I think it would be a superb idea if the big-shots in the educational field could create an interactive video game or computer program that would aid in test preparation. We already know how much students love to spend their free time playing video games. Even in the article we read, kids are benefiting from this type of multi-modal integration. We have to be able to tap into the things they enjoy and focus on what helps them to learn. I remember being in elementary school and coming home to play this computer game that taught me all about math and spelling. It was fun, and though it was still difficult for me, I think it really helped me. I also remember when I got a little bit older and we started to see more computers in school, we would be allotted certain amounts of time to play educational games on them. I believe many high school students would be more apt to studying for a test, especially something like the OGT if it were, say, on their XBOX 360.
I think another way to incorporate multimodality into test preparation is to put students into groups and assign them a set of test questions for the week. As the teacher we can explain and go over everything they need to know about each set of questions. Then have each group teach their set questions to the class as a whole. I think it would help students to ask more questions if they are confused and also to feel less like they’re the only ones who don’t understand. From this we might be able to gauge where are students need the most help, and can focus some regular lessons around these areas. This is something I would incorporate into my classroom as a means of test preparation.
It seems that ever since we had our “mock” voting for president in the sixth grade, all we’ve really been focusing on in schools is standardized testing. I understand that it’s important for each state to have standards and things that every student needs to achieve. I just wish it was less about passing a test and more about how students are learning and growing. Not every student is going to be able to do well and show all they know on a test, but at the same time it isn’t helping them to cram information into their heads and expect them to regurgitate it on the test because they aren’t going to remember it or be able to use it for their future. I’m not sure what the answer is, but I wish the system would focus more on true learning and not a fill in the blank standardized test to gauge student’s knowledge.
From being in the classrooms and around students at Firestone, I had witnessed a lot of things, though most seemed normal because I’m always around my seventeen year old brother. Being in an urban school was quite different than what I was used to. It seemed that the students were more social with everyone, even those that were maybe outside their “click.” It was also apparent that school pride was important to almost every student. When I went to high school, a lot of people could care less, and it may have been in part to us not having a very good sports program, but it was still an interesting thing to see. Now at Firestone, I did notice that those who played sports were a little bit favored, especially if they were the star play, as my student was. Even during tutoring, Mr. M had said that those who had practice after school could leave and go to practice, without a second thought. It struck me because he seemed to enthusiastic about these students getting all the help they could in the little time we were together, yet if they had Track or Basketball practice, they were “excused.” I just imagined that he would have put more stress on them getting help for their test than going to practice.
It seems like we are moving towards incorporating more multimodal literacy into the classroom. I think this is just what students need in this generation. I also believe that it is important to use these tools to help students in their test preparation. Obviously it isn’t essential, because look how many people have passed tests and are successful today and many of them before computers and other media were even popular. I think it’s great that we have so many more options to help students learn than we used to, but is it really helping them? I see smart teachers, doctors, lawyers and business professionals who got where they are today without the help of any kind of technology or multimodal literacy. They were brought up with the basics Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. I know that if it were that basic today, there would be few students who would succeed, and that’s really sad. We are so reliant on these new forms of literacy and technology, what would happen if they disappeared? Would we forget how to go back and teach the basics and fundamentals that got us where we are today? Don’t get me wrong, I think what we are learning is great and important to this generation. I just wish things were, maybe more traditional. Though I know we live in a very untraditional time, where innovations are everywhere and we’re just trying to keep up with everyone else. I just hope these things do our students good for the future and don’t hurt them in the long run. I know we are English teachers, but if we look at Math classes today, you probably wouldn’t see a student without a calculator. I even rely on them most of the time, but I can predict that if you took all calculators away, there would be students all over failing their math classes because they rely so much upon them. I hope we don’t become so reliant of these new ways of teaching that if they were to disappear we wouldn’t be able to teach.
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