Global Citizenship
Author: Fabiola Araiza
Summary:
1. Introduction
Teaching and Learning are subjects which people who are in one way or another involved in such processes have tried to understand and improve throughout all eras of humanity. An endless amount of educational tools has arrived to our hands modifying Mexican educational models. Nonetheless, I am sure that no previous resource can surpass the impact of the use of interactive boards inside the classroom.
Keywords:
Professional study:
2. Background:
In Nuevo León, there are 5332 basic schools (Preschool, Primary and Secondary Schools), and only three will participate in the MirandaNet project and will receive Promethean Interactive White Boards:
-Simon Salazar, Primary school, evening school
-Antonio Martinez de Castro, Primary school, evening school
-Leopoldo Naranjo, Primary school, evening school
The school where I am working is the latter. This school is located in a poor neighborhood of Monterrey, (Monterrey is the capital city of Nuevo Leon). I will begin by describing my students; they do not have access to a computer or any electronic medium of such magnitude in or outside the school. I am sure that the use of this new technological tool will improve the academic performance of my children.
In my school, we are 6 female teachers, 1 head teacher and 179 students. The school has basic services such as running water, telephone, electricity, 6 classrooms, 1 multipurpose room and bathrooms.
The majority of the parents of the students are working class and house builders; only the 80% know how to read and write.
3- Object
Following the previous description, I have selected to direct my line of investigation to the following question: What impact will the use of interactive white boards have on teaching and learning the subject of Citizenship in students from a low socioeconomic status? I chose this line of investigation because in Mexico Citizenship is a subject that is considered not as important as Spanish or Mathematics. In addition, we do not count with an official textbook to guide us in the teaching of this important subject, as it is the case with other subjects such as Spanish and Mathematics.
Another reason for choosing this line of investigation has to do with the school where I work. The children do not have access to a computer or any electronic medium of such magnitude in or outside the school. I am sure that the use of this new technological tool will improve the academic performance of my students.
In addition, I want to my school will be a place that gives the answer to the challenges and social problems of global citizenship.
In order to respond to the question that will be the base of my investigation it is necessary to identify two factors:
3.1. The teaching - It is directly related to the way that I, as a teacher, am responsible for a class during this and the next school year and to the way I direct the class use of the interactive board. This will include individual and group activities within the school because all six teachers of the school will have access to the use of the interactive white boards (as part of the project “Enciclomedia”) and will be able to work on the theme of global citizenship.
3.2. The Learning - It is done by the students where such results will be reflected in two distinct ways:
3.2.1. Qualitative - It varies from attitudes to values, which will be seen in and out of the educational environment
3.2.2. Quantitative: It is the measurement of a characteristic assigned by a number. In the Mexican educational system it is comprised of a scale from 5 to 10 and is printed on report cards that are given to the parents five times throughout the school year; in other
words, every 2 months.
The scale is:
5 FAILING
6 SATISFACTORY
7 REGULAR
8 DOING WELL
9 VERY GOOD
10 EXCELLENT
4. What kind of reading should I do?
In Mexico, it is necessary for all teachers who are in charge of a class of elementary students to have as our “bible” certain books that guide the planning of our pedagogical activities. We must read them constantly in order to carry out our work. Nonetheless, as the project advances and situations arrive I will have to be in contact with Dr. Manuel Fernandez at UNESCO and the Teacher Olivia Flores at Secretary of Education in order to consult them regarding the readings that I may use to continue with the project.
5. How will your research help to improve teaching and learning? And what are the expected outcomes or findings of your research? How will the research process be helpful to your pupils?
I hope that with the use of this new technological tool inside the classroom the:
Students:
· Will increase their academic achievement about the subject of Citizenship.
· Will acquire the joy for school.
· Will become interested with the entire world.
· Will put into practice what will be learned; in other words that they will apply it in their homes or close community.
· Will acquire the basic skills to work with this type of technological tool.
· As of September 2005, have the basic notions of English as a second language.
Teachers:
ü Will acquire basic strategies in using these new technological tools.
ü Will modify their class planning by taking in consideration the use of the interactive white board.
ü Will create workshops in order to exchange educational ideas.
ü Will assume the follow-up and evaluation of the actions learned as part of our daily lives.
6. - How will you identify the relevant data you are going to collect? How will you collect, analyze and evaluate the data? How do they link to you aims and what is know already?
The data will be gathered monthly and will come from:
· Student writing work
· Drawings
· Comics
· Photographs
· Videos
· Student grades
· Student attendance
From these data, some will be selected to help to create the next presentation that will take place in South Africa in July 2005, through meetings with all school personal.
As the investigation advances, I will be adapting, modifying and using new teaching strategies. This will also be learning that a) will enrich my professional development and b) will help my students to have a better academic achievement.
We must remember that no educational method or tool will function in a classroom if we are not able to put ourselves in the place of our students, taking in consideration their interests, abilities, and the social context where they come from, etc. That is, in order to make a child learn one must think like one of them, without forgetting the large responsibility that we acquire as we choose to become teachers and to be part of this remarkable MirandaNet project, which I am sure will come to modify the traditional teaching concept in every one of our countries.
Created by: Fabiola Maria Araiza Rodriguez
Mexican Teacher
April 2005
Critique:
Learning:
Reflections:
View all reflections in this E-Journal
Peer Reviews:
Peer Reviewer: Anthony Blair
Review:
Crikey - I think we should make all the children do Global Citizenship, so we can avoid wars and things like that.
Peer Reviewer: rgletter
Review:
I agree with Tony Blair, Global Citizenship should be required. Understanding one other benefits all of us and the planet. There is so much to learn from all of us.
I believe the Active White Boards will open the eyes of students. However, I must say this should be considered only one element of education. I'm writing a book about the future education of America. My school district in NJ has Active Boards in almost every classroom and leads the US in this tool. Again, it is just one tool and we can never forget the most important tool of all - the human brain. Rob G.
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