Different: Not Less Than!

That's a line from the Claire Danes movie "Temple Grandin" about an autistic woman who overcame her challenges to earn a doctorate in animal sciences and went on to become a leading expert in cattle herding and processing. Her mother made a point of telling people that her daughter was "different than others, not less than." Assistive technologies allow those with both learning and physical disabilities to participate in their education in the same manner that their peers do. These technologies vary from text reading software to modified keyboards. Our daughter has utilized technologies varying from Kurzweil, a literacy learning tool, to using Microsoft Word for any written assignments. You can imagine our heartbreak upon hearing a quote from our daughter to the school reading specialist that went "I know I'm different than my friends. I can't read as good as them and I don't know why." The rush of emotion I felt then can still be felt today as I write this. When she asked my why this was, I tried to use the analogy of a person that uses glasses uses them because their eyes don't work as well as others. Glasses help correct the deficiency.  We told her that her condition was similar and that she learned in a way that was different from her friends. Different: Not Less Than. With the help of an unbelievable IEP team at her school, assistive technologies and specific learning techniques for her condition all have helped make her a vibrant and confident young lady. She now relishes the opportunity to read a book to her little sister or pen a poem for the school's poetry jam. Her hard work and determination and the use of assistive technologies have placed her at working on grade level with the rest of her class. She'll always be dyslexic but so long as she realizes that just makes her different and not less than she'll be just fine.

Did he say we have a test everyday???

Can you imagine the reaction of your class if you told them that they'd be required to complete a "test" everyday? There would be rioting in the lunch room, sit-ins in the principals office and an overall poor attitude towards me and my class. Hold on a second. Before we go Norma Rae and walk a picket line, let me explain. I'm not talking about true/false or multiple choice tests or even tests that are based on essay questions. Even I wouldn't want to give that many tests.  I'm referring to an alternative assessment method: the blog. The use of a classroom blog, especially in a unit that takes several classes to cover, can take the place of the traditional assessment methods. In a previous blog, I had proposed that students use the class blog to record their thoughts and feelings from the perspective of the key players in the unit, such as George Washington.  Students could interact through the blog using it to express their opinions and learn the opinions of their classmates. Through careful monitoring of the blog, I can determine the learning of each individual student and adjust the lessons accordingly something not possible if I had used the traditional assessment methods. Often times teachers don't know or identify the areas of opportunity in a lesson until after the test is complete and its essentially too late. This affords me the opportunity to identify the areas of opportunity within the lesson. The students involvement in the blog is crucial if it is to be used as an assessment method as well. By gauging their level of learning through the blog, I'm testing them without them even realizing it. Their answers and the responses they give to their classmates responses are an excellent indicator of their overall learning and understanding of the subject matter. In a way they're testing themselves, so there's no excuses or complaints about the "test" since they themselves are providing the material on which they're being tested.

What would Thomas Jefferson's blog be like?

Imagine that the Declaration of Independence started as a blog posting, detailing Mr. Jefferson's thoughts and ideas for a document worthy to herald the birth of the American Republic. Would it be any different than the one that was approved on July 2, 1776. July the second? John Adams said that the second of July would be celebrated from hence forth with grand parades and fireworks across the land. The fourth of July was the day they began signing it, thus creating the birth certificate for the United States of America. Would he have integrated the comments, thoughts and suggesstions of his blog followers, which would have numbered in the hundreds if not thousands?  Mr. Jefferson watched in horror as Ben Franklin and John Adams edited his original document into the document that we cherish today. Back then their versions of a blog were writings and essays usually done under a psuedonym published in papers and pamphlets. This medium was available to a select fortunate few.

As a future history teacher, I can envision a unit on the Revolutionary War that utilizes a blog. Students would be assigned to author a blog to be written from the point of view of the conflicts key players. Imagine a blog done from the perspective of John Adams, George Washington or King George III? It would allow the students to articulate the lesson learned in class and make their case and opinions known throughout the class. The blog written from the perspective of George Washington will be very different in terms of perspective than that of King George. This type of activity allows students creative license when writing the blog while still maintaining historical facts. It opens up meaningful and open dialouge between the entire class. Such an activity could be used as an alternative assessment exercise. Rather than relying on traditional assessment activities such as multiple choice or essay questions, the blog would showcase student learning and understanding of the topic. It would also help to identify areas of opportunity to bridge any gaps in learing or understanding for each individual student. This affords me the opportunity to adjust the lesson for each individual rather than relying on a one size fits all mentality.

Before any blogging assignment, I'd make sure each student is made aware of the proper etiquette to be followed when writing or responding to a blog. This is important to hold the interest of the students and make sure that all postings are appropriate and relevant.

Hi Guys

Hello from Catonsville, MD. I hope that this blog will be useful and that I maintain it properly. I hope everyone has a groovy semester.