As I had my observation this week, Dr. Montrois witnessed firsthand one of my major challenges. While introducing a new content area and making sure all students understand the content. Most of the time it requires some one on one time with the students while the other students are working or supposed to be working on the content on their on. I seem to get so involved with the student I am working with that I lose touch with the rest of the class and they commence to playing games on the internet or other actions not appropriate to my content area.
The way my lab is, I cannot move the workstations around for easier viewing of their screens. They are in three rows of ten with each having computer station. It makes it difficult to maintain and observe student behavior at all times.
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 am running into similar situations in my class but I am able to monitor the screens because of the way my class is set up. Are you able to view the screens if you are in the back of the class? If so, perhaps you could set up a temporary station in the back when studenets are working on lab actvities. What about time limits for completing actvities and assigning grades to them? There are webtrac activities that my students complete and they have quizzes at the end of ecah section which the students must complete. In some cases I included rubrics for students when working on the computers. One of the areas that I deduct points from being on the computer is "appropriate use of time". One last thing I started doing is giving students who are doing their work an extra "bonus point" for being on task during the activity. The point can be added to the project grade or some other actvity they work on. I hope some of these ideas help.
Last year, I tought a computer applications class in which I was faced with this same problem. My teacher's work station was in the front of the room; from there, all I could see was the back of the computers. So, I never sat there. I would go up front to get the class started and then, if I wasn't walking around the room, I sat at an open student station in the back so that I could see everyones computer screen.
I also found that I was helping the same students everyday and this made it hard to monitor others, so I found a couple of my really bright students in the class who really knew more about computers than I do, and I used them as classroom assistants. I allowed them to assist students with questions. The students caught on to this quickly and started asking them for help instead of me, which was wonderful!
Also, (and I'm not sure if this is an option for you) I had our IT person install NetOps in the classroom. This allowed me to see everyones computer screen from my computer screen. It also allows you to send them instant messages or completely take away their Internet Access, which I did often and they hated it.
Isn't it amazing how wonderful technology can be but what a hassle it can be at the same time? Good luck and have a good week!
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