Beginning Question Reflection

My question from the beginning of the school year was whether or not technology was a necessary learning tool.  This question was answered through almost every weekly discussion and connections assignment.  Technology is a definite necessary learning tool.  It emphasizes learning and keeps students engaged.  It is definitely crucial.  A classroom is incomplete without it.

The segment "Living Their Lives Essentially Online" doesn't necessarily have new information for young adults who are living in this online world and seems repetitive to other 20/20 like specials created for parents to raise awareness of excess online usage.  Although going around a parent's back through manipulation of the parental controls did come off as deceiving.  "A Revolution in Classrooms and Social Life" emphasize the idea that technology is neccessary in the classroom.  I found it interesting that student's have a more difficult time focusing because the internet is so instant.  I also do NOT think it is okay for professors and teachers to be okay with borrowing and stealing from the internet or using sparknotes.  I think cheating is cheating, point blank.  "Self Expression, Trying On New Identities" is a scary reality that although internet is a valuable tool in many ways to both the classrooms and the students at home, it can also be dangerous.

Follow Up

After reading the following comments, I have to agree that without teacher student mutual respect the classroom would be unproductive and unprogressive.  I also agree completely that with respect the four basic concepts would easily fall right into place.  

Control in the classroom does come solely from respect.  Without that respect the students would act up and do as they please with out any consideration.

Control in the Classroom

The classroom setting plays a large part in the amount and type of control that teachers obtain in their classroom.  Too much control may create a dominating atmosphere in the classroom that may create a too intimidating situation for students to be themselves or to be active members of the class.  A classroom as to have respect to have control.  A mutual respect between both student and teacher is the most dire quality for a classroom environment to obtain.  This respect can be gained on the very first day.  Honesty from the teacher to the students puts the students at ease.  For example, when a teacher walks into a classroom and states that they hate pop quizzes, they hate giving them as teachers and hated having them as students, and that they won't be giving them either an automatic respect is put in place in the classroom because the students can then relate to the teacher and knows that the teacher actually cares.  I feel like respect in the classroom is the root of all control.

Thoughts on Choice Theory

Personal Thoughts:

I found it pretty intense that William Glasser made it his life long mission to develop these additional four psychological needs along with humans basic need for survival.  At first, when I read the four psychological needs I didn't neccesarily agree with them.  But, through the voice over powerpoint and the readings provided I found myself nodding in agreement more and more.  These four psychological needs seemed like a simplified list of all things people do truly want in the world.  We man only be relating them to a classroom but, if we wanted to be in a different environment and wanted it to run smoothly as well these four things could be applied in a different situation.  I want to be a teacher, of course, and I can easily apply all four of Glasser's  to a classroom environment.  I can see, for example, how these four can also be applied to an office environment and a home environment as well.  These can be applied to any social environment.  I think that some people may disagree with these, everyone has the right to their opinions, but, I feel as though these are simplified explanations to why or why not our particular environments are capable to run smoothly. 

Quick Summary:

• Five Human Needs: a. to survive b. to belong c. to gain power d. to be free e. to have fun
• Belonging: to connect with others in the classroom, to create friendships with fellow students and the teacher, to find those who care, having a commitment to learning as strong as the teachers commitment to teaching
• Power: a sense of both confidence and control, gaining empowerment through leadership roles provided by the teacher,  being recognized for your contributions, the feeling of worthwhile, self esteem
• Freedom: having both choices and options, providing students multiple paths to learning, self directed learning, independence, being able to work at your own pace in your own space
• Fun: the classroom culture must be a class that is challenging but, not too challenging so the students get agitated, not boring, interesting, laughter :), and pleasure and enjoyment in the classroom

Axiom:

The axiom that stuck out the most to me was that what happened in the past has everything to do with what we are today, but we can only satisfy our basic needs right now and plan to continue satisfying them in the future.