was something about being hip and cool with what the kids were into this year, but you surprised me. :)
Brandie you’re not old until you start talking about Different Strokes, Webster, or Punky Brewster. But I am sure someone older than me would list off Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, The Waltons, or Leave it to Beaver. And someone older than that would talk about sitting around the radio listening to Dragnet. You get the point.
ReplyDeleteTwo things that speak to me most in your post Brandie are 1) that you understand the importance of building a rapport with students and 2) you go the extra mile in doing so, i.e., you really took one for the team by watching Hanna Montana. The importance of developing a rapport with students is invaluable. Even if you could not relate to that child that does not own a ball, you at least communicated with him in some way enough to learn that he does not own a ball, which, I agree with you is frightening.
A third thing spoke to me too, namely, students will be influenced by pop culture. There’s no doubt about it. The challenge I present to you Brandie is to give your students the tools, i.e. the knowledge, skills, and attitudes, to be critical consumers of pop culture. With these tools they may decide to buy that ball instead of a cell phone and have the courage and have the confidence to try out for the soccer team instead of playing Rock Band. If the students do decide to buy into the norms or pressures of pop, as critical consumers, they will be doing it on their own terms.
The challenge has been given. Are up to it?