This is an interesting article because it brings to light a debate that has been brewing for quite some time. Can Wikipedia be an acceptable research source? In my opinion, yes. But there is one caveat to that "yes." First, since Wikipedia is open for anyone to edit the information found on the site should be backed up with credible research. If a students wants to use Wikipedia as a research I think it is acceptable as long as the information they are citing has credible research and data that supports the claims.

In the case of the History Department at Middlebury College, I think that the department did what they felt they had to do. Students had the privilege of using Wikipedia as a source but failed to make sure that the information they were using was credible. Any good educational institution is going to teach students to be extra cautious and critical of online resources. The web is built on the idea that anyone can contribute and say what they want. Wikipedia is simply a concentrated form of the ideology. Since a majority of the students in the History Department at Middlebury College failed verify their sources, I think the administration took appropriate action.

Source:
Cohen, Noam (2007, February 21). A history department bans citing wikipedia as a research source. The New York Times, Retrieved February 23, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/education/21wikipedia.html?ex=1174017600&en=87a78775b083bd05&ei=5070

Today, I observed some Project Lead the Way (PLTW) classes at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, IN. It was very interesting to see some of the projects the students were working on. I observed four different classes within the Pathway to Engineering track: 1) Principles of Engineering, 2) Digital Electronics, 3) Introduction to Engineering Design, and 4) Biotechnical Engineering.

However, I found the teachers' reactions the PLTW curriculum intriguing. I spoke with three different teachers about their perceptions and opinions of the program and its curriculum. All of them felt that the program was well designed and structured and provided students with skills and knowledge they could not have received by taking Wood Shop or Metal Shop. The teacher of the Biotechnology course felt that the curriculum for that particular course was a bit underdeveloped and could be revised to include my hands-on work instead of spending so much time researching information.

As for my personal opinions about what I observed I believe that PLTW is a great program. I think that its a step in the right direction towards preparing students for careers in engineering and technology. As part of the coursework for ITEDU 396, I have been learning about the PLTW mission, goals, and curriculum. I realize that the program does require a huge investment of time, money, and resources. For the schools that can afford this type of "department upgrade" this is a great option. However, I know that this program would not stand a chance of being implemented, let alone considered, in the high school that I attended.

One of the teachers made the comment that some people question whether PLTW is actually helping students overall. PLTW takes the place of the traditional technology education (industrial arts/technology) courses such as Wood Shop and Metals Shop. Some students may find those traditional courses more interesting and applicable to their career goals. On the other hand, some students may find PLTW more beneficial to them. I know that you aren't going to be able to please everybody all the time. And you are inadvertently leave a group out. However, given the current direction of technology, industry, and world commerce, I believe that PLTW has a great start.

You can find out more about Project Lead the Way by visiting their website at www.pltw.org.

No Child Left Behind, the federal education law, should be toughened to judge teachers and principals by their students’ test scores, and to block chronically ineffective educators from working in high-poverty schools...

I have mixed feelings about this statement. On the one hand I agree that the standards should be toughened to help ensure that each student is receiving a quality education. On the other hand I disagree because I believe that this toughening of standards would be too much, too soon. No Child Left Behind has caused major problems and difficulties for schools trying to meet the minimum requirements. Some schools have yet to meet minimum requirements just once in the five years this law has been in place. While there is no simple answer I think a better solution would be to sign the law again, with nearly all the same requirements, and allow schools more time to meet the standards. The changes the law currently seeks are not easily achievable and require much more time for states, administrators, and teachers to devise and implement the necessary resources that will effectively bring about these changes. I don't want to oversimplify the issue at hand but I believe that the key to the success of No Child Left Behind is being more patient and allowing more time to reach the goals that have were set five years ago.

Source:
Schemo, Diana (2007, February 14). Tougher standards urged for federal education law. The New York Times, Retrieved February 15, 2007, from http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60E13F83D5A0C778DDDAB0894DF404482

This is a really interesting article because it brings to light an potentially new problem onto the education scene. I had never thought about the possibility of a student (or students) filming a teacher in order to portray them in a negative light. On one hand I think that keeping in the back of our minds that anybody could be watching might help improve teacher actions and overall demeanor in the classroom. But at the same time I also realize that everyone has moments where they lose their temper. The balance is to minimize the negative actions and words that students hear and see teachers do and see. For me, I know there will be times when I get frustrated and might lose my cool. To a certain point I can control how I convey that frustration in the classroom. If the frustration is with the students then showing them a little sternness may not be such a bad thing. However, if the frustration is a result of something that students have no control over then it is important to realize this fact and not use students as a target.

While schools try to figure out what to do about the situation with students posting videos online, I think it would be beneficial for teachers to realize that their actions do not affect them only. Obviously, the students who are filming these teachers feel they have been wronged in some way. As a teacher it is important to treat each student fairly and equally.

Source:
Abdollah, Tami (2007, February 9). Online films of teachers have schools scrambling. Los Angeles Times, Retrieved February 15, 2007, from http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702090449