From the Fischbowl

Did You Know/Shift Happens

Watching the Karl Fisch video "Did You Know?/Shift Happens" did get me thinking. Are the U.S. school systems really preparing our children for the 21st century or do they lack the technologically skills necessary for our children to succeed in our rapidly advancing world. I worry, as an older student that was not raised in a technologically savvy society if I will be able to instill the necessary skills in my students to survive in a world that is changing so rapidly. The video stated that we must teach our children about a world that doesn't yet exist, about technology that has yet to be created. This is a huge burden on not only on the educators of the world but also the parents, administrators, government and society.

I was surprised to read the statistics at the beginning of the video: 1.3 million college graduates in the U.S. is small compared to India and China. That could have something to do with the population in both countries is so much greater though. I believe though that the youth of those other countries are encouraged to pursue an education knowing that that won't survive in today's world without it. I think it is fantastic that 70% of four -year -olds have used a computer though it would be better if it were 100%. When children enter school, they need to already to comfortable around a computer and have some basic computer skills. The world is changing so fast and children will need be be ready as soon as they start school to jump in.

Our job as educators will be to stay educated ourselves. We need to prepare our youth for the future while at the same time keeping up with the pace in which the world is changing, which seems to be at the speed of light.

What is ACCESS?

ACCESS

ACCESS is an acronym for Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators and Students Statewide. It is a distance learning program in some of the schools in Alabama where a student has the opportunity to take courses not normally offered at his/her school via the Internet either through an online course or through video conferencing. ACCESS allows students to take AP courses along with other courses and electives such as foreign languages that are not part of the normal curriculum.
At the present time, only four high schools in Mobile County are currently utilizing ACCESS: Mary G Montgomery, Alma Bryant , Citronelle, and Satsuma High Schools. By the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year though, every high school in Alabama will have the technology to make use of ACCESS.
According to Governor Bob Riley and State Superintendent Joe Morton, Alabama is the first state to have such a program (http://www.abc3340.com/news/stories/0708/534246.html). Programs like ACCESS and AVL (Alabama Virtual Library) are part of a current trend to bring the Alabama schools into the 21st century.

My Thoughts

I believe that the ACCESS program in Alabama high schools will enhance a child's education by helping them be better prepared for college. By allowing the students to take classes not normally offered, the state will give the child a competitive edge when he/she starts college by bringing them up to speed with the other schools around the country that may have an advance program or a more liberal curriculum.
One drawback I see with this program though is the child would need have better than average language/reading skills and the ability to work independently. Since the only interaction is between the student and the teacher via video conferencing, the below average students might have some difficulties and problems might be harder to spot.
On the upside, I look forward to the day when this will be offered in all the schools as a learning enhancement tool that I would be able to use to help my students broaden their scope of learning or to reinforce something that they are having difficulty grasping. I hope eventually a program like this will also be available to elementary and middle school students.

What is ALEX?

What is ALEX?

ALEX is the Alabama Learning Exchange, a database containing lesson plans and other useful information created and posted by teachers as well as the Alabama Department of Education. The lessons are in line with the ALCOS content standards for each subject and grade level. Links are provided to guide the user through the website to search for ideas to be used in the classroom. A teacher is able to register at the site and create his or her own personal workspace where different lesson plans can be downloaded and stored as well as post her own lesson plans for other teachers to use.

The site also provides opportunities to search other websites for leadership development, professional development and support (though this section is still under construction at this time), as well as tricks and tips from experienced teachers. There is also a tremendous amount of information available for the special education specialist. This is a good tool for the new teacher just starting out as well as the veteran teachers looking for new ideas.

Anyone wishing to know more about ALEX can visit the website at www.alex.state.al.us

My Thoughts on ALEX

I was surprised with all the useful information that is available on ALEX. The lesson plans are organized so that it is easy to navigate around the website. By just clicking on subject and grade, you can obtain a thoroughly constructed and detailed lesson plan for any subject from English and Art to Driver's Education. The lesson plans are geared towards ALCOS (Alabama Course of Study) which all teachers in Alabama must follow. This site will be an invaluable resource in developing lesson plans not only when I start teaching but also as an education student who is learning to create lesson plans. ALEX will be a great tool to tap into the minds of other teachers to maybe come up with fresh ideas or a new insight on a subject or lesson, maybe something thatI hadn't thought of.

I will also use the many links to other websites on ALEX to find out how other teachers are keeping their students motivated and excited about learning which I feel will be one of my biggest challenges as a teacher.

Some things about me

Hi. My name is Patricia Robbins and I am a non-traditional student at USA majoring in elementary education. I hope to earn my degree in about two years. I have lived in Mobile for almost six years but I am originally from Michigan. I have been married for 18 years and have two children and two dogs (beagles). My husband's name is Scott and he works for Northrop-Grumman as a mechanical engineer. I have two sons, Daniel and Joshua. Daniel is 16 and is a junior at Baker High School. He plays trumpet in the marching band. I am a member of the band boosters and am involved with that during the school year. My other son Joshua is nine and attends Hutchens Elementary School. He is in the PACE program there. When I am not taking classes, studying or taking care of my family, I like to cook and read.
I hope to work for Mobile Public Schools after I graduate, teaching 4th or 5th grade. I also plan to earn a Master's degree in Secondary Education so I would be qualified to teach grades K-12. I would one day like to teach middle school Geography or History (preferable 6th grade).

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My Kids

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About the blog title:

Contrary to what many of us were taught in school, if a singular noun ends in an "s," it still gets an extra "s" added after the apostrophe if you pronounce the extra "s."

Examples:
our boss´s office
St. Louis´s Gateway Arch

If it is difficult to pronounce the extra "s," then you only add an apostrophe.

Examples:
New Orleans´ Bourbon Street
Los Angeles´ smog

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