Teaching and Technology

 Teachers have many functions and play many roles in the classroom that go beyond mere teaching or intellectual abilities. Teaching requires the acquisition and development of many complementary skills that are essential to instruction but not necessarily intellectual. The role of the teacher in the 21st century has developed beyond imparting knowledge. Teachers are not subject matter experts but rather qualified facilitators who carry out the mission of implementing a curriculum effectively. Technology has evolved from subject to be studied into a tool that is used to facilitate learning and instruction. Technology has become part of the educational process, but too often it is separate and not integrated into the learning experience Starr, L. (2016, May 10).

In my opinion, neither resisting being taught to use technology on the grounds that a teacher's role is more intellectual than technical or technological, nor adopting it as a personal preference is an answer to the use of technology in the classroom. Evidently, technology has become a major part in almost every field and education is no different. Embedding technology effectively into learning and assessment activities enhances the delivery of all types of curricula Smith, R., Killen, C., & Knight, S., (2013, September 9). The use of media and online resources has become an almost integrated part of education in the 21st century and this is not expected to change anytime soon. Most teachers today have grown without depending on technology as heavily as today's students do.

Teachers who refuse to learn how to incorporate technology into their instruction are essentially falling behind and will continue to do so. Technology is in constant state of development that is sometimes overwhelming to some teachers, especially the ones with old school habits or mentality. In my opinion,the incorporation of technology in education saves the teacher and the students a lot of time and effort. Furthermore, technology has made an incredible amount of knowledge available to all via a few mouse clicks. Teachers opposing the use technology in this time and age are effectively making their own instructional process and the students learning process much harder than it is supposed to be.

In conclusion, technology has grown to be an enabling factor in the 21st century education. Technology is indeed the sign of our times.

References

1.
Starr, L. (2016, May 10). Integrating Technology in the Classroom: It Takes More Than Just Having Computers. Education World. Retrieved from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech146.shtml
2.
Smith, R., Killen, C., & Knight, S., (2013, September 9). Using technology to improve curriculum design. Retrieved from https://www.jisc.ac.uk/guides/using-technology-to-improve-curriculum-design

Teaching philosophy

 Upon reflecting on my, on-the-ground, approach to classroom management, lesson planning, and instructional style, I found that I was unsparingly, and unknowingly, using what is called Cognitive-Behavioral Strategies or CBS. "CBS has its roots in psychiatry and was proven to help many people get over  a number of clinically proven conditions such as OCD, anxiety and social phobia Cognitive-behavioral Strategies in the Classroom", (2014) . For example, I always encourage students to use their inner-dialogue to observe, analyse, and modify their own behaviors. At the same time, I make a point of using plenty of tangible, sensory, and psychological rewards as reinforcers i.e. tokens, totems, smiley faces and star stickers, tiny sweets, genuine smile or nod, public praise of a job well-done, etc.. which is a kind of a melange between Behavioral and Cognitive theories.

My philosophy 

Classroom management

I found that my philosophy had its roots in my desire for my teenage daughters to receive from their educators what I provide for my students. This may sound selfish and/or self centered but in fact, it is not. I know that I have to deliver a certain standard of quality regardless of what my own family receives and I agree and accept this responsibility. However, I use this as part of one's own motivation to deliver quality standards and help develop the student as a whole, instead of merely focusing on delivering an SAT or ELA session. 

Lesson planning

In terms of academia, this has helped me construct suitable exercises and activities with the abilities of my slowest student in mind i.e. how new information is presented, the desired outcome of exercises, possible obstacles that might face some students. In terms of behavior, CBS helps teachers empathize more with the students at times when they become emotionally agitated and self restraint is key. 

Instructional style

As a rule, I try to keep instructional time at minimum to give more chance to students to do their work uninterrupted and for me to observe their performance and behavior. When instructing, I try to build or relate previous knowledge to the topic at hand. This helps establish common grounds and some sort of agreement or buy-in early on in the lesson where I could scaffold and move forward. I also tend to incorporate humor and/or inside jokes adequately to break the sometimes rigid material. Sometimes during instruction, I suddenly pause and seem to look for someone to finish my sentence to encourage engagement and to retain attention.

Conclusion

The reason I opted to write this brief comment after I had already finished crafting a mind map was that I wanted to further explain my stance more clearly. Personally, I believe that we are all students in the school of life till the last day of school. In other words, I actively look for the lesson in every situation, planned or unplanned, whether to learn from it myself or to point it out to at least one student. When I started this course I knew there was a lot to learn but did not actually realize how ignorant one is. Besides Behavioral and Cognitive theories, there is a more recent theory that was at play without being fully aware of it. 

References

1. Cognitive-behavioral Strategies in the Classroom. (2014). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://education.ufl.edu/behavior-management-resource-guide/2014/07/14/cognitive-behavioral-strategies-in-the-classroom/

Taking Ownership of curricular innovation

 

"..one of the consequences of our approach to reform is that the curriculum gets narrowed as school district policies make it clear that what is to be tested is what is to be taught" Eisner, (eds.) p.299.    

   I teach ELA and SAT/ACT prep. in various international schools- IB, IGCSE, and American- in Cairo, Egypt. In almost all of these schools, I was specifically asked by management to focus on preparing students for their finals i.e. SAT, ACT, or APs. When a department head is available s/he usually picks the lessons that address said finals. This meant that lessons that are not relevant to the finals have, in the eyes of school management, less value in class than others. For example, in my last school, I was specifically asked to include SAT exercises in every ELA session. Consequently, the lesson plan for a literature session, for example, must include set time for said exercises, significantly reducing the time allotted for literature. 

   This orientation is usually communicated, directly or indirectly, to teachers and students who start to intentionally neglect all other educational aspects that do not relate to the final tests. This means that non-core subjects like, Arts and PE, become neglected as they do not contribute to the final score. On one hand, teachers start to plan their lessons and activities around "training" students on taking the finals as opposed to "preparing" them to be life long learners. 

"..issues including dramatic demographic changes, policy changes, globalization, emerging technologies, and concerns surrounding refugees and immigration remain challenging for both school settings and teacher educators" (Hasan, A. et al., 2017). 

   This is exceptionally true in Egypt as the fees for international education have risen dramatically due to high demand from families who want the best education for their children. Consequently, this shifts the emphasis from wholesome education to mere training which, in turn, raises many questions about schooling real emphasis Smith, M. K. (2005). In the teachers' lounge, most of our conversations used to revolve around coming tests and how to prepare students for them. I should also mention here that teachers showed almost the same level worry about finals as much as the students themselves or their parents. 

   The reason for this, in my opinion, is multilayered: school districts emphasize only the role of common core; schools usually concentrate on students final results as an indicator to their success as an educational establishment which in turn means more applicants in the future and thus, more profit; teachers tend to follow school policy by orienting each lesson to serve the final test; students, in turn, regard all that is irrelevant to the final test as unimportant and unnecessary; parents are for the most part concerned with the graduation of their children rather than their development. 

    In my opinion, there is a need to make students cognitive development as important as their scores on their final tests. This should start with the policy makers. In other words, school districts should communicate, to all stakeholders, that curricular innovation alone is neither enough nor does it stop at the curriculum itself but transcends it to reflect educators own synthesization of it. Stakeholders in this situation are school management, educators, parents/guardians, and students. Said stakeholders should also strive to self educate about the underlying principles and/or theory behind curricular innovation in order to be able to see a clearer goal, each on his turf. 

References

 Eisner, E.  What does it mean to say a school is doing well?.  In Flinders, D. J., &   Thornton, S. J. (Eds.), The Curriculum Studies Reader, Fourth Edition (pp.297-305). New York, NY: Routledge. Retrieved from: https://chrisdavidcampbell.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/eisener-2001.pdf

Hasan, A. et al (2017)  Meeting the Challenges of Curriculum and Instruction in School Settings in the United States.  Journal of Social Studies Education Research. retrieved from  https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1162276.pdf

Smith, M. K. (2005) ‘Elliot W. Eisner, connoisseurship, criticism and the art of education’, The encyclopedia of pedagogy and informal education, www.infed.org/thinkers/eisner.htm

Jerick T., (2015), Curriculum development curriculum issues, concerns and responses. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/JerickTeodoro1/curriculum-development-curriculum-issues-concerns-and-responses-49630682

On Effective Learning Environments

I attended a French Jesuit school in Cairo, Egypt and I currently teach ELA and SAT/ACT prep. courses. I have been teaching/training for almost 15 years and have taught national and international curricula.

Oxford's Language Dictionary concisely defines learning as "the acquisition of knowledge and/or skills through study, experience, or being taught" and I believe this definition is applicable to all learners regardless of their diversity. Generally speaking, I have experienced, in one capacity or another, many of the challenges that could hinder the learning process. The causes of these challenges were sometimes management or student related and most of the times were teacher related. It is up to the teacher to construct an adequate learning environment conducive to effective learning. Further development of said environment has virtually no limits but it always has to start at the same place, the teacher's intention. In other words, it is the teacher who decides to choose a teacher-centered or a student-centered instructional approach. It is up to the teacher to choose to enrich the learning experience with engaging activities and look for and recognize different types of learners as well as their educational and developmental needs.

Factors like constructing adequate classroom design, setting the rules with students and reaching an agreement on academic and behavioral expectations, utilizing effective communication techniques, and being prepared and resilient are some of the key elements that affect students' learning process and are all in the hands of the teacher. A teacher's preparedness starts by learning different learning theorem to gain an understanding of the stages of the learning process as well as the factors that directly affect it. For example, understanding the Neuroscience behind learning will give the teacher an insight on how information and emotions are processed in a student's mind.

In conclusion, I believe that it is the teacher who has the responsibility and the power to construct, manage, and maintain an effective learning environment.

What Is Culture?

1.     What is culture and why is it important for business managers to have an understanding of cultural differences among countries?

I remember my English language teacher saying that culture and nature are the two most challenging words for lexicographers to define. Notwithstanding, I think one could endeavor and write own view of culture. On a macro level, culture is the sum of habits, beliefs, and artistic model accumulated and shared over several centuries by a large group of people. Language, religion, and geopolitical boundaries are factors we usually take into consideration when identifying culture types. On a micro level, culture is also synonymous to certain ideologies and/or behaviors one must adopt or adapt-to to be able to seamlessly fit into any society. The 20^th century witnessed an unprecedented technological revolution especially in the communication and transportation fields. These advancements resulted in an even bigger economic boom that encompassed literally every sovereign country worldwide. Politically, we see neighboring countries form regional commercial alliances on nearly every continent. The world is on its way to become one big hyper-market or department-store where customer is the undisputed king. Commercially-open borders and trade liberation treaties have encouraged many organizations to venture internationally. Having previously learned the hard way, international brands now know how important it is to invest in cultural awareness because it has a direct influence on the success of any international business transaction. We also see this in branding where international brands adapt to specific-market preferences. Furthermore, cultural awareness is important for companies that employ employees from different nationalities to ensure a homogeneous work environment.

 

2.     List and explain 3 different layers of culture.

Though there have been different interpretations of culture, the example where culture is compared to an onion, in terms of apparent and subtle layers, is the most frequently used analogy. In this analogy, culture is considered to have three different layers. the outer layer of the onion represents the most tangible or apparent aspect of culture like attire, language, and food. The second layer represents a less visible aspect of culture: typical customs and behavior (norms), and their justification (values). The innermost layer of the onion is what is called implicit or intangible culture. It includes sets of basic rules and methods deeply embedded in individuals that they have become second nature, yet challenging for an outsider to understand.

 

3.     Identify and discuss 5 different cultural universals.

Cultural universals are general commonalities that are shared by most cultures to some degree. In a way, they highlight attributes shared by different cultures around the globe. Examples of cultural universals are listed hereafter:

1.     Environment: all cultures have adapted to their environments in some manner. This is apparent in national dress and cuisine.

2.     Economics: every society has its own economic structure in which goods and services are provided. We always find set rules for everyday trade, barter, jobs, and forms of currency.

3.     Beliefs: every culture has a set of strong beliefs so embedded in the collective mind and believed to be undisputed facts. Religion and views on marriage and sexual morality are examples of such beliefs,

4.     Language: every culture has its own version of preferred communication language. Even in vast regions that host multiple cultures that share the same language, we find each individual culture has added its own twist to it.

5.     Art: all cultures have their own national treasure. Be it painting, myths, singsong, folktales that distinguish each culture from the rest.

 

4.     What relationship, if any, exists between culture and language?

One of the definitions of the adjective “Homologous” is “similar in position, structure, and evolutionary origin but not necessarily in function” (Google translation). The relationship between culture and language is often complex and entangled. Languages are inherently created by cultures yet we see evidence of cultures being greatly influenced by language. Some also view language as a key component of culture.

 

5.     Explain the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis of linguistic relativity!

Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf proposed the theory of linguistic relativity which hypothesized that a particular language may affect the speaker’s perception or own-model of the world. Similarly, there are certain thoughts that maybe understood more when conveyed in one language over another. In other words, people in a specific culture use language to convey thoughts that reflect said culture’s norms and values. This is also apparent in Semantic Relativity where certain words in a given language may trigger corresponding images or thoughts in the minds of native speakers of said language and not foreigners, even if they spoke that language fluently.  

Complete SAT resources and tests with answers

Click here to access SAT folder on my google drive

I Died With My Eyes Open

Dear Humans,

Today I would like to return to your awareness an aspect of the Human condition that ultimately succumbs to the biological experience we call life. Yes, death seems inevitable and inescapable. There are those who appear to cheat it at times but sooner or later we are all paid a visit by that rather grim-looking, cloaked entity who gestures with a scythe.

When that mythical bony hand comes knocking, there will be few places to run and hide. The idea of venturing into the unknown can be a terrifying proposition for us— and there's certainly no greater unknown than what waits on the other side. The tendency to fear death is perfectly natural, perhaps even necessary. Yes, death is to be avoided at all costs, and yet we find ourselves fascinated by this mysterious and most prodigious of all eventualities.

In the following paragraphs I intend to die. Yep- that's right, I'm going to choke on a Giuliano jalapeno-stuffed olive and pass over the great divide into the ever after. I'll tell you all the things I see and feel along the way. Now mind you, this is only a simulation, as I am in no particular hurry to experience the real deal. But I've imagined such a moment a good number of times, and so in this sense it's just another day for me.

Last Breath

"An olive of all things," I think to myself as I asphyxiate. It would have been considerably better and wiser to have chewed it rather than inhale it. But they tasted so good and I got a little carried away. If provided the opportunity to reconsider my lackadaisical attention to chewing and swallowing, I certainly would now seek that option. No such choice is on the table. Seems I remember a variation of the Heimlich maneuver that could be administered in a lonely and dire circumstance such as this. Still thinking there's a chance my olive will pop back out.

Well that's the pits. There's genuine urgency now. The adrenaline is pumping, which doesn’t seem to help my current situation whatsoever. This thing is not going to pop out and so I find myself in a frenzied state of panic, fear and dizziness. The struggle is initially intense, but before too long I feel my body hitting the floor and staring up toward the ceiling. I never noticed that cobweb in the corner before. Someone should really take care of that.

At the edge of consciousness I find that I'm now no longer concerned for me but how others will be affected. I sure don't want to upset anyone, but it would seem my fate is sealed— I'm a goner. I've walked away from serious car wrecks and even survived picking a fight with someone twice my size. I suppose either one would have offered a more spectacular exit. But an olive— yes, that delicious little olive, would ultimately spell my demise. I find the irony both terrifying and amusing. As I slip into unconsciousness I am finally relieved of my struggle.
   
The Light

I thought it was mostly hype, but sure enough I'm now staring into a bright white light. I can't seem to take my eyes off of it. It is beautiful beyond words and so welcoming. I sense I'm between two worlds, yet my mind still functions as though I'm having a living Human experience. I'm no longer tethered to the ground like before. I'm free to float about and observe the world from this vantage. I'm not really aware that I'm dead, because all this seems so perfectly natural and familiar to me. That’s when I look down and notice myself looking back up at me. Damn— I died with my eyes open!

I'll tell you now that's not what I wanted. Ever since I was a little kid I thought how creepy it would be to see a dead person with their eyes still open. And yet there I am, dead and blue with Marty Feldman-like, bulging peepers. I try to reach down to close them but my hand can’t seem to move anything. I'm a ghost. I find being a ghost rather interesting and not nearly as spooky as I thought it would be. But I'm still concerned about my loved ones. I don't want them to discover me like this; bulging eyes and an olive in my windpipe. Sheesh!

Little Help from My Friends

I'm not alone. There are others like me— in the between states of here and there. Some have been around for ages, although time is not the same ticking clock that we know of. We’re all connected in an almost telepathic way and none of this is surprising to me. What's odd is that heavy, fleshy container I used to occupy. Without spirit, it just doesn't hold my appearance anymore. Just a body now, a shell of my former existence- and those eyes- yikes!

I'm acutely aware of my energetic state. I'm not sure what's holding my consciousness together, as I'm fully capable of clear and independent thought. There are many familiar faces here to greet me. I laugh because this part of the experience seems rather stereotypical. I think to myself how cliché and perfect all this is. But it's nothing like a family reunion where there's always a residual tension just below the waterline. This is a real reunion fully expressed in the light of unconditional love, knowing and compassion. And there's a connectedness with all things big and small. Everything has a resonance that somehow speaks to me. This is a blissful state, and indeed a heavenly place to call home. At the moment I can't even fathom why I would ever choose to be among the living. There is simply no comparison.

This previously forgotten realm in the afterlife seems far more real than the sensation of living. Everything has come back to me in a flash. It's almost like I never left. If one has ever had the experience of returning to a job after being away for a while and jumping right back in without missing a beat— well, that might begin to describe what I'm feeling in this space called death. Yes, it is indeed a transition or metamorphosis, but nothing ever dies.

There is still a window open for me to return to my former life, although there would be significant challenges I would have to face. The choice is mine. I opt out. I don't want to go back to that world. Truth is I didn't really care much for those things I read in the news. I don't like war and all those evil machinations. No thanks, I'll stay. It's at that moment someone, somehow, finds a way to close my eyes. Whew! What a relief.
   
Life is But a Dream

Have you ever been sleeping and missed being awake? Not likely. Have you ever been so tired and exhausted that all you could think about was going to bed? -Very likely. The physical state of sleeping can be maintained by the body for months and even years. People in comas can survive literally into old age. On the other hand, if one were to try staying awake and conscious for much more than three days they would likely become delusional and possibly even die. In this sense, being in a deep state of sleep seems more natural for the body than remaining continually awake.

But where I feel I am right now is somewhere between that state of awake and asleep. This is the node that best captures the feeling that surrounds me. It's the twilight and the dawn— it's the end of all that was and the beginning of what will be. It's all rolled together into one big, cosmic, vegetarian burrito for me to eat at my leisure. And it tastes right and it tastes good.

There is not a sense of higher and lower orders of spiritual evolution. It's clear that all energies have a place that is important and significant. There is no ridicule or praise for one's prior beliefs, or lack of belief for that matter. All of that now seems insignificant to me as I stand in awe of the greater picture. I sense what some would call the Christ Light, but I do not witness His personification. It seems the Light speaks to me in a way that I can understand. It is the Light of love and it's within us all. In my heaven, we are not to be hoodwinked, embarrassed or judged. We are unbridled expressions resuming our truer form.

Gone to the Moon

One thing that is clear to me is that this "heavenly" state is not superior to our living state. It's really a matter of perspective. It doesn’t pose the same limitations upon us at the physical level because there is no physical level. A body of flesh does not have the architecture to embrace the level of energy I’m picking up on the other side. If we tried, the body would explode. So there must be a tradeoff. But that is not to belittle our physical state. This state is beautiful in its own way. We can find heaven in this state or we can live in hell, if that is our choosing.

I wish I could tell the living how easy it is to do things and go places while in a physical body. Being dead is making all this abundantly clear. For instance, when was the last time you were on the moon? My spiritual body is screaming out to you, the living, and wondering why you don't go. You see, we can visit the moon anytime we like, just not so much in the physical way. As for me, I like to lie down along the terminus were shadow meets the light. My feet get nice and toasty while my head freezes. Thank goodness it's my spiritual body. It can handle such extremes. I listen to the moon speak and watch the Earth rise. I wish you could be there to experience it too. To watch you observe such a thing is more enjoyable to me than the effect of my own observation.

But people will tell you it's all imaginary. It's in your head, they'll say. To them I ask if a thought is energy. If it's energy, then is it not real? What if this energy is not confined to just the physical brain? What if it can transmit like some kind of quantum radio device and take you wherever you want to go? Well it can, and it does, so there!

You're being here took a lot of effort from a lot of people who love you very much. You are valuable and have great purpose. I am grateful for your being here and I wish I could express to you just how important your role is. But I'm sort of dead right now. Yes, we are held in place in this physical world and yet, do we not hold someone in place when we hug them? The hug doesn't last and all which you see around you is temporary and fleeting. Enjoy this present moment.
   
Heaven's Gate

Dying with my eyes open is perfectly fine as a metaphor but maybe not so much in the literal sense. When I truly leave this world I will want to say I was awake and aware and conscious of those things within and around me. I was able to see through this artificial construct we sometimes call the matrix and that I was able to rise above it. Perhaps my being here was largely about this experience and the ensuing internal struggle that did follow.

Did you notice I never quite made it through heaven's gate? I saw someone who could pass for Peter, but I was a little too shy to approach him. I found myself instead noticing this limbo land between both worlds. This is an important transitional stage where we drop off our remaining baggage and slowly acclimate to moving on. I had always put a toe in the pool before jumping in. I make no exception here. I want to make sure my affairs are in order and that the living are ready and willing to let me go. If they don't, I'll probably come down and haunt them until they do. There are some people up here that are kind of into that and have made it into a full time job.

From where I stand, I am now privy to knowing that what's ahead is so beautiful, perfect and pure that I don't want to contaminate it in any way. The proverbial “gate” is open to everyone and yet I'm stricken with the feeling of unworthiness. I'm simply not good enough to enter that light. Well fine, they say. If you want to sit around and mope about it you can. You're welcome to flog yourself to your hearts content. Do you see why we shouldn't carry so much baggage with us? Anyway, the gate is open 24/7 just like my favorite diner. All we really need to do is step in, self-incrimination notwithstanding.

What it might be like past this point I haven’t a clue. It's beyond anyone’s comprehension. This may be why we are so steeped in amnesia. We may not have a choice in the matter. Our living, organic brains may be unable to process what is beyond those gates. If we had any inkling, it is quite possible that we could not function in the physical world. It would literally blow our minds. We would be so wrecked with homesickness and confusion that a good many of us might just jump off the first available bridge. It is my sense that we chose to be here and to be here largely on our own terms. The amnesia was the one non-negotiable (and essential) part of the package.

As we live from day to day our propensity to be fearful of the unknown can be easily exploited. There are religious constructs that will leverage this fear. They will have you believe that your fate is somehow in their hands and contingent on their ideology. I will not engage with those who are austere and belligerent in this arena. What nerve some people have. Might some be charlatans who don these robes? To think they know better than you or I as they shake their finger of judgment and indignation. I love that person who wags their finger. But I know they know not— and I fear that they fear much.

Final Thought

Take a moment and feel your energetic self. Feel how it is somewhat separate from your physical body. If you don't sense it right away, keep trying. You'll eventually become very aware of being aware. It's really not much of a jump from there to feel that dividing line between the physical and spiritual worlds.

The physical body is the condensate, solidified expression of our spiritual being. Our car fits perfectly in this garage. Here we are provided the opportunity to observe ourselves and comb our hair in a mirror. Kind of a big deal, really. We don't wish to be anyone else because who we are is what we are. So should we decide to come back again and walk the Earth once more, we will bear a striking resemblance to what we see right now. A gender change is perfectly within the realm of possibility. Let’s not forget, men do have nipples. Go figure.

Our every instinct promotes self-preservation. This is by design. But it seems to me that if we really knew the experience that awaits us, we just might find ourselves overly ambitious to get there. We came into this world with a lot of help and the help will be there when it's our rightful time to leave. I sense with great certainty that we are never alone, and we are loved so very, very much. Oh yes, and I also sense the importance of chewing our food slowly and carefully before swallowing.
 

Article originally published at:
http://www.rattlereport.com/rattleberry/2014/i-died-with-my-eyes-open
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