Group items tagged

An online only grad school for teacher preparation in NY state helps teachers in their own classrooms instead of in a teacher prep class outside of where they work. Videos of teachers teaching and other techniques are used to train teachers.

By Alison Byerly in Inside Higher Ed, October 29 2012. Essay compares MOOCs to traditional education exchanges, looking at the role of "teachers" and "students" in each; also considering the difference in how "course "is defined in a MOOC vs. a traditional class. Byerly's point is that traditional experiences provide an agreement between teacher and student that the teacher's reach goes beyond the classroom (or screen) and that teachers model pedagogic behaviors, as well as providing academic advice, writing references, providing access to support, etc. This holds true whether a f2f lecture or online. The MOOC model is more like a broadcast, where such supports *can* be included but, as a rule, are not.

The UK newspaper The Guardian hosts this online teacher network, which includes articles (top page) as well as a resource database accessed through this page. You can filter by subject, grade level and even creator type (e.g. Guardian, teachers or partners). While there is a decidedly UK slant, there might be some neat teaching ideas here.

A series of math tutorials by "qualified, creative individuals." The tutorials are relatively short, and broken down into single concepts. Teachers are invited to share their own videos. Unfortunately, though the tagline says "Choose your lesson. Choose your teacher," it is difficult to find citations/teacher credits for individual lessons.

An alternative to Khan Academy a series of videos to help explain mathematical concepts to your students.

In a CoP, teachers learn collaboratively rather than through isolated means

to transform existing teacher education programs' course contexts into communities of learners that link the learning of preservice teachers with the learning of experienced teachers and teacher educators

This website,created by the Clinton RESA, Ingham ISD, Macomb ISD & Shiawassee RESD, offers 21 technology concepts (e.g. blogs, digital citizenship, online video resources) that teachers might want to incorporate into their classrooms. While the site is aimed at K-12 teachers, it is likely that teachers at all levels can find something worthwhile here. NOTE: the site was built in 2008; in the fast-moving 2.0 world, there might be tools that are since out of date.

By Ken Bain, Harvard University Press, 2004. According to its description, this book is based on a 15-year study and concludes that "it's not what teachers do, it's what they understand." The best teachers know their subjects well, but also know how to motivate and challenge their students. They believe "that teaching matters, and that students can learn."

RA discussed this in the notes for her lesson, week 3, semester 3.

Video on TED.com, filmed March 2011; posted March 2011. Salman Kahn talks about starting up Khan Academy, and its goal of offering short videos of exercises. He suggests that teachers consider flipping the classroom: give students video lectures to watch at home and do the exercises in class with the teacher there to help.

TM recommended this video as background on the idea of "flipped classroom."

Part of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA)'s Mathematical Science Digital Library (MathDL), this site offers resources for math teachers who want to help their students better communicate as mathematicians. The site includes assessments, rubrics, sample assignments, and things that teachers might consider before adding a communication component to their math classes.

With a presence both on the internet and on TV (PBS), Teaching Channel calls itself a "showcase" of "inspiring and effective teaching practices in America's schools." The organization's mission "is to revolutionize how teachers learn, connect, and inspire each other to improve the outcomes for all K-12 students across America." Browse videos by subject, grade level or topic (all from the left-hand navigation). In addition, there is a blog. Users are encouraged to subscribe, and the Teachers space is also organized by subject and grade-level, as well as by roles. The site also provides a workspace.

Website of John Taylor Gatto. According to his biography (on this website), Gatto was a long-time schoolteacher, eventually winning New York State Teacher of the Year (also multi-winner of NYC Teacher of the Year). He then very publicly quit teaching (that same year) and launched a public-speaking and film-making career, exploring what he feels is wrong with K-12 education.

SB mentions Gatto in a post describing readings that he's used that are critical of the current educational system.

Teachers tell how to improve public schools.

Teachers whose students described them as skillful at maintaining classroom order, at focusing their instruction and at helping their charges learn from their mistakes are often the same teachers whose students learn the most in the course of a year, as measured by gains on standardized test scores, according to a progress report on the research.

By Donald M. Murray, 1985. A prominent writing teacher who advocates writing teachers conferencing with their students.

by Ken Bains, published by Harvard University Press, 2004. From Booklist review, "With the strong conviction that good teaching can be learned, and after 15 years of observing teachers in action, Bain undertook an exploration of the essentials of effective teaching. The result is an insightful look at what makes a great teacher...."

By Amanda Ripley in The Atlantic, January/February 2010. This article looks at effective teaching in several ways: it profiles several highly effective teachers, and also discusses over ten years of data about effective teaching that the organization Teach for America is preparing to release.

By Francis Christensen and Bonniejean Christensen, published by Harper & Row, 1978 (2nd edition). Essays for writing teachers.

RA excerpts an essay from this book, Week 8, Semester 3.

Created by the Annenberg Foundation, this site provides a variety of classroom resources for teachers, including Lesson Plans. Lesson plan database can be searched by grade level as well as subject area.

Software to help teachers more effectively grade assignments and "communicate progress to students and parents."

TM describes her use of this software in terms of how she manages her time in and out of the classroom.

A guideline statement published by National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), 1987. From the statement: "Faculty members must be given adequate time to fulfill their responsibility to their students, their departments, their institutions, their profession, the larger community, and to themselves. Without that time, they cannot teach effectively."

This came up in a ped circle discussion, late in the semester, regarding workoad and how the demands of college employment tend to get in the way of the reflection, collaborative work, and intellectual development of individual instructors.