Not surprisingly, most students in eighth grade understand the concept of standards in curriculum. These students have spent their entire educational career under NCLB which was instituted when they were kindergarten. They have grown up with the process and probably know just as much about objectives as many teachers. Furthermore, many have become interested in teaching as a possible future profession and are more likely to listen about curriculum and modern teaching practices when mentioned in passing. Therefore, I see no problem in introducing a GAME plan for them to advance their skills in the NETS-S standards by teaching them about each acronym. The technology goals can be explained with an emphasis on fluency, citizenship, and concepts (standards 3, 5, and 6). While creativity, critical thinking, and communication (standards 1, 4, and 2) are important, eighth graders still require instruction in the basic skills of use and safety. Then I would explain the GAME plan process and students could chose one standard they would like to focus on and develop their own plan. Depending on how confident I am in being able to get resources for the students to practice their skills, the single standard could be the goal for the year or the year can be split into the different standards with various projects that focus on each standard. This would involve a great deal of planning on my part, but I think the students would respond well to knowing what the purpose of the lessons was while viewing their own progression as technology students.
This idea might be simple explanation, but I think it is the most feasible and straight-forward lesson which they should respond to in a positive manner. It allows them to feel trusted as young adults with higher educational material.
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Miss Mellor
ReplyDeleteI agree, middle school students are aware of standards and curriculum. If we treat the students like teenagers/young adults, and are straight forward with them, I feel that they are more likely to respond in a mature fashion.
Christine
Miss Mellor,
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I find it interesting that many of your students would like to become teachers. That must be a reflection of your great classroom environment. I have also had interesting discussions with my students when it comes to curriculum and standards and such. Every year I get asked "Why do we have to learn this?" and I am always surprised how interested they are when I talk about what I "have" to teach them. You can't go wrong with talking about NETS-S standards either since those are skills they will all need. Great idea to have students develop their own plan as well. Have a great weekend!
Scott Monthie
Jean,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great how your students have the desire to follow in your footsteps. Something you may want to think about doing, what if in the beginning of the year you provide your students with a goal that they have to acheive? Once they acheive that goal they then can choose their own goal to meet.
I think that if you tell them the goal they have to work towards in the beginning they will not have the feeling of being unsure of what to do. The first goal can be something you work on as a whole class and provide guidance and examples of what needs to be done in order to meet it.
Craig Jones said...
ReplyDeleteMs. Mellor- You and Ms. Griswold are completely correct; if you treat 8th grade students with respect, they will produce much more for you. In addition to them having grown up understanding the basic idea of standards, they would also respond greatly to learning a skill in school. So many students complain that they learn nothing useful in school, but if were were to teach students the NET-S standards and their practical application, I think it would grab the interest of the students, increasing classroom morale and participation.
Christine, Scott, Julie, and Craig,
ReplyDeleteThanks for responding. I really do agree that older students are capable of learning the background behind teaching strategies and will respond more positively for it. Furthermore, they start to see that you are not solely responsible for their predicament of having to learn Newton's laws of motion.