Pratt- "Sam learned the history of American racism and the struggle against it through baseball"
Ritter- There are many lessons to be learned from sports. The Jack Johnson - Jim Jefferies fight, of 1910 led to many race riots and deaths. Sports can bring the best and the worst out of society. It is a vehicle to see the world through. Jessie Owens disposed of many of Hitler`s myths, when he won gold medal after gold medal, in the 1936 Olympics. He did this in Hitler`s Germany showing courage that has been remembered long since. The Joe Louis- Max Schmeling fight, of 1938 has been considered America`s first battle of World War II by some history scholars. Billy Jean`s King`s victory in 1973 over Bobby Riggs, changed the way the country looked at women. It gave them many outlets they did not have prior to that moment. There is a link, between sports and history. You can learn about race, war, gender ,and the ability to overcome adversity through it. Sports can be a time capsule, it can be a vehicle of how we judge a certain period of time.
Russell- "College writing proficiency requirement to show formal recognition of the fact that teachers in departments other than English may assume the responsibility of judging a student`s ability to read and write well".
Ritter- Literacy is a part of every subject's content area. Therefore, it should be taught in every class room, regardless of the content being taught. You can learn how to read in a History class, just as easy as you can learn how to read in an English class. Writing is a tool that is used in almost every class, therefore the responsibility to teach it, should not fall to the English teacher alone.
Gee- " They lower the consequences of failure. When players fail, they can start from their last saved game. Players are encouraged to take risks, explore, and try new things".
Ritter- This is Gee`s best point throughout the book. True success can only come after failure has been tasted. Any success worth having does not come, until one has failed at least once, if not several times. How many times have teachers heard a student say I am just not good at this. That is a line heard throughout a school many times every day. At that point a student can work hard and become better at the content area they are weak at, or they can quit and be bad at it forever. It is a decision that has far reaching consequences outside of the classroom. It sets a pattern of facing adversity and overcoming it, or running away from things, when they get tough. You must learn to embrace failure, before you can ever get to understand the true meaning of success.
Williams- "Amazingly, you`ve just created a css layers web page"(pg67).
Ritter- I am afraid to attempt to create a web page,because it seems extremely difficult.However, if you take the approach of one step at a time, it becomes much easier.This statement shows you that if you don`t get to far ahead of yourself,you can accomplish almost anything.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
blog number two
Gee-"In the traditional view, concepts are like general definitions in the mind(like definitions for words in dictionaries). In the traditional view, the mind thinks through stored "facts" and grand generalizations that are like statements in logic"(PG91).
Ritter- In this statement Gee is explaining the conventional methods that most teachers use in teaching students. They teach them in a black or white fashion. They give you the facts and they expect you to memorize them, then they test you and that`s it. This method believes that grades are how you judge a student`s knowledge. This method does not allow a student to transfer knowledge. It does not allow a student to be creative and it makes a concept fixated and a finished thought. Gee, points out in this book "Concepts are never set and finished". The common method of teaching is in contrast to Gee`s belief. This method of teaching also hurts the students who need the most help. It does not allow students who need help, to transfer their knowledge and experiences in order to relate to certain concepts.
Williams- "Experiment with search tools like Google and Yahoo to expand your search into images and news"(pg39).
Ritter- It is very important that you continue to search after you get your initial feedback. This is because there is still much more information available to you. This is something that I did not know until reading this book, learning this information makes sites like Google and Yahoo much more valuable.
Gee-"Different cultural models hold different implications"(PG151).
Ritter- This is a great statement. There are certain families where a student getting anything less than an A is a cardinal sin. There are other families where if the teenager stays out of prison, then he isn`t doing half-bad. A teacher must be able to deal with both of these types of extreme situations in order to be an effective teacher. You must be able to incorporate lesson plans that both types of student`s can relate to. You must have an demeanor that different types of students can feel comfortable with. It is a extremely hard thing to do, but that is what doing the job right requires.
Gee- "The first strategy, calling on previous experience, is an example of what learning theorists call "transfer"(pg126).
Ritter- The transfer theory of teaching is an excellent way to get through to students. It allows them to relate a subject matter that they are knowledgeable about to a subject matter they are struggling with. It is a great tool for teachers to use in order to get students more interested in their class. It also can help struggling students to work harder and not to become frustrated or hopeless in a class. In order to get through to a struggling student, you must somehow get their attention. This method provides an avenue to use various different content material in order to reach them. In order to challenge an exceptional student you must grab their attention as well. This method can help an exceptional student soar to new levels.
Gee- "If you can`t use "democracy" in a situation specific way in such dialogues, then the word does not make sense to you, no matter how well you can repeat its dictionary definition"(pg85).
Ritter- This is a very important lesson in both teaching and learning. One does not know the meaning of a word, just by memorizing its dictionary definition. A person does not know how to dribble a basketball, just by bouncing it on the floor. There is a way of dribbling correctly and one must learn how to do that. A student must learn out to relate the word to real life, as well as be able to carry on a conversation involving the word.
Ritter- In this statement Gee is explaining the conventional methods that most teachers use in teaching students. They teach them in a black or white fashion. They give you the facts and they expect you to memorize them, then they test you and that`s it. This method believes that grades are how you judge a student`s knowledge. This method does not allow a student to transfer knowledge. It does not allow a student to be creative and it makes a concept fixated and a finished thought. Gee, points out in this book "Concepts are never set and finished". The common method of teaching is in contrast to Gee`s belief. This method of teaching also hurts the students who need the most help. It does not allow students who need help, to transfer their knowledge and experiences in order to relate to certain concepts.
Williams- "Experiment with search tools like Google and Yahoo to expand your search into images and news"(pg39).
Ritter- It is very important that you continue to search after you get your initial feedback. This is because there is still much more information available to you. This is something that I did not know until reading this book, learning this information makes sites like Google and Yahoo much more valuable.
Gee-"Different cultural models hold different implications"(PG151).
Ritter- This is a great statement. There are certain families where a student getting anything less than an A is a cardinal sin. There are other families where if the teenager stays out of prison, then he isn`t doing half-bad. A teacher must be able to deal with both of these types of extreme situations in order to be an effective teacher. You must be able to incorporate lesson plans that both types of student`s can relate to. You must have an demeanor that different types of students can feel comfortable with. It is a extremely hard thing to do, but that is what doing the job right requires.
Gee- "The first strategy, calling on previous experience, is an example of what learning theorists call "transfer"(pg126).
Ritter- The transfer theory of teaching is an excellent way to get through to students. It allows them to relate a subject matter that they are knowledgeable about to a subject matter they are struggling with. It is a great tool for teachers to use in order to get students more interested in their class. It also can help struggling students to work harder and not to become frustrated or hopeless in a class. In order to get through to a struggling student, you must somehow get their attention. This method provides an avenue to use various different content material in order to reach them. In order to challenge an exceptional student you must grab their attention as well. This method can help an exceptional student soar to new levels.
Gee- "If you can`t use "democracy" in a situation specific way in such dialogues, then the word does not make sense to you, no matter how well you can repeat its dictionary definition"(pg85).
Ritter- This is a very important lesson in both teaching and learning. One does not know the meaning of a word, just by memorizing its dictionary definition. A person does not know how to dribble a basketball, just by bouncing it on the floor. There is a way of dribbling correctly and one must learn how to do that. A student must learn out to relate the word to real life, as well as be able to carry on a conversation involving the word.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
blog number one
Gee- "The key is finding ways to make hard things life enhancing so that people keep going and don`t fall back on learning only what is simple and easy" - (page 3).
Ritter- In order to teach a student material, you must first answer a common question - how will they use that material in life, how is it relevant to their long term goals? You must teach them why they are learning something, before they actually start learning it. This especially applies to material that is challenging. The student will want to know why should they work so hard on something if it will not impact their lives. Therefore if you can convince them that certain material can benefit them now or later, then you have accomplished the first and hardest step in teaching them.
Gee- "Today`s world is very different from the world baby boomers like me grew up in and on which we have based many of our theories.Is it a wonder then, that by high school, very often both good students and bad ones, rich ones and poor ones, don`t much like school" -(page 5).
Ritter- There is so much interference in the teacher- student relationship today. Schools now apply a "teach for the test" philosophy. Students are taught for tests. Principals get bonuses on test results. Politicians get elected on standardized testing results. A teacher is limited in trying to find creative ways of teaching their students. School becomes more of a work environment to the student, than a learning enviorment. This takes away any enjoyment the student might have in the school setting. It also puts the students who need the most help at a severe disadvantage, because they need creative teaching in order to be a motivated student.
Gee- "Success without effort is not rewarding; and effort with little success is equally unrewarding"(pg58).
Ritter- This creates a fine line for the teacher, if you make the material too easy then you lose the students. If you make the material too hard you may also lose the students. Gee explains throughout the book that the video game designer also faces the same dilemma. The best way to deal with this is to create a teach without a ceiling philosophy. A teacher needs to create exercises where students with limited skills can improve and where students with exceptional skills can soar. This is the same thing a video game designer must do in order to create a product that sells.
Gee- " This is true of all good learning-we gain a new valued identity that gives us new powers"(pg61).
Ritter- Each time we learn we add to who we are as a person. A basketball player who learns to shoot becomes a different player once he adds that skill to his game. A student becomes a different person once he adds the ability to write or do math. The world becomes a more vast place to a student once they obtain the skills to compete in it. This is true to a video game charcter, the more powers you give them, the more they can accomplish. A student`s idenity changes a little bit with each piece of information you give them, that allows them to grow from their present form. Once I was taught creative writing, I saw the world with different eyes. Once a student is taught skills which relates to their interests, they see the world in a different light..
Gee- " This view holds that humans learn, think, and solve problems by reflecting on their previous experiences in the world. That is,humans have experiences, store these experiences, and make connections or associations among them" - page 71.
Ritter- We learn through our experiences. What we see of the world, is what we make of the world. That is why it is so important to be able to relate to your students. It is a teachers responsibilty to connect to each students own world. You must teach each student differently, even as you teach them in a group. This is not easy, but it must be done in order to gain access to the student`s world. You may not want to teach two students about trees in the same way if one comes from an urban enviroment and the other a surburban enviroment because their perceptions could be different. One grew up with trees, the other did not. Tests don`t equate for these differences, but teachers must or students will continue to be lost in the systems world.
Ritter- In order to teach a student material, you must first answer a common question - how will they use that material in life, how is it relevant to their long term goals? You must teach them why they are learning something, before they actually start learning it. This especially applies to material that is challenging. The student will want to know why should they work so hard on something if it will not impact their lives. Therefore if you can convince them that certain material can benefit them now or later, then you have accomplished the first and hardest step in teaching them.
Gee- "Today`s world is very different from the world baby boomers like me grew up in and on which we have based many of our theories.Is it a wonder then, that by high school, very often both good students and bad ones, rich ones and poor ones, don`t much like school" -(page 5).
Ritter- There is so much interference in the teacher- student relationship today. Schools now apply a "teach for the test" philosophy. Students are taught for tests. Principals get bonuses on test results. Politicians get elected on standardized testing results. A teacher is limited in trying to find creative ways of teaching their students. School becomes more of a work environment to the student, than a learning enviorment. This takes away any enjoyment the student might have in the school setting. It also puts the students who need the most help at a severe disadvantage, because they need creative teaching in order to be a motivated student.
Gee- "Success without effort is not rewarding; and effort with little success is equally unrewarding"(pg58).
Ritter- This creates a fine line for the teacher, if you make the material too easy then you lose the students. If you make the material too hard you may also lose the students. Gee explains throughout the book that the video game designer also faces the same dilemma. The best way to deal with this is to create a teach without a ceiling philosophy. A teacher needs to create exercises where students with limited skills can improve and where students with exceptional skills can soar. This is the same thing a video game designer must do in order to create a product that sells.
Gee- " This is true of all good learning-we gain a new valued identity that gives us new powers"(pg61).
Ritter- Each time we learn we add to who we are as a person. A basketball player who learns to shoot becomes a different player once he adds that skill to his game. A student becomes a different person once he adds the ability to write or do math. The world becomes a more vast place to a student once they obtain the skills to compete in it. This is true to a video game charcter, the more powers you give them, the more they can accomplish. A student`s idenity changes a little bit with each piece of information you give them, that allows them to grow from their present form. Once I was taught creative writing, I saw the world with different eyes. Once a student is taught skills which relates to their interests, they see the world in a different light..
Gee- " This view holds that humans learn, think, and solve problems by reflecting on their previous experiences in the world. That is,humans have experiences, store these experiences, and make connections or associations among them" - page 71.
Ritter- We learn through our experiences. What we see of the world, is what we make of the world. That is why it is so important to be able to relate to your students. It is a teachers responsibilty to connect to each students own world. You must teach each student differently, even as you teach them in a group. This is not easy, but it must be done in order to gain access to the student`s world. You may not want to teach two students about trees in the same way if one comes from an urban enviroment and the other a surburban enviroment because their perceptions could be different. One grew up with trees, the other did not. Tests don`t equate for these differences, but teachers must or students will continue to be lost in the systems world.
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