Ch 7 Quote – “As we enter a new era of human history, we cannot be certain of what specific talents, knowledge, and skills will be of value, and globalization has expanded the market; therefore, we must accept the idea that all talents, all individuals are worthwhile.” (p.159)
There is no way to predict what the best talents are for making money, so we should accept and nurture all talents. Question – Do we have time to nurture and develop talents if we are overly focused on testing? Connection – My grandfather, whom I only know through stories, was a business man. He would travel far away and buy the goods in the off season, then bring them back and sell them – mosquito nets in the summer and blankets during the rainy season. In this way, he was able to lift his farming family with 9 children to upper-middle class status. Epiphany – If you have a skill that is transferable, you can make a living. If you can see a need and fill it, you can make a living. (i.e. professional road guides in China, p. 133 – 134) Ch 8 Quote – “Cross-cultural competency is also a necessary ability for all global citizens in their professional life, as they will need to work together with individuals from different cultural backgrounds. “ (p. 173) Cross-cultural competency is a natural result of globalization. When we work with others from different cultures we must learn how to get along and hopefully even value cultural differences. Question – How does one develop/nurture a deep understanding and appreciation of different cultures? Connection – I spent 10 years growing up overseas. After Kindergarten, we moved to Philippines for 3 years; then Japan for 7 years. Now I teach ESL students from various countries. Epiphany – My upbringing instilled an appreciation for other cultures and helps me relate better to students who are not exactly like me. Although my students are from various countries with different religions, politics, music, food, etc., in the classroom, we are one community with an emphasis on mutual respect. Ch 9 Quote – “Instead of banning MySpace, blocking Skype, or forbidding the use of cell phones in schools, we should actively create technology-using experiences for students, under the supervision of teachers, for productive purposes.” (p. 196) Question – How do we define “productive purposes” for student technology use? Connection – YouTube was blocked in my district. I had to request credentials from IT in order to access it as a teacher. Epiphany – Our Student Expectations say “No cell phone or cell phone must be on silent during instruction time”. A better version would be: “No cell phone conversations or cell phone noises during class time” with the understanding that phones can be used for translation, to find definitions, or other educational purposes. Changing Directions
This YouTube video sums up the question of why. Not only is technology social and collaborative, but it also allows us learn at any time of the day. This is part of what drew me to this online Master's program.
Not surprisingly, my ideas about technology have broadened in the last couple of months. "Catching Up or Leading the Way" shattered the misinformed idea I had that Chinese students were superior to American students. From the text, I learned Chinese students do test well and many work hard to get a university education. However, there is a prevailing phenomenon called "high scores but low ability". According to multicultural corporations, Chinese engineers "lacked the required experience and ability despite their abundant book knowledge and high test scores." (Zhao, p. 85) In other words, their education did not prepare them for the workforce. Of course, U.S. students have areas to improve, too. Although our overall high school graduation rate passed 80% in 2012. (For the First Time, 2014) The graduation rate for college students drops to 58% for those trying to get their Bachelor's degree. (Graduation Rates, 2015) Besides stats and test scores, the text talks about our need to be globally minded and to teach students to be digitally competent. Times are a changing and we need to change, too. I highly recommend this book for any working in education or concerned about education. It caused me to revise some beliefs that I held. I hope to learn more about what being a digital citizen means for U.S. students and what I can do to make an impact where I am. In the classroom, I want to be the teacher that "cultivates creativity, celebrates diversity, and inspires curiosity' (Zhao, 198) As an administrator, I want to keep doing that. Resources Why is technology important in education? (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2015. Zhao, Y. (2009). Catching up or leading the way American education in the age of globalization. Alexandria, V A: ASCD. For the first time, the U.S. high school graduation rate tops 80 percent, report finds. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2015. (n.d.). Retrieved August 9, 2015, from https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=40
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Sheila L. DavisPassionate Adult ESL Instructor at Grossmont Adult School, PLC Lead (mulit-level)& TOSA. Former Adjunct at San Diego Continuing Ed. Seeking the best ways to utilize technology in the classroom and in professional life. ArchivesCategories |