Rating Teachers by Video Taping

I just read an interesting article about how the Bill Gates  is at it again.  The Bill Gates foundation is investing $335 million through to help improve personnel at several large school districts, mostly teacher quality.  The article, Teacher Ratings Get a New Look,  Pushed by a Rich Watcher, written by Sam Dillon appeared in the New York Times on December 3, 2010. 

One concept that was covered and grabbed my attention the most was the idea of placing video cameras in the classroom to do teacher evaluations.  This would help with the time of administrators and their budgets.  In addition, it could allow teachers to be evaluated by several administrators instead of just one.  Further, Mr. Gates personally feels that it give an opportunity to study good educators - what they do to set them apart from the rest. 

Since I am not in a classroom and really can't imagine the political climate of working in a school, I was wondering what some of you thought about this concept?  How would you feel if you were videotaped?  Would it be okay once in a while?  What if video cameras are in the classroom all the time?  Would that make a difference?

A Figment for Young Imaginations

The New York Times reported on December 5, 2010 that a new web site has been created for teens that have literary aspirations.  The Web site, named Figment, was created by Jacob Lewis and Dana Goodyear.  At first, the intention was for Figment to be a social networking site for teens that share a common interest in writing and literacy.  However, soon after the Beta-test launch, Mr. Lewis and Ms. Goodyear discovered that teens were not interested in replacing their Facebook social networking for Figment.  What they did find, however, "'was to read and write and discover new content, but around the content itself...a free platform for young people to read and write fiction, both on their computers and on their cellphones. Users are invited to write novels, short stories and poems, collaborate with other writers and give and receive feedback on the work posted on the site. '” (Bosman, 2010)

Further, many publishers have signed on to scope Figment and keep an eye out for new talented writers.  The publishers also have something to gain from the site.  There is a new trend in tracking the literary interests of teens.  It is a booming area for the industry.  So, by signing on to Figment, the publishing industry can keep a pulse on what the teens want to read. 

The concept of giving teens a creative outlet is not new, but Figment is a new option for teens to be able to engage in writing and peer review.  Outstanding!

Reference:
Web Site for Teenagers With Literary Leanings. Julie Bosman. The New York Times. 12-5-10. Retrieved 12-7-10.

A Conversation with your PC

So, have your ever wished you could just talk to your computer instead of typing...well, I talk to my computer all the time.  However, it is usually when technology isn't going my way.  But, what if my computer talked back to me?  Have you seen Iron Man or Iron Man 2 where Tony Stark talks to his all-knowing computer named Jarvis? 

Well, according to a ReadWriteWeb article, Google is now one step closer to that technology as they acquired a "U.K.-based speech synthesis company Phonetic Labs in an effort to 'move a little faster towards that Star Trek future' where computers don't only listen, but they talk back, too." (Melanson, 2010)  There is technology that exists already that allows your computer to read texts.  However, the read is often poor as it try and not fluent.  This is going to be a focus of Google as it moves forward. 

The fact that this technology in not too far off into the near future is astounding.  It is weird to think of us using computers that can not only take in what we say, but respond.  What are your thoughts and feelings on having a conversation with your PC?

Google Wants Talking Computers, Acquires Phonetic Arts.  Mike Melanson.  ReadWriteWeb. 12-3-10. Retrieved 12-4-10.

Giving Kids a Positive Attitude Toward Math

As a parent, I am truly concerned about how well my children do academically.  No parent wants to see their child struggle, nor do I want to be a detriment to their learning.  That is why I came across a blog on Edutopia by Betty Ray entitled "Building Math Positively".  Ms. Ray wrote the blog for educators on how to give parents strategies for helping build a positive experience learning math skills (however, you may certainly read the article as a parent and get just as much from it.)

Ms. Ray suggests that there is a connection between children learning math and how they feel emotionally about it.  So, she suggests the following stratgies:

1.) Arrange family conferences - Help parents understand that by placing expectations and pressure on their child to do well, it also places stress on the child.  If you hold family conferences, parents can learning some to the research behind not placing expectations on their child and how it can affect academic success.  Further, she gives some insight on how parents might be able to make math connections with their child by using real-world examples that interest the child.

2.) Re-test to De-stress - I love this strategy as I fully believe that we learning more from our mistakes than we do our successes.  Ms. Ray suggests, "Because progress in math is so strongly based on foundational knowledge, students need to achieve mastery in each topic—which forms the basis from which students can extend their neural networks of patterns and concepts—before they move to the next level."  (Ray, 2010)  Re-testing allows students to fully build that foundation and master material that they may not have understood before.

3.) Demonstrate the Value of Math - "Key to developing students' interest in math is to capture their imaginations."  My daughter's 2nd grade teacher just did this very thing in their class.  We received an email that several students were not mastering the money content chapter of math.  To strength what the students couldn't master after the chapter test, Mrs. V. incorporated a money incentive in her class to also combat the behavior issues she was dealing with.  Each day, the students have an opportunity to earn money (a penny, or nickel) for behaving or for being "world famous" as they call it.  Then, the students are able to purchase something from her in-room store when they saved enough money.  I love the concept. 

These strategies are great for educators and parents alike.  I encourage you to read the blog article.

Building Math Positively.  Betty Ray.  Edutopia. 12-1-10. Retrieved 12-4-10.

Who Should Run Our Schools

I have often thought that part of the problem with school policy and decision-making is that those who are in power of making decisions are the furtherest removed from the classroom.  To master and truly understand the issues in curriculum, how budgets affect classroom instruction, etc., you need to see and experience it on a first-hand basis. 

However, for many larger city mayors, they are causing quite a controversy by placing business-savvy professionals with no formal educational background in high-level education positions.  A recent article in The Christian Science Monitor explores the question, "Education reform: Have business-savvy officials improved big-city schools?"  The article reviews the decisions of recent Mayors who have control of schools as opposed to school boards.  It looks at the decisions of the mayors of D.C., Chicago and New York City as it explores how the decisions these mayors may make follow current educational policy or not.  What happens when you have a weak vs. a strong mayor and what are the affects of a mayor not in office long term. 

Personally, I think that placing business savvy professionals versus those with an educational background really has a negative impact on curriculum, pedigogy, instruction and most importantly the students.  What are your thoughts?

Reference:
Education reform: Have business-savvy officals improved big-city schools? The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 12/4/10.