Week 4

Book:

There were a couple points that stood out to me at the beginning of this weeks reading. I really liked the leadership examples used. The chart that caught my eye about engagement levels depending on how leadership interacts with, 40% ignore you, 22% if they focus on your weaknesses, and 1% if they focus on your strengths. I feel that this chart shows the best way of being a leader. People like to hear what they do well. Not say that leaders do not need to tell employees or students when they have done something wrong, but they need to find a positive and reflective way to do it.

The next part of the book that I connected with was "Is technology a tool?". This section of the book really connected with my classroom. It talked about 21st century schools vs. 21st century learning. I love getting new technology for my room but if I do not use the technology to accelerate learning I am not giving the students the best opportunity to learn. "Learning is a driver; technology is the accelerator," is a great quote from the book. Couros later in the section talks about technology should be personalized not standardized. I really like this. Technology is not the same for every person and with the different amount of learning styles, technology should be an aid and accelerator for learning.

Being a technology teacher, I feel at times that technology is being used just to use the technology. I am working on better allowing the technology an accelerator of learning or a guide for more content. The book and course has already opened my eyes to better ways of teaching and use of technology in my classroom and school.

Video:

#1 - The first point that I found interesting was how he talked about the internet making Ted Talks better. The idea the millions of people will see your video makes them want to make it better. This can work in a classroom as well. If you are using the internet, youtube, social media to broadcast and enhance the classroom more people will be able to see the students works. This will allow for the students take more time and put more passion into their work. We have trouble in our school at times getting the students to put forth effort. Showing their work to the world, parents, other students can be an innovative way to get students to show effort.

The second part that stood out to me in the video was the fact that video is able to take the place of face-to-face instruction. This is very interesting with the amount of online courses and degrees available today. Teachers and professors are able to reach more students without loosing all of the face-to-face nuances that are taught in a classroom. Video is a very powerful tool and allows for better learning at times.

#2 - I really like the analogy of leadership to parenting. We want our kids to grow up and have opportunity, education, discipline, self confidence, and achieve more than we were able too. This is what a leader needs to do in a business or a school. He goes on to say that if we were a troubled family we would not lay off one of our kids. I like the concept of this. Employees and students need to be coached and taught in different ways so that they can turn the failure into success.

#3 - The speaker fits right in with what our book is talking about. Finding ways to get students to become more involved, innovative, and problem finders. I really enjoyed how the speaker talked about the use of technology in classrooms. Cell phones and Youtube being banned and blocked. This is how it is at my school. It is a policy I have to follow and a policy that I wish would be changed. Cell phones are such powerful devices and we need to show students that they are and how to use them in a professional manner. Youtube has so many ways of learning. The main reason for blocking Youtube is to stop students from listening to music. As a learner, I learn and work better listening to music! I really connected with her speech and will continue to strive to become a better teacher.