Data Analysis Tasks

Data analysis tools typically take one of two different forms: collecting data (survey, interviews, questionnaires) or finding existing data (databases). Data collection tools don't need to be complicated to be effective. A great tool for collecting data is InspireData, a tool that is usually downloaded on school computers. I used it for an English project to compare the number of deaths during the plague in Europe across different locations. Data analysis tools allow students to develop their own conclusions from evidence and learn to back up the conclusions. They also allow students to learn where something comes from, as too often in classrooms the students are told the "rules" without knowing where they come from. Furthermore, it teaches students problem solving skills. A great example for English is recording the "arc" of the plot for each of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies. Another idea from Linguistics is to let the students know why grammar is the way it is (history, Latin, etc).


Other data analysis tools: tinkerplot, wordle.com, and Go!Motion

Subbing in Monroe County Schools

I subbed today at Templeton Elementary in a sixth grade classroom. I jotted down notes about what I saw during the class. I came in after lunch and recess, and so the first thing that was being dealt with was the “incident” at recess. One of the troublemakers of the class was explaining to another teacher about a black kid with whom he got into a fight. He said the boy was a “gangsta getting up in my face.” I was a little disturbed by having to somewhat deal with a fight only two minutes into class, even though I didn’t directly deal with the problem. I realized quickly that it was a low-achieving class, and the student teacher in charge affirmed this. It was really pretty diverse; there was an African-American kid, an Asian kid, and two Latino kids, and they all seemed well liked by their classmates. The class in general seemed very accepting and comfortable with one another. The class was also primarily male (maybe three girls?), and it was a very loud and raucous class.

I wanted to comment actually less on racial issues but on tracking. The student teacher explained to me how NCLB was affecting her classroom. She said that they primarily taught English and Math, and there was a big emphasis on testing. There was very little focus on science and social studies, and she said that she hadn’t taught really any science in a few weeks. I just can’t believe that. If America is so concerned with pushing our students to be real competitors, it has to be about more than taking the math and English tests. These kids aren’t learning anything that will help them in the global world, and they are falling behind in those subjects. I just can’t believe that our grand solution to bad schools is to focus the content so much on testing within Math and English. It’s ridiculous. And the strategies to teach were really aimed at low-achieving students and didn’t help the students stretch themselves at all. The student teacher read to them while they drew or slept, and the rest of class time was spent playing an anagram game. So all these kids learn about is English and Math, and all they do is draw, sleep, do skits, and play games. Where is the real learning? When do these kids actually get to be creative? It’s just stupid.

Communication Tools

Communication can be defined as an exchange between two or more people. There are multiple forms of communication tools: one to one (phone, IM, email, text), one to many (blog, email), and many to many (wiki). There are two forms of interaction: synchronous (immediate feedback like texting or talking on the phone, chat room) and asynchronous (email, blog, bulletin). A good example of a communication tool is yakpack; teachers can use this asynchronous tool to communicate information to students such as notes, review information, or important updates. A similar tool is vocaroo.