This week I´ve been the Curator farmer. I think that
it is a very interesting role, because we can learn better how to reference in
APA style and how to do a small “tree” with lot of information about a topic.
I also had to look for the disadvantages of textbooks,
because we needed them to write the fable with sense.
I want to mention how interesting the last week was,
when Mercedes visited us. I really like her explanation about how we can teach
without books, using interesting topics and different ways of teaching. So when
she left the classroom I only thought than I want to be like her, so I will
work hard in order to reach my goal.
I also want to say something about the result, because
I really like the fable, it explains perfectly the dark side of textbooks in a
way that children could understand easily.
In conclusion, I think that our results are good and
that we will have a great ending.
This week I
am the analyst and I have to admit that I feel fortunate because the topic of
this week, The Dark Side of the Textbook, is a topic very interesting with many
things that I can extract and comment it largely.
My work
consists on the one hand, marking my partners´ work; on the other hand,
responding different questions. However, now we are studying a subject where
the most important is the creativity. So, am I going to respond these
systematic questions? I don’t think so. I am going to present a comment about
my point of view about this topic where I am going to integrate all the
questions.
I will start
by the beginning, last Monday when we saw the activity: The Dark Side of the textbook
and we thought: really? Do Textbooks have dark side? Then, I have been all my
student life in the dark side. Later, our teacher, Linda showed us her position
about this, and little by little we realized to things we didn’t know. So, I
could say that this moment when I opened my eyes was the best part of the activity.
In this way,
our facilitator, Raquel divided the work and each one had to investigate about
any concrete topic. Here, I realized that there is much information about this
and I didn’t know it, so in this moment I felt a bit frustrated, why haven’t I
heard about this before? I could say that it was the worst part of the activity,
when I realized that I have so much interesting information and we don’t have
enough time to dedicate it, because we have more subjects. Notwith, to be
honest, with a good organization and enthusiastic everything is possible.
Later on,
brainstorming group had to decide how we were going to present our work. We´d
rather do the fable because we thought that we can represent better the topic. Writing a fable is not easy at
all. Moreover, we have a lot of information to add in a fable and especially it
must be adapted for children. So, it requires have the five senses on it, and
above all time, it requires time, and it is something so scarce at this date of
the semester… Notwith, we created it as our group name says, as brainstorming.
Each one said one thing; other improved it and so on. However, at the beginning
it was pour, but we didn’t know how to improve it since my bulb started and the
fable was modified hardly. With this change all of us cheered because we
already saw everything clearer. So, it was without a doubt the best moment of
the week, when we saw the light and we were directing to the correct way.
And finally, when our star told the fable there was a nice environment to tell it, and then we played at kahoot app was a moment incredible, because it was some different and funny to motivate students. So this moment was a success.
Here we can see a graphic which show us how we have felt this week.
Brainstorming´s Feelings
Well, this
has been our process and our progress this week, but the most important thing
is to know what have we learnt in reality? because each work has his objective. And how are we going to put in
practice?
I have
learnt many things. Firstly, I have learnt the existence of the dark side of a
textbook. Textbooks are the best business for editorials. Editorials manipulate
us as they want. They show us their ideology, steal our many, reduce our
creativity, our critique sense, our capacity to decide, and foremost, our
opportunity to learn. We are paying something that makes us less intelligent,
less skilled and more useless. The Government, editorials, schools,
headmasters, teachers, parents are promoting this. And why? Why? It is very
sad, but it is true. The main cause is the money. All of them are richer with
the use of textbooks, the government and editorials earn huge amount of money;
teachers don’t have to worry about anything, because in textbook everything is
redacted and explained, they only have to reproduce what textbook tells;
parents feel better when their children follow the book and they do their
homework and so on. Certainly, textbook is a comfort for everyone, and a real
business for editorials. Unconsciously or not, we are paying our stupidity. How much political interests there are in text books...
To deep
more, why do teacher use them? Because the school require them? Oh my God, what
lack of personality! All teachers have been studying during years to carry out
their job as well as possible, and now am I going to reduce everything I have
studied in a textbook? No, darling no. My time and my professionalism are worth
more than this. When I finish my degree,
I hope to be capable of develop my classes in the best way, I won’t need some
textbook that will say me how I have to carry out my class.
All of these
arguments are some of we have been able to detected only in a one week.
However, I am sure that if we still investigate about this topic we will be
able to be specialist in it and the most important thing, we are making aware
to avoid textbook. Now, we know the dark side but, what can I do to promote it?
Probably, the most of the teachers had never heard about this point of view.
Firstly, we must give publish at our discoveries by tweets, blogs, and
whatever. Next year, when we will do our practices in a school, I will promote
a different way to learn, without any textbook, using several resources and
strategies. We must feel fortunate for living where we live. We have free and
quick access at the information; we have uncountable recourses to use, why do
we resign ourselves with the worst? It can seem a bit contradictory, but
unfortunately it is true.
We mustn’t
be narrow-minded, technological develop increase, why don’t we do the same?
Aren’t we living in the same society?
What is
the first impression you got from the video?
Does
anybody see any didactic innovation on the way that teachers who appear on the
video work?
Is it a
coincidence that in the video, the only activity that is performed there is
about teaching- learning?
Do you
know why editorials not only focuses in the curriculum, but also to provide
applications, rotted on its editorial companies servers in order to control the
students as well as an integral management of the institution?
Well, as I
was checking at Jordi Adell's blog, this video and his comment was what stroke
me the most. Because he is completely right. Nowadays these big enterprises
know that in order to maintain their status and its monopoly, their marketing
board of directors are developing subtle strategies in order to catch the core
market, which are teachers willing to try new ITC methods and students bored of
reading dull books. The result is that they are getting again their clients in.
But the material they sell is the same dog with different collar.
So what
should we all do in order to avoid this assault? We must open our eyes to new
methods of teaching-learning, but at the same time, to avoid falling into their
narrow nets.
Have you
watched the video? Jordi would like that people would look at the video again,
but before playing it observe the following attitudes:
Look at
the students and their bored faces, some of them are pretending that they are
interested in what the teacher with her cool instrument has to say, but the
rest look like zombies.
The
following task I will perform as a professional journalist will be an
Interview that will be carried out this weekend to diverse people, in order to
find out whether they support textbooks and editorials as the predominant
method of teaching, or if they, on the contrary think that a wide range of well
thought and planned resources will be the key to master teaching- learning
skills.....
MONDAY
The first video shows the way we have learned in school 30 years ago,
and the opinion of one of
the E.G.B student’s generation.
Now that this role is
almost ending, I am delighted to say that not only did I enjoy searching the
way journalists in general act, but also trying to imitate them and performing according
with their criteria was a little difficult when I carried out the interviews. I
am very shy, and for me it was difficult being in front of a camera trying to
imitate the journalist performance.
Even though I felt embarrassed
I would not hesitate to going through the same role again.
Apart from this role, I
was asked to search for information and translate the fable. When I was doing
it, I felt I had to change a couple of details to make sure that on the
presentation day the concept would be clear for everyone. Maybe it is because I
have a twisted mind and I always try to disguise every single concept to conduct
it to our children’s path. WAITING FOR THE STARS' PRESENTATION ON MONDAY....
The
presentation day has arrived and I will try to give a constructive opinion of
all of them, having in mind that it is not easy having to be faced with a big
audience…
So
here I will present you all the groups and their links, where undoubtedly you
can see all the extremely great creations they have done so far, which are as
good as their enthusiasm.
The first presentation
is always the one that faces different types of inconvenients, such as technic
problems among others, and this week was not an exception. Although the videos of these
group were as fascinating as creative, with lot of illusion put in it, we all
are sure that if we have the great opportunity to watch it again, we will learn
a lot!!
We were the second
group, presenting the fable and even though Fernando, our star, was a bit
nervous, the fable wasa nice way to
teach what concepts we should have in mind, in order not to follow the flock.
The best moment was
where the kahoot quiz was carried out, as we could see that many of our
classmates as well as teachers were participating, and enjoying at the same
time.
The videos of this
presentation were also very illustrative as creative, because the different
components of the group were performing from diverse locations in the
classroom, keeping us awake, following different explanations. Despite of the
fact that they were dynamic showing us with original and fake leaves the
different ways and perceptions that we acquire through a wide variety of tools,
I would have suggested them to explain why did they chose videos.
I LOVE IT!! Maria, do
not be shy next time. You did great!
The star was very
efficient when she explained why, usingonly five concepts, as clear as the transparent waters of the
Mediterranean sea.
The words were;
ECONOMICAL, EDUCATIONAL, DEPROFESSIONALIZATION, EPISTEMOLOGICAL & IDEOLOGICAL.
After her explanation
she offer us alternatives to the textbooks and what stroke me the most was to
be acquainted that nowadays where we are going through a devastating crisis,
editorials have a revenue of more that 8 millions of €.
AMAZING!!! YOU DID IT
GREAT AND YOUR GROUP WERE WELL REPRESENTED.
The explained very
well the main reason for choosing a video to represent what is going on
education. The videos were funny, but just a tip, put more emphasis on what you
are doing because with a little bit more of a kid soul, you could have done
even better.
Being original, and
creative is a quality that is scarce in our profession. The little ants group
show us that, the new teachers generation will perform better. What I like the
most of this group is that they did not go for the videos and chose a resource
that nobody else used. Comics are a very appropriate way to teach children in a
subtle way, thus we as teachers can achieve great results using them.
KEPPING A CHILDREN
SOUL IT IS THE BEST WAY TO CONNECT WITH THEM.
The first video were
a little bit confusing, maybe because of the sound’s problem, but I have to say
that the remaining videos were exceptional and original due to the mixture of
technics that this group has used, combining good drawings, music and real
images is a good way to catch the audience attention.
In this groups, as
the majority of them chose advertising videos, I was expecting almost the same.
But there were not two alike!! If I had to define what a good professional should
be, this presentation would make it clear. Even though Ana was nervous, she did
a GREAT performance, and I really feel proud of her as well as her group,
because with just a few but well elaborated words, the message touched my soul.
THE RESULTS ARE HERE, A LOT OF EFFORT, ILLUSION, HARD WORK, WAS COMBINED TODAY!!!
