Thursday, April 22, 2010

American Government 4/22/10

In Class - Continue Project Planning (Project paragraph due tomorrow.) Turn in signed grade sheet (due by tomorrow).

Homework - Project Paragraph and signed grade sheet due tomorrow.

EXTRA CREDIT OPPORTUNITY - go to cnn.com and watch the following video entitled "Teachers vs. texting." After watching this, view several of the following articles and write a detailed response concerning how this technology should not be allowed in the classroom or how it could be utilized and integrated into the classroom. This is due by Monday, April 26 by 11:59. You must cite your sources and include a works cited. Qualtiy work could earn up to 50 points of EC.

Articles to check out: These will just get you started. Please expand your search to articles outside of what is listed below.
http://www.edutopia.org/text-messaging-teaching-tool
http://www.couriernews.com/story.php?ID=24514
http://media.www.utmpacer.com/media/storage/paper1175/news/2008/03/25/Viewpoints/Stop-Texting.During.Class-3280690.shtml
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2008/04/02/texting

Also, show up at 6:30 tomorrow morning for "Spring Cleaning" in Mr. Palo's classroom.

SENIOR ASSEMBLY TOMORROW AT 9 AM!!!

16 comments:

Chelsea said...

My opinion of texting in class is disruptive and rude while class is going on. I understand if the phones were being used for internet use or class time use, but to text that is not right. When we are in class it is learning time not texting away. Their should be a special kind of phone for class and not texting. No matter what teachers or advisors at school say students will keep using their phones unless they put an act to it. I'm not saying to put a block for phone, but for texting, cause if their was an emergency we wouldn't have a way to contact anyone. Though today technology has advanced and it will keep advancing until it shuts down. I do intend to text in class, but only when it is the end or their is nothing being taught. I think that technology will outrun education.

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

Chelsea Chavez period: 4

Mukuria15 said...
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Mukuria15 said...
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Mukuria15 said...
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Mukuria15 said...

"Teachers vs. Texting ." CNN.com. Web. 26 Apr 2010. .

Bernard, Sara . "Zero-Thumb Game: How to Tame Texting." edutopia.org (2008): 1. Web. 26 Apr 2010. .

I think texting should not be allowed in classrooms depending on the timing that the student is texting. For example if the teacher is talking and you are bluntly texting for the world to see I just consider that so rude. In the video of the elementary school using cell phones as a learning tool I do think that that was a pretty smart way to learn, but then even if technology is changing does that really mean that we have to change with it? I mean using phones at such a young age could lead to problems such as carpal tunnel.
I’m not saying that we don’t need to exceed as technology exceeds, I just believe that we should not forget our history in using paper and a pen, we should continue to learn the old fashion way and incorporate the new ways somehow.
A bad thing about texting is that it’s affecting the way people write these days. Like in the article “Zero Thumb Game: How to Tame Texting”, it said that 64 percent of the teens surveyed admitted that some form of electronic-communication lingo has crept into their academic writing (Bernard 1). This is bad. I don’t know the way others see it, but when I’m trying to write an essay or anything whatsoever and I write “2” instead of “to” or “U” instead of “you” it tells me that I’m getting used to something that makes me look um…not at my academic level. I am a seventeen year old girl about to be eighteen in college and I’m writing like a middle school kid? It’s not a good trait to carry and the fact that my mind is also getting used to the way I’m writing things to involuntarily write in text that I said in my mind scares me.
How should technology be brought into the classroom? In truth I don’t know. Other than the areas for research, typing, and using online software to learn, I don’t think that technology should have so much of an impact on school. From my personal feelings I’d have to say that I love books. I love the feeling of the page when I turn it, the coldness of it’s cover on my hands, and the excitement I get when I close it. I also love pencils, and writing on paper; writing in a way only I can do. The education system we have now is pretty old, but it carries history. For example people think that cursive is not needed, but I think we do; it’s carries the history of the United States. Now I’m not saying that I’m 100% accurate but I’m pretty sure our four fathers did not write the way we do today. Is cursive necessary? No, but it not un-necessary.
Technology is becoming such a big impact on the world today that I’m scared that one day learning how to write the alphabet won’t exist because we’ll use computers since kindergarten. I’m afraid that such things as “signatures” won’t exist and instead it would be just a personal set of numbers the computer puts in. The thing I’m most scared of is that humanity would be so focused on the use of technology that one day if the power goes out we’ll be like cavemen. We’ll pick up a pencil and say, “What is this?”
Technology should be incorporated into our education system; just with not such an emphasis on it because once we lose our history we’ll lose ourselves.
I know I started to sprout things off topic, sorry Mr. Palo. I hope everything I said makes sense.

Anonymous said...

Texting is sure annoying but you must ask yourself this question. With all the conversations going on about education reform, why not add a little bit of technology into the classroom? Incorporate the cell-phone into the classroom in a certain way! Their is no more reasoning when it comes to confronting a problem that ranks in the billions. Sure it might cost a bit more money than usual but when you compare the price to say buying new computers for the school. It's a perfect way to teach students by using a piece of technology that will likely take over more parts of life as time goes on. Great example of this is the Iphone and the Droid Phone.

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

Brian Navarro Period 4

crystal said...

In my opinon texting can be a disrpution in class and its tempting to use once someone texts you or if you just need too talk to someone about something. Im not going to lie i do use my phone in class for entertainment once i get bored. I know its not right and that cell phones should be put away and sometimes its okay too use them if you have permission and for emergencys or if your using it for class like the kids in the video were using them,and it seemed like it work the kids were having fun and learning something on there cell phone that they were given. Like the young girl said in the video, "its more intresting too look at the screen then a piece if paper."So i think its okay too use them, it just depends on the situation, like you cant use them while the teacher is talking or trying too teach you something that is rude and it shouldnt happen in the classroom.

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010


Crystal p.2

ang3l said...

Texting in class isnt right especially when theres something being teached. Its not like if they could just make us get rid of our phone though. We need them because theres time when we need to use them. For like emergencies and stuff. Also texting is making us right different now. I guess its allright but depending on what though. Work at school is not something were you could write like that. Really we just got to be responsible and not do these kind of things.

Bernard, Sara . "Zero-Thumb Game: How to Tame Texting." edutopia.org (2008): 1. Web. 26 Apr 2010. .

Angel Hurtado period:4

ImariL14 said...

Ok, well honestly I think texting in class is rude. Especially if your doing it right in front of your teacher without even caring. For some teachers it doesn’t bother them, but others do not tolerate it at all. If it is that important then you should ask to be excused. From my own experience I know that it is very tempting to want to read that message when your phone vibrates, yes I know, but for an hour you can resist I’m sure. Just put it in your bag, and you will forget all about it.
Now if there are new ways to use our phones for good, I think it’s worth a try. I don’t see why not. If it doesn’t work then it doesn’t work, but it won’t hurt to try. I think they have a point made in the video. I don’t think you will ever be able to completely stop it no matter how hard you try, so why not embrace it and work with it. Taking it away or stopping it might backfire like they said. These days phones are practically a part of us so why not use it for good. I think we should evolve just like technology, if we haven’t already. I just don’t think we should solely depend on just technology. It’s just another helping hand. I don’t think we should give up notebooks, pens, and pencils. We just need to learn how to use what we have to our advantage.
The only step back that this will have is our vocabulary and language. When we text we have all kinds of lingo and abbreviations to shorten things up. I think that that does have an affect on the way we speak, read, and write. Sometimes even I get tempted to use the lingo that we use when I text, but I think if we can find a way to use technology the right way we can reverse that and enhance our vocabulary instead of limiting ourselves. There will always be pros and cons with something, you just have to learn how to work with them the best you can.

-Imari LaMar-
I hope I wasn't rambling..haha


Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 26 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

Eden Huerta said...

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

As I read some of the other comments posted I realized that everyone started their response with “I think that texting in class is rude especially when it is being done right in front of the teacher” or something along those lines. Well I also think that it is rude but that is a pretty obvious statement. I feel that using cell phones during school is perfectly fine as long as it doesn’t interfere with your focus in the classroom. I personally use my phone for school reasons a lot just like the video showed, I use it to look up information that’s dealing with the topic we are discussing in class I do admit that I also text during class but I try and do it when it is the best time like when there is nothing too important going on. I also agree with the idea that we have to keep up with the technology because that is how life works because it is more efficient and faster. In some peoples point of view paper is the way to go still but really times change like before people would write on walls in caves and stones but as time change paper came about and we followed just like technology today. In the video it showed that all the students received a cell phone at the beginning of the year and that reminded me of your laptop idea and I thought it was also a great idea to enforce new technology in the classroom. I feel that threats of confiscating cell phones are a waste of time because the reason that the teacher takes it away is because it is disrupting the classroom but the time being taken up by taking the phone is honestly being much more disruptive. I think that if a student is texting during a lesson it is their own loss as long as it doesn’t interrupt others, if someone nearby is being affected then they should ask to be moved. I think that student should have more power of their own actions like they miss out on the lecture and eventually when they fall behind then they will know that it is because they were not paying attention. I also understand that some teachers might feel that they are wasting their time if nobody pays attention but honestly the teachers still get paid so they might as well continue with their lesson.

EDEN HUERTA PD.2

xX*KR3W*Xx said...

I think that texting in the classroom is really disrepectful and annoying. I mean don't get me wrong i do text during class. I don't know why i don't wait till after class but when i text i never do it while the teacher is talking or saying something really important. I propose that we let the students text in class. Me saying that is being bold because texting is always looked down upon as disrespectful, annoting, and disruptive. I say we let the teachers say and do what they got to do and if theres time during or towards the end of class let the students text but not during the teachers teaching time. Lets face it technology is advancing and is be used for almost everything and during sometime in the future every school is going to be laptops and cellular devices to do school work. So eventually texting and aim is going to be used in schools. Technology is going to become a big part of education in the future we are just moving a step closer.

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

xX*KR3W*Xx said...

Gustavo Sanchez
period 2

justinee.grace. said...

Okay I got to be honest, texting has become extremely addicting, for me and for almost everyone, whether your home, work or school. Really…you can’t get rid of it, so what can you do? Well in my opinion everyone texts to communicate, correct? We’ve become addicted to texting, well I guess you wouldn’t necessarily say addicted, the way I see it is when we as humans get bored we decide to text, it gives us something to do. It entertains us more than what we’re doing at the moment. And we get bored very often especially at school so we text most of the time. Maybe we just need to make school a little more interesting and entertaining for our students, so they get there minds off of texting and more on learning. I think our teaching techniques are a big part to this whole texting problem in school. But like shown in the video “Teachers vs. Texting” maybe it’d be a good idea to try and bring texting into shool but make it in a way where kids will learn.
“It’s a part of what they are today, so why not use it in a positive way?” That is very true, since students love texting so much then why don’t you let them, but let them text in some type of way where they are learning, exactly how they had shown in the video.
That seems to be a very good solution, and it seemed to be working. Just like Naya Rivera had stated that, “it’s more interesting looking at this little screen, its like a tv, nothing like a boring piece of paper.”


Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Texting." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, Apr. 21, 2010. Web. April 26, 2010


-Justine Aguilo, period 2(:

alex_silva4 said...

Texting in class is not always bad. I can respect kids who text when the teacher is done with their lecture, but if you text while they are talking it is pretty rude. according to CNN.com video "teachers vs. Texting" If you cant beat them, join them. I think this is very true. Because you see many teachers text during class. Not all the time may it be texting, sometimes kids are looking for answers on the internet. For example, when we have our debates. I go on the internet to find information that I can talk about while others are debating. Now and days, technology is everything. If we can incorporate more technology into our studies. It will just prepare us for our near future. Using cell phones as an alternative to buy laptops for the whole school can be a great idea for something that can later on down the road expand. I think texting should be aloud during class, just at the right moments, Not while a teacher is speaking.

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

Cnn.com Video, "teachers vs. texting"

Connor57 said...

In my opinion texting in class as long as it isn't intefering with the students work. It should be a priviledge not a right. This technology can be used in an effective way. I have stated that we should use cell phones to send reminders to students about upcoming events and class notices. Not to long ago I conduct a survey asking kids if they feel that a notice system sent via text would help. And majority of the students said that it would. Now our school is looking into getting the system implemented. Cell phones are not going anywhere, kids are going to use them no matter what you tell them. Our generation is technology based, everything is done with technology. The days of using paper is coming to an end, not to far in the future almost everything is going to be technology based. We just need to take in stride and use it to our advantage. Teachers need to realize this until then there will always be a fight about the use of cell phones or any technology in the classroom.

Anonymous said...

First I would like to give my personal opinion. I personally believe that texting in in class should be allowed in certain circumstances. For example, if the teacher is lecturing and you receive a text asking a question. As long as you can answer it quickly and get back to the task at hand, there is no problem with it. Now I do realize that some people can't handle a responsibility such as this and they should be forbid from using it. But those that can handle the ability to jungle school work and personal time should be allowed to. This can be measured by one's grade in the class and usual performance or how disruptive they usually are.
Now for the pros and cons: The pros of texting in class are if it's for emergencies or if your using it for class. It makes learning more interesting and like the kids in the video learned, something on there cell phone that, "It's more interesting too look at the screen then a piece if paper."
As for the cons, a bad thing about texting is that it’s affecting the way people writes. Like in the article “Zero Thumb Game: How to Tame Texting”, it said that 64 percent of the teens surveyed admitted that some form of electronic-communication lingo has crept into their academic writing (Bernard 1). Also using phones at such a young age could lead to problems such as carpal tunnel like Kim stated in her response and it easily distracts students from the task at hand.
The fact of the matter is, texting is just one of those things that will probably never be "allowed" at school, but still will be done often when people's heads are turned. It's not so bad to the point that there needs to be a campaign to get rid of it. Especially when those same students can just lean over and talk to their neighboring student, getting them just as off task.

Feyerick, Deborah. "Teachers Vs. Textiing." Web log post. Teachers Vs. Texting. CNN.com, 21 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 Apr. 2010

Bernard, Sara . "Zero-Thumb Game: How to Tame Texting." edutopia.org (2008): 1. Web. 26 Apr 2010. .