Who Was That Teacher?

Mr. Bruton, teacher

We have many ideas about the image of a teacher, I have to believe that not many parents' or students' would ever imagine having this person standing at the front of their classroom. Listen to this podcast and find out what make's this teacher so special, NPR-Tell Me More Podcast-David Bruton.

David Bruton's college alma mater

Mr. Bruton, a professional athlete on the verge of not having a season due to a lockout, has returned to his hometown to teach. He has obtained a one-year license to be a substitute teacher, teaching math, social studies and elementary grades. Bruton is graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a degree in sociology and has gone on to play professional football with the Denver Broncos. Due to the conflict between owners and players, Bruton found himself with time on his hands. With encouragement from his high school coach and friends that are teachers along with the fact that the school needed teachers he took this position on. Mr. Bruton stresses in his interview that being a teacher isn't an easy career, it requires patience and stamina, he states that it can be even more difficult than being a football player. He mentions that he takes his teaching role very seriously and that educators are guiding our youth, that this is a job not to be taken lightly. He also goes on to say that he believes that teachers are not properly compensated for their jobs, that they are caregivers on top of educators and do not get nearly enough money for what they do. Mr. Bruton also stresses that he hopefully is changing public attitude about professional athletes, he mentions that athletes are often in the public eye for their bad behavior and not always for the good. Bruton hopes that he help change these negative opinions to positive.

In viewing this podcast with a eye for critical media, I believe that the way the interview is handled and what questions are asked give both a serious and humorous feeling. The interviewer asks Mr. Bruton about how he came to the decision to teach with his other career being so vastly different. She also asks Mr. Bruton to give his opinion about teaching and teachers and the importance of them to our the future of the nation's youth. However, she also inquires about his popularity at recess and if he was exhausted at the end from the constant running with the students. The humor and lightness associated with the heavier aspects keeps the interview interesting. Also, Mr. Bruton speaks to the negative portrayal of sports figures in the media for different things, he wants to help change this attitude. By showing that he is giving back, helping to mentor and be a role model for the students to day he can show that sports figures can also be a positive influence on children. This interview is a very funny and enjoyable podcast that has a very positive image about teaching, sports figures and Mr. Bruton.

Learning to Change or Changing to Learn?

Are our students learning to change or are they changing to learn, that is what this insightful video from YouTube asks:

This video is encouraging the viewer to understand just how important technology is in the classroom. The educators in this video stress that students are learning more outside school where they are allowed the use of so much more technology, like cell phones and increased access to computers and different social networking applications. One very strong statement made in this video is, "every turned off device is potentially a turned off child". This is an amazing statement speaking to the fact that most districts tell students they can't have or use cell phones in school. By restricting students from using the technology that they use constantly when not in school, that they feel is vital to their lives, students feel cut off. By restricting their world, the schools are restricting their communication, creativity and silencing their voices. The video also speaks to the idea of community, and how the bricks and mortar school is not the center of the learning world anymore, the student at the center and the actual school building is just one of the places where children connect with each other in the larger world community. The idea that the students have the world at their fingertips with the availability of the internet and all that it offers our children.

By offering students opportunities to be a part of the huge changes going on in world, educators are giving students the chance to succeed not only in their education but in life. Educators and education need to provide students with the knowledge that will make them a part of the new workforce, these jobs need individuals that are able to think critically, collaboratively and much more. The dramatic closing statement made in this video about what is changing and happening in the world of education and what the future holds for it is, "it is the death of education but the dawn of learning".

The death of education, dawn of learning

This video really hits home with its content, when looking at it through a critical media eye the way it was put together is what makes it so powerful. The use of the influential individuals from all over the world show the importance of technology to the global community. Stressing that having students that are capable of performing in the technology innovative world is critical. The use of facial close-ups, no background and very soft background music focuses on the message. There is no distractions to the viewer, the way the video is shot and then produced places the focus on what is being said and who is saying it. Everyone included in this video is aiming for the same goal, all working to make sure that the viewer sees the need for change in education. That students must be allowed access to the tools that improve their ability to communicate and interact, that allow them to express themselves and be creative.

Creating an educational global community

School of the Future or Just the Present?

School of the Future, Philadelphia, PA

While clicking around the website, www.educationnext.org I came upon an interesting article about a school located in an urban Philadelphia neighborhood. The article, http://educationnext.org/high-school-2-0/ tells the story of a school, called School of Future, which was created with the help of the Microsoft Corporation to better prepare students, specifically urban students for learning and living in the 21st century. It was what the developers of the school envisioned as the "future" for education. However, it didn't turn out exactly how they saw it. Many students were not ready for the technology the school used, the change from books to computer based learning was difficult. Teachers struggled to educate students who were all over the board in levels of ability or spent the majority of class time instant messaging or playing video games. The school did not escape the scrutiny of The School District of Philadelphia and their need for student assessment. The School of the Future had to revamp its style of project based, interdisciplinary learning to incorporate time spent on standards based testing for measuring accountability. This is not to say that the students haven't benefited from the technology rich environment in which they learn, they have, but the scores on the standardized tests show that they are not performing any better than a student in a regular high school. This may be the School of the Future, but the students may not be ready to be a part of it just yet.

Students and Digital Learning

While looking at this article in terms of critical literacy, the author is looking to inform the reader how the integration of technology into the classroom in what may be the ideal way isn't always the best for the students. Labbo and Place (2010) say that technology can assist traditional book learning, which can help students begin to make the transition, "computer technology consists primarily of tools that should be used to enhance students' learning of traditional print-based content". They also point out that, "teachers who take the time to thoughtfully integrate computer technologies into the classroom are doing cutting-edge work in the field" (Labbo and Place 2010). It is not helpful to throw students into new technology blindly where they are left to flounder.

Digital Learning-
Is It Right for Everyone?

Also, Seglem and Witte (2009) mention that, "by teaching students how to critically read and view all, texts, not just the traditional print texts, teachers can build upon the skills needed to read and write, increasing students' literacy on all levels". The students that attend the School of Future are learning in one way, digitally, they are not being taught in the traditional way. This one way of learning will not always benefit students to learn effectively, ideally the school has envisioned that their way of learning be the most beneficial. However, this not going to be the case with students how are most familiar with traditional learning and have limited or no computer skills as one might find in a low income urban area, like where the school is located.