#5 too much emphasis on assessment and accountability instead of on curriculum and responsibility

In an article titled, The Global Search for Education: A View from Norway, the author discusses some of the advantages of the Norway Education system as well as some of the flaws of the U. S. education system. One of the most distinguishing characteristics in Norway's education system is that it is predominately focused on the quality of life. This points to the larger issue of comprehensive education. In this type of education system, students acquire knowledge and experience within demographically diverse learning milieus and face a multitude of expectations that are both cultivating and qualifying. Unfortunately in the United States, we have schools where students are grouped according to their abilities and aptitudes which is reportedly not as effective. 

Naturally, the issue of standardized testing arises. Policy makers and practitioners make gigantic decisions, based on the results of standardized tests, which ultimately affect education. One of the major flaws in this system is that these tests are limited in scope in measuring the quality of teaching and learning in schools. These types of tests are not so good as measuring the content and methods of teaching.

Elements such as critical thinking and other dimensions of human interest and intelligence must be taken into account. In order to become an educated citizen there are many important skills that must be developed such as individual capacity, communication, and receptive skills which are fostered through understanding, interpretation and reflection. In our current education system within the U.S. these types of skills are not measured.

So how do we better address the emotional well-being and intellectual potential of the individual? The charge to the school systems is to promote core values like dignity and respect. This means to stress responsibility over accountability and reform the assessment procedures based on the overall aims of schooling. In Norway, they traditionally address both emotional well-being and the intellectual potential of the individual. It is high time that the U.S. finally adopts these principles as well. We are squelching the joy from our students through standardized testing procedures and constant competition. Instead we could be implementing educational excellence that takes into account the quality of life of individuals and of a society, including artistic and cultural achievements. The United States needs to develop a system where students enjoy themselves and experience a good learning environment. Joy and hard work must go hand in hand.

#4 homeschooling versus public schools

There are many arguments for and against both public and home school. Some of the advantages of homeschool are choice of curriculum, choice of schedule, smaller teacher to student ration and independent learning. Also, homeschooling can really advance a student quickly if they work hard and they stay involved. For example, when public school students run for a council seat within their student body, it is a pretend council seat. Homeschool students can actually learn about real city officials and the actually government officials. Arguments against home school say that it's more expensive, teachers are not qualified to teach all subjects, it's harder to provide social interaction, and colleges may have stricter admission policies.

Some of the pros of public schools are learning in a group setting, extra-curricular activity, more curriculum opportunities, and diverse social education. Ultimately, I feel it is up to the parents to address the individual needs of their child. For example, does the child have special needs, either physically, intellectually, socially or emotionally? It is important to analyze your own situation. If you choose homeschooling, can you provide the needed environment of learning? Or can the public school system provide the needed environment of learning

#3: It's not just technology, but how you use it

We all heard the presentation about how technology used in schools does not necessarily convert to higher student test scores. As the group nicely summed it up, they said, "It's not just technology, but how you use it." This is true, and as future teachers we are the ones responsible for making sure our kids are using the technology for useful, invigorating, educational stuff. We have to create an environment for our students where they can use the technology for meaningful help to better understand lessons and the world around us. Businesses in 2011 and beyond use Google docs, SmartBoard, Excel, i-phone apps, etc. Since we are teaching kids how to be future contributing citizens to our society, we need to equip them with how to use and understand these tools.

Using technology in the classroom has many benefits because the students are playing an active role rather than the passive role of recipient of information transmitted by a teacher or textbook. The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate, or display information. Lastly, when technology is used effectively in the classroom, the teachers role changes as well. As students work on their technology assigned tasks, the teacher rotates through the room, looking over shoulders, assisting students where needed. This creates good accountability for the room, but also allows for independent, creative thinking.  All in all, I believe if teachers correctly incorporate meaningful technology in the classroom then the benefits will be superior.

#2: Pros and Cons in Every Job

Recently, I have spent countless hours searching for new job posts on craigslist, Zotlink, and Monster. I have been on interviews for advertising jobs, administrative positions, and a plethora of sales jobs. In all of these jobs your success depends on the "number of items sold". Money must exchange hands in order for business to exist and thrive. On a different note, in the education field, teachers "sell" education to young minds. Success is measured much differently. Now seeing that I am currently seeking job opportunities in other fields I must admit that I am satisfied by the notion of being around young people and teaching them stuff everyday. However, I am also attracted to the idea of working as a business woman in the workforce of the adult world and hopefully making good money. Only, making money is never easy no matter what job you have.

Lately I've been thinking that once I get "burned" enough times in the sleazy sales world of dishonest business people, I'll probably go back to pursuing teaching. Although teaching has it's cons also. For starters, the bureaucracy of the education system is enough to make anyone go mad. Secondly, the classroom demographics are often so diverse that it is impossible to meet the needs of all your students. For instance, I student taught in a 4th grade classroom with 34 students where 19 of them were not fluent in English. A handful of these students could not speak English at all! Now how is the teacher supposed to create meaningful, educational, challenging and inspiring lessons everyday that reach everyone in the class? Some students will be bored out of their minds from lack of cognitive stimulation while others will be bored out of their minds from not understanding a single word. I found tasks like these immeasurably daunting and exhausting.

As I continue to pursue my career in this world I'm hopeful that I will find a place where I belong in this universe. I desire a respectable profession that keeps me motivated, happy, and satisfied where I can be inspired to grow and benefit the world everyday.

#1: Educational Experiences with Technology

Deep in my memory I can still recall the first time I ever touched a computer. It came to our house in a white box that had a picture of an apple with rainbow stripes. As Forrest Gump so eloquently stated, "some fruit company". It still does look like a fruit company. After the newness wore off and us kids were allowed to touch this machine thingy, my brother taught me how to play pac-man. At school I remember playing typing games for brief increments of time after lunch. Even though I was only in 1st grade I could already feel that sense of competition rising up in me. "I supposed to be a faster typer than my neighbor... hmmm... well than I should probably use more fingers than my two pointers".

Years down the road my dad got us a new Gateway computer that seemed way more fancier than the previous machine. On this device my family had dial up internet access and my brother could play poker with a stranger from another country. At this point in my life my friends had computers too so we played Oregon Trail a bunch. Somewhere in my middle school years I learned about power point presentations and in high school I took a computer class as an elective. Here I learned some basic excel skills, some word doc shortcuts, and I slightly enhanced my typing wpm.

It was not until my college years that I got a new MacBook. This purchase thrust me into a whole new world of Garage Band, i-tunes, i-dvd, i-move, i-photo...etc. My life is forever changed.