Sunday, September 29, 2019
Kim’s TimeLine Essay
There was a time when textbooks, a chalkboard, a set of encyclopedias, and a map of the world were considered teaching aids; boy how times have changed. Today all we have to do is flip on a computer, and the world comes to us in a matter of seconds. In today’s modern world teachers have access to an almost infinite amount of information. There are so many websites out there that cater strictly to educators, and their students. For example, one website that seems to be getting a lot of attention from teachers and their students, is one that a teacher created herself; her name is Kim. I will explore her website, along with other teaching aid websites, and see how they rate against hers. First of all let’s start with a basic outline of my research paper, and in what manner we are going to address the following questions: Explain the method of Kim’s TimeLine? Give a critique of Kim’s ideas, and how they relate to the TimeLine? List the advantages of Kim’s Time Line, from a student’s point of view? List the disadvantages of Kim’s TimeLine, from a student’s point of view. Introduce other teaching aid websites, along with journal articles, and how they measure up to Kim’s TimeLine? Give an objective conclusion of the researched material?  The purpose of this research paper is to focus on these six questions. Explain the method of Kim’s TimeLine?         When you click onto Kim’s TimeLine, a picture of a chalkboard, and an idiom: Kim’s Korner for Teacher Talk, along with a yellow sun, pops onto your computer screen. Then in large black letters the following slogan grabs your attention: IDEAS FOR TEACHING THE WRITING PROCESS. Kim then introduces five steps of her writing process: Prewriting, Writing, Revising, Editing, Proofreading, and Publishing. The webpage also includes General Ideas For Teaching the Writing Process, such as: Writing Process Timeline, The Writing Process, Implementing the Writing Process, Sample Listing of Specific Writing Strategies (for each step), Ten Ways to Emphasize the Writing Process. (Writing Process 2006) Give a Critique of Kim’s Ideas and How They Relate to the TimeLine?        To be honest with you, I really enjoyed browsing over Kim’s TimeLine website, and  found it to be non-threatening. The information was laid out in an extremely simplistic manner, and I could actually picture students, along with their instructors, using and benefiting from the information that this teaching aid provides. List the Advantages of Kim’s TimeLine, From a Students Point of View?        As I already mentioned, the TimeLine is incredibly easy to operate. If you view the TimeLine through a student’s eyes, you will appreciate how the website makes you feel totally comfortable, and non-intimidated, in regards to the information that the TimeLine is trying to convey to you as a student. Before I began this research paper, I have to admit that I was filled with a certain amount of anxiety, and stress; I wondered if I’d do a satisfactory job. But then to my delight, I noticed that Kim’s TimeLine had a section that dealt with apprehension, and worry. Her coping strategies with writing anxiety goes as follows: Focus your energy by rehearsing the task in your head. Consciously stop the non-productive comments running through your head by replacing them with productive ones. If you have some â€Å"rituals†for writing success, use them. (Kim’s TimeLine 2006)        So stepping into a student’s shoes, I put her coping tactics to the test; and guess what? They actually worked. I honestly thought that the TimeLine, like the majority of website based teachers’ aids was going to be extremely hard to understand. Either that, or it was going to be some archaic method of teaching. Without sounding like some cheesy infomercial, I’m glad that I was wrong, and would strongly recommend the TimeLine to both students, and their teachers. List the Disadvantages of Kim’s TimeLine, From a Students Point of View?        Once again I put my feet into a student’s shoes, and tried especially hard to find the tiniest amount of a blemish with Kim’s web-sight, but was unsuccessful in my efforts. The only flaw I could find, didn’t involve the content of her TimeLine, but instead, how long her website address is: address: http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/writing/general/timeline.html Introduce Other Teaching Aid Websites, Along With Journal Articles, And How They Measure Up To Kim’s TimeLine?        As this assignment mentions in its instructions, the internet provides you with so much information that you must develop a discriminating taste when it comes to the value of a website. I totally concur with this assertion, and acknowledge that there is an endless amount of facts and figures over the internet. But how does this relate to Kim’s TimeLine? Well in accordance to the assignment’s instructions I have chosen five teachers’ aids websites, and will evaluate them. I will also distinguish how these websites measure up to Kim’s TimeLine.        The first website is called â€Å"Free TeachingAids.com.† I found this website to be formless and vague, kind of like a big budget movie with a plot that goes nowhere. (freeteachingaids.com 2006)        The second website was simply titled, â€Å"Teachers’ Aids†. This website was similar to Kim’s TimeLine. It was non-intimidating, and from a student’s perspective, they will appreciate the fact that it is straightforward, and to the point. But nevertheless, as far as a writing tool goes, I would still have to put Kim’s TimeLine above this one.        The third website I chose was Java Applets for Teaching of AstroPhysics. Demonstrating the contrast between Kim’s TimeLine, and this website, would be like comparing apples and oranges; they’re entirely diverse. Astrophysics is not my cup of tea, however, if it was, I would urge those who plan a career in this field to definitely click onto this website. It has an easy to follow table of contents, along with an uncomplicated simple to follow outline. Key words are highlighted, and accompanied with a unproblematic definition. (JK’s Applets for Teaching Astrophysics 2006)        The fourth website is called â€Å"Classic Teaching Resources†, and deals with mnemonics, and other little tricks of the trade to help you as a student, memorize course material. It focuses on: grammar, music, dates and other numbers, and association and other subjects. The site was started by David Parsons, he articulates: â€Å"As a former teacher of Latin, Greek and Classical Civilization for nearly 25 years I have accumulated much teaching material to share, and also know what I would have liked readily available. This site is a small contribution to the teaching of classical subjects.† (Classic Latin Greek Teaching Aids 2006)        The fifth, and last website I will compare to Kim’s TimeLine is termed Parliament : Teachers’ centre. Like the first website, â€Å"Free TeachingAids.com†, I found it to be unclear, and for lack of a better term, some what indistinct. It offers an index of topics, so that you can select a subject that is to your liking; but that’s about it. It was designed to educate would be British citizens in attaining their British citizenship credentials. (Teaching Citizenship Resource Centre and British Citizenship Teaching Aids 2006)        Teaching aids aren’t only getting noticed on the internet, they’re also getting acknowledgment in the mass media, such as magazine articles. In an influential article, written by Greifner, she reports: â€Å"To help teachers discuss the most current events. Weekly Reader is also launching electronic Classroom News Breaks this fall. The e-mailed lesson plans will offer age-appropriate information, reproducible pages, and the web links about significant world news within 24 hours of the event’s occurrence.† (Education week 2006)        Another article gives teachers’ an internet â€Å"Book Study†guide: Gary Paulsen: webenglishteacher.com/paulsen.html This rich resource has lesson plans and activities for all ages. Plans include an integrated unit and a PowerPoint guide for creating a survival kit. Teacher Cyber guide – Hatchet sdco-k12.ca.us/score/hatch/hatchettg.htm This lesson plan contains language arts content standards, student activities and web resources for a study of the book. Hatchet, mce.k12tn.net/survival/hatchet/hatchet.htm A well-organized resource divided by book chapter. Each chapter category has online (and printable) questions for your book study, activities that tie into the chapter themes, writing lessons and vocabulary activities. (Teaching Prek-8 2006)        The web isn’t the only electronic medium that today’s teachers are using in the classroom. Video games have made it into our scholarly institutions, as this article declares: Video games teach deductive reasoning, memory, strategies, and often, content area knowledge. Teachers like Bill Mackenty, a computer specialist at the Edgartown School on Martha’s Vineyard, give praise to Playstation. It states that with teacher involvement and guidance, video games can be a powerful classroom learning tool. (Instructor 2006) Objective Conclusion of the Researched Material        In this thesis I have presented you with both facts, and opinions. In order for me to remain free of any bias, I must end this research paper by equally supporting, and expressing the disadvantages of Kim’s Timeline, and teaching aids like it. To sum things up I concur that Kim’s TimeLine, and websites like hers are needed in today’s schools; however, like the instructions of this assignment states, â€Å"There is so much information over the internet, that you must develop a discriminating taste, when it comes to the value of a website.†References Greifner. L. (2006. September 27) . Weekly Reader Gets New Look. Education Week             26 Mitchell. K. (2006. September ) . Getting to the Heart of a Story. Teaching PreK-8 66-66. Instructor. (2006). Playing To Learn. Instructor 116. 22-22 Classic Teaching Resources. (October 25, 2006). Classic Latin Greek Teaching Aids.           Retrieved October 25, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.parsonsd.co.           uk/teaching-aids.php Free TeachingAids.com. (October 25, 2006). Educators Progress Service, Inc.          Retrieved October 25, 2006 from the World Wide Web:http://www.freeteaching           aids. Com Java Applets for Teaching of AstroPhysics. (October 25, 2006). JK’s Applets for           Teaching Astrophysics. Retrieved October 25, 2006 from the World Wide Web:           http://astro.u-strasbg.fr~koppen/apindex.html Kim’s Korner for Teacher Talk. (October 25, 2006). Writing Process. Retrieved           October 25, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/           /handouts/gl_anxiety.html Parliament : Teachers’ centre. (October 25, 2006). Teaching Citizenship Resource           Centre and British Citizenship Teaching Aids. Retrieved October 25, 2006 from           the World Wide Web: http://www.explore.parliament.uk/parliament.aspx?id=17 Teacher’s Aids. (October 25, 2006). MFL 195: Teachers’ Aids. Retrieved October 25,           2006 from the World Wide Web: http://facweb.furman.edu/~pecoy/mf195/aides.           html
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