I am never sure what to say but to acknowledge how great God is....I am blessed even when times are hard and know He alone carries me through everything...so thankful.

Reflection:LA/SS/TECH

I have a lot to learn! Using technology is new to me. I am an older student/teacher in this global education arena. I know I have a judgement towards the use of pencil and paper. It is much easier for me to write out what I want to say than type and back space. When I back space I don't even have the evidence of thought that was there at one point to build on.

I am thankful for the teachers/students who have the ability to use various methods of communicating the information needed to gain higher level thinking. I allowed a student to use their phone to look up words they needed to define so they would do the work. I am not sure if the exercise was thoughtful or busy work when using this devise instead of finger to page, to paper.
I did see the student enjoy the computers in the classrooms they did research. I did have a couple per class that did not do the work required to complete a five paragraph essay. Now they are having to ask for time to do research again.
Project Citizen combines very nicely Social Studies and LA to complete the need for both writing and learning about contemporary issues that need to be addressed. The unit allowed for technology to be used for research and My Access. I feel that overall this was a productive two weeks for the students to be learning about various topics and see what their writing level was scored at by a technology device.

The New Plagiarism:  I agree with this article where it states on page 2, what we have is a societal shift toward glib and facile understandings allied with an archaic school research program (in some Places) that places little value upon questioning and original thought."  I would like to have my students begin with questioning and begin thinking about the four w's of life as a social studies teacher.   Page 3 backs this up with, "The secret is to pose or ask students to pose questions or problems and decisions which have never been adequately answered."  

Along with asking questions is teaching them ethical research methods and why it is important to cite sources.  The internet is a place of learning and not always the best of information.  

Project Citizen Blog

I was fortunate to have a computer cart in my room for three days.  The students are currently working hard on Project Citizen and needed time to research their various topics and public policy.  I was excited to see the students engaged in learning through the means of the use of our libraries links to Nettrekker, Student Research Center, and other data bases that are vetted by teachers.

They are now in the process of the writing organizing the facts to produce a five paragraph research essay. I am thankful for the timing of the class as well as the lesson unit of Project Citizen. I have been able to utilize technology as a part of enhancing the resources to the students.