Learning Journal Ed foundations

This blogg references Jane's rural scenario. "She feels the students don't want to do her work, and that her classes are at times difficult to control. To add to this she has found the community challenging, and at times some parents have seemed openly hostile to the school".

With reference to one of the scenarios, how might knowledge of the philosophy and history of education help you understand your role?

Jane's scenario.
Having experienced a year long posting in a previous retail business to a rural community I can easily understand Jane's feelings. The research I uncovered in relation to the rural postings reflects  an understanding in the academic community of the scope of issues that are being tackled. What's stated in Boylans (2003)pg8 paper was that out of eleven universities in NSW only one was offering rural content for education coarse. I had an arha moment then no wonder rural communities are having such a hard time. Now I thought well what they need to do is start taking students out to do practical experience and thats what the Hudsons(2008) did, their report showed that yeah a simple exercise in hands on development helped change the attitudes of preservice teachers so that they were better equip to make employment selection.

I used to think teaching was.

Teacher+student+classroom+curriculum=school

Looking at the scenario in the scope of her career however unpacks so many issues, this could be just one school of many after all it's a job and if your not comfortable you should move on, certainly if your not doing any good. But if you read the scenario carefully you'll see that there is room to move in her approach, thats where the philosophy of teaching come's into play. Jane can change the work, she can implement different lesson. Jane can have the parents respond to what they believe needs to happen so she has a better understanding of the community.

How might knowledge of the philosophy and history of education help you understand your role?
I certainly had feelings about what type of teacher I wanted to be, I think that I understood what the role was in context of the community. This  was all before I actually started educating my self in the philosophy  and history of education. I'd like too think at the very least it would make me a better teacher (optimist), of coarse the pessimist in me says I'm just part of the industrial machine making more gogs.(the realist in me is typing).Mostly I'm feeling like I'm joining a relay race that's already started and I will never see the end of, just the people I participate with.
I think it's helped me feel good in knowing that the field is evolving beyond what I experienced. I believe that we grad dippers are being trained to be better teachers then then our predecessors. Our Education of the profession/Trade it's history and philosophy helps me understand the teaching environment's we are entering and hopefully will help me with my career.
I'm aligning my own philosophy's and beliefs into existing frameworks this is saving a lot of thinking time which I'm sure is why they do it.
My own basic philosophical belief is that education should be presented to all pupils equally without restraint's imposed by race, economic status, religious beliefs or political views and we educators must strive to be relevant and have a objective view of the past.

Understanding my role?
Not every school is going to be the same nor is the communities or students, philosophy's good and all but I'd rather make up my mind on the job (I could be developing unrealistic expectations of my self).

The nine provocations

Should we teach students or subjects?

When I'm presented with a student that wants to learn more I'll teach them more otherwise I will endeavour to deliver the subjects in a fun provoking manner.

How will I control my students?

I think understanding my limits will help a lot in the class room as well as having mechanism to implement when that happens rather then just say I don't know lets move on.

Thanks

reflective journal Technology KLA

First Tut I thought went well despite the failings of our ICT to deliver the content we needed. chuckle

Amanda's instruction I found delivered results that I found valuable.

Analysing the motivations of the myself to become a teachers and learning of the groups was encouraging.   

The reading by Egan on Curriculum was interesting and It raises many question which I think will be answered  when I watch the Lecture when it's avalible etc.The releasing of a national curriculum will have a huge impact and I'm thankful for the fact that I'm not going to be intrenched in one style and changing, I'm sure the teachers of the ACT feel happy with the system they have.

To me the word curriculum is the framework we operate under and outlines process of delivering and the outcomes?

A point was made to me last night over dinner that ICT is hugh in schooling now days and with the new National curriculum schools can now deliver most things online and you won't need teachers. I laughed after I thought  about it for a moment after I realised No parent's will ever let there kids stay at home on mass every day unsupervised not to mention that design is one of those subjects where you need  facilities to learn and teach.

9 provocations

number6. What will students want and need from me?  

My initial thought was direction ,content delivered in an interesting way, safety , ideas, respect and after the tut with amanda it seems obvious and overlooked but. 

Regular and meaningful Feedback! thanks Amanda

cheers

Digital Divide research topic 1 post1

What is the digital divide ?  

The digital divide is what exist today for a percentage? of students/adults that simply don't have access to the learning opportunity's that computers deliver.These include Web 2.0  Information Communication Technologies like community wiki's or other social networking sites like facebook blogs etc, as well as Web 1.0 general web pages that readers should be familiar with over the last 10 years.
My understanding of the definition comes from WordIq.com http://www.wordiq.com/about.htm It's as good as any site for a broad definition (Davison and Cotten; 2003) theory form the basis of the definition  I'm running with it because I liked there Web ethos.
I will explore the definition in my blog but basically the digital divide is not simply about the physical access to a computer, The issue has broadened in the last couple of years, to include quality of computer, cost of package of service provider(stemming from competition I believe) as well as the socioeconomic or geographic position of the user and that even then they aren't necessarily the only factors that contribute to the gap.


To be continued.........

Thanks

References

WordIQ
http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Digital_divide

My First Blog

Here I am located in my head in front of my box posting my first blog and wishing I had more to say !

Thanks