Problems: What Problems: What Problems?Problems?

A Look at the Lighter Side of A Look at the Lighter Side of Classroom Challenges and Classroom Challenges and

Their SolutionsTheir SolutionsDr. Jeff FosterDr. Jeff Foster

Presenters• Karen North

• Chris Stephenson

• Scott Horan

• Laurie Heikkila

• Moderator: Lucy Sweder Brown

• Organizers: Carol Amaral-Ly, Philip East, Jeff Foster

Note: Redundant “Funny Stuff”You may or may not have seen some of the videos you are about to view. Several have made the Internet “rounds” over the past year as email attachments. So, odds are, you have seen at least one of them- but not in this context.

Here, they are used to help emphasize the points made by this author.

Let Us BeginLet Us Begin

Two common problems that affect Two common problems that affect our personal and academic lives our personal and academic lives include:include:

Lack of Time

Lack of Money

How can we overcome these challenges?

Finding TimeHow? Move to the next slide

and see.So… what would happen if you clicked on this link instead of moving to the next slide as instructed?

Now, press Enter or Page Down to move forward.

Solution to Challenge #1: Multiply Yourself

One way to increase your “presence:” Integrate

(i.e. Let other teachers do the work.)

Another Way: Work in TeamsAnother Way: Work in Teams

Let students do the work.

The Best?: Combine integration The Best?: Combine integration andand teamwork. teamwork.

Or, is it?Or, is it?

Here is an example of a Here is an example of a combined teamwork-combined teamwork-

integration.integration.The Assignment: The Assignment:

Combine Theater Arts with Socio-Combine Theater Arts with Socio-Economic StudiesEconomic Studies

Click to continue.

Teamwork-Integration: Teamwork-Integration: The PresentationThe PresentationObjectiveObjective: Work in teams. Integrate Social Studies into Theater Arts. Perform in front of an audience.

We were there with our cameras for the presentation.

Do teamwork and integration always work?

Click on the screen to see why or why not.

Maybe not!

The lesson: Sometimes, one student may do all the work for the others.

Solution to Challenge #2: Solution to Challenge #2: Finding MoneyFinding Money

Money Sources– Taxpayers– Government Grants (Taxpayers)

Both of these are being pushed to the limit. Where else can we look?

How about the entities that will benefit the most from our efforts: Local businesses.

Did you know?American businesses lose tens of billions of dollars annually as a result of inadequate employee computing skills!

How to Get It?Ask (Beg)

Visit the CEO or CFO of any and all local businesses and ask what it is that they want future employees to know.

Then, ask for a contribution. And, don’t be intimidated. These people are just like you and me. You just need to know what to ask.

Conducting Interviews:Conducting Interviews:We asked one of the world’s foremost experts to give us a We asked one of the world’s foremost experts to give us a few pointers regarding interviews of potentially intimidating few pointers regarding interviews of potentially intimidating individuals. He was kind enough to provide us with a individuals. He was kind enough to provide us with a videotape of some of his recent dialogs.videotape of some of his recent dialogs.

Click on the screen to see how he does this.

Another Problem:

OutsourcingOutsourcing

OutsourcingOutsourcingIt is alleged that, as a result of a number of factors (including our inability to prepare students for computer science-related jobs), we are driving jobs out of the country to areas of the world where students learn these skills early on (and are willing to work for $40 a month).

American students, they say, are simply unable to compete with the skills proffered by students in many developing nations.

Should we worry about Should we worry about outsourcing?outsourcing?

View the next three slides and then decide.

Where were these pictures taken?

Mumbai (Bombay) India.

This is the place you call when your computer has a problem!

Another Problem:Another Problem:Misjudging a Student’s Misjudging a Student’s

AbilitiesAbilities

Sometimes we tend to judge a student Sometimes we tend to judge a student based on prejudice. Race, gender, based on prejudice. Race, gender,

socio-economic status or just plain socio-economic status or just plain ignorance may influence our judgment. ignorance may influence our judgment.

Albert Einstein’s doctors thought he Albert Einstein’s doctors thought he was retarded simply because he did was retarded simply because he did not speak until the age of three. He not speak until the age of three. He

was, of course, one of the most was, of course, one of the most brilliant minds of modern times.brilliant minds of modern times.

Problem:Stimulating Student Interest

Not all students appreciate the computer as the powerful tool it is or

understand its significant roll it will play in their future.

Women may find themselves on the Women may find themselves on the short end of the employment “stick” short end of the employment “stick”

and in the minds of some men should and in the minds of some men should remain as housewives or work as a remain as housewives or work as a secretary or even a Playboy Bunny. secretary or even a Playboy Bunny.

Never underestimate the power of a Never underestimate the power of a student (or, be insulted by the term student (or, be insulted by the term

“Bunny.”)“Bunny.”) Click on the screen to see why.

Bunnies Rule!

Another Way:Use online research and/or reverse engineering to find the root of each technological advance.

Assign reading/viewing activities such as James Burke’s Connections/Connections 2 series.

In this award-wining series he demonstrates how a horse soldiers stirrups lead to the development of the computer or how the plow may be considered the root of civilization.

Or, simply ask this question: How did a butterfly put a hole in your roof?

The EndThe End