week 7: Fischbowl February 2007 Blog

In this issue, Karl Fisch discusses his views on testing students, especially in mathematics, and what is considered to be a "right" answer. I agree with a lot of his points as he said that students should be taught methods that help them relate math to the world and real world situations. He states that students need math knowledge to correspond with daily life so they will know how to use the many formulas they are taught once they leave their math class and go into the world.

I feel that math is a hard subject for students to grasp because they don't fully understand why numbers "do what they do" if you will. Students must be taught how the math concepts relate to their life just like we teach history lessons because those topics are the reason for the way the world is today. If we did not approach math as a topic that requires mastery and perfection to be successful and made it seem more meaningful in the eyes of students, they may feel the need and desire to learn the material.

image with title and alt tags

week 6 blog: Fischbowl

The Fischbowl blog in September about teachers and technology was very informative. I feel that teachers should be required to have a basic knowledge of technology used in their classroom. Although, you cant fault teachers that are of older generations for not understanding newly developed technology. But, they should step up and try to understand the new technological items because they are going to be around it since they are teachers! On the other hand, it is hard to understand advancing technology if you have never learned or understood the simpler versions.

As far as parents that do not fully understand a concept or how to work new technology thinking that their children do not need to learn these things I say that you are not an effective parent. Students as young as kindergarten are learning how to operate computers and other devices and parents are left in the dust. Frankly, this is how generations work...new things arise and older persons are left behind. It is their responsibility to update themselves as new things arise, but many fall behind because its not important to them. I can understand that they have already been in their career for many years and have learned all they desire but it is important to make sure that younger generations are advancing and progressing along with the world.