Puzzles

Puzzles created in our Technology for Educators class.

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildWordSearch.asp

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCryptogram.asp

http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/code/BuildCrissCross.asp

Cellphones and Cheating

I consider teachers should always handle the situation him/herself. In this specific example, the teacher should have a word with the student and ask him/her straight what he/she was doing. If the teacher gets a positive answer, the student accepted he cheated but is willing to make it up, I would definitely give the student a second chance. But on the contrary, let’s say the student says he was not actually cheating; however, you know he was. I would just simply have another test and state firmly that students are not allowed, under any circumstance, to use their phones in class.

I have been teaching for almost eleven years and the place I come from, cheating is something we, teachers, have to deal with everyday. I am not saying that is acceptable; however, students believe they are not doing anything wrong, either. Thus, teachers tend to be careful when dealing with a situation like this. Then, what we normally do to keep students from cheating is setting up strict policies before either a quiz or an exam, so they know, beforehand, what the consequences will be.

I have caught students cheating, using small pieces of paper with information on it, and I have given them a zero on the exam. I strongly believe that if you go to college or university pursuing a professional degree, there is no way that cheating should be taken as a not serious issue.

The Digital Equity

Digital equity referes to the idea that everyone should have access to what technology offers nowadays, regardless their condition. Thus, we believe that the best way to deal with a situtation, where students have limited access to computers, is by having different stations where a group of pupils will be working on; meanwhile the other groups are working on something else related to what is being taught. These groups will be rotating, so everyone will get a chance to be exposed to technology.

I believe that the lack of rescources should not be an excuse to not deliver an accurate class. It will all depend on the creativity of the teacher to make his/her class successful.