I find myself confronted with the demons of secondary education. I have been grading papers lately. That is always an arduous experience, not only because I get the on set of carpal tunnel, or burn 2 to 3 red ink pens, but because it brings to light the age old debate: who’s to blame-Schools or parents.

I am learning so much in all three of my classes this semester, but specifically, for this blog entry, I will discuss integrating technology. Blogs, Wikis, and social network sites are great but seriously, how can I use them appropriately when I have to teach my students some basic English and writing skills, not to mention APA format? This is one area we have not discussed in class and I am open to suggestions. There are so many exercises I would like to incorporate into my classes as a method of accomplishing the learning objectives but I have to deal with some basics first. Building a constructivist pedagogical model of learning is an excellent idea in theory but perhaps would be better suited upper level undergraduate courses.

Being Cyber Pimped

I was sharing my educational endeavors with one of my classes last week. I was explaining to them how I have been learning how to use various technological tools such as, creating a blog, using twitter, building a Wiki, finding social network sites, and more. I made some comment in gest about how I felt used by technology and that I felt like I was working on a technological street corner because I have never used the web so much in my life. I usually use it for research purposes. Then one of my students (shout out to you Vanessa Little) said "you've been cyber pimped" and the light went on in my head. She served as my impetus for an "Ah Ha" moment.

My students are amazing. They really don't give themselves the intellectual credit they deserve.

Until next time...
Peace

Teaching

Teaching is the most awesome job I have ever had.. My classes rock! but that's just because the students are so incredible. What makes teaching so fun is all the different personalities in all my classes and none of the students are mean people. This one class I have, CJ 206, is one of my favorites. They applaude when I enter the class room. It started as a joke because I was messing around one day and got on my soapbox about how teachers are under appreciated and how we should be applauded and I especially should have my own theme music when I entered the class room due to the entertainment value of my lecture series. Low and behold they were listening, actually listening.

Take not my fellow educators out there in blog land, your students are listening!!!

On a side bar note, I'm contemplating the creation of a cartoon. Are there any illustrators out there?

Peace
H

Monday, 9/14/09

Tody's adventure:

WVU is out to get me :-) remember that I am important to them. I have not received money from my student account for a Fall tuition waiver but it has been sitting there for a week, seriously. Then payroll did not deduct money from my paycheck for my summer deferment pay so now they will take additional money out over the next months. That check for working at the pool during the summer just doesn't cut it.

So that's my dilemma for today. An ongoing saga I have is related to love. That's right, you read correctly, love. I am a helpless romantic. Just watched "Definately, Maybe" again and I'm a sucker for a sappy love story. As for my love life, well, that's complicated.
Stay tuned for more on that.

Peace

The title of my blog is meant to be a bit facetious. My life seems really boring now compared to 10 to 20 years ago but I have to create this blog for my class so I am going about it with an open mind. Perhaps I will have cathartic experience and it will all be worth it.