Journal of Classroom Teaching & Learning

Conditions that Facilitate Motivation

2011-05-19T13:41:00.017-07:00

By Sandy Sarcona
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 9, 2011

One thing I learned from class on May 9, 2011 would be conditions that facilitate motivation. I learned that learners can be either intrinsically or extrinsically motivated. High motivation comes from a student who has an intrinsic locus of control versus one who is extrinsically motivated. Therefore, A teacher needs to create a condition that will motivate students intrinsically instead of extrinsically. In other words, teachers need to create motivation in students and make them want to learn for their own self and not because of being forced. The question is: How can teachers create conditions that will facilitate students’ intrinsic motivation? Based on the discussion in our class, several factors are important.

Firstly, teachers need to start with a student-centered approach to teaching and find out who their students are and what their needs are. For example, if you teach adolescent students, then you should recognize that connecting with friends is one of their most important needs for students at this age, so working in groups might be a useful strategy to motivate them to participate.

Secondly, respect also affects students’ motivation to learn. It is important to build respect for the students and have the students know how to respect the teacher in return. One way of creating respect in the classroom is by having students create a list of what constitutes respect. Dr. Boyanton demonstrated her own list of what constitutes classroom respect that would be useful for teachers to use.

Thirdly, another condition to facilitate motivation is to develop classroom activities that are interesting and engaging, as well as challenging. If an activity is just fun and doesn’t take students to a higher cognitive learning level, then the students will not feel it is useful or worth their time.

Fourthly, teacher enthusiasm also plays a very important role in student motivation to learn. If a teacher is enthusiastic about a topic, then it can transcend to the students to feel the same and keep a high level of curiosity. On the contrary, if a teacher keeps explaining something in a monotone voice and spouting off facts, and it is very likely that the students will be quickly “turned off”.

Lastly, providing constructive and timely feedback on student work can also assist in motivating students, along with effective communication on course expectations. If a teacher simply provide all the assignments but does not provide any feedback on the students’ work, it can leave the students in confusion keeping wondering whether their work is “on the right track” or not, which can produce a lot of unnecessary anxiety and stress in students. In addition, unable to receive timely feedback from the students also make the students feel that their work is unimportant, which can also demotivate the student from producing more work.

Flexibility in Teaching: Lessons Not Planned

2011-05-19T13:41:00.015-07:00

By White Cloud
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May, 2011

Monday May 9, 2011, 5 p.m., Room 309 Library. Eleven doctoral students. One Professor. The first day of classes for Summer Session 1 2011. For this group of students it might not have been a stretch to suggest that there might have been some measure of apprehension. This summer promises to be very hectic. There is the preoccupation with the volume of work that has to be completed, in addition to the required coursework. This particular group of students is classified as the Teaching and Learning Group. As one who is currently a teacher, and who intends to continue in the profession, I will write this reflection from a student teacher’s perspective.

First of note was the obvious passion and preparation of the professor. This, to me, was both impressive and instructive, and was one of the lessons not planned. That passion and preparation provided a rich and powerful context for all that followed. From the planned lesson there were two things that stood out for me. Those were the focus on motivation, and the emphasis on the need to build a community of respect. Much of the lesson on motivation was developed around the use of a rather simple game. That game served easily to engage all present, and something that might have been thought trivial was transformed into a meaningful learning experience.

The planned lesson that related to the community of respect provided the backdrop for a lesson not planned that illustrated the concept. Issues around the need to practice mutual respect were presented and discussed. The direction of the class after the presentation of the course syllabus provided the opportunity to demonstrate mutual respect. I believe that is safe to say that all were feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the load. Many spoke up to express their concerns very clearly. Yet, for as strong the emotions were, and as clearly as they were expressed, there was the evidence of the effort that was being made to remain very respectful. This was helped, in no small measure, by a teacher who maintained poise, and was receptive to the voice of the students, and responsive to their concerns.

Why did this get my attention? Well, some might describe me as being hard-nosed and rigid, while others have said of me that I am a nit-picker. The teacher’s handling of this situation was instructive. It was quite useful for me to have been a part of this lesson not planned.

Teacher Empathy and Flexibility in Teaching

2011-05-19T13:41:00.013-07:00

By Double Trouble
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 11, 2011

First, let me say that I enjoyed the class very much. I enjoyed how honest you were when sharing your personal information. It was so nice to hear a professor just “tell it like it is.” You told us your strengths and weaknesses without excuses -you gave examples. I really loved the directness of this. You were not embarrassed or apologetic for saying complimentary things about yourself; you were simply reporting what students had said, and what you know to be true about yourself.

I believe it is this honesty that you modeled that allowed the students in the class to be very honest with you. I was impressed by how you listened to the comments which mainly dealt with the frustrations of different factors relating to the running of this doctoral program. You didn’t get flustered or angry. You kept the attention on the issue and didn’t take things personally (which of course they weren’t).

Then you showed a rare and wonderful characteristic: flexibility. You worked several suggestions into the discussion, but objections and frustrations kept rising.

You listened and questioned to further understand the feelings being reported. However, the ultimate flexibility came when you said we could forget about the research project altogether. You listened, you heard, you understood and agreed to make the course more relevant for the needs of the cohort.

This achieved so much importance. It showed the class that you were what you claimed to be. The motivation, interest, and relevance of the course shot up 100 percent. All of the elements discussed through the Name Game suddenly became active. The idea that when cognitive anxiety and psychological anxiety become lessened or abolished, a student can then learn, remember, listen, feel they are in a safe environment, and can accept what others have to say, became a reality. Students experienced a wide range of emotions throughout this process with it ending with respect; respect for you, for your handling of a difficult situation, for allowing the cohort to go through this, for willing to create a course that will be more suitable and relevant for this group, and for proving that “you are what you do, not what you say you’ll do.”

Thank you for establishing a Community of Respect where there are no judgments and where everyone can say what they need to say!

Passion to teach, motivation to learn!

2011-05-19T13:41:00.011-07:00

By Claire Iglesias
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May, 2011

Today’s class was great! I absolutely love the environment that was created immediately in the classroom and amongst the class. The name game was a lot of fun and you are never too old for some fun. It was a great ice breaker and it was the perfect model for what we should create or will be creating in our own classrooms some day. Breaking into small groups and analyzing the name game through discussion was very interesting as well. Many times we as students are asked to do something, such as playing the name game, but once the task has ended there is no connection made to why we were asked to do it. It was really a nice opportunity to be able to relate the task to the learning experience and truly appreciate the benefits of the experience. I found it very enlightening how precise you were with everything. Being told clear and concise expectations was terrific.

Again, I found it to be a wonderful model for us as future teachers. I love your enthusiasm and passion to teach. I completely agree with your philosophy, if you do not have the passion for children or for teaching you need to pick another career. I truly believe that only passionate teachers are good teachers and passion can not be taught in an education class. With that being said many people need to really think through their career choices because we have all experienced teachers who have no passion. Your attitude towards life is contagious. I agree again. Life is too short and therefore there is no time for negativity and whining. It was wonderful to listen to you speak your mind. Your honesty was great! The class flew by. It was without a doubt a very positive first impression.

You have truly motivated me already. I left class number one looking forward to class number two. How often does that happen? I just felt that your whole demeanor was the perfect model for any new teacher. I am very excited for the next five weeks. Mission accomplished…motivating your students to want to come back!

Anxiety: A Sneak Attack

2011-05-19T13:41:00.009-07:00

By Dana Michie
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May, 2011

As I walked through the library and walked up the dimmed lit staircase, I could feel my anxiety slowly sneaking up on me. I had no idea what to except from my first education class on this journey of becoming a teacher.

No more than 10 minutes into the class my anxiety grew tremendously, seeing there was only 12 people in the class and the syllabus was not yet given. What was this class going to entail? How heavy was the workload going to be? What expectations did the professor have for us?

Before I knew it we were being asked to think of a strategy for our fellow students to remember our names, in the game she called the “Name Game”. My anxiety levels were still increasing due to the fact I had no idea how my classmates were going to react to my strategy and this game. Were they going to think this game was dumb? We’re they going to think my strategy was stupid? All these questions with my anxiety levels still growing!

After the first student went and said “Denise, like Denise the Menace” and everyone laughed, my anxiety levels quickly diminished and I became very comfortable with the class and the exercise. From then on I was confident in that I could speak and express my opinions without anyone laughing at me, instead of with me!

The “Name Game” was an excellent way to break the ice and get the class comfortable with each other, as well as the professor. Being able to learn each other’s names through this entertaining and effective game was a great way to start off the class and set the pace for the rest of the course.

One of the most important issue, I think, that we discussed in class today was how anxiety affects the way students perform. When a student enters the classroom, they have some expectations and anxiety. If this anxiety increases and never diminishes as the class goes on, the student will never be able to grow to their full potential.

It is extremely important as a teacher, to decrease the anxiety level and make your students feel comfortable and safe within your classroom. When anxiety levels are low, students overall performance will increase causing a better learning environment not only for them but for the rest of the class as well.

Not Your Typical First Day

2011-05-19T13:41:00.007-07:00

By Jessica Wolf
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 18, 2011

The very first class was nothing like I expected it to be. When I think of psychology, I think of serious people sitting quietly and studying past psychologists and trying to implement or mimic their work. This first class wasn’t like that at all. I knew right from the very beginning that it was going to be different than other classes. Instead of just calling out attendance, the professor walked up to each student, introduced herself and checked off each student on her list. I have never seen a teacher or professor do that throughout my entire schooling career. That alone set a different kind of tone for the classroom.

The “Name Game” was also a very different way of beginning a graduate class. However, it was much more than just getting to learn everyone’s name—it was a way of getting us to think about how other people feel or what they are going through without even cracking a book yet. I really enjoyed the first class and I also like how the professor saved the syllabus until the end of the class time. Typically, the first class of the semester is entirely spent of going over the syllabus. It was nice to spend the first class getting to know one another and beginning to think about how different people feel during different situations and what kind of things affect their anxiety levels.

Do we need test: The great debate

2011-04-24T19:32:00.032-07:00

By Chong Liu
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I don't think I'm a big fan of taking tests whatsoever. As a student, especially when I was in middle and high school, I never seriously thought about this question. I think back then, the reason why I didn't like tests was because, I'm a student, students are supposed to hate tests, in addition, you didn't have any choice, so I just took them, never thought about what was that good or bad for me. Yet, what made me start to think this issue was after I went away to college, I had more time to do what I really wanted, and had much more control of what I learned and what I would do in the future. And it was then, I was suddenly confused, why I had learned so many things in high school that I would never ever use in my future life? I put a lot of efforts to things I had no interest in, I got upset, frustrated due to I was struggling for not doing so well in those, so why? I felt I have been wasting my time. And I also felt pathetic for being a student who didn't know her really passion, interest was.

Before college, I had to do what I was told to do, I had to learn what I was asked to learn. Teachers and parents somehow only focused on my performance on tests, as long as the subjects would not be tested, I didn't pay much attention to, because I didn't have to. Tests were everything that mattered to a student. How teachers and parents saw a student nearly all based on his or her grades, they turned a blind eye to who you really were. The most pathetic part was, sometimes students passed the same judgement to each other as well.

Education is supposed to teach students to think on their own, to train them to obtain strong will, to have faith in themselves no matter what kind of career they are taking, to be reasonable, to have a kind heart to pay it forward to society. Thus, what kind of test will show those out of a student? Tests may only test whether or not one is good as a student, learner, yet fail to identify if you are good as a person, a qualified parent, a devoted employee, a fair boss, to name a few.

Importance of behavior management for new teachers

2011-04-24T19:32:00.031-07:00

By Cynthia Grimm
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
April, 2011

The one thing I’ve heard from all the teachers I’ve gotten to know over the years is that, whatever you think you’re going to be able to do in your class, until you get there and start teaching, you really have no idea. The teacher I’m with now, who started teaching at an older age after having raised three children and run her own home daycare, still thought of her first year teaching as by far the most chaotic of her life. Behavior management is a huge part of that.

As new teachers, we may not realize how long a lesson might actually take to get across to the whole class. We may plan to learn A,B, and C before lunch, but the reality is, especially in Kindergarten, it may take all morning for the kids to settle down and just get through lesson A. I think this is where having a behavior management plan becomes of great importance. Having a set idea of how to handle situations in the classroom definitely lessens the severity of student outbursts. When students know what is expected of them, and see what the consequences are when perhaps another student doesn’t do what is expected, it can set a tone of confidence in the cause-effect social relationships among the students and their teacher. Flexibility is key to understanding what works and what doesn’t as well. If a lesson doesn’t go well, it is useless to continue along the same line for the rest of the day. If the students just aren’t “getting it” a different path needs to be taken. This can also prevent misbehavior before it starts.

Greetings from the editor

2011-04-17T13:50:00.001-07:00

Dear readers,

Welcome to JOCTL—Journal of Classroom Teaching & Learning! This journal was originally created by Dr. Dengting Boyanton and her students at the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB/TSC) in the spring of 2008. JOCTL is currently contributed by all the students who are taking the undergraduate course of EDI 15A Psychological Perspective: Teaching & Learning, EDI 17 Psychology & Development of Adolescent Student, and the graduate course EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education at the School of Education, Long Island University, C. W. Post, Brookville, New York.

JOCTL intends to publish our students’ research discoveries throughout their exploration with these three courses. It strives to provide the best platform for our university student researchers and scholars in the LIU as well as the New York community to exchange their findings and discoveries on teaching and learning. All of our students spend one whole semester investigating one research topic of their interest under Dr. Boyanton’s guidance and supervision. Most students’ research findings were or will be presented at the Conference of Elementary Secondary Teaching & Learning (CESTL), a completely student-oriented conference organized by Dr. Boyanton and all her students.

The main purposes of JOCTL is for our students 1) to discover principles, relationships, patterns, and theories of classroom learning and teaching; 2) to create a learning community for all students to discuss and exchange ideas about classroom learning and teaching; 3) to improve students’ analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills; 4) to enhance students’ communication skills (e.g., writing, public speaking, presenting); and 5) to help the students develop a deeper understanding on classroom teaching and learning and be better prepared as future teachers.

JOCTL seeks to explore the multitude of issues that impact and influence student learning in the classroom setting. In accord with its broad focus, the journal welcomes contributions that enhance the exchange of diverse theoretical and practical information from other educators, teachers, students, and researchers at LIU or the New York community. It is our hope that our JOCTL can provide a channel for all classroom instructors and professors to better understand students’ needs and characteristics as learners, thus to design their instructions which produce powerful classroom learning.

JOCTL has received much positive feedback and support from its wide range of audiences from from different universities (University of Texas at Brownsville, University of Texas at Austin, University of Virginia, Harvard University, Yale University, City University of New York, Willamette University, Long Island Universty). To read their feedback, click JOCTL Feedback.

We sincerely hope you will enjoy our students’ exploration on teaching and learning. If you have any comments or suggestions to improve JOCTL, please contact me directly at dengting.boyanton@liu.edu. We welcome honest feedback from you.

Thank you very much for your support!

Sincerely,

Dengting Boyanon Ph.D.
Editor, JOCTL
Assistant Professor
Educational Psychology
Curriculum & Instruction
School of Education
Long Island University, C.W.Post
720 Northern Blvd, Brookville, New York
516-299-4117 (Office)
Dengting.Boyanton@liu.edu
http://people.virginia.edu/~db6wq/

2011-04-17T13:49:00.000-07:00

▼ 04/03 - 04/10 (15)

▼ 03/20 - 03/27 (21)

▼ 03/06 - 03/13 (15)

▼ 02/27 - 03/06 (13)

▼ 02/20 - 02/27 (16)

▼ 02/06 - 02/13 (13)

▼ 01/30 - 02/06 (8)

12/05 - 12/12 (25)

▼ 11/14 - 11/21 (26)

▼ 10/31 - 11/07 (16)

▼ 10/24 - 10/31 (5)

▼ 09/26 - 10/03 (30)

04/11 - 04/18 (26)

▼ 03/21 - 03/28 (12)

▼ 03/07 - 03/14 (33)

02/21 /10 - 02/28 /10 (36)

▼ 02/14/10 - 02/21/10 (38)

▼ 01/31/10 - 02/07/10 (27)

▼ 06/21/09 - 06/28/09 (16)

▼ 05/31/09 - 06/07/09 (25)

05/24 /09 - 05/31 /09 (23)

▼ 05/10 - 05/17 (7)

▼ 04/19 - 04/26 (22)

▼ 04/12 - 04/19 (19)

▼ 04/05 /09 - 04/12 /09 (27)

▼ 03/22 - 03/29 (27)

▼ 02/22/09 - 03/01/09 (22)

▼ 02/15/09 - 02/22/09 (26)

01/25 /09 - 02/01 /09 (30)

12/21 - 12/28 (6)

11/30/08 - 12/07 /08 (26)

▼ 11/23/08 - 11/30/08 (14)

11/09 /08 - 11/16 /08 (25)

▼ 10/26/08 - 11/02/08 (30)

▼ 10/19/08 - 10/26/08 (14)

10/05 /08 - 10/12 /08 (22)

09/07 /08 - 09/14 /08 (27)

08/24 /08 - 08/31 /08 (3)

07/13 /08 - 07/20 /08 (4)

07/06 /08 - 07/13 /08 (6)

06/29 /08 - 07/06 /08 (6)

06/22 /08 - 06/29 /08 (9)

06/15 /08 - 06/22 /08 (5)

06/08 /08 - 06/15 /08 (10)

06/01 /08 - 06/08 /08 (11)

05/25 /08 - 06/01 /08 (4)

05/18 /08 - 05/25 /08 (5)

05/11 /08 - 05/18 /08 (4)

05/04 /08 - 05/11 /08 (5)

04/27 /08 - 05/04 /08 (2)

High Stake Test & Learning

04/06 /08 - 04/13 /08 (6)

03/16 /08 - 03/23 /08 (14)

03/09 /08 - 03/16 /08 (10)

03/02 /08 - 03/09 /08 (7)

02/24 /08 - 03/02 /08 (8)

02/17 /08 - 02/24 /08 (13)

02/10 - 02/17 (5)

02/03 /08 - 02/10 /08 (11)

01/27 /08 - 02/03 /08 (9)

01/20 /08 - 01/27 /08 (6)

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

2011-04-17T13:23:00.015-07:00

By Dennis Essig
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Whether or not technology is good or bad. I personally feel that ithere are many positive reasons to have technology and there are the draw backs that sometimes make it not worth it. First of all, it is positive in the classroom because students need to learn the use and implication of the technology when they go into the “real world.” It’s also important because it gives them access to just about anything they could ever have questions about by using the internet. There are also so many technological resources for teachers that make learning more fun and engaging for the students. Teachers can use a smart board or and overhead projector to display fun review games like family feud or jeopardy. I have also herd teachers saying that the student’s love the opportunity to use the smart board because they can write on it answering questions and it’s like a digital toy almost to some kids.

Technology is also good because it can be used for different activities like web quests, online homework, online review, it also allows quicker communication between teacher and parents, students and administration. Students love to be on the computer and if they are given assignments that they can use the computer to complete they will be more likely to do it since they are already on the computer anyway after school. Having a review session or review blogging online the students can ask questions and answer them for each other so they are working with each other to clarify material. The teacher will need to monitor and make sure students are on the right track and if they’re not they just need to correct them or ask them questions to guide them in the right direction.

Technology can be bad in that is can fail. As a teacher you always need to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. You also need to make sure students are using it appropriately because there is so much good content available online but there is also a lot of bad or misinformation available. Students can also be distracted by technology because they are too fascinated with the “cool new thing” as opposed to paying attention to the content the teacher is presenting using it. Some student will view the smart board as a toy and only want to use it because they want to play not learn from it.

In my opinion there are more benefits to technology and the benefits most definitely outweigh the negatives of using it. It’s just important to make sure the students are using it for its intended educational purpose and it will only strengthen the way they learn. In my teaching I plan to use technology to help motivate my student’s. I want to create lab activities where students can model and demonstrate different plate boundaries. Depending on their computer skills I will use different programs to do this such as paint, Photoshop, flash, or Dreamweaver. Dennis

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

2011-04-17T13:23:00.013-07:00

By Jasmine Simo-Sethi
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

As future teachers, technology is going to be so vital because it will teach students to be more creative in learning. Soon, textbooks are going to become available online so the students can use them as ebooks on their Ipads on their laptops. It will be more of a hands on activity instead of reading out of the textbooks all the time. Technology will engage students much more because it will help them to be engaged and want to participate in the lesson. It’s also helpful and more convenient for teachers and professors because they can be creative and make up fun exams or projects that will catch their attention and motivate them to learn.

Textbooks are a very old way today to teach because a teacher does not really know if the student is understanding the material. They can read a passage or an article but not fully comprehend the content of the material just because they are reading out of a textbook. On the other hand, if they were looking at a smart board for example, they could participate by going up and touching the screen to draw something or to answer a question and by that movement not only are they being motivated but they are learning because the learning is being accompanied by the action. I think and believe that the more a teacher requires a student to interact with technology, the more they learn because they are not bored sticking to just one source.

There are many ways to interact them with technology such as computers, of course only limiting them to certain sites, blocking them from Myspace, Facebook, and other social networking sites and any other site that does not pertain to the class or the material they are studying, smart boards. With this they can use the tools to draw, enlarge things, learn to be creative by just pressing buttons and finding out what is available to them.

There are some bad things about technology also, it isn’t just all great. Too much usage of it can be a danger, for example cell phones. Scientific studies have shown that using a cell phone on your ear as you talk can increase risks of cancer. This is why they recommend an earpiece. Computers, televisions and even video games can also be a danger because if they are used excessively, children or any one at any age can ruin their vision and their mentality span. It affects the brain in that it cuts their social skills. Too much attention on technology can affect interactions. It drifts away from fundamental skills like reading facial expressions during conversations and any other social activity.

Technology needs to be used in moderation because it has its positives and negatives. We just need to be aware of how much usage we put into it and we need to be aware of the risks it contains. Ifeel I know how much time I put into all the technology I use. I would say I text the most which is not good either but I have very good social skills so its not like I am deprived from being social or I’m neglecting the world around me. I am conscious most of the time of what I do and how I do it.

Growing up online--importance of parental control

2011-04-17T13:23:00.011-07:00

By Darlene A'stolfo
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Today we watched a movie about cyber-bullying. I found it to be extremely disturbing and it upset me to see how these students can be affected so negatively by technology. However, I still do not blame technology for these incidents. I blame the parents who are monitoring the computer use of the bullies and the victims alike. If just ONE parent would be paying attention, perhaps they would be able to stop things before they become out of hand.

The young boy who committed suicide by hanging himself was extremely depressing. His death was so unnecessary and could have been prevented in so many ways. If his parents would have been watching him closer, I’m sure that there were warning signs of depression. Adolescent don’t just kill themselves on a whim. This child was obviously going through troubles and any attentive parent would probably be able to tell. I also blame the parents of the children on the other side. If they would know that their children were bullying someone so viciously over the internet they would have been able to stop it. This child had absolutely no reason to kill himself. He was at the prime of his life and had so much to look forward to and it saddens me that these parents let something like this happen.

I also believe that although monitoring is necessary, it should not go too far. Adolescents need a degree of freedom while being monitored. They should have privacy but not too much privacy. Parents can let them do what they want on the computer but make sure that they have access to the computer and can check it from time to time to see what their children are doing. They must also simply TALK to their children. If they develop a close, open relationship with their children it will benefit everyone involved. Parents can do so much to prevent tragedies from internet bullying and it saddens me that these things are allowed to happen.

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

2011-04-17T13:23:00.009-07:00

By Gianna Suppa
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Growing up, I don’t think I experienced as much technology as adolescent’s experience. I had my occasional video game and a computer in school but do not remember having a computer in my home to use until about middle school. Even then I was not using it often, every now and then to chat with my friends on aol mail. As a child, I do not remember sitting home searching the internet, playing games online, or social networking I was outside playing with friends, going to the park, going up to our town for lunch with friends, and actually socially interacting rather than sitting inside the house.

I also never watch much television, I only watched in the morning before school, for a limited amount of time after school, and at night before going to bed. My mother was very strict about us not watching too much television so I never created a liking for it and until this day I am not the type of person to just lay on the couch and watch television. I always like to be active, moving around, and doing something constructive with my free time.

As a college student, I do use technology on a daily basis. I am always using the computer, sometimes in a positive way and sometimes not. I can spend hours on the internet shopping or on facebook but as an adult I also know when it is time to stop messing around and get my work done. As an adult, sometime I have problems doing such things so I could imagine how hard it could be for an adolescent to stay focused on what they are doing.

I feel that technology has both a positive and negative effect on adolescents but if used properly can be beneficial. I believe that it is important to incorporate technology in the classroom but in a safe and educational way so that it can be a motivational factor for your students not a time to mess around and not get work done. As a future teacher, I plan to incorporate aspects of the media and technology into my lesson but in a reasonable manner.

Growing up online--importance of communicating with adolescents

2011-04-17T13:23:00.007-07:00

By Gianna Suppa
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

In today’s class we watched a movie, Growing Up Online, which I found very interesting. This movie caught my attention for a various number of reasons. One of the reasons I found this movie interesting was because it showed real life people and their troubles with the Internet. From the concerned parents to the adolescents that were showcased, each of them had an interesting story to share. The story about the young boy who committed suicide because he was being cyber bully was the hardest to watch. I felt so bad for this young boys father. The father was brave enough to go on his son’s computer and see what he was up to.

As I watched the story of this young boy, I wondered how the father could not know that he was being cyber bullied or how he did not know that his son was looking up ways to kill himself on the Internet. The only way that I could rationalize this is that the father was not monitoring his son while he was on the Internet and was not communicating with his son. I feel that if the father talked to his son instead of just teaching him how to fight he might have realized that his son was being terrorized and that it was a serious matter to pay attention to. This young boy touched my heart and one day as a teacher, I hope that if I notice bullying going on in my classroom I can stop it before it becomes a serious problem.

Another story that I found very interesting was the adolescent boy Cam and his mother who was very involved in the community. Cam was very mad at his mom for what he did and while I was watching the movie I tried to put myself in his shoes and think of how I would feel. My first instinct was that I totally agreed with Cam and thought his mother was crazy but as I thought about it I saw a different side to it, his moms side. I am not sure how I would feel as a mother but I could understand how she was worried and concerned and how she was looking out for other mothers.

Overall, I found this movie very interesting and full of information. I was able to observe various aspects of adolescents and how they view the Internet. I feel that technology is an important part of an adolescent’s life and if used properly could be very educational and helpful in their studies.

Growing up online--problems and risks

2011-04-17T13:23:00.005-07:00

By Norvichi Northover
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The movie Growing up Online was informative because it opened my eyes up to the reality of how addicted today's adolescents are to technology. Technology itself is a valuable resource that has greatly impacted society, but adolescents abuse it and it is causing damage to many students lives. Adolescents are always mainly concerned with keeping up with their social lives and making sure their friends can always get in touch with them. Many of the students in the movie shared that they can connect with a community of people who may be non - judgmental, friendly, and allow them to freely express themselves. They crave and enjoy the attention they get from their various online communities. Many adolescents actually stated that they feel incomplete, and as though something is missing from their daily routine if they do not go online to talk to their friends and visit their profile pages on facebook, myspace, or other social networks.

Due to the fact that the current generation of teenagers in high school are growing up online, they are equipped with the capabilities and intellect of how to Manage all their computer programs and optimize their use of the world wide web. They outsmart their parents when it comes to computer literacy and that is why many parents are clueless if the life their children lead online. The stories about the little boy who committed suicide For being cyber-bullied and teased constantly, and the girl who has an eating disorder and seemed advice from a fake person and people she didn't know was very sad in my opinion. These teens were crying out for help, but no one knew the internalized burden and pain they kept a secret because they were always stuck in front of the computer getting indirect and mostly negative responses. These two young people along with many other adolescents would rather be silent about their problems, or talk to strangers online rather than their own parents. Young people should feel comfortable enough to talk to their parents about serious life threatening issues such as the ones these two teens were keeping bottled up inside.

The Internet is a massive, powerful, and sometimes scary place that naive adolescents can get hurt through, if their usage of the internet is not monitored in some way.Parents and teachers should monitor students usage, but not be too controlling of their usage and just be a source of guidance to students. They need their space to express themselves freely without their parents and teachers constantly hovering over their shoulders. As the movie addressed, this transcending epidemic of Growing Up Online is not going to disappear because it is a way for students to socialize and express themselves. Parents and Teachers then have the responsibility to be mindful of adolescents usage, and inform them of safety precautions they should practice when using the Internet. Keeping a line of communication open between parents, teachers, and adolescents, will allow students to feel comfortable to discuss any issues they have pertaining to their online world.

Growing up online-Understanding impact of technology on adolescents

2011-04-17T13:23:00.003-07:00

By Santiago Gomez
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The movie growing up online was really interesting because it showed clear examples of how the lives of adolescents are getting influenced by the internet. While the documentary exposed at the same time the positive and the negative effects of technology on today’s youth, it is necessary to point out that it was a really well developed production. Thanks to the information presented in the movie, we got to see how the internet and other forms of technology may be used to improve the quality of education; nevertheless, the stories of those families whose kids have been influenced negatively by the web prove that the excessive use of the internet may potentially affect some adolescents. Although I agree that technology facilitates teaching, learning and even communicating with others in more efficient manners, I also believe that cases such as those of “Autum Etos” and the little kid that killed himself because of cyber bullying reveal the many issues that come from allowing adolescents to get absorbed by the many new forms of media. While it is necessary to accept that the growth of the internet is inevitable and that there are more positive aspects to it than negative ones, I think that our youth needs to be much more informed about the risks of using the web in an reckless manner.

Growing up online-Understanding impact of technology on adolescents

2011-04-17T13:23:00.001-07:00

By Brittany Greene
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I found the movie Growing Up Online very interesting. One of the teachers that were interviewed explained how she wasn’t familiar with all the technology used in her classroom. She also explained how her students needed to help her figure out some of the gadgets. This made me think of my experience working at a day camp over the summer. I’m a bus counselor (I just keep track of the kids on the bus and make sure everyone is okay and having fun) and I like to play music on my speakers from my iTouch so the kids can listen and sing along. I made a bus playlist and would put it on shuffle so the music playing were all clean and appropriate songs. I also allowed the kids to hold my speakers (they thought it was the coolest thing), after the first week I realized the kids knew how to change the songs and change the playlists! I understood that the kids from ages ten and up could figure it out, but not my five year olds! They’re so young and knew how to work the thing better than I can! I had to make sure I set some rules with the iTouch after that because I didn’t want them to hear music that wasn’t suitable for their ears! Experiencing this definitely showed me that kids just have a way with technology and I feel that it’s going to become more and more natural for kids to know how to work technology.

Growing up online--cyber world

2011-04-17T13:22:00.013-07:00

By Cinthia Grimm
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

In tonight’s class, it was very interesting to come up with solutions for the mother who returned to school and was having trouble with her eldest daughter. I think that for sure some of the motivational theories would work better than others, but I think what we all finally came up with was probably a combination of all of them. The biggest issue, the daughter spending all her time on the computer and in front of the TV, I think is what one of the major problems is with today’s youth. We have become so entrenched in technology that we forget all other forms of work or play. When I went to school, once we came home we had to do homework and then were told to “go outside and play.” We’d be called in at dinner time and then, if it was still light out, we could go back outside and play with our neighborhood friends. This girl has totally substituted cyber world for her real world.

Many of today’s children “speak” more to their friends over social media than they do face to face. In my observations, I’ve noticed students actually carrying their cell phones in their hand; they are used literally so frequently that they cannot even be put in a pocket. These students are not appreciating the moment they are in; they always need to text someone else, even when their friend is standing right next to them talking! I think this mother should definitely take away the facebook account, although enforcing that will be impossible unless she is able to watch her at all times. She needs to regain her daughter’s trust by spending time with her so that she may then choose to get rid of her own facebook, based on her respect for her mother’s judgment.

Growing up online--problems and risks

2011-04-17T13:22:00.011-07:00

By Dominique Serpico
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Today’s class we watched a movie about technology and the involvement of parents. I really enjoyed watching this video because it shows the different complications and challenges parents have monitoring their children on the Internet or cell phones. Many of the kids in the video admitted to being different then who they actually are in person then when on the Internet. This was hard to hear because I feel pain for the people who cannot be himself or herself either because of fear, shame, or insecurity. Parents try to monitor kids on the Internet all the time, but how far is to far in this world of infinite information? For example one parent kept the computer in the kitchen to watch every website that was accessed by her kids. This same parent also sent out a chain letter to all the parents in the district about the violence that occurs in the schools. I feel this is very extreme, but somewhat necessary because there are parents who are not aware of what is going on. Unfortunately, this woman’s son was now the subject of humiliation because his mom ruined some other kids free times.

It is hard for a parent to get involved in the life of a child because there is so much secrecy the child does not want to share. However, the parent has to choose between the rock and the hard place in order to make a point to get involved. This could possibly prevent much harm, especially suicide like the middle school student in the video. Watching this specific case broke my heart because the student even confronted his parent about the fighting and the message was not translated to the parent properly. If only the parents would have not allowed the computer in this young boys room, or even spoke to the teachers or him about what was going on in school, he would still be alive. I strongly believe parents should educate their children about what is “right” and what is “wrong” in other words the appropriate use of the Internet. Schools and teachers should also focus on this as well and try and pay attention to different signs of harm or bullying. Adolescents should be proud of who they are and realize it is ok to be different then their peers. As a future educator I hope to help these adolescents accept themselves and even try to help others.

Growing up online: How much control do they need

2011-04-17T13:22:00.009-07:00

By Keith Miller
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I thought that the movie growing up online was very interesting and very true in regards to adolescents in today’s society. I thought it was really interesting to get a glimpse of the lives of different teenagers, and how they all use the Internet. I thought it was interesting that although they all used the Internet, they all for the most part used it in a negative way. Both of the girls that they showed in the movie both used the Internet in a negative way, but both thought that what they were doing was positive. Even though they lived at home with their family, both of these girls managed to have secret lives that were all online. This is a perfect example of how the parents were not paying enough attention to what their kids were doing online. Even after the girls father found out about the pictures her daughter was posting on the net, she went right back to what she was doing and it seemed as though her parents had no problem with it.

The other mother that appeared throughout the film however was way to controlling with her children. I understand that she wants to be a good parent, and she wants to protect her children from harm, but she is a prime example of being way to overbearing. I don’t think it is necessary for your parents to know everything that goes on in your life. I understand that parents should know about the important things, but there is no reason why this mother should know what her children are talking about to their friends. It is obvious that she raised good children, who probably make good decisions because of the way that they were raised. What this mother does not realize is that she is pushing her kids away, and is eventually going to cause them to become very angry with her. I think that if she went about things differently, and showed her kids that she trusts them, they might be more reluctant to share what is going on in their lives.

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

2011-04-17T13:22:00.007-07:00

By UKP
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Although I was unable to make it to today's class I heard that the debate got pretty intense and I am actually upset that I missed it. In terms of technology being a negative or positive influence I am not sure which side I would choose because I feel that there are aspects of it that can fit into each category. Technology has opened so many doors as a whole for our generation, it has made things such as research and communication much easier but it has also taken away from the social aspect of growing up. Children growing up nowadays are much more separated in terms of socialization than years ago because of the artificiality that technology brings to communication. Children don't need to have play dates anymore, they can talk on webcams, or on an instant messaging program.

Studies have shown that the heavy influence of technology on our culture has made our generation less socialized than previous ones because of this very fact that it has turned into all that we know and all that we do. It is unheard of for someone to not have a cellphone, and if you do have one you are judged if it is just a typical cellphone and not a smart phone, people are attached to these machines 24 hours a day 7 days a week, often becoming anxious if they are not in the presence of it. It has become a sick attachment but at the same time it is beneficial in many ways. Yes, it is convenient to have the web at your finger tips at any given point in time but it also is not exactly necessary yet some people believe that it is.

Our generation has become dependent on technology and I believe that it is an unhealthy dependence because many of the things we deem necessary to use technology for could easily be done in other ways. Books are rarely used anymore, they are being replaced by computers, which can lead to problems with eye sight in the future as well as poor literacy skills or library skills. Teachers have been finding papers with students using "u" instead of the whole word "you" and "wanna" instead of "want to" and other silly mistakes like that because kids are so used to talking to one another on line that they don't realize when they are doing it or even worse, they may not even realize that it is grammatically incorrect.

The use of technology as a device of social interaction also has its good/bad qualities: good because it is easy but it also can be harmful because you never know who is on the other side of that device. Technology can be a breeding ground for predators and you will never be able to know if you are talking to them, therefore it can be very unsafe if there is no protection on the computer or if you are not careful who you speak with. Computers hold a ton of personal information and some people are so obsessed with technology that they know how to do things such as hacking into another computer's hard drive which could lead to a bunch of terrible things such as identity theft, stalking, abduction, etc.

I believe that technology is good in moderation, that children should be able to go on the computer or have a cell phone in order to gain a feeling of independence from their parents but at the same time it should be limited. Before the age of 17 or 18 I believe a child lock should be put on the internet so that they can't come across anything that may be inappropriate for them to see and you can monitor who they are communicating with and when.

My ideal classroom

2011-04-17T13:22:00.001-07:00

By Mimi Nissim
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

From today’s class, I realized how important it will be for me as a teacher to motivate my students and do whatever it takes to grab their attention in class. From day one of class, it will be my responsibility to get to know each one of my students. By gaining more knowledge about who they are, it will help me become a better teacher for them and also a better motivator. My classroom should be an environment in which all my students feel comfortable and feel warmth. Students spend six hours a day at school and the classroom should be some place where they can always feel safe and secure. My role as a teacher should be to know my students interests and try to develop them.

Also, I must try to expose them and introduce them to new and interesting ideas that they may enjoy. For teachers, the hardest part is probably finding the best way to engage your students and motivate them to learn. If we are able to excite them and draw their attention, then they will get the most out of their education.

Different methods can be used to motivate students. Teachers have always used different point systems, such as charts, stickers, or earning marbles in the jar. In my opinion, positive reinforcement is always helpful in getting students to work harder in order to achieve those rewards. The difficulty comes about when you do not offer the rewards but want them to be motivated to learn. The best way would be to do hands on activities that will make the students into active participants in the learning process. I also believe that doing group discussions and projects are also very beneficial. Day after day, teachers must create exciting and captivating lesson plans that will teach the students the curriculum but also motivate them to learn. If the motivation is not there, the student will never succeed and will stop caring about learning. Teachers have this huge responsibility to not only teach but to also persuade the students to learn.

My ideal classroom…..I would familiarize myself with all my students and get to know them as much as possible. I would create unique and fun lessons that they will enjoy. I will motivate them each day to work harder towards their goals and strive to do the best they can. Looking forward to those days, I am very excited to have such an opportunity to impact young kids and make a difference in their lives. The responsibility may feel huge, but the reward is well worth it.

Motivating students by supporting their dreams

2011-04-17T13:21:00.017-07:00

By Mimi Nissim
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

October Sky is a movie that I have never seen or even heard of before. After today's class however, I am very glad that I was given the opportunity to watch such an inspiring movie. Nowadays, we just go to the movies, sit in a dark theatre for two hours, eat some popcorn, and watch a movie. That movie could make us laugh or cry or scare us to death. The point being to just go and watch a movie and forget about the outside world and think only of the movie. In the case of October Sky, for two hours we are engulfed in the world of Homer Hickam working hard and pushing forward to achieve his goals. He has a dream to build and fly rockets successfully and he would not quit no matter what stood in his way. His father, his ultimate hero, does nothing to show support but rather dissuades him from pursuing his dreams. All Homer hears from his father is that he is wasting his time and he should be realistic about his future as a coal miner.

Thankfully, Homer had the support of a wonderful teacher, Ms. Riley, that would motivate him to never quit and to push forward through all the obstacles. No matter what others felt about his dream, Homer had one goal in mind and he was set to do whatever it took to achieve greatness. He wanted more from his life and he knew that in order to escape his small town in Virginia, he would need to work extra hard to earn a scholarship to college. The rocket was just a means to an end to take him down that path and allow him the freedom to pursue his dream to go to college. In the end, his hard work and dedication earned him the respect and recognition that he so desired from everyone, especially his father.

If we lived in a perfect world, I would say that Homer's father should have been more supportive of his son's dreams. Unfortunately, he was just being realistic and felt that in the end his son would just end up a coal miner like he was and so are all the other men in the town. Homer's father never had a way to escape and he expected the same fate to fall upon his son. Thankfully, in the end, he realized that his son could go far and he needed his help to get there. He supported his son and did whatever he could to help him with his rocket. The support from his father meant so much to Homer and it was all he wanted from him. It shows how important it is to motivate your children and support their dreams. The worst thing a parent could do is to push their children down and tell them that they can not achieve something. That negativity could prevent them from ever going after what they want and they will lose all their motivation to succeed in life. Parents and teachers must be there to show support and push children to move forward.

I hope to one day sit down with my own children and watch October Sky with them as a family. I will make sure that they understand the real story behind the movie. Homer had a dream and he did whatever he had to do to accomplish that dream. With his hard work and devotion to rocket building, he was able to succeed and change his fate. Each step of the way, he was motivated to work hard and get his ticket out of that small town. My own children will someday have dreams of their own and they must work hard to get where they want to be in life. I know that I will be right there to push them forward and make all their dreams come true. Without motivation and hard work, we will never get anywhere in life.

Motivation in October Sky

2011-04-17T13:21:00.015-07:00

By Samantha Treiber
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I really liked the movie October Sky. I found it to be extremely interesting especially about the topic motivation. I had seen the movie before for my physics class in high school. But I felt like it was a great movie to really show motivation. In the movie many things in his environment motivated the main character, Homer, and they truly effected his actions. For one his father didn’t approve of his work and Homer really felt like he could not be another coal miner and that was hard for the father to hear since coal mining was his life. His father really wasn’t a direct motivator. Homer basically did not want to become his father so that motivated him even more to try and get away from the coal mining. I thought the relationship was very hard for both of them because they both had strong ideas about one another’s actions. However, this just motivated Homer even more to strive to be different and do what he loved to do.

I also liked the relationship between Homer and the teacher Ms. Riley. I found that her love for her job and to teach students and have them strive to be the best was great. I really hope that I could motivate students one day like her. Homer and his friends would of not strived to do well unless the teacher put something out there, the science fair and eventually college, out there to them. She gave them opportunities that others in the town shot down because everyone was in the coal-mining world. She saw outside the little town and the boys all saw that there were things and dreams outside of becoming a coal worker.

Rethinking "moral"

2011-04-17T13:21:00.005-07:00

By Gianna Suppa
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

“Moral” is a word that I find very hard to define. As a class we agreed that being “moral” or having “moral” behaviors is know what is right or wrong. Who decides what is right or wrong? We also agreed as a class that what is “moral” is created by society but can be perceived differently from everybody. We discussed if it is immoral for a man to steal milk if he has a baby at home? Personally, I believe that he is doing what he has to do for his family and such an action is not immoral if this man is not lazy and has a job. It is a completely different story if he does not have a job because he does not want to work and then steels. After our class debated this for a while I realized that “moral” was a harder word to define then I thought originally.

I thought to myself do adolescents know what “moral” is? As a future teacher, I hope that my students are instilled with basic values and qualities to better society such as being kind, generous, loyal, hardworking, and trustworthy, etc. I feel that all adolescents could be capable of having such values if they were brought up in a safe and caring environment and had a role model in their lives. The role of a role model I feel plays a big part in adolescents doing the right thing, because if you don’t have anyone to tell you what you are doing or may do is wrong, then how will you know?

I consider myself to be a pretty moral person but I feel that everyone is human and makes mistakes sometimes. I would not say that I have never done something that is not immoral but if I did do something immoral, I could look back as an adult now and understand why what I did was wrong. As an adolescent I believe you learn from your mistakes and experiences so if you do something immoral it is a lesson for you in the future. Overall, I enjoyed our lecture and discussion in today’s class and I feel it helped to give me a better outlook on being “moral” and what “moral” actually means to today’s adolescents.

Growing up as a girl

2011-04-17T13:21:00.003-07:00

By Gianna Suppa
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Growing up, I was always a “girlie girlie” and as I became an adult I kept the same habits. I always loved dressing up and getting ready to go places but at the same time was athletic. I played a sport every quarter in middle school and highschool and played lacrosse since I was in elementary school. Overall, I would say I had a very positive experience growing up with a lot of support and encouragement from my family. My parents were always there if I needed something but would let me be independent and do my own thing unless I asked otherwise.

I feel that throughout elementary school, girls are asked to be “ girls”, therefore play with the kitchen and home set during indoor recess, sit properly, act like a girl, talk like a girl, etc. As you reached middle school and high school you were allowed to express yourself more how you wanted but you always had to keep the image that girls were suppose to have. For example in girls lacrosse we wore skirts while we played and were not allowed to be as physical as the boys were. I don’t feel that anyone in particular sends out these messages more than society, media is also a big part of gender differences and stating how a girl or boy should be acting or behaving.

Growing up, I always liked being a girl so did not have that much of a problem with it but I am sure there were others that did. Besides playing sports and playing with the boys for the most part I was a girl to the fullest.

As a teacher, I feel that you should be neutral and accepting to what students behave like. If you have a girl in the class that dresses like a tom-boy you should not put her down or look upon her differently, I feel this is an expression of creativity and all children experience it at one point in their lives. In my opinion it is very crucial for a teacher to be understanding and accepting of all her students no matter what they look like or act like.

Tough Guise—Redefine “man”

2011-04-03T18:31:00.009-07:00

By Melissa Brewi
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Today I went into class excited about the gender activity I had heard we were going to be participating in. At first I was a bit confused as to what was expected of the two groups but once we got a hang of it I feel like us girls did a great job in listing characteristics of women, both stereo-typical as well as individual to women as the times continue to change. I think it would have made the activity a bit more interesting if both sexes were asked to make lists of characteristics of both men and women in order to see what the opposite genders think of each other.

The question asking activity that followed the presentation of our boards was also interesting, it caused quite a debate among the two groups and it was just interesting to see what guys perceived as strange and weird for them is something completely normal for us such as wearing a different dress to several different occasions rather than wearing the same one over and over. And vice versa, we asked the boys why they never liked to show emotion or cry where as us girls wear our emotions on our sleeves half the time-- the boys couldn't really think of a correct answer for this question, they just kept repeating that they just don't cry or that it takes something really serious to make them show emotion like that. We found that this is probably part biological but mostly instilled throuh out a young boy's childhood by their parents enforcing the idea that "big boys" or "good boys" don't cry.

When I was a child my parents didn't really attempt to instill a gender role on us when we were old enough to decipher how we felt ourselves, of course when me and my sister were very young my mother took enjoyment of dressing us up in matching dresses or outfits when we would go out because of the similarity in age and we didn't mind it at the time. Although as we aged, my sister strayed away from the girly girl lifestyle and became my father's little tomboy wanting to fulfill his desire of the son he never had... she played all the sports, got short hair cuts, wore baggy clothing-- everything you picture when you think of a tomboy that was my sister in grammar school. My mother let her do what she wanted to do, she never discouraged her and my father never pushed her to continue her life this way it was her choice and they allowed her to act and dress the way she was most comfortable with. Where as I on the other hand, never really went through a tomboy stage... when I was in about 4th grade and just begining to figure out my own identity the first thing I tried to do was be a tomboy because I had witnessed my sister act this way for many years but it did not work as well for me. But still, although the countless failed attempts of making one of the sports teams my parents never tried telling me that maybe sports weren't my thing, or pointing me in another direction rather they let me try it for as long as I desired until I figured out on my own that it wasn't meant for me and finally discovered my own identity.

When growing up as an adolescent it can be difficult to develop your own identity with all of the gender stereotypes that you have been exposed to throughout your childhood it can lead some children away from assimilating with the norms or can cause some to think past their true identity or feelings and act in such a way simply because they know that is what is expected of them rather than what makes them happy. For myself, I was never really affected by the gender stereotypes because my family isn't a stereotypical family to begin with... both of my parents are successful business people equally contributing to our family income, decisions were made as a family or okayed by both parents rather than the typical alpha male household where whatever the dad says goes. My parents truly instilled the idea of gender equality onto me and my sister throughout our childhood which gave us both the opportunity to develop our own identities adhering to some gender stereotypes but not those which are seen as traditional and are practiced less and less these days.

As teachers I believe that in order to ensure that both adolescent genders reach their full potentials in learning we must treat both genders as equals in every aspect of the classroom. Not only in what is expected of them academically, but also in ways of instruction as well. Typically, teachers have been known to allow boys to roughhouse or call out more in the classroom because it is part of their "nature" and if girls were to get a bit out of hand they are immediately scolded.. this insinuates lower expectations for boys than girls. If this were to change so that with each outburst of every student they are punished the same way then there would be absolutely no gender stereotyping in the classroom and this could ensure that both genders have an equal opportunity to reach their full potential in learning.

Tough Guise—Exploring male identity

2011-04-03T18:31:00.007-07:00

By Ralph Miranda
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

In Thursday’s class we watched the documentary Tough Guise. The narrator discussed how young adolescent males are easily influenced by images they see in the media (movies, famous sports figures, etc.), and was essentially blaming the media for poor behavior by males. I have several problems with this theory. First off, I will agree that young adolescents are influenced by their surrounding environment; there is no denying that. But what the narrator fails to realize is that adolescents don’t have the capacity to control or limit their environment, and that it is the parent or guardians responsibility to make sure that their son isn’t watching inappropriate programming. His argument that it’s the media’s fault for the violent tendencies of males, as far as I’m concerned, is completely invalid and he should consider the role of the parents in this epidemic.

I’m not denying that there are inappropriate shows on TV today, movies in the theaters, and violent sports programs. But there are clear disclaimers at the start of any TV show or sporting event, and movies have a strict rating system that tells the viewer exactly why that movie got an “R” rating. I agree with the narrator that if a 12 or 13 year old boy saw a violent R rated movie that he could very well be influenced by that movie. But what the narrator fails to discuss is how the 12 or 13 year old has no business seeing that movie. What he really needs to consider is the irresponsible parenting and to stop putting the blame on the movie makers.

Another issue the narrator brought up was how aggressive sports are influencing young males. He cited fighting in sports like hockey, football, and baseball and how they are setting a poor example for these boys. I can see his argument for hockey because there is a lot of fighting that goes on during a hockey game, but football and baseball? Football is a naturally aggressive sport, and in baseball there are roughly 300 games played every month and there are at most three “fights.” He also discussed how coaches are often times too rough/aggressive with their players. This man has clearly never played any competitive sports because had he known what it’s like to be in the heat of the moment he would realize that the coach is simply trying to motivate his players to push themselves harder so they can win.

Although I understand the point the narrator was trying to make, I can’t agree with him on the majority of the issues he brought up. I believe with proper parental control the media will not and cannot influence an adolescent to such a violent and destructive way of life.

Impact of technology on adolescents: It is all about control

2011-04-03T18:31:00.005-07:00

By Ralph Miranda
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I really enjoyed yesterday’s debate on whether technology was positively or negatively impacting adolescents. Even thought I was on the positive side of the debate I could have gone either way on this controversial issue. I recognize that with the new technologies there is a greater chance that adolescents will become distracted and want to use said technologies, but new technology itself is not to blame for an adolescent’s inattention.

The basis of our argument was that when technology is used appropriately it is a very beneficial ally; anyone who uses some form of technology recognizes how beneficial it is. As part of their maturing process, adolescents push limits. It’s not a secret, hence why it is important for parents/guardians to monitor and limit their child’s exposure to technological devices. The negative team countered this argument saying that parents are busy enough and they can’t be bothered to watch their child when they are on the computer. In my view, a parent who isn’t willing to monitor their child while they are surfing the web or playing a video game should do one of two things: they should either not have a child, or they shouldn’t allow their child to use computers and video games.

Even though this sounds extreme I don’t think I feel like it’s the only solution, because if adolescents aren’t monitored they can and will become addicted. But to blame technology for poor adolescent behavior is like someone blaming a donut shop for being obese. The bottom line with this issue is that it’s about control, monitoring, and regulation; anything in moderation is acceptable.

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

2011-04-03T18:31:00.003-07:00

By Nivischi Northover
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The technology debate that was done in class today was very fun and also informative. When we were first asked to choose a side whether negative or positive that technology has on adolescents I immediately picked negative because, I felt that because of how adolescents use technology today it has a more negative than positive impact on them.

As the debate got underway and began to get more heated, I thought I should have chosen the positive side because I realized technology is not to blame for negative effects, but rather how it is being used and who it is being used by. Although my team came up with many examples of how adolescents negatively use technology, and the inappropriate use of it causes destruction on their behalf, technology is innocent and is not to be blamed for the inappropriate use. Technology is actually a great asset that has impacted the world in a great way and had enabled news, medical care, and other areas to be more advanced and benefit people in a very positive way.The positive team gave a more realistic reasoning as to why technology has a positive impact on students.

I changed my mind about technology having a negative impact on adolescents when someone from the positive team stated that technology has a positive impact because it enables students with disabilities to have equipment that helps them work to the best of their ability. For example, for autistic students and other students with various types of disabilities, their is a speaking note pad device that wa invented to help them communicate with others and get their message across. Without technology, certain people with disabilities may never have had the opportunity to be productive people in society. Technology gives disabled students their livelihood, which by itself in my opinion is the greatest reason why technology has a positive impact on students. It is a wonderful asset for those students.

Technology also has a positive impact on adolescents because of the ease of how quickly they are able to access any information online. It is the teachers responsibility as well as parents to teach and guide students in the proper way to use the internet, and not to abuse the usage of the internet. When adolescents know how to correctly research information, and not spend useless hours on the internet for no valuable reason, technology will always be an important tool they can use that will have a positive impact on them. Teachers and parents have to monitor the proper use of technology for adolescents and with that guidance, they won't be exposed to too many negative things on the internet and they will know what information is necessary and what is unnecessary. As a new teacher, I will make certain that I have informative lessons on how to properly use the internet and other technological sources that adolescents use. This way I know that my students will be able to know what information is valuable, and what isn't on the internet.

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

2011-04-03T18:31:00.001-07:00

By Melissa Yonelunas
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The debate today on whether technology had a positive or a negative effect on adolescents was a lot of fun. I almost wish we had more time to discuss the different aspects of it because there is so much to talk about, and I feel that we only started to scratch the surface with our discussion.

The one point that kept coming up during the debate was this idea of parents allowing their children to abuse technology. While technology itself opens the door to so many opportunities, like anything else, the misuse of it can be devastating. Not only with things like cyber-bullying, or the fear of inappropriate media being accessed, but also things like kids not going outside as much, not socializing with friends on a face to face basis, or leaving too much information out on the web for anyone to see. I think a lot of what we were saying about the negative effects of technology had to do with this idea that technology can, and is, being used as a babysitter.

Parents, who are so busy and have so much to do, see technology as a form of entertainment for their children. They allow them to have the latest games, IPods, or computers because they keep the children occupied and out of their hair. There is nothing wrong with wanting some time child free to get things accomplished, but parents can not just leave kids open to the dangers that exist out there. They should be concerned with what their children are doing on the computer, or what they are watching on TV. Instead of blaming the media for exposing their children to these things, parents should be keeping an eye out on the children, and talking to them about what they are doing. Parents should check their kids’ facebooks and see what is going on. They should listen in on their kids as they play games online with their friends and see what is being said. They can’t just allow their children to do whatever they please and then blame anything bad that results on the technology being used.

I also think parents need to balance the amount of time kids spend in front of a TV or computer screen, with the amount of time they go out or do other things. As I mentioned in class, the kids I babysit know that they get an hour a day for TV or video games and that is it. All of them love to read or to be outside. They are still active and intelligent. It goes to show that proper parenting, and a healthy dose of technology, can be a healthy balance for children. When parents take the time to teach their children how to use technology in a productive way, the less of a chance the child will abuse the power they have at their fingertips as they grow up.

Impact of technology on adolescents-The great debate

2011-04-03T18:30:00.027-07:00

By Jasmine Semo-sethi
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

Today’s class was very interesting. I thought it was a great debate to talk about how technology impacts our world, especially for adolescents. Of course technology has its negatives and positives. For example it distracts them because when they need to use the computer for homework, they start to do the work but then their mind span just automatically wanders. They go off looking at other things whether it’s chatting with friend on Facebook or twitter, shopping online, watching programs or anything.

The point is that they get very distracted with things and they don’t get their work done on time or at all due to laziness also. Another reason for why it can be a negative thing is because students can abuse the tool too much. Being on the computer too long can cut down from being social and being creative. Instead of doing something productive like writing a book, doing homework on the books, fixing your room or anything students are stuck on the computer wasting their time because they “ find nothing else to do”. That is where the creativity comes in that they must learn how to look for. Cell phones are another huge distraction. Cell phones are destroying the adolescent world because all they do is text. They are always on it not knowing what is going on around them making them oblivious to the world. They way they text and the slang they use is so repetitive and common that they forget how to write formally sometimes when it comes to school work.

The positive impact is that anything can be looked up on the computer to help students with their work. Scholarly articles, videos, online news, and many other things can be searched for. The internet is also important and essential in general to be able to email professors and anyone else for anything. It isn’t the same thing to emailing than to confront someone in person but for time purposes, it helps to communicate faster. Cell phones are helpful also to make emergency calls or to get in touch with parents to make sure their children are safe. Technology for students with special need is not important, rather vital for them. Students with disabilities need technology to succeed and move forward in life for school or even working to maintain themselves.

I enjoyed the debate. Both teams got to defend their perspectives in respect to the topic. I think we all did well and we really juiced out the subject. In general, I believe technology has advanced, improved and it will always keep improving and advancing. There is nothing too bad about it, it just needs to be known how to use it and used in moderation. Too much can be too bad; it has its limits.

Impact of Technology on Adolescents—The great debate

2011-04-03T18:30:00.025-07:00

By Santiago Gomez
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The technology debate was a very meaningful activity because it helped me and my classmates to discuss different perspectives about the influence of technology on adolescents. Although I had decided to go against technology, arguing that it causes youth to get easily distracted, procrastinate and have access to sources of information that they should not be exposed to, I ended up realizing that in the end the positive effects of technology overcome the negative ones.

Due to the fact that I changed my mind about my position on the very beginning of the debate, I hesitated to participate and I felt as if I had made a terrible mistake picking the “against technology” side deliberately. Since I knew that I didn’t really have a lot to say about the negative effects of technology, besides re-emphasizing what my teammates had already said, I choose to stay quiet rather than contradicting my own thoughts, nevertheless I learned a lot from the activity.

I think the debate was well conducted and that all my classmates followed the rules really well. I really liked the fact that everybody was respectful and that the judges were allowed to provide their own opinions. By listening to my classmates and their different points of view I got to improve my understanding of the role of technology in the lives of modern youth. In the end, I discovered that technology, if used wisely, may provide adolescents with truly significant opportunities for learning.

Using technology to teach math

2011-04-03T18:30:00.023-07:00

By Brittany Greene
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The main device we use in math classes is the graphing calculator. I think this tool is wonderful and should be used, but I do think students should learn how to compute problems by hand. I know many people (who are in math classes) that can’t do simple addition, subtraction, division and multiplication of integers and need his/her calculator to solve problems. I’ve also seen students have difficulty graphing a simple parabola by hand because they’re so used to just hitting the “y = “ button and then punching in the function. I think it’s very important for teachers to teach students how to do the problems by hand first (and give them practice examples), and then teach them how to use the calculator to solve.

I have a professor now who won’t let us use our calculators on tests. He makes the problems doable, but of course there is quite a bit of algebra involved and you’d be surprised at how many people will mess up the simplest add and subtracting of integers since they can’t t rely on their calculator. It’s the previous teachers that are really harming us with allowing us to depend on our calculators to do all the work. Therefore, for the math classes I will teach in the future I won’t allow my students to rely so heavily on calculators and I will make sure they understand the material on their own.

I would also love to use a SMARTboard in my classroom; I know all the schools don’t have them yet, but I would really love to have it for my classes. They’re so beneficial in the math classes; I’ve seen wonderful things done on it in the semesters of observing. I’ve seen TI- SmartView, which is a giant graphing calculator on the SMARTboard and it’s interactive, so the teacher or a student can type on it. This helps students follow along with how to use the calculator. SMARTboard is also very helpful in designing triangle or circle proofs. I really enjoy the technology used in math classes; I find it all very fascinating, but I do think the technology needs to be used appropriately because it can take away from the students overall understanding of the material.

Impact of technology—the great debate

2011-04-03T18:30:00.021-07:00

By Dennis Essig
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

The technology debate was about whether or not technology is good or bad. I personally feel that it is a debatable topic, and that’s probably why we were going to have the debate. There are many positive reasons to have technology and there are the draw backs that sometimes make it not worth it.

I feel it is positive in the classroom because students need to learn the use and implication of the technology when they go into the “real world.” It’s also important because it gives them access to just about anything they could ever have questions about by using the internet. There are also so many technological resources for teachers that make learning more fun and engaging for the students. Teachers can use a smart board or and overhead projector to display fun review games like family feud or jeopardy. I have also herd teachers saying that the student’s love the opportunity to use the smart board because they can write on it answering questions and it’s like a digital toy almost to some kids.

Technology is also good because it can be used for different activities like web quests, online homework, online review, it also allows quicker communication between teacher and parents, students and administration. Students love to be on the computer and if they are given assignments that they can use the computer to complete they will be more likely to do it since they are already on the computer anyway after school. Having a review session or review blogging online the students can ask questions and answer them for each other so they are working with each other to clarify material. The teacher will need to monitor and make sure students are on the right track and if they’re not they just need to correct them or ask them questions to guide them in the right direction.

Technology can be bad in that is can fail. As a teacher you always need to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong. You also need to make sure students are using it appropriately because there is so much good content available online but there is also a lot of bad or misinformation available. Students can also be distracted by technology because they are too fascinated with the “cool new thing” as opposed to paying attention to the content the teacher is presenting using it. Some student will view the smart board as a toy and only want to use it because they want to play not learn from it.

In my opinion there are more benefits to technology and the benefits most definitely outweigh the negatives of using it. It’s just important to make sure the students are using it for its intended educational purpose and it will only strengthen the way they learn. In my teaching I plan to use technology to help motivate my student’s. I want to create lab activities where students can model and demonstrate different plate boundaries. Depending on their computer skills I will use different programs to do this such as paint, Photoshop, flash, or Dreamweaver.

Growing up online—how much control should parents have?

2011-04-03T18:30:00.019-07:00

By Ralph Miranda
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I enjoyed watching Growing up Online yesterday. I thought the movie did a good job citing the issues that adolescents deal with on the internet on a daily basis. They discussed issues like cyber bullying, and websites that promote things like suicide and anorexia. The film also dedicated a large portion to how parents can get involved in monitoring what their child does on the internet.

I have made my position very clear on this issue. I believe that it is necessary for parents to know what their children are doing on the internet. If they cannot reign over their child’s internet use, they should have blocks on certain sites, or not allow their son/daughter to use the internet at all. Even thought I think parental involvement is important, the mother in Growing up Online crossed the line on what any parent should do.

The mother in the film had a very strict internet policy with her 17 year old son. She only allowed one computer in the house and it was just outside the kitchen so she would be able to keep a close eye on what he was looking at. She found out that there were pictures of her son and many other students drunk circulating on Facebook she thought that it was her “duty” as president of the Parent/Teacher organization to e-mail the parents of the senior class.

Like I’ve previously stated, I think parents need to be involved with what their children are doing on the internet, but this mother was completely out of line. Her only responsibility is to watch over her son. She might be the president of the “PSO” but that doesn’t make her the commissioner of the parent police department. Parents don’t need to hear from other parents what their child is doing; they usually aren’t that naïve, and if they don’t know they’ll find out eventually. Not only was she out of line in e-mailing the other parents, but she caused an unnecessary amount of humiliation for her son. I can’t even imagine being the high school senior whose mom was the one who told on the entire senior class.

Parental control over their adolescent’s internet use is a necessity. There are too many ways in which young men and women can get in trouble on the internet so they need their parents to guide them in proper internet use. But when parenting borders on obnoxious and embarrasses your child there is something wrong.

Moral development of adolescents: What, how, and why?

2011-04-03T18:30:00.011-07:00

By Melissa Brewi
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

To me, I believe that moral behavior is treating others how you would expect to be treated; with respect, care, loyalty, honesty and trust. To be morally correct we must live up to all of these standards, in order to make the world a better place and create a happier, more friendly environment for all to appreciate. To be moral is to not only be true to others, but to be true to yourself. One must be true to oneself before even considering being moral, this is the most important aspect of morality because if you can not remain true to yourself it is impossible for you to practice these things with others. I consider myself to be a moral person, I am respectful of others, loyal to my friends and family, I try to always be honest and if I find myself lying about something I can't help but to admit that I am lying and to admit to the truth. I trust very easily, maybe too easily, but that is only because I am very trustworthy myself so I expect others to be in return although that may not always be the case.

Today's adolescent behavior seems to be shifting downward in terms of morality, it seems as if morals and values are being thrown out the window now a days and it is sad to watch. People are starting to curse at a younger age, adolescents seem to be dividing into cliques more and more often and discriminating against those who do not conform to the social "norms" which they develop in their cliques. Adolescents seem to becoming meaner and meaner to each other as they age, and finding more humor in it than ever before and I believe that this is due to the lack of importance in morality. I believe that the media has something to do with this decline in morality because of the relationships that are depicted for entertainment. For example the movie "Mean Girls," kids are watching this movie and getting the idea that in order to be cool they must conform to the societal norms and if they do not then they are bound to be ridiculed, and if they do conform to these norms than they should be ridiculing those who are not.

BehavCogHum Approach to Teaching

2011-04-03T18:30:00.001-07:00

By Mimi Nissim
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

I wish there was a way to mix the behavioral, cognitive, and humanistic approach to teaching. Each approach individually seems to be so extreme but combining all three would be perfect. Personally, I only like certain aspects of each approach. In the future, I hope to create my own unique teaching style by taking bits and pieces from each and forming a new and improved teaching method. I am more of a traditional type of person so I can relate to the behavioral approach. By using positive reinforcement, I would motivate my students to promote behavioral change and I like the rewards system using stars or stickers to show them that they are doing a good job.

At the same time, the cognitive approach is also very useful in that you can relate new information to knowledge that they already know. When students see how new information in applicable to everyday life, I think it will be easier for them to understand and they learn more. It is important that they understand why things are the way they are and we as teachers must guide them through each lesson until they are able to fully grasp the new information. Finally, the humanistic approach is just common sense that all teachers must be sensitive to students needs and also feel connected to them. To create a safe and comfortable environment in the classroom is critical in the learning process. Teachers must be warm and loving to their students and truly care about them in order to be able to teach them.

Therefore, with all that being said, we have just created a new teaching approach for the future. One where teachers are kind and truly care for their students. They want to help them understand why things are the way they are and form connections to the world. Also, teachers will use positive reinforcements to reward their students and make them perform better in school because of those consequences. Basically, in a classroom, every student and every situation will vary. We can not limit ourselves to only one teaching method but we must always be ready for anything that may happen. One student may benefit with positive reinforcement while another will only respond to a kind and loving teacher. Being a teacher, or rather a good teacher, requires flexibility and knowing when to use which approach in your classroom.

Teaching as an art: Importance of flexibility in teaching

2011-04-03T18:29:00.006-07:00

By Cynthia Grimm
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

It is interesting to me how teaching styles can vary widely, yet impart the same knowledge. Our mini-lesson in class tonight also demonstrated how a lesson can seamlessly blend a cognitive, behavioral and humanistic approach. When we were discussing styles in our small group, in their totality, none of the styles seemed to fit any of us. We thought our approach would probably be more of a combination of the three. In my classroom, I’ve definitely had occasion to use a purely behavioral model for one portion of a lesson, but if the student is feeling frustrated and the information isn’t being retained, I switch to a cognitive approach to see if there’s a better way for the student to learn.

Of course, some humanistic aspects are usually employed in every lesson, especially at the Kindergarten level. This is probably the age level too where students will develop a particular learning style. If a teacher is too rigid and only uses one model, say the behavioral method, as in the video, a more cognitive student would become quickly bored and lose interest. He could start acting out and fidget due to boredom and start to be labeled as a difficult student. As teachers I think we should be open to any method that works in the classroom, and be willing to be flexible enough to change our approach as the day progresses.

In reviewing today, I think I actually moved from behaviorist (many token rewards for my student in the morning to get the day started on a good note) to cognitive (asking what he wanted his journal topic to be today and then modeling the words while we planned a good picture to go with it) and ended the day as a humanist (by the end of the day, he seemed on edge and I asked him how he was feeling and if he needed a break, so we took a walk). Sometimes what works in the morning doesn’t work in the afternoon, especially with young children tired from recess and ready to go home!

Using different teaching approach in class

2011-04-03T18:29:00.005-07:00

By Chong Liu
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

About these three instructional approaches, it's hard for me to say which I identify the most right now. The best way for me, may be the combination of all those three.

From the mini-lessons we had in class, you can see that every group was using a little bit of each of the three approaches. It's difficult to stric only to one approach today. For younger kids, praise and compliments in terms of stickers, stamps and stuff like that are definitely useful for getting them motivated,involved better.

And I have to say cognitive approach is the best way for students to learn, if we don't have to take other factors, such as emotional problems, all kinds of issues and so forth into consideration. I really give my credit to this approach for delivering pure knowledge to students. To them, everything may start to make sense.

However, we cannot ignore the fact that many reasons can lead to students losing their interests in learning.Thus, being a humanistic teacher may allow you to be aware of those situations. But from my point of view, I feel that this kind of teachers are taking too many responsibilities. If you care too much, you will get your emotion involved which may get in the way of your judgement. And also, even if you are able to give them a 40 minutes' loving and comfortable learning community, but after class, they still have to face with their real problems in their lives which you have no idea or have nothing to do with them.

In addition, teachers today are supposed to teach students not only knowledge, but also help them become a good person. So being a humanistic teacher may achieve that goal by playing a role as a counselor and friends. Nevertheless, I have my concerns. First of all, what makes you think that your value, and beliefs are worthy enough of being followed by your students? Isn't their parents' job to do this? Second of all, being a teacher doesn't mean that you are a good person or good enough to give others' advice in their life.

So, I'm confused. Other than that, I really believe that the combination of those three approaches may work if we also take the real situation into consideration.

How to give a good lesson

2011-04-03T18:29:00.003-07:00

By Samantha Treiber
College of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March, 2011

A good lesson is one that is clear and instructive. It must include an objective, the actual lesson plans and how you would assess if the child has learned the actual lesson or objective. The lesson has to be clear and be for the grade level that you are teaching. Anything too hard the children will not understand or fully get the lesson. However, the lesson should be a little challenging so the children do not dismiss the lesson as too easy. If it is a little challenging the students will most likely pay attention more.

To give a good lesson the instructions or the objective must be clear to the children and the teacher. Lessons could be creative and fun but other lessons do not have to be. You must be able to catch your student’s attention early on because otherwise they will not pay attention and it will be difficult to bring them back to attention. The lesson should be slightly difficult but easy enough for the audience to understand and comprehend. Giving a good lesson should also know if the students have actually learned what was being taught. A lesson should include a way for the teacher to know if the students understood and can go on or if they need extra time.

Greetings from the editor

2011-03-22T07:23:00.003-07:00

Journal of Classroom Teaching & Learning

Conditions that Facilitate Motivation

Flexibility in Teaching: Lessons Not Planned

Teacher Empathy and Flexibility in Teaching

Passion to teach, motivation to learn!

Anxiety: A Sneak Attack

Not Your Typical First Day

Do we need test: The great debate

Importance of behavior management for new teachers

Greetings from the editor

Table of Contents

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

Growing up online--importance of parental control

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

Growing up online--importance of communicating with adolescents

Growing up online--problems and risks

Growing up online-Understanding impact of technology on adolescents

Growing up online-Understanding impact of technology on adolescents

Growing up online--cyber world

Growing up online--problems and risks

Growing up online: How much control do they need

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

My ideal classroom

Motivating students by supporting their dreams

Motivation in October Sky

Rethinking "moral"

Growing up as a girl

Tough Guise—Redefine “man”

Tough Guise—Exploring male identity

Impact of technology on adolescents: It is all about control

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

Impact of technology on adolescents--the great debate

Impact of technology on adolescents-The great debate

Impact of Technology on Adolescents—The great debate

Using technology to teach math

Impact of technology—the great debate

Growing up online—how much control should parents have?

Moral development of adolescents: What, how, and why?

BehavCogHum Approach to Teaching

Teaching as an art: Importance of flexibility in teaching

Using different teaching approach in class

How to give a good lesson

Greetings from the editor