Light at the End?

I have completed my podcast and have been thinking a lot about how I would use podcasts and screencasts in my own classroom. I think it would be an amazing thing if I could record the most important lessons or instructions for projects and post them where students could refer to them at will. Of course it would be a great resource for students who were absent on the day of instruction. I would love to think that I could get into a rhythm where recording myself could become old hat and that I would do it religiously, but I have my doubts. I remember those teaching days with 150 students as over-scheduled. I hope that I could force myself to add this to my day, but it would definitely be a struggle.
I think that is one thing that makes teaching so difficult and so rewarding. At least in part, I get to choose how to present material to the students. I love this trial-and-error part of teaching. If a lesson doesn't fly in first period, I can tweak and adjust before the next section of that course. Sometimes I can't wait to get back in the classroom. Especially after I read One Fish, Two Fish for the third time in one day.

Podcast. . .Check

I love crossing things off my list and that's what I just did!!!! Podcast done, yeah me! If I had more time on my hands I know I really would have enjoyed this assignment much more than I did. Even though I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed these days I did have fun making the podcast. The editing part was the best for me. Audacity is really great once you get used to it. I have to admit that I was very nervous about this project. I know it is silly, but I hate the sound of my own voice. (Sadly, my husband agrees and wishes I would give my voice a rest more often) It sounds much better in my head. :) So, when I started recording it and plating it back, I was actually cringing. Oh well, at least I don't have to suffer hearing it everyday like he does :)

So, here is a poem that I used in my podcast. It is fitting for many of the educators out there!

Afternoon in School
The Last Lesson
When will the bell ring, and end this weariness?
How long have they tugged the leash, and strained apart
My pack of unruly hounds: I cannot start
Them again on a quarry of knowledge they hate to hunt,
I can haul them and urge them no more.
No more can I endure to bear the brunt
Of the books that lie out on the desks: a full three score
Of several insults of blotted pages and scrawl
Of slovenly work that they have offered me.
I am sick, and tired more than any thrall
Upon the woodstacks working weariedly.


And shall I take
The last dear fuel and heap it on my soul
Till I rouse my will like a fire to consume
Their dross of indifference, and burn the scroll
Of their insults in punishment? - I will not!
I will not waste myself to embers for them,
Not all for them shall the fires of my life be hot,
For myself a heap of ashes of weariness, till sleep
Shall have raked the embers clear: I will keep
Some of my strength for myself, for if I should sell
It all for them, I should hate them -
- I will sit and wait for the bell.

D. H. Lawrence

Digital Libraries Discussion

Well, my turn with leading a discussion is over and I'm quite relieved. I did enjoy it, but I feel a bit out of my element when I'm attempting to lead my peers.

Though I posted three questions, it was the one that was a bit controversial that elicited the most responses. This does not surprise me in the least, it is much more fun to talk about topics that people care about. I think this is what drew me to studying and teaching literature. Although many high school students do not care about Shakespeare, they do have an opinion about controlling parents and whether sixteen-year-olds should marry. I truly enjoy hearing their opinions on these topics and it makes my class time fly by to have a debate on something they care about.

So, it was nice to hear the opinions of my classmates on whether digital libraries could ever replace brick and mortar ones. Though the question seemed a bit far-fetched, it served the purpose of eliciting responses from those who cared about the topic. Controversy is fun! I really don't know how math teachers get students to care about math problems, I give them a lot of credit because I could never do it.