another fischbowl

Karl Fisch's best article from April of 2007 is titled "180 Days". This article talks about how a professor used on of Mr. Fisch's videos to show to his class at a university about curriculum changes. His video of "Did You Know?/Shift Happens" started the class off on a discussion. The primary topic that arose from their discussion was is there really enough time to teach anymore than required, traditonal material.
They brought up the possibility that the entire 180 school days aren't always used for instruction as it is. The video shows different things that should strike up conversation to begin thinking about possible changes. The videos, both from Mr. Fisch and from Barry Bachenheimer, could be great conversation starters. However, they are not tools for classrooms, but rather they are conversation starters and ways to get people to think about possibilities for the future.

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Technology Literacy

Just as Mr. Fisch states, teachers do need to have a basic understanding of technological processes. I agree with his point that if teachers do not know how to do it, it is almost impossible for them to model it or teach it to students. Technology is becoming essential to success in this time period and in order to succeed in life today you do need to have a basic understanding.
I could see how it would be more difficult for older people today, for the simple fact that they did not grow up with all these new technological developments. Things were simpler and they had a more "natural" way of life. So to add a huge new componet to teachers who have had a certain style of teaching for years can be very difficult. And being creatures of habit I understand how it would be very difficult to deal with a new style. However, it still holds true, that just as we teach students that there are always new things to learn, we ourselves must take that to heart and understand the importance of technology to our lives and to our students for the future as well. If we truely want to make them successful we must be able to teach them the basic skills they need for success in our world today. And at this time technological knowledge is a very important aspect.

International Sites

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This site is primarily used as a tool to help teachers intrested in teaching internationally to find openings. The site can take you to all different schools and gives facts about the programs and where the school is and about the students and other such information. People who look at this site can comment about what they have read and let people know if they are intrested in a position, or to just keep others up to date on what is going on in other places. This is not exactly an appropraite site for students or classroom education, however, it is a great resource for teachers!




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This Blog is from a teacher keeping in touch with friends and prehaps other students about her travles and her adventures in teaching international students in the states. After having trouble finding international school using blogs, I came across Ms. M's blog. She gives updates and posts pictures on the blogger site for people to keep up to date on her progress in teaching other students. She shares her expereinces for all people to benefit from.

Blogs in Classrooms

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This site is used by a fifth grade teacher in Noel, MO to communicate with his class. Mr. C's blog is very fun and entertaining. It has posts of students achievments and is very encouraging and supportive. He also sends out reminders of assingments and other such topics to help the students stay on tasks. He uses a common form of communication for fifth graders today to help them develop their technology skills and keep them on track with their school work. He can send updates about school being canceled for snow days and his students have an easy way to get in touch with him and communicate or ask questions.

Another blog that I found was created by Lori Elliot, a fourth grade teacher in Nixa, Missouri. On her blog she has class projects and photos posted. She has a resource section for her students to go and click on a link to give them more information about certain topics they are studying in all different subject areas. An aspect that I find very helpful is that she has a link for "Parent Help". To give parents understanding about how to help thier children with their work and to keep the parents updated on what the class is doing. The beach theme throughout the entire site make the blog fun and enjoyable for students to explore.


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