metablognitiveanalysis

[metablognitiveanalysis]

Some things never change

It *is* indeed quite peculiar that classrooms haven't changed much in centuries, and seeing that made me think, what could possibly be the reason? It sure seems that the demands of the world we live in change and require different things from students involved. And while we may be teaching students modern subject matter the way we teach has remained mostly stagnent, despite the ample research to support that there are different ways to reach students. So why is it still the same? Is it maybe the fact that teachers are too comfortable to change? Is it because school administrations mostly want to see the same thing over and over? Is it because students need to be prepared to foster in universities which will likely not condone collaborative learning and while language? I guess, ultimately, it is our job to strive to leave comfort zones and be the best teachers that our students need us to be.

[metablognitiveanalysis]

Remind me to remind you about the Remind App

Gone are the days when a student has an excuse to not do what they are supposed to do. Not only are teachers now writing down assignments on the board, students also get notifications on their phones that tell them what they have due. Teachers use an app called Remind App to send notifications, reminders, organizing notes, class notes and a whole host of other things to students in their class. Best part, no liability issues, because you don't actually exchange phone numbers. As much as i enjoy this, i feel like an app like Remind App toes the line between helping students and spoon feeding them everything. Instead of helping them develop the skills necessary for prioritization, organization and time management. I feel like these apps are meant to make a teacher's life easier, but don't they just make a student less self-reliant? Just something to think about.

[metablognitiveanalysis]

Your Dog Ate Your What Now?

Growing up in the 90s meant your mother cutting off your dial-up internet connection so that she can use the land line to talk to her best friend Tamara about the newest episode of ER - which left me to explore the depth of the Window’s Paint program as well as feeling like a boss when I changed around the font colors and sizes in Windows Word - ghastly, I know, but thus was life. But it was also the time when we wrote our homework out by hand, underlining dates and titles with Mr Sketch’s pop-corn scented Smelly Markers. When we didn’t have the time to use pop-corn markers though - probably because we spent too much time on solitaire - we had the best no-homework excuse available: “My dog ate my homework!” With today’s students, there are many forms of turning in written assignemtns that eliminate - nay, annihilate - the my homework was the dog’s dinner excuse. Educational Platforms like Google Classroom, Canvas and Blackboard allow teachers to receive assignments online. If they get lost, click submit again. There is a timestamp, a wordcount, a record of who was last logged on. Does the use of that kind of technology in the classroom provide students with the motivation to keep on top of their homework and assignments? Is technology used by some teacher to instill discipline, maybe, and a sense of respect towards the work being done in the classroom? I feel like I need to conduct extensive research and interviews with current students to see what kind of excuses this generation generates when they are in a pickle. Or are we at an impass, where students and teachers are open and honest about what goes on when studnets leave the school premises?

More to come when excuses are accumulated.

To my profs who read this; I promise not to use these excuses on you *peace and love*