My class participates in Work Based Learning. Last year, I went to the work site and nobody told me anything about what to do, what to expect or anything. Supervisors at the company did not want to deal with our kids because it was extra work for them lining up work each day. so the supervisors started giving our students jobs that nobody else wanted to do. No training just menial jobs stuff to keep the students out of the way.
I spoke with the Work Based Learning coordinator and asked him to go and speak with the company officials because I could see the people at the company were losing interest fast. Many well meaning people say they would love to help our kids but when the "rubber meets the road" so to speak it is a big commitment to deal with special needs kids. People want the fulfillment of helping others but don't want the sacrifice and commitment. Anyway, the Work Based Learning coordinator came to the company called me into an office told me all this stuff I was doing wrong, in front of the company staff. I had to go to meetings that were documented and explain why I wasn't doing this or that at WBL. I basically got raked over the coals because I was trying to be proactive and make the Work Based Learning site a better learning environment for my students.
I realized in education sometimes there is an environment where every one is just covering their self, as was the WBL coordinator and the students needs were somewhere down on the list of priorities and I was bitter and appalled. It was the low point of my first year.
This year The coordinator told me we had a problem. Someone reported that one of my students was not using a saw safely at the work site. (not true) I welcomed the challenge. I questioned the person's qualifications who made the claim and reminded the coordinator of my own, I had lessons using the tool in question offering documentation of my students abilities to use the tools, and emailed anybody that mattered about how I had addressed the issue.
I realized after doing all this stuff that I had learned how to "play the game" that one sometimes has to do to be successful as a teacher. The scary thing is I kind of liked it. Sorry this is so long.
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.
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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:
I believe it! I think there is a lot of this "saving face" stuff going on at the expense of the kids, even at the state level!
There's nothing wrong with playing the game; sometimes you have no choice. You have to play the hand you're dealt, so to speak. Sounds like you handled a prickly situation quite well, but it's a shame you don't get more support from the WBL coordinator.
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