Explanation: The following two reflections were done as an assignment for EDEF 3200_01 – Theoretical Frameworks of Education. In this assignment, we read five different case studies and had to critically reflect and respond to two of them and respond to two of our classmate’s reflections. I really enjoyed this assignment because situations like these are bound to happen in our career and it is often what I am most worried about when thinking of becoming a teacher. It was very helpful to read these cases and think about all the different aspects that they entail and how we would respond. I learned that a lot of times how you would respond isn’t necessarily how everyone would respond and there are going to be a lot of different opinions regarding these difficult situations in the future.
Case: Whose Culture, Who’s teaching? Question category: Implications for Practice. By Keenen Degen – Sunday, 30 January 2022, 4:11 PM
What would you do if your teaching load was “topped up” by having to teach a language you didn’t know very well?
I want to start by saying that this case is certainly a difficult one and I really do think the best way to learn a language would be from somebody who is passionate and speaks the language gracefully. However, I think it is important to think about how we will handle being put in a position to teach a language we don’t know well because it more than likely will happen. For me, I will most likely (almost guaranteed) have to speak and teach French. I dropped French as soon as I possibly could because it honestly seemed next to impossible for me to master. Therefore, teaching students to speak the language seems overwhelming at first.
The first thing I would do if put in this position is to find a guest speaker. Preferably somebody who could not only talk about the language but also talk about the culture the language comes from. This could be a parent from the classroom, an Elder from the community, or a close friend. This will not only be a great learning experience for the students but also an exciting way to break up all the other lessons. The next thing I would do is set up this class in a less formal way. I think that this would be a great opportunity for me, as the teacher, to play more of a facilitating role. I may guide students through learning the language without just standing at the front and lecturing about the language. Instead, there can be an abundance of group work and class discussions where students can learn through other classmates, pieces of text, and technology. This brings me to my next point. Technology will be my most powerful tool in this situation. There are an endless amount of resources out there that I can use to teach myself before class but also can use as a way to teach the class. Videos, games, and verbal translators can be a great break from the usual school day and will be a helpful tool for me to teach. Depending on the age, there will be different degrees of freedom given, but I think by helping students use technology to learn the language they will be able to apply this to other languages and can use it to refresh their knowledge later in life.
Case: Brave New World Question Category: Case. By Keenen Degen – Saturday, 22 January 2022, 3:40 PM
In this case, convincing arguments are made for both sides of the debate on whether or not social media should be used in the classroom. What are the arguments? Which did you find most persuasive, and why?
The arguments in this case study fall under three categories. Some teachers believe there should be no social media in the classroom, some believe that there is a time and place for social media and that they are happy with the district’s current rules regarding the issue, and some believe that we need to start to push for fewer rules around social media use.
The arguments against social media in the classroom are that it can be full of false information and that you can very easily become a victim of hacking. On the other side of things, some teachers argue that it can be a powerful resource for understanding current events around the world. Jim explains how he connects with students about interests’ non-school-related through his blog about boats. There is also an argument that there is really no way to escape social media and that many students use it in a positive manner to communicate with their friends. Finally, one teacher even argues that we are preparing students for future jobs and employers are going to want students to be able to use social media responsibly and therefore we need to teach students how to use social media in a productive and positive manner.
When I first read this question, I believed that schools should be an escape from social media and there should be strict limitations in schools. However, over time my opinion has wavered. Although I think there should be rules around it I do think that as teachers, our main job is to set students up for success later in life. It is obvious that social media is not going to disappear anytime soon, therefore, I think it is our responsibility to teach students how to use it correctly. Although I don’t think a lot of students are mature enough to fully understand social media and how it can affect your life later in life (I know I wasn’t when I first started), what really made me change my mind was realizing that students are going to have social media whether or not we allow it in school. There is no avoiding it altogether, so if we don’t educate them on the powers and potential dangers we would be setting them up for failure. Besides the fact that students need help to navigate this intimidating world, it also can be a very powerful tool in classrooms and a way for some students to find friends.