Multiculturalism

Banks and Banks is my favorite definition, that the aim of multicultural education is to create equal educational opportunities for students from diverse racial, ethnic, social class and cultural groups. They further state that technology transcends culture and language. I think that the film El Tacoyo best illustrates the point. The film is bilingual, and should be equally compelling to both Spanish speakers and English speakers. Probably the biggest investment for this project was assuring access to technology for ESL students and students from the lower end of the economic strata.

This last point is one of my greatest concerns. While I'm aware that my children have plenty of access to technology, easily spending two hours a day with a computer, I am equally aware that there are plenty of kids who can't get two hours a month on a computer. It is these students who I am in greatest fear for. Frankly, with two children of my own, I am not going to go charging off on the weekends to teach classes. I know for a fact my wife would object. What I am willing to do is to work with parents to convince them to obtain lower end, internet capable machines. I will try to turn my parents into a community that will donate older computers to children who will otherwise not have access to technology. The nice thing about email systems such as Yahoo is that students do not have to have printers in their own homes. They can email their work to others who do have printers - including the school or their teachers. At $9.95 a month for internet access, very few students should have difficulties gaining access. But the sad reality is there will be families that can't even afford that much. Though I wonder if somehow, for a low price, an account with multiple email accounts couldn't be set up. I have emailed Earthlink as a start to see if they have any programs or suggestions. IF they do, then I would be in a position to negotiate with parents, Home and School Clubs and the Principal. The computers should be easy as both business's and individuals update computers on a regular basis. I would just need to find the stream for that and set up the donation stream.

As for equal access all the websites discussed tonight would be great for ESL students. Even if there is no translation capacity on Epals Classroom, ESL students could find students who DO speak their language. BICS/CALP is quite categorical in it's statement that practice in the native language accelerates learning in the second language. That in itself is a help. Another thought (yes, I took two aspirin), if I have a class of with two or three language groups I could set up a situation where my students communicated in another language, using the ESL students as translators. That would give them the experience of being a linguistic expert, and give my native English speakers an opportunity to experience what it is like to be the one who needs help. I know for a fact that my experience living in Napoli, Italy, has significantly impacted my thoughts and my feelings in favor of multiculturalism. And I definately was NOT a native Italian speaker.

Given all that we covered, I thought the Digital Camcorder was a good example of synchronicity. Between El Tacoyo and the general topic of multiculturalism and the inherent issue of ESL students, the digital camcorder fit right in. For me, one of the key issues is its use as an alternative medium for students who for whatever reason may not be the greatest at the written language. As a tool for the story teller - fiction, factual or even documentary format, it is simple and easy to use, not to mention extremely portable. As a homeowner, it would be easy for me to get a camcorder insured. With time, and help from parents et al for money, it should even be easy to get one that is a bit on the robust side for handling. I've seen reporters drop cameras (expecially combat photogrpahers) and I know that those cameras were not spec built for them. Those cameras were just naturally robust. Biggest problem there will probably be finding reviews that talk about robustness/hardiness. Again, it was nice to see a couple of women prove once again that gender has nothing to do with technical ability.

Inspirational Notes

Visited Kathy's website and added to favorites. Visited. Lots and lots of goodies. Still find the tapes/DVD's WAY to pricey. Wonder what it would take to get a "Netflix" video/DVD rental system? That way teachers would have access to materials, but not have to spend so much money purchasing them. I know from my wife's trials and tribulations that getting schools to pay for movies (and they were the ones who ASKED her to do a Film class....) is nearly impossible. Lots of other goodies though like the lesson plans. Fairly complete set of them too... Added the site to my favorites, and will be pointing out to Sandy.

Which leads to web portals. The only part of the webportal I'm not sure about is whether I'm setting them up, or they are already out there. Some seem to be there (did a quickie search). As a concept for development, this would mean alot more work on my part in terms of becoming better at website development. In terms of being able to use as a set up for classroom research, parent teaching aids etc., it would appear to be a wonderful adjunct. All sorts of uses, from posting all worksheets, homework assignments, clues as to where to research subjects (as in actual web sites), links to games that might be helpful or fun. All the public info that a teacher can post. Using the school website, would be very easy to have a one two punch, with a link from the school website, and maybe one from the webportal going back. Have to think about the security on that one.. Should be safely doable.

The Ebooks presentation was interesting and rather vanilla. Course, that is a personal reaction. I am a luddite when it comes to reading. I want the book in my hands. Looking at it from a students perspective, and that changes. If the notion is ACCESS, then anyway I can get a student interested in reading is fair game. First and foremost, I wonder sometimes if the "gameboy" generation might be more interested in reading if presented in digital format. The readalong and increased font size for the visually impaired is also an important factor. Given my concerns about student access to technology, getting a couple of readers for my class would allow students an additional access to technology that they might otherwise miss. Another thought is that getting away from the readers, to be able to have texts in my computer and do a quick word search, could have interesting applications - quickie look up of quotes, word useage, science and math texts, history texts etc. I must admit I got a kick out of seeing a 1950's original paperback cover for Space Cadets - my copy has long since fallen apart, and I LOVE the book. Off the top of my head, am not sure I'm going to be real gung ho on this technology. At first. As my teaching career becomes somewhat more stable (after I get a permanent placement for a couple of years), I can readily see myself coming back to this technology and adding it to my "bag of tricks". I think I'll be more into getting grants for interactive whiteboards initially, and setting up DVD presentations (and basically beta testing them as I get a clearer chance to see what they are like...).

The instant messaging stuff was old news to me - I have a 13 year old daughter. I now the yahoo sounds by heart... "Heather - you got one!!". My initial response was that the technology is too problematic for school use, but then it struck me that is not the issue. The issue is do my students know and use the technology? That will influence how they see writing and written communication. Based on the presentation it is very easy for me to foresee at some point getting from some student in a book report "String of Unfortunate Events is a very good book. LOL every chapter."..... Can even see myself pointing out that the MAO in ROFLMAO is NOT suitable for use in a school setting. This would also be a good indicator of the student's access to technology at home - physically present but very short leash, present with no leash, not present, etc. Especially as I want to be teaching in middle school.

The Inspiration demo was interesting. Again, like Ebooks, I don't see much of a personal use for it as yet. Two thoughts immediately come too mind. One, actual experience teaching may change my thoughts on that. Being able to insert photos/jpegs and make connections might actually be quite worthwhile. The second thought is "enough about ME...". For students this may very well be one hell of a program, giving them a chance to communicate how they see the world around them connected. It's another media, for students who think differently then me to find a way that WILL communicate with me. I can see that for some students, Inspiration may be the next best development after sliced bread. I was talking to Bryan, and he has many uses for such a program. Looking to the future, I'll be keeping my eye out for this and similar programs. This leads to another thought. While in some ways, I understand that students are "digital natives", that does not mean that they have been exposed to everything. Makes me wonder about the worthwhileness of taking a week out to just sit down with students and computers and explore all the ways that they can be used to communicate. I need to masticate on that some more....

The programs for remote editing was interesting. Think that goes in with the Inspiration pile. I foresee some problems with it. Need to be able to monitor to make sure students not using it as an alternative to AIM technologies otherwise blocked at a school. But the abilities for groups to work together to collaborate on a report or other text project look rather enticing.

I would like to take this opportunity that during our presentation to the class, I AM NOT Bryan nor am a I responsible for him. If the class righteously decides to nuke him in retaliation, I am planning on moving out of blast range!!!

My new mantra for the week ---- I AM NOT Bryan!!

Video Conferencing

That was fun watching the video conferencing tonight. In terms of educational implications......

Get a guide to take a vid camera, a wi'fi'd laptop, and show us the sights - Museums, parks, monuments, other things.... I know that there are lightweight rigs for doing this.

Talk to the specialists. Place and time not a problem is some ways.

Get international connections and WIDEN a student's world.

Get international connections and larn them student's pruper Ainglish....

Get national connections and DEBATE issues.

Get national connections and share ideas regarding books, projects, etc....

Conference with other like minded teachers and set up a TLC group.

Talk to parents.

Talk to people making the news. Do an earth science unit on the Solar System and get Dr. Hawkings to video conference. How cool can that be? Get one of our Senators (I'd prefer Feinstein) on line. See if we can't get the Governator on line for 15 minutes. If you don't ask, you won't get for sure, but in this day and age I don't think that certain politicians would want to have it leaked out that being SO into education and modernization that they turned down meaningful chances to talk to students. Especially as a video conference would guarantee that time issues and security issues would be virtually nil.

Ultimately, this is the vid phone we have seen in science fiction for years. With the ability to do this on a laptop, you can literally put one in your bedroom, and have to remember NOT to turn on the light when you answer the call.

Was nice to see the presentations. Especially the first one on audio books. Her name escapes me, but I remember her as being very 'new' to computers and rather nervous about them. It's interesting to see that as "emerging technology" when the text book "Words Their Way" talks about tape recording books, and having k-2 students "read along" as well as for assisting ESL students. It is emerging technology, just the synergism represented was interesting. Especially the comments that the textbooks all have audio tapes available. For students whose fluency I would like to improve, I would wonder if one way to do that is to have them do audio tapes for books that lower grades use, as a community work/help project. And if there are any copyright issues - a) I don't care and b) don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss.

The video conferencing was nice. Only problem with it being on the same night as our covering video conferencing is that I feel that my thunder was stolen for my blog. See above. I think they made most, if not all the points that I made.


Seeing the final was informative. Based on the TLC, with two projects, not sure which way to go. Could do a vanilla PowerPoint then MovieWorks as a one-two punch. Or could do a PowerPoint and then a collaboration project. The idea is give a faculty the needed info, then push them to use and work together. Interesting thoughts either way.