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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?

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Challenge in Lab Management

My lab management has had some issues in the past few weeks. The way our lab is situated there are some areas that I am having trouble seeing the students at all times. Also when I am busy helping students others seem to take advantage of these "blind" areas and goof off. It is not possible to change around the lab as the stations are built in. I have tried using student monitors but haven't had much luck with them. I have had some luck when I remove the students that are playing around and put them into book work. But then they miss out on the lesson that I am trying to teach. As we only have two class periods in the lab, I hate for them to miss.

2 comments:

penny said...

Hey!

I have had this same issue before. I ended up changing my class to an assigned seating plan, where my "trusted" kids were placed in my blind spots. I have a row of computers that I cannot see what they are doing unless I walk to the back of the room. Unfortunately I cannot change my room either. Placing some students their that I knew would behave has worked...but occassionally I catch them goofing off too. My new plan is to install a fake video camera behind them to "monitor" them. Maybe it will work until November...I guess my only other suggestion would be constant walking around or proximity. Mirrors might work too if your school would install them.
Dr. Burns - is it a bad idea to install harsher punishment for blind areas of seating...meaning that you would tell the students that if they sit in the blind area and abuse the class rules that consequences are worse...

Joe Westbrook said...

I agree with everything Penny said in her comment to your blog.
An assigned seating arrangement in class and lab is very important. The seating chart can give you the info in a flash where every student is supposed to be. Knowing where everyone is at all times is very important. I also have a pass log clipboard for each class. There is nothing more embarassing than to be seaching for a lost student, when it was you that wrote them a pass to go to the restroom.
Kids love to hide. What I hate is playing a game of hide and go seek. The first time you have one of your students to hide in your class write them up for skipping. I stopped it. While I have been taping my class for Burns, all my students have been very well behaved. My movement has helped by eliminating down time at the hiding spots. I had to lock my outside parking lot gate at all times because my students would wander to the student parking lot to do whatever. My class leaders have the responsibility to know also what everyone is doing all the time. That has helped a lot, especially when I hold them somewhat accountable. If they miss lab then they should pay the price, write them up for skipping.