 |
| Some of the crew on the way to Mammoth |
I am writing this blog from beautiful Mammoth Lakes, CA. This is the week of my daughters' spring break and we, along with 5 other families, are snowboarding and skiing for the week. There is nothing more fun for me than to see the whole family on the mountain having a great time. Anyway, as I you should know by now, my very good friend and partner in technological crime, Mark Rounds, will be teaching class this week. He has taught this course numerous times and is my sounding board when I create new assignments.
When I logged in to Blogger, I noticed that there are some new dynamic views for public blogs. I played around with them. . .Check them out here.
This Week: There are a number of assignments that you are probably working on right now. . .Prezi, PLN, Excel, and those darn journal articles. . .Mark is more than capable to help you with any or all of these. He will start class like I do, checking in with people and answering personal questions. Then, he will introduce this week's assignment: a collaborative website on cybersafety(click link here). The good news is that, because this is a collaborative assignment, you will have a great resource and only have to contribute one page. If you do groups of less than six, you will have to divide the workload among your members.
In my open labs the last two Mondays, I noticed that students struggled with the PLN the most. Trying to figure out who to follow in Twitter and how to network on Diigo. . .Mark will go over this with the class briefly. Also, if you have yet to do a chat, TweetChat is a great resource to follow and participate in a chat. For the presentation assignment, don't forget that you have to create a short assessment using Google Forms. My expectation is that next week in class, you will present your Prezi/PowerPoint/Google Presentation in small groups in class. If you have any questions for this do not hesitate to ask. I will get feedback from Mark on how the entire class is doing regarding this assignment.
Journal 8: Keeping with the cybersafety theme, "Point/Counterpoint: Should Schools Be Held Responsible for Cyberbullying?" from the March/April 2011 issue of L&L. It is a very short article, but relevant to today's topic! If you would like to choose your own articles for Journal 8-10, you are welcome. Ensure you choose an article relating to technology and education and use the correct APA citation.
This Week's Question: How do you feel about single-gender schools (all-boy or all-girl)? Experience or thoughts?
I feel that single-gender schools are sheltering students from the real world. I am thankful I went to a regular school because it prepared me to be able to interact with everyone, not just members in society of the same gender.
ReplyDeleteI never experienced a single gendered school myself, but I think that kids that do go to those schools are definitely missing out. I feel that the interactions between boys and girls are very important and school is a good place to start those interactions.
ReplyDeleteI have never experienced them personally but I believe it shelters the students way of life and thought patterns. If we are not exposed to the daily ongoings of our peers, no matter what gender, then we become bias and naive of the world around us. The positive and negative experiences being around the opposite gender helps us to learn and experience life first hand.
ReplyDeleteI personally never attended a single-gendered institution so my answer will be based solely on personal experience. I am very happy to have been educated in the public school setting, K-12. Like some of my peers have stated above, I feel as if I would have missed out on real world interactions had I been subjected to my own gender. However, I do believe that there were times throughout my childhood (i.e. summer camp, middle school sex education) that were beneficial when we were separated to discuss issues that directly pertained to our gender.
ReplyDeleteI think that students would be missing out on a lot. I would think they will be more sheltered and unaware of issues that might pretane to both sexes. I loved attending an all gendered school because I got to experience transgendered friends and I was really boy crazy in school too, which might have been a distraction.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not have direct experience with one-gender schools. I do understand the thought process behind one gender schools. How it will "protect" a woman's virtue and to keep the "evil" male hormones away from the female's "innocence". So that they can concentrate more on their studies and future success. But in a practical sense, how can one interact with the opposite gender properly when they are adults when they didn't have the experience as a child to interact with them socially on their own level.
ReplyDeleteI have never personally experienced a single-gender school, but I have many friends who have. They all loved it. They also excelled when the changed over to a multi-gender school. My friends who went to all girls school had plenty of interaction with boys through programs outside of school that involved the local all boys school. Personally, I would have preferred an all girls school. I believe I would have learned more and pushed myself even more than I already had in my school.
ReplyDeleteI attended a co-ed school and felt that it was a great experience. I understand that by creating single gender schools there may be a bigger focus on the class room and interaction with the opposite gender could be obtained through other experiences. I prefer the co-ed setting but could understand the push for single gender class rooms.
ReplyDeleteWhile single gendered schools may have their benefits, you cannot guard your children from the opposite sex forever and while doing so, many times it can backfire when they are finally given the chance whether it be behind your backs, or with little knowledge. Exposing students to all races and gender is healthy. I never experienced a single gender school, but attended a private Christian school growing up. I have many family members who have experienced boarding schools that were single gendered and some loved it, others not so much.
ReplyDeleteI think that students who go to single gendered schools miss out on a lot of important lessons. In the real world there is no gender neutral work places anymore, people have to learn to work together, males and females. Schools are a great starting for learning how to interact with the opposite sex.
ReplyDeleteI have never attended an all-girls school, but I do have a niece that is currently attending an all-girls private school in San Diego. I think the pro's are that the girls get to focus primarily on their education and don't have "boys" pestering them or distracting them. However, I do believe that this may also shelter them a little and not give them a chance to work together and collaborate with the opposite sex. But I must say that there is something empowering about a sisterhood. I was in a sorority and it was comforting to know that I was surrounded and supported by strong, smart and independent females. Being in a sorority was one of the best experiences ever as it taught me about camaraderie, solidarity and true friendship.
ReplyDeleteI would die if i were attending a single gender school. I say this because of the fact that I place so much trust on females rather than on males. That is my only preference. Also single gender schools don't seem to let us be free in being with people that we want to be with during our free time.
ReplyDeleteI would have to say that in theory, single gender schools may work but in practice children may miss out on important social interactions and competition that is necessary to be successful in the real world.
ReplyDeleteI have never attended a single gender school, but I am not really in favor of the concept. School is supposed to help to prepare the students for their adult lives, and I don't see how separating students by gender is recreating any sort of environment later on where that would be of use.
ReplyDeleteTo me the idea of single gender schools doesn't make much sense. Why would splitting up girls and boys be a good idea? My cousins, who are all girls, went to these types of schools all throughout their public education. They always told me that it didn't make sense to them either.
ReplyDeleteWell I am either pro-con in this issue. I went to an all girls school, Catholic for that matter, and I thought it was a great experience. Definitely a great change when I moved to the US where I attended a both coed school. Big change. But I think that having the interaction with my own gender at such a young age was great, never had the struggle of having to worry about boys. Though I am sure I missed out on a lot when it came to having males as friends at a young age.
ReplyDeleteI too agree with the majority of the comments. I believe that a single gendered school doesn't prepare a person for the real world...and that is the main point of educating our students.
ReplyDeletei think that single gender schools can be good for educational success but there is a lot that can be missed out on socially.
ReplyDeleteI think it keeps students from being comfortable with the opposite sex. It doesnt really prepare students for the real world.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel strongly either way about the issue. I think there are pro's and con's about both kinds of schools. Although it seems "unmainstream" (I'm sure thats not a word) to go to an all boys school or an all girls school, but I'm pretty sure everyone will come into contact of the other gender sometime in their life!
ReplyDeleteI think that same gender schools does not give the students enough experience with the opposite gender. I had friends go to all boy or all girl schools and they did not like it. They also had a harder time relating or understanding the opposite sex.
ReplyDeleteI have not had much experience with gender based schools but they do seem like a good idea to some extent. I believe that taking out gender as a distraction factor is a good idea. I think it would help focus students. Yet, i believe that it is hard to create a real life experience with one gendered schools. Students may miss out in some important social experiences. I think it depends on the student whether a gender based school is a good or bad experience.
ReplyDeleteI've never attended a single-gender school, and I'm sure there are definite pros and cons to those types of schools. I feel like an all girls school, for elementary and middle school, would have eliminated a lot of boy drama! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have much experience with single gender schools, however I believe it is important for students to interact with peers of both genders. It will teach them how to appropriately interact with one another, and enable them to gain social skills.
ReplyDeleteI did not attend a single gender school and would not suggest it to other students. I think that it is good for both females and males to be together in one school. It prepares them for college and the real world. I have talked to other people that did attend single gender schools and they had mixed feelings about it.
ReplyDeleteI am all about teaching children how the real world works so the idea of single gender school does not fit that plan. Jobs in the real world are not offered to just one sex. I know someone who went to an all boy Catholic high school and it just made him want girls even more because it was the forbidden!!! Um no thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI have no personal experience with single gender schools, but, from conversations I had with my college roommate about her experiences in an all-girls Catholic school, I think they can be an effective means of education. However, in terms of building adequate social relations I think these schools fall flat. Kids need to experience interaction with both sexes to understand the world around them. By limiting those interactions these schools shelter their students from many important aspects of the real world.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea. My friend went to an all girls Catholic high school and she never had to shave her legs. I mean I guess she could of, but she didn't care to. Also, I feel like I would have saved myself and my parents a lot of trouble if I went to a school where there were no boys. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think single-gender schools are necessary, but I can understand why some parents prefer them. Teenagers WILL find each other one way or another! Hmm, maybe there should be more single-gender work places...
ReplyDeleteI have never been to a single gender school and don't really understand what the point is. I think that it shelters children from real life situations and may make them even more curious about the opposite sex. Also it inhibits children from learning how to socialize and interact with the opposite gender.
ReplyDeleteI pretty much would have to agree with a lot of the comments about single-gender schools – kids do miss out. They are very sheltered in their own bubble. However, I can understand why some parents do choose to place their kids in this type of schooling. A few of my Aunts took this route with my cousins and their reason for it was – to keep the kids away from the violence that are seen in many schools. But, what I realized with any school there are various types of violence that occur, whether it being verbal or physical.
ReplyDeleteSure-- I have never attended a single gendered school, but I think all schools have their problems and parents cannot get away from that. That is why parent involvement, teacher and school staff involvement is crucial. I also do not know what a normal school is because throughout history schooling has changed so much.
On a funny note ... I also think that if I had gone an all girls school -- I may not have been distracted with boys.
ReplyDeleteI don't support the idea of single sex schools. I believe that as oppsing genders, boys and girls learn a lot from eachother on a social and realist level. I think the traditional, mixed gender, schools are effective and i don't think that seperating the two would help.
ReplyDeleteI do not like the idea of single sex schools. Girls and boys learn alot from each other whether its interacting with the opposite sex or merely observing. I also grew up enjoying the many friendships I have had with the opposite sex and therefore I believe that it is a pivotal part of education.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is advantageous to the education of students to work independently during the middle school and early high school years. I think that socialization could be accomplished through extensive activities outside of the classroom setting, and particularly note that this should not be neglected.
ReplyDeleteI'll add that a big part off my take on this is that I believe that the classroom is an education environment, and should not be mistaken for real life or society. It's influence in being used to define our views on either should be limited if it's replacing actual experience.
Single gender schools would probably do a good job of increasing students' focus on education, but if we want schools to prepare children for the real world, then this wouldn't cut it. However, I have no experience in a single gender school. Maybe it would be advantageous if only for a period in a student's education, such as just middle school or just elementary school...
ReplyDeleteInter-gender interaction is an important part of school based socialization.
ReplyDeleteSingle gender schools are not ideal, in my opinion. That's just not a positive way to shelter children. Children greatly benefit from having the opposite sex around, mainly for social skills. I wouldn't do that to my kids...just saying'.
ReplyDeleteThe interaction between boys and girls in a regular school setting is way more healthy I believe for both genders. The more interaction boys and girls have together will only benefit them later on in life. I do not like the idea of a single gender school. This type of schooling excludes boys and girls from each other when they should learn how to interact with one another in an inclusive environment.
ReplyDeleteI'm not opposed to single gender schools, but I probably wouldn't send my children there. I think that co-education is an important component and it prepares children socially.
ReplyDeleteIn high school my dad wanted me to go to Xavier (an all girl Catholic college prep in AZ) however as a 13 year old, I thought this would be a horrible idea. I found a way to persuade him to let me go to a co-ed Catholic high school instead. Although I had a great time, now that I am older and have spoken with friends who went there, I have decided that the all girl school would have possibly been beneficial. Although I am embarrassed to admit it, and although I graduated in the top of my class, I did spend a reasonable amount of time concentrating on guys in my classes. Overall, I think that attending Xavier could have ultimately upped my GPA, getting me into a better college than ASU. So, yes I think it can be a good idea.
ReplyDeleteI have never studied in one of them but I don't like the idea. Boys and girls have to live and interact together in real life so, for me, separating them it is only a way of making the difference between sexes bigger.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI have a few friends that were in single gender schools and I heard mixed reviews. Some felt it was a great experience and they could really concentrate on school and others (mostly girls) felt confined..freaked out and became wild. I don't really like the idea personally, but I can understand why some people do advocate for it (especially when the hormones run wild in middle school). However, segregation like that is not real life.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Erika, Sarah and Andrew:) I have gone to all-girls school from 1st grade till I finished high school...I absolutely loved it..I didn't feel that I missed out on anything really, when I went to college I was very focused and successful and didn't have any problems interacting with boys at all...I think the concept behind all girls and all boys school is the focus on learning, they want every single student to be focused, and no distractions. Social skills can be developed through beyond academics activities.....
ReplyDeleteI don't have any experience with same gender schools, but I imagine that they are sheltering children a bit too much. The world is full of both sexes; therefore, the schools should reflect society. I think that if both genders are separated it might lead to wild and crazy behavior when they do finally coexist.....
ReplyDeleteWhile I have never experienced a same gender school I feel that one has both positives and negatives. On the positive side it allows students to focus more on their studies. On the other hand it does not provide them the social experience a traditional school does. In the end I would prefer a mixed gender school because it provides both a education within the classroom and social development.
ReplyDeleteI have never experienced a same gender school, personally but people from my family have send their kids to same gender schools. This is in Mexico. I think it has it has positive and negative aspect. It is positive because schools can stop major problems, like bullying, and can focus more in what interest the gender. The negative part is that student are not expose to the other gender causing conflict when they go out to the real world. I will prefer mixed gender schools because student can gain prospective from both genders and learn to interact between each other.
ReplyDeletePersonally I believe that single gender schools are not always the best idea. By staying within one gender school it can deprive a student from the various learning experience that can be taken from others.
ReplyDeleteI've never attended a same gender schools, but I feel like same gender schools shelter boys or girls a little too much. They are retain from interacting with each other, possibly retaining them from learning from each other. Same gender schools prevents them from a normal social experience.
ReplyDeleteI believe, like many of my peers, that same gender schools shelter children from reality and multi-gender social interactions. We can learn a lot from communicating and sharing experiences/ ideas with individuals who are different... and how different are boys and girls!!!! I believe the learning experience would not be comeplete.
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to be with the other gender is the classroom. Everywhere else in the world like the job world will always have both male and female co-workers.
ReplyDeleteI think schools that are single-gender would make school really boring, especially middle school and high school. It may help your studies, but I would think it might cause problems socially later.
ReplyDeleteI've never attended a single gender school. But when I was getting my BS, the school I attended had gender segregated dorms and floors. My mother in law went to the same school in the late 60's and there were supposedly no men allowed in female dorms. Listening to the stories told from my in-laws and seeing her college year book, it was a WILD school back then, and maybe still is (it's about 15 miles from Woodstock, NY). I think by not allowing access to something, the opposite gender, candy, TV, whatever only makes people want it more.... so in many cases the action ends up being counterproductive.
ReplyDeleteI never went to a single gender school, but I had many friends that did. They certainly did not enjoy it and I don't blame them. I do think that not having girls around made them more immature, at least in my experiences. They constantly got into shananaganz that I wouldn't even dream of. Perhaps this was because of a lack of females around. I think that for the most part if males don't have females around they are almost perfectly content living in their own filth. Also I honestly believe that interaction between the sexes matures young adults so that they can interact soundly in an adult world.
ReplyDeleteI don't like them. I strongly believe we should interact with as many different people in a school environment. If I had gone to a single gender school, I think I would not know how to behave around females... How would I work with them?
ReplyDelete