Project #4 C4Ta #1 & #2

C4Ta#1

Summary of Pineapple's Don't Have Sleeves:

The blogger is recalling an article about standardized test, and how they are not relevant all the time.  He shares a worksheet with the viewers from his daughter's sixth grade classroom.  The assignment is to answer questions from an excerpt of a classic children's story, which is supposedly designed to aid in improving reading skills.  The author inserts several versions of the excerpt into the blog, none of which clearly answer the question contained in the worksheet.  The writer expresses his concern over the lack of correspondence between the story and the questions.  He also is upset over the way students are being forced to not think for themselves, but think the way the writers would want them to think.

Comment:

First, let me say that I consider standardized test unfair, as they do not necessarily measure the knowledge of the individual student.  I think that all children learn differently and at a different pace. I personally have never done well at standardized test and feel that it doesn't make me a less qualified student.  This is where I stand on the worksheets.  My opinion is worksheets and test need to be relevant to the curriculum being used and need to help students learn skills that will help them not only in the classroom, but also in everyday life.  My experience leads me to believe the creators of standardized tests and worksheets make it hard for even adults to understand.  It makes it very hard for teachers and parents to help our students/children.  Again, I think students need to be tested on what is being used in the classroom, and would hope that the creators would be people that have experience working with these students.

C4Ta #2

Summary of Algorithmic Education:

The article was written a couple of years ago.   The writer expresses his concern over effectively using technology in the classroom. In the year 2013, a picture was posted of students using iPads to take AR test, and he made the comment about how taking those test by iPad is a waste of technology in the classroom. He tells us that people were highly offended by his comment, and he felt the need to remove it. He goes on in the blog to talk about all of the ways technology and computers can be an effective tool within the classroom. He remembers a time when computer programming was offered in schools, and how now (2013) it is barely taught. A main point he makes is that there is so much more teachers and students can do with technology, and they should know how to do it all to have an unlimited amount of resources. (More than just taking a online test) He also states that when it comes to reading, students and adults read all kinds of things they do not receive proper credit for like email, blogs, news, and webpages. He feels that this reading should also be taken into consideration when testing children.

Comment:

I agree that testing should not be the only way to use technology within the classroom.   Frankly, I find computer test hard and at times not relevant to what has been taught. I feel that today in 2015 we have come so far with technology and children know how to use a computer more than I do. They understand most all programs, and how the inside of a computer works. They are little genius's now when it comes to technology! He made the comment that we are just scratching the surface, but now I feel we have dived all the way in.