Thursday, April 8, 2010

Week 11: Wiki, Don't Lose That Number!

So, everyone is rested, fresh and ready for the homestretch of the semester?  Well, okay, how about tired, stressed and overly caffeinated? Either way, we march on. . .As I have been telling everyone, I like to front load most of the work so that the end of the semester goes by smoothly.  Although you might have a few assignments needing editing or last-minute finishing of the Spreadsheet & Inspiration (which are both due this evening BTW) . . .and finishing those journals. . .

What we have left:  wiki assignment, iMovie Software/PSA, Google Earth, Emerging Technology (already in progress), and your TaskStream Narratives. . .

Tonight:  I will introduce you to the wiki assignment, which I hope will be a fun assignment for you.  Most of you will be publishing your first wiki page ~ which we will host on your blogs using Embedit.in.  I also want everyone to use their Inspiration graphic organizer to begin writing a second TaskStream Narrative. . .you can begin a new GoogleDoc and share it with me, jheil65@gmail.com, and Mark, mrounds5@gmail.com

Next week: we will do the iMovie Software Proficiency assignment.  I usually give you footage of the campus and have you create a PSA (Public Service Announcement) promoting CSUSM. . .Well, with the recent racially-charged events happening @ UCSD & CSUSM, I would like to create a PSA against hate speech or hate crimes. . .This might entail shooting some of your own video to go along with the video I have. . .I will talk about this in class tonight (remind me if I don't, please). . .and if you have any type of computer/mp3 player headphone, it will be useful when we are editing.

This Week's Question:  How do you feel about single-gender schools (all-boy or all-girl)?  Experience or thoughts?

32 comments:

  1. I feel like single gendered schools would help students focus more on their education and less on trying to look good for the opposite gender. I myself went to a mix gendered school though. My roomate went to an all girls catholic school and said it was easier to just go to school with girls because you didn't have to spend that time trying to impress or fit in with the opposite gender.

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  2. I personally don't care much for single gendered school because I feel that it is very important to work with the opposite sex and get to know one anothers differences but I do feel that single gendered schools can cause you to focus more on education and less on the opposite sex. When it comes times to work in the real world, you don't typically or rarely work with just a single sex so therefore it is not the reality and can cause some problems in the long run.

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  3. I don't believe it is a good idea to attend a single-gender school. I think girls learn from guys and visa versa, so going to a single-gender school you would loose out on that experience

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  4. I don't have any personal experience with single gendered schools. I don't have a preference either way. As long as the students are receiving social interaction I think it's fine.

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  5. I do not think that a school should be single gender, or single race. In 2010 why cant we all just get along. The only reason there should be a gender specific is for religious.

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  6. I like the idea for several reasons:
    * Uniforms (not always, but usually)
    * Boys and girls learn differently; I have seen some gender biases in public school and if it is all one gender this wouldn't be a problem
    * The kids are more focused

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  7. I don't agree with single gender schools because there is no other environment outside of that school that is organized like that. Students need to learn to focus and concentrate on their academic achievement in co-ed situations because they will have to do the same in their work environment after they graduate.

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  8. i also think it is very important for both genders to work together and interact with each other because once students graduate they may not have the social skills on how to talk to the other gender as much as a student that went to a mix gendered school.

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  9. I dont think they are helpful at all, though it minimizes "distractions" they do not prepare students for real life situations.

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  10. I do not feel that single gender schools are good for children. I had a cousin who attended an all girls-Catholic school her whole life, and didn't like it at all. I don't think it gives children a good social environment; Children need to know how to interact with one another.

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  11. I think that single gender schools can cause more problems because students may want to be rebellious and can still be distracted outside of school.

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  12. I dont have any experience with single gender school... but boys is what young girls look forward to when going to school... I've heard the quote said many time "If it wern't for boys, I'd quit school" but on the other hand... kids would probably be able to focus more on school and classwork if it were single gendered.

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  13. I think it could be a good or bad thing depending on the specific student attending the school.

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  14. I don't really mind either way. I think same gender would help focus on education better but I also think it is important to interact with other sexes. You will need to know how to interact with others in the real world.

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  15. I almost went to one, but I'm glad I didn't. I mean, I SUPPOSE there'd be less distractions, but to be honest, hanging around guys only ALL the time sounds tiring.

    I also agree with a couple of the preceding comments: the world isn't single-gendered, so schools shouldn't HAVE to to be either.

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  16. I don't know really. Mixed feelings. I think it is important for girls and boys to learn together and learn how to respect each other. I agree with Moira that there are biases out there and that needs to be addressed when we teach today. Having two boys, I feel that girls oftentimes get away with too much and the boys always take the "hit."

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  17. I don't really think it's a good idea. Charlotte's comment is funny b'c I remember smacking a boy in class once and HE was the one that got in trouble. :P I'm a devil in disguise, I guess.

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  18. The only experience I have with single-gender schools is from my father who went to an all boys Catholic school and volleyball teams that I played in high school. I too have mixed feelings because there are both pros and cons for single-gender schools.

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  19. I have never seen the inside of an all boys or all girls school. I could see how it might have it's advantages but in general I don't like the idea segregating any group from another. And yes I agree single-gendered, as if there are only two!

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  20. I don't have a lot of experience with gender schools. I think a lot of schooling now prepares students for the real world so why not have boys and girls go to the same schools? They are going to work together in the future anyway! I am sure gender separate schools have their value though. I don't think education will ever be perfect but it is nice there are options for everyone to choose where to send their children!

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  21. I think there both advantages and disadvantages for same gender schools. Teachers could focus on skills or learning styles that are "typical" for the specific gender. However I believe that both genders have a lot to learn from each other.

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  22. Boys tend to be more competitive where as girls tend to be more nurturing. Given the different attributes of both genders, I believe that schools which include both genders have more to offer students.

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  23. I think when it comes to science labs my experience has been great. Students are more into the discussion and not really thinking about the other gender. This is a plus in the middle school when it comes to hands on experiences. But I don't know how it worked for other classrooms.

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  24. I do not personally have any experiences with single gender schools, but my mom grew up going to school at an Irish Catholic all girls school and she actually loved it. She said that having interactions with boys was never a problem because they were always waiting outside the school! Also, she said she liked it because it made school a place for learning and kept her focused. However, now days I am glad I went to a coed school as it prepared me socially and made school more fun!

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  25. I think it can effect boys or girls psychologically and tend to make them more rebellious but it sometimes is beneficial in other ways by bettering "bro" or "sis" friendships, I don't know it can go both ways. Sometimes guys get better along with girls so they're are more themselves that way or girls feel more comfortable around guys so the social aspect can make them act differently.

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  26. I had a friend who went to an all girls catholic school in LA. When she went to USD, she didn't know how to react to boys in her class. Although there are some pros, there are too many more cons---NAY!

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  27. where's the fun in that? that's a horrible idea! :)

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  28. I think it is an interesting concept. I saw a documentary on PBS.org on the subject of young adults. They argued that for women in particular single sex schools are better for the student's self-esteem, and ability to form strong bonds with other women. It is also a fact that in children girls devclope language and writing skills a full year faster than boys on average.

    however, I went to a normal public school all of my childhood. I also went to normal colleges which were co-ed. I think I turned out all right.

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  29. Students should interact with the opposite sex!

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  30. I think that the idea of single gender schools are interesting but not a great way for students to become social with the opposite sex. This could cause issues, or students to rebel. But i have never been to a single gender school so i do not know what it is like

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  31. i believe schools should be co-ed..the world is not segregated, schools should educate students on society as well

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