In the podcast the Tech Chick had two main topics.
1. How to use your students pictures and fun and exciting ways
2. the problems firewalls cause for teachers and students
I really liked the ideas that the women came up with for the pictures. You can take a standard picture of your student and use that picture in the classroom. It can be a productivity chart, a behavior chart, a way to see who does what in the classroom and a way for substitutes to keep track of students. I really liked this idea although I probably won't be able to use this personally. High school students don't generally like bright signs with their faces on them. It makes me think of different ways that i could keep my classroom organized.
The portion about firewalls in school really related to me. I know all to well the crap teachers have to go through to be able to show their students online content. I had teachers who would find Youtube videos relating to class, at first they could use a password to get through to these sites, but eventually the district didn't want to give ANYONE access. I still remember when I was trying to do a photography project and i wanted to find an outline of a butterfly to stencil. The computer blocked my search,
"You are are trying to gain unauthorized or inappropriate content: BUTT."
It thought I was searching for butts! These problems and problems like them need to go away. Districts need to learn that they are impeding learning, not protecting students.
I went to their website to learn more about them. Listen to these women. They know their stuff!
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