Module 2-Collaborative Learning in Health Education

This past week in health education class, my students worked in groups of six and needed to develop a newspaper of bullying articles recently found in the news.  The purpose of the activity was to rise awareness of bullying throughout the United States in hopes to decrease the amount of bullying that takes place both in school and over digital media.  Here is my lesson plan.

8Tracks: T.E.A.M. Together everyone achieves more-reflection

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     I would like to say using 8tracks was a great way to interact with our peers.  I really enjoyed the assignment and finding music.  I also think my students would love to be able to collaborate with their peers developing a play list based around a certain topic.  For example, in health we have a stress unit and I believe using 8tracks would be a fun, great way to collaborate! Thank you for introducing me to this. 
     The two songs I added was "I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera.  The second song I posted was "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.  The reason I choose both these songs is I feel they discuss an important piece of collaboration.  Leaning on one another and turning to your peers for advice are the heart of what collaboration really is.  A soccer team for example wouldn't be as successful if they didn't have different parts to their team.  They also wouldn't be as successful if they felt they couldn't count on one another. 
   Christina Aguilera's song, "I Turn to You" states,

"For a shield from the storm;
For a friend; for a love
To keep me safe and warm,
I turn to you.
For the strength to be strong;
For the will to carry on;
For everything you do;
For everything that's true,
I turn to you."

     The songs is based around a person who completely relies on her partner to help when the road gets tough.  It is important when working with others not only do you allow someone else to take the lead but also you trust them to do so.
    In the song "Lean on Me" Bill Withers discusses just that.

"Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on"

 

     When working with others it is important to lean on them for help, guidance and advice. We are all in this together and it is important to remember the motto T.E.A.M. because together everyone achieves more.

8tracks Posting

Using 8tracks I added two songs to the playlist.  The first song I added was "I Turn to You" by Christina Aguilera.  The second song I posted was "Lean on Me" by Bill Withers.  I believe these two songs showcase what collaboration is really about.  Both songs discuss the importance of counting on someone else which is the heart of collaboration.

Digital Footprints in our Classrooms

What are digital footprints and how can we ensure both promotion of technology in our classrooms but also a safe place for our students.  I believe there is a lot we can do as teachers to prepare our students on what is “out there” in the digital world.  At the high school level, I believe a starting block is a need to understand the severity of poor digital footprints.  Slander on facebook, restricted sites and other acts that can taint a students image.  When I first started the IDTML program I was terrified of technology mainly because I was afraid of it. I was afraid of putting information where students can see it may not be the best idea.  As an adult and a professional I had my reserves, as I should.  Two of my students did get into my Twitter account and post a comment posed as myself. Likely it was not bad but it was

enough for me to be scared on what could happen.  I think this is how many of our students feel.  The internet, although helpful, has a big scary world out there.  What if I post something others don't agree with? What if I press the wrong button.  It isn’t like pen and paper when we can erase our thoughts.  For all these reasons, I believe it is the teacher's job to help the students learn what is appropriate online and not but more importantly, create a level of fear so they are conscious but not too much where they completely stay away from technology. Below I listed steps I would take in my classroom to help students deteriorate the stigma around digital footprints.

Step 1: Look at things real life stories that can happen on the internet if you are not careful.  For example, putting pictures onto the internet or sending them to friends you don't want others to see.

Step 2: Provide examples of the great opportunities the internet provides us both individually at school and personal life.

Step 3: Practice a positive post/tweet each week to build confidence and a positive digital footprint.

Step 4: Provide students with guidance on how to shape their digital identity.

The digital world is the educational classroom of the 21st century. Much like classroom rules there should be digital rules. They should be discussed in full to the class.  The internet provides students with a new world.  Some students unfortunately can get lost in this world.   Much like Ferriter’s article discusses about “students who—because of psychosocial factors—are at higher risk in online spaces receive more targeted instruction”.  Just as in a classroom setting I believe we need to teach the students not only what to look at on the internet but also how to do so. When using the digital media one must hold themselves in a responsible manner.  The scary thing about the internet it the digital footprints students develop now can follow them for the rest of their life.

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Bias In the Media

Bias in Media

Open Mic Week #1:  Ed 7718

So how are all narratives affected by bias and perspective and how can the power of media influence perception? Can teachers make students aware of bias so they can effectively make their own judgements?

I believe these questions are hard to answer.  I feel all narratives have a form of a bias.  It is the hardest part of writing, speaking, and listening to be unbiased.  Media is usually looking for stories depending on what the public wants to hear. However, media is such a big influence on the public eye and beliefs.  For example, channel 3 promotes call us and we have your back.  Are they looking for a story and great promotion techniques or do they really want to help the community?  Would they cover a story if they knew it was wrong? Because the media does hold such bias opinions, one wants the attention of the media.  One goal as a teacher is to teach our students how to research certain credible sources.  It is essential to look at the types of sources and information provided.  If it seems like an opinion, it probably is.  One way teachers can accomplish this is by showing their students the importance of research.  Look at a variety of sources  to find at least a couple who state similar things.  Another way to help the students decipher through bias in the media is providing them with the knowledge to distinguish credible sources.  For example, wikipedia has a lot of bias writing on it.  It is an easy way to provide your thoughts and knowledge about a topic without any required background.  This is also true of personal position pieces.  However, there are sources out there more credible. It is important for teachers to help their students understand this.  It is also important for the students to understand that just because it is in the news doesn't make it true.  More facts  and sources are necessary to eliminate the bias.

Recently, there have been various examples of bias in the media.  For example Adrian Peterson was in the media because  he used a "switch"  to discipline his son.  To him, it is seen as cultural differences which is where the title came from, “Adrian’s Peterson’s Actions Reflective of Cultural Differences”.  To many readers, hopefully Peterson understands the old school is just that, old. Those days are thankfully gone. But perhaps this incident will teach us that not everyone grew up the same.  The narrative appears to take believe Peterson was in the wrong.  The article stated numerous times of him seen as a child abuser.  In most cases, people may not see him as a child abuser but a possible wrongful way to discipline you child.  After reading the article, people may now see him as a child abuser. In another source, the name alone can put pre notions into your head before listening to the video. The danger of a single story is from the point of view of the a woman.  She talked about reading only one sources and how our perceptions can change based on the source. Does it make it more credible because she went through it? She talked about herself when she was younger reading stories of white children, eating apples, and playing in the snow. She states, “how vulnerable we are in the face of a story”. It is true.  Especially as a child we associate things with what we read and see in the media.  The speaker said she finally found books that associated with her identity.  I believe she was trying to portray the message that there isn't just one story to everything.  Cultures, stories, and identities are enriched through a variety of stories.  Can we beware of “reading” only one story.  Should we get different points of view? Media shows the way we have to act and feel.  Another story that brought a lot of controversy was Ray Rice.  The article discussed the controversy around Ray Rice and his girl friend.  The article suggests if there were no videos he would not have be suspended by the NFL.  Like many media sources out there , the article appears to be a  position statement.  By broadcasting the video of Ray Rice, did  it help bring video coverage to bring justice to Ray Rice?  Lastly, the article about Ferguson’s coverage actually grades the media coverage on accuracy. It is unusual to see articles like this.  The article critiqued the process in which Ferguson was covered including the actions of the media itself.

In conclusion ,I believe, bias in the media is a complicated conversation to have.  There are many things in the media to create more viewers.  Is it a true story or is it only one side.  Media has a big influence on our perceptions.  Based on how to media portrays the story determines the outcome of the public.  Sometimes they can be good and sometimes it can hurt us.  It is our job as teachers to try and relay the importance of bias in the media to our students.  But then again, can we deny the fact that all teachers use a bias at some point in our teaching?

Visual Profiling: What does American mean?

EDUC 7718 Critical Literacy Praxis fall 2014

Week Four- Blogture and Discussion Response Assignment

 

How operational and meaningful is visual profiling in education settings?  Is there anything you could or should do to change any negative aspects of this? Many people say that one important purpose of public schooling in this country is to enculturate children into what it means to be an American.   What does it mean to be American?   Do we require that some children take on another identity to be American?

 

In “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”, J Elliot wrote, “There will be time, there will be time/To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet.” The quote describes how we prepare our interactions with premeditated personalities.  Depending on our crowd we are meeting allows us the feeling of necessity to “play the part”. Is it the same for appearance?  Do we act a certain way based on the crowd we are with and do we think differently based on someone’s appearance.  What are the importance of first impressions?

When starting this paper, I started to play with the idea of judgments in teaching. It was always a concept I was aware of but never one I looked particularly closely at.  It is my belief as a teacher, I should “look professional”. In my profession that meant khaki shorts (knee length) and a tucked in collared shirt.  At Springfield College part of my grade was based on my appearance.  Did I have a belt on? Did my pants touch the ground?  Was my shirt tucked in even when I lifted my arms?  It never occurred to me these strict rules were in place because students found me more credible subconsciously because I was dressed the part.  In the first video, Dana was a well-dressed man. He was clean shaven and spoke to the students in a monotone voice.  The students were engaged in his lesson and sat quietly as he talked.  Was this because he was dressed a certain way or was it because he was sitting in a chair while his students were on the ground?  In contrast, Rick was not clean shaven and had an earring in his ear.  Even before I started to play the video I started to think how cool it would have been to have a teacher like that teach reading.  I remember my reading classes very strict and “hard work”.  They were professional and had a structured planned out day.  My first thought about Rick was he seems like a laid back, fun teacher.  Even though both teachers looked very different, by watching the videos, both teachers had a fun and engaging way to interact with their students.

When I was younger my parents always told me no I would not be able to get a tattoo and piercings other than one in my ear was not acceptable.  In my eyes, (a know it all teenager) they were holding me back from my true identity.  But now I am a teacher, mom, and role model.  I can now see what my parents were saying.  Although my appearance was not the only reason I was hired I do believe I may not have gotten my physical education job right after college had I dressed differently.  By differently I mean jeans and a bed head hair do.  My parents always taught me to try “look the part”.  But is the way we look truly the most important thing?  It didn’t hit me until about three days ago when I was thinking about this assignment and my daughter came to me dressed in gym shorts and a baggy t-shirt to wear to school.  I told her she needed to change into an outfit more appropriate for school.  She looked at me and said, “It isn’t about the way you look mom”.  I got to think, does it really matter what she wears to school? Does it make her more ready to learn because she is dressed in a dress?  I thought about it a lot because it bothered me.  I decided it was about being ready to learn.  In my eyes, dressing “cleanly” shows a certain amount of respect for yourself and therefore portray the same message to others.  As I discussed with Dana and Rick as teachers, just by looking at the two teachers Dana seems to hold their students more accountable than Rick.  Could I be wrong, absolutely; however, I think there are many things in my past that have brought me up to believe one way.

When it comes to appearance, I think it deals with trust.  The more people “look like” you the more you trust them and feel comfort.  Once someone looks different than you there is always a layer of discomfort.  I look at my students. I don't look like them, act like them, or have the same background as them.  Trust is expected but would they do better with a Hispanic teacher?  One of my students does better with males than females, another can only be with a bilingual teacher not because of the language barrier but because of comfort level.

In the video, substitute teacher, the actor was a teacher in the inner city.  He then came into a wealthy school with mostly white students.  His speech and demeanor was very different then what the students were used to; however, you put him back in an urban setting he would be seen as a “cool” teacher.  In the video the students seemed distraught at the way the teacher was acting; however, in an urban setting would the students show more respect?  So can teachers be credible role models if they do not look like the children they teach?  I believe they can be credible if there is a common understanding of each other.  Take race for example.  Unfortunately, there has always been a distinction between black and white but isn’t everyone supposed to be equal?  Aren’t we all supposed to walk into a room free of judgments?  Unfortunately, it still happens no matter where we are in the world.  But that isn’t always the case.  In some cases students do connect more with teachers who have similar backgrounds as themselves.  For example, take “What Would You Do”.  The video shows a clip of a white male walking into an urban store looking to buy urban clothes.  Unable to get past the idea of “not looking the part” the black employee told him he shouldn’t be wearing the clothes.   In another clip, the video shows white males vandalizing a car.  In the second video black males vandalize the car.  The video shows how prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination are still be a problem.  Is it worse today because we just don't see it?  So many people cover their tracks.  You would hear, “you didn’t get that job because there was someone more qualified” when truthfully the real reason was because she was a female.  Or when a coach at my school was told they needed to keep the freshman coach despite his lack of knowledge and professionalism with the students.  He was required to keep his job because he was black and there are no black coaches.

When teachers work with parents around difficult issues it appears to be a difference in morals and priorities rather than appearance and background.  In fact, at our school we are trying to promote parent involvement to connect with all the parents.  We host technology events, workshops, walks, and meetings.  Unfortunately the parents who do show up are the ones already involved in their child’s education.  How do we get more than?  Are they not coming to the events because they don't care and therefore don't want to? Or are they not coming because they are working third shift in their second job just to pay the bills?  I decided to ask one of my students what affect her learning.  She is a student who is usually looking for trouble.  When you look at her on the outside you think a disruptive student who I cannot connect with; however, when you look closer you see a scared, timid little girl, in and out of foster homes because she is deemed as the “bad one” her sister still lives at home with her mom. If that doesn't seem like a slap in the face then having to take 7 shots a day since she was 7 months old due to diabetes.  I decided to ask her what her thoughts were about teachers and what teachers she “gets along better with and why.  I also asked her why she believes students aren’t as engaged with school.  Is it because most of our staff is made up of middle aged white teachers or are there bigger issues at hand? More specifically, I wanted to know what type of message we are sending to our students.  In our district is learning the more important part or developing healthy relationships and role models to get out of what they know. We talked for almost an hour about the topic.  She stated it wasn’t because of the way teachers looked or what experience they had.  She said, “I want a teacher to be real with me.  I want them to care about me and what I am going through. There are very little teachers in this school who understand my situation but even a fewer amount of those willing to try and understand it.”  It broke my heart to listen to her talk but it also made me realize it may not be solely about appearance.  To her, she wanted someone who actually tried to put themselves in her shoes rather than telling her how she should be acting in school. Our talk earned me her trust. The next day she confided in me not because of my race, age, or gender.  But because I took the time to show her that I care.  I gave her respect and demanded it back. Day in and day out is still a struggle for her, but when a girl who used to cut my class on a daily basis comes up to me to say, “You’re the only teacher I trust in here, I need some advice.” can I really say I am not credible because I haven’t been in her shoes.  I beg to differ.  I am credible to her because I cared.

Are mentors more credible because they have “been there” themselves?  How much of a professional face do you prepare to meet the faces that you meet in the various aspects of your job?   If your job were entirely virtual, what would your avatar presence look like?

 

I do believe mentors are more credible when they have been in the same situations but just because they have not been in the situation doesn’t make them less credible.  The biggest reason why I believe that because they deal with feelings.  Whenever you deal with feelings there is a connection between the two people.  This is the main reason why I find displeasure in all jobs going virtual.  I feel personal connection and relationships are the most valuable thing we can give our students in my urban setting. Sometimes a student just needs a hug. But isn't it sad that we as teachers now have to ask if it is ok?  Gee talks about gap between human and machine.  “It is as though I needed the robot to seem to have emotions in order to understand it.”  (Gee, pg. 136) Can robots feel emotions? Gee then writes, “How different are our emotions from those of a machine.” (Gee, pg 137). I believe we are in fact extremely different.  The power of free will is predisposed in humans and cannot be duplicated in machines such as robots.  Can we then have robots as teachers?  “With sociable robots we are alone but receive the signals that tell us we are together.”

So what is normal?  What is underprivileged?  In my school both meanings are different then a school say Glastonbury.  Normal to my students are of Hispanic descent, tattoos, and a single parent household.  Underprivileged to my students, are not seen as the students who requires state assistance but someone who pays for their own lunch but does not have a cell phone.  A skewed way of thinking? Yes, I believe so; however, it was the way they were brought up.   Cell phones prepare a common ground for many students.  For example, there have been many times in Mr. Raucher’s class I was dressed in my pajamas.  Why? Because no one could see my waist down.  Did that make my learning any less credible?  No, not at all.  Gee talks about a conversation being deemed as pauseable.  So when dealing with appearance, do teachers start the listening process by expecting to remediate and demanding less?  Unfortunately, most teaches in my school expect less or students who do not have a great home life. Not because they cannot do the work but because there is a break in importance from the home life regarding school.  The support at home has fallen short and therefore is not deemed as important to some teachers.  How do we change the thoughts we grew up with?  How can you change the thoughts our society instils in us? I unfortunately do not think I know the answer to any of these questions.  It is a major issue that requires not only parents, teachers, and students to be on board but it also needs to be a place of society changes. 

These questions are extremely loaded.  In this country, our public schools are starting to blend itself.  American to me is having freedom of speech and an expression of oneself.  Was columbine an expression of one student?  In my opinion the answer is absolutely no.  In another example, ABC aired a movie called “Cyberbullying”.  In the movie a mother went to a father of a girl who was bullying her daughter online.  The father said she was expressing her opinion and it was her freedom of speech to do so.  Is that American?  Does being an American mean you have to speak English? I believe the answer is slowly turning into no.  I believe our once thought of as American the tall English speaking white male in a suit with a 9-5 job, a wife, two kids, dog and a white picket fence has changed.  American in the public schools is now seen as a melting pot for many different cultures and races.  I believe it makes our country an excellent platform for collaboration and rich diverse background.

Once again I chose to do a written response.  I felt it was the best way to convey my thoughts into a coherent piece.  It was also a great way for me to share a response when interviewing a students of mine.  I talked with my husband and hoped I would get out of my comfort zone of writing papers but part of my still believes a paper shows a fluid demonstration of thoughts.  I guess this is one of the concerns with teaching technology in the classrooms.  How can we change from comfortable to in most case the unknown?  It takes time and patience and to be honest, with a seven year old, a full varsity squad, full time job and my sixth year. Comfort seems the most reasonable.  I hope in my future response I can crawl out of my comfort hole and try to respond in a more creative way.

 

Sources:

 

1.     Gee, James Paul (2012) – Social Linguistics and Literacies. London and New York: Routledge; Fourth Edition.

2.     http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/21/fashion/amy-cuddy-takes-a-stand-TED-talk.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1

3.     http://www.learner.org/vod/vod_window.html?pid=2200

4.     https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/student-reading-workshop-lesson

 

Language: Barrier or Pathway?

Language. A barrier yet a pathway all at the same time.  Language is “the method of human communication, either spoken or written, consisting of the use of words in a structured and conventional way” (Oxford, 2013).  Language is seen differently in cultures. But what does language truely mean?  What does lol, ttyl and brb mean?  Is it a new language or a incorrect way to communicate?

    “Every language is composed of many sub languages” (Gee, pg. 90). I agree with this statement.  But when involved in school which “language” appropriate? How can we distinguish language?  Just as we wear different types of “masks” depending what crowd we are entertaining determines our actions.  The same goes for language.  “None of us speak a

single, uniform language, nor is any one of us a single, uniform identity” (Gee, pg. 98).  Even simply language from “school talk” to social and then home again.  The language is different and is accepted differently depending on the audience.  So is it the “job of the teacher to allow students to grow beyond both the cultural models of their home cultures and those of the mainstream and school culture” (Gee, 2012)?  I believe it is our job as educators to open the eyes of each student to various cultures including communication.  When I first started teaching at Meriden Public Schools we had a professional development days to discuss the importance of language and redirecting certain language “deemed appropriate” by the students.  He taught the teachers to say, you may be able to speak that way at home but here this is how we speak. Unfortunately, some of my students home life isn't about education and “respectful” language in our eyes.  How many and what kinds of words do children pick up just by hearing them? My students have discussed many times with me if they do not fight back when another student approaches them in a poor manner it shows weakness and their parents find shame in it.  To myself walking away shows a sign of strength and control but to the students it shows weakness.  I still feel it is my duty as a teacher to help the students distinguish the language of the”elite”.  After all, every student for every culture are measured by the same state test and compared to one another.  With that said, I also feel it is important for each teacher to try  and understand the students language to help “translate” it into the”elite” language.  Keith Stanovich described in the Matthew effect about achievement and the importance of recognizing words early.  He also discussed reading and the correlation to knowledge.  In his eyes , yes, there is a strong correlation called fluid intelligence.  

But it isn't always differences in the verbal language but also those who use text to speech.  To me voice is an identity.  It shows age, gender, and in most cases nationality.  Identity is a significant factor when talking about text to speech.  To some, a conversation is seen as a dream where they hear how they think their personality is.  Unfortunately, language has also been the cause of my stereotypes.  For example, in the movie Grown Ups, there was a scene when the wives saw a muscular man standing across from them.  But when the man came over to talk to the women his voice was high pinched and unsuspected. To the ladies, his voice made the man undesirable because he was seen as unmasculine.  The sound of certain language has certain assumptions.  As you can see, language has many barriers from setting to setting and cultures to cultures.  

Lastly, in Children of Code, Samantha carries her voice with her.  Due to her heavy cargo, Samantha was already pinned as different.  When using a voice called “Heather”, Samantha thought it sounded too old for her and was already embarrassed to use it. As mentioned before, voice and language is an identity and for Samatha it wasn't until Perfect Paul did she find a “personality” that fit her.

In conclusion, language is an important piece of education.  Each language has many sublanguages.  Distinguishing between which language is appropriate is important.  Language and communication is an identity making it sometimes challenging to effectively educate students on proper language and not.  I choose a basic essay format to collaborate my thoughts.  I am used to writing papers on the computer.  Portraying my ideas seem to be more fluid and continuous through an essay format.  I am still using google docs because it is easy to add my thoughts no matter where I am.

Resources:

1. Gee, J. (2012). Social Linguistics and Literacies (4th ed.). New York: Routledge.
2. Oxford dictionary
3. http://www.childrenofthecode.org/interviews/stanovich.htm
4. http://www.childrenofthecode.org/interviews/risley.htm
5. www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/03/11/173816690/new-voices-for-the-voiceless-synthetic-speech-gets-an-upgrade
6. You tube, Grown Ups clip