Saturday, January 28, 2012

Blog #3 Teaching Blogs


The blog I picked for this week was Science teacher by Michael Doyle (http://doyle-scienceteach.blogspot.com/).  I found this article to be very interesting because it discusses some of the issues and barriers to teaching science.  He discusses some of the disconnects that students have with certain subjects and gives tips on how he overcomes these barriers to the subject.  One of his posts’s that I found to be very interesting was the discussing the introduction a microscope to a high school class.  He pointed out that using such a complex tool as an introduction can be discouraging because it makes things more abstract and the use itself can confuse students.  He suggest starting out with a dissecting microscope that is much larger and will let the students much larger relatable things such as bugs versus organisms in pond water.  He has many ideas liked this and other of how to make the abstract science class more understandable and how to use what the students already know to help them build their knowledge of science.  

The second blog that I looked at this week was called What It’s Like on the Inside (http://blog.whatitslikeontheinside.com/).  I enjoyed this blog because it talked about some of the things that I have concerns about in the classroom, such as the students use of technology.  Some of her other recent post talked about the book The Purposeful Classroom, which after reading this post I am intrigues to read.  I really valued how in her post App-rehension, she discusses how she is taking time each week to look at new apps and resources available to her on her IPAD before she is sold on the use of it in the classroom.  I think this is a great example of the importance of doing your own investigating into tools for your classroom so that you know the strengths and weakness of it and can adjust it to be most beneficial in the classroom. 

4 comments:

  1. Hello Nicole,

    I went directly to the site you mention and got caught up in the physics blog. After I while, I decided to search the one that you mention ( I think is this one http://doyle-scienceteach.blogspot.com/search/label/microscope)
    It was indeed interesting and I agree that one on the most important things a teacher must do is to keep alive the enthusiasm of the students.

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  2. Dear Nicole,

    Thanks for poking around my blog. As it turns out, I know the author of the other blog as well--it's still a small world in the blogosphere.

    When you teach, teach what you love, and share your joy. I've done a lot of things in life, and nothing beats teaching. Nothing.

    In the end, it's not so much the subject as it is the passion. Live well, and share what you know.

    The core curriculum standards matter, true, but not nearly as much as you.

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  3. I think the blogs online can be very useful to find new and fun activities and also serve as a place to vent and get advice, but I don't know how some of these people who have really eloquent blogs find the time. I guess with time you learn to juggle better.

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  4. Hi Nicole!
    I like the blogs that you shared! I feel that new technologies, apps included, should be integrated into the classroom, but to what extent and what specific technologies, require some research. I think that taking time to really look into something before you try it out in a room full of students is important with any new idea, but especially technology. Kids seem so attached to any and all technology these days, but I feel that discretion is needed in the classroom, as it is the teacher’s responsibility to set an example for students.

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