Comments on: 91.2% of Class Time in Their Seats http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/ Learning with the Read/Write Web Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:36:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Chris http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17777 Chris Fri, 06 Apr 2007 13:41:42 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17777 As a technology integrator, I find some teachers reluctant to engage students with technology (this is in New York State) because - "we have to prepare these kids for the paper and pencil tests" which kids start in third grade in New York and last until 12th grade. Preparing for the standardized tests is on the forefront of the teacher's minds - ALL YEAR LONG. And how do kids take these tests? Alone and seated with old fashioned paper and pencil. So getting them in control and in their seats...helps? As a technology integrator, I find some teachers reluctant to engage students with technology (this is in New York State) because – “we have to prepare these kids for the paper and pencil tests” which kids start in third grade in New York and last until 12th grade.

Preparing for the standardized tests is on the forefront of the teacher’s minds – ALL YEAR LONG.

And how do kids take these tests? Alone and seated with old fashioned paper and pencil. So getting them in control and in their seats…helps?

]]> By: William Bishop (Bill) http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17592 William Bishop (Bill) Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:52:37 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17592 Seat time is neither good nor evil it is what happens during the seat time that matters. Moreover, in some situations seat time is necessary. Off the cuff, I'd guess that at the High School level about a 70/30 mix would be about perfect. Nevertheless, I liked the post enough to blog about it yesterday... http://lostjohns.blogspot.com Thanks for keeping us educators on our toes! Seat time is neither good nor evil it is what happens during the seat time that matters. Moreover, in some situations seat time is necessary. Off the cuff, I’d guess that at the High School level about a 70/30 mix would be about perfect. Nevertheless, I liked the post enough to blog about it yesterday…

http://lostjohns.blogspot.com

Thanks for keeping us educators on our toes!

]]> By: Alice Mercer http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17176 Alice Mercer Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:25:20 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17176 The comment about hippie teachers could be predicted. What got me was this one from a teacher (who made another excellent point about districts, etc. setting curriculum): "Regarding your findings that students spend the majority of their time listening and working alone...we did, and we turned out fine. Please remember that we take our tests alone; and, that especially in urban areas, working with an equally, educationally deprived classmate will not enrich the student." If we haven't convinced our peers, how can convince the public? The comment about hippie teachers could be predicted. What got me was this one from a teacher (who made another excellent point about districts, etc. setting curriculum):

“Regarding your findings that students spend the majority of their time listening and working alone…we did, and we turned out fine. Please remember that we take our tests alone; and, that especially in urban areas, working with an equally, educationally deprived classmate will not enrich the student.”

If we haven’t convinced our peers, how can convince the public?

]]> By: of our lives » 91.2% of Class Time in Their Seats http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17167 of our lives » 91.2% of Class Time in Their Seats Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:14:04 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17167 [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptUSA Today is reporting on a new comprehensive study of elementary school classrooms that is being published in this week’s Science magazine. Aside from not being overly engaged, the study of over 2500 classrooms showed that “The typical … [...] [...] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptUSA Today is reporting on a new comprehensive study of elementary school classrooms that is being published in this week’s Science magazine. Aside from not being overly engaged, the study of over 2500 classrooms showed that “The typical … [...]

]]> By: Scott Keatley http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17161 Scott Keatley Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:03:07 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17161 This reminds me of a couple quotes, kids are always bad: "I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words... When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint" (Hesiod, 8th century BC) and "The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders.... They no longer rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers." (Attributed to Socrates by Plato) This reminds me of a couple quotes, kids are always bad:

“I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are reckless beyond words… When I was young, we were taught to be discreet and
respectful of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise [disrespectful] and impatient of restraint” (Hesiod, 8th century BC)

and

“The children now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect to their elders…. They no longer
rise when elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble up dainties at the table, cross their legs, and are tyrants over their teachers.” (Attributed to Socrates by Plato)

]]> By: Kobus van Wyk http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17113 Kobus van Wyk Sun, 01 Apr 2007 05:34:19 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17113 Is this not all the more reason why one should increase the use of ICT in the classroom. If the teachers can't give our children a proper education, use the computer! Is this not all the more reason why one should increase the use of ICT in the classroom. If the teachers can’t give our children a proper education, use the computer!

]]> By: Ray http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17100 Ray Sun, 01 Apr 2007 02:04:11 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17100 So, who are the parents of these kids? Part of them care about their kids, but then you have the other two thirds that, 1. Think school is a baby sitting service. 2. That it's the kids job to study, they shouldn't have to help after their long day at work. 3. Don't have the time because they have to work more than one job to pay the bills. then you can see some of the comment come into focus. That said, I work with a lot of great teachers, who are just now becoming the first school district in the United States to get ActivBoards in every classroom and Media Center in the district. I don't see the kids sitting in the same seat anywhere near 91 percent of the time. The kids do centers, and to a student, love the ActivBoards. They enjoy getting to use it during class, interacting with the other kids class, and the lesson. We are removing the TV VCR/DVD from the classes and using the ActivBoard as the center of the learning experience. For anyone who doesn't know what an ActivBoard is, well it's a laptop, DVD/VCR, the internet, a PowerPoint, Flipchart lessons, games, the TV and more all wrapped into one. I believe that it will enhance the learning experience. So, who are the parents of these kids? Part of them care about their kids, but then you have the other two thirds that,

1. Think school is a baby sitting service.
2. That it’s the kids job to study, they shouldn’t have to help after their long day at work.
3. Don’t have the time because they have to work more than one job to pay the bills.

then you can see some of the comment come into focus.

That said, I work with a lot of great teachers, who are just now becoming the first school district in the United States to get ActivBoards in every classroom and Media Center in the district. I don’t see the kids sitting in the same seat anywhere near 91 percent of the time.

The kids do centers, and to a student, love the ActivBoards. They enjoy getting to use it during class, interacting with the other kids class, and the lesson. We are removing the TV VCR/DVD from the classes and using the ActivBoard as the center of the learning experience.

For anyone who doesn’t know what an ActivBoard is, well it’s a laptop, DVD/VCR, the internet, a PowerPoint, Flipchart lessons, games, the TV and more all wrapped into one. I believe that it will enhance the learning experience.

]]> By: Mrs. Durff http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17097 Mrs. Durff Sun, 01 Apr 2007 01:09:58 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17097 So now we know the problems, what are the solutions? What should I, as an educator of your children (pretend for a moment) do right now. I mean today, this moment. What can I do right now where I am with what I have on hand? So now we know the problems, what are the solutions? What should I, as an educator of your children (pretend for a moment) do right now. I mean today, this moment. What can I do right now where I am with what I have on hand?

]]> By: diane http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17086 diane Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:31:55 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17086 Yup, that's me, former flower child and current teacher/librarian. Only, I never did drugs; I did participate in Peace Marches; I'm trying to educate children whose parents frequently let them run wild at home, then expect us to instill manners as well as knowledge at school. "Free love" in the sixties was nothing compared to the indiscriminate coupling that is the norm today - and the ones who suffer are the children, Yup, that’s me, former flower child and current teacher/librarian. Only, I never did drugs; I did participate in Peace Marches; I’m trying to educate children whose parents frequently let them run wild at home, then expect us to instill manners as well as knowledge at school. “Free love” in the sixties was nothing compared to the indiscriminate coupling that is the norm today – and the ones who suffer are the children,

]]> By: Rick http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/comment-page-1/#comment-17085 Rick Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:29:13 +0000 http://weblogg-ed.com/2007/912-of-class-time-in-their-seats/#comment-17085 And then we wonder why the kids who thrive on hands-on activities don't do well in the classroom. And then we wonder why the kids who thrive on hands-on activities don’t do well in the classroom.

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