This subject seems to be in a lot more CTAE areas than I realized. In Automotive we utilize many areas of the school, such as being in the classroom, computer lab, shop, the parking lot, etc. As a result of this we carry 2-way radios to keep in touch for various reasons. One morning last semester I heard a comment came over the radio that I thought was odd. Two people were discussing where to "put him". They were referring to a transfer student who (I found out later) was a troubled student. The remark that came next was "Just put him in Automotive."
Since then, this seems to happen a lot. If a student comes in and they don't have a full schedule for him/her, they seem to think Automotive is the place for them. Just this week, I found out that five students in one of my blocks were removed from ROTC (redlined, whatever that means) permanently and put in Automotive, whether they wanted to be there or not.
I came into this profession, after being in the industry 28 years, thinking the job consisted of teaching young people who wanted to learn how to work on automobiles. Now I am realizing that about 80 % of them don't even want to be there, and don't care anything about the automotive industry. They think taking this course is going to be an easy "A". I met a friend of my daughters awhile back who had gone to my school and taken Automotive about 5 years ago. When she introduced my as the Automotive teacher at my school, he said "Yeah, I remember that program. It was a joke. All we did was smoke in the shop and read magazines." I told him that we are making every effort to turn the program around.
I really want to help change the reputation of Automotive Service Technology, and the perception of it in the eyes of students, parents, other teachers, and administration, so that students will be there because they want to be. After reading these other blogs, I realize that it's not just Automotive, but that we are probably all going through the same thing to some extent in the Career classes. I believe that with the training we are receiving, we can make a difference in these career classes.
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rules For Posting To This Blog and Weekly Blog Question
1. Only use your first name (no last names, addresses, IM screen names, etc.)
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
2 comments:
Hang in there Tony, we are all experiencing the same thing happening in our classes too! It's up to us to raise the education bar and requirements in our programs to establish them as valued educational programs. We need to let the students and the administration know that homework, tests and projects are required to pass the classes and if they are not completed, they fail! This process is going to take time and probably years to complete. Until the word is out among the students and administration that your classes are not sluff-off classes but are academically challenging courses, things will not change.
Hang in there, Tony. I totally believe that we will make a change for the better if we keep doing our best for our students. It makes you wonder why we are hearing that schools are transitioning technical and academic classes to work hand-in-hand, but in our schools, it is not happening. Where is it happening?
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