Last night's class

We got the 'Guess the City' activity completed. The Google Doc 'save' feature made in hard to edit as a part of lecture with the doc completely refreshing so often. However the autosave is useful. Can the timing be adjusted? Also all the students had the document open at the same time so there was some synchronous editing - or at least attempts. All good learning experience. The students saw real value in the application, however, and that the process is something that they could and would do with their own classes.

We also used a blog for class lecture and discussion. We went in and out of talking about the content (diversity, millenials, how children learn, and their preferences) to how the blog works. How they could add posts and comments, difference in blog and web site, creating their own blog, inviting participants, etc. They were fully engaged with a very interactive class discussion as well as interactive on the blog. We ended class with looking at our blog for this project and creation of their own blogs. Hope we are on track :)

We also played the game Atiya Cost of Life. Interesting reactions! They kind of got the point but did not like the feeling of no control over the situation - lack of money, sickness etc. I have a student in the class whose native country is Haiti and he was polite, but a little offended. He said the whole country is not like that, everyone in his circle of friends and family were educated and not poverty-stricken. He thought the game give the perception that all Haitians are in the same situation as protrayed in the game. I encouraged him to share his concerns with others, so hopefully you will be hearing from him. When asked to compare and contrast this simulation to their own students some said 'no connection' and others said 'very parallel', so we had a very lively discussion of the plight of students in schools in NYC.

We talked too about the characteristics of Millennials, those born since 1982 and whether students in my students classrooms can be identified in the millennial mainstream. Since NYC schools are a huge inner city urban school system with 1.1M students, children have greater opportunities to experience multiculturalism than those in other parts of the country, yet the identity remains with their racial, ethnic, and cultural community. Affiliation with gangs are prevalent for those whose have additional needs for connections, identity, and sense of belonging. Yet because of exposure to multiculturism, not in immediate community perhaps, but so nearby, there is also a tolerance and appreciation for people of other cultures. Many students in my class acknowledge close friendships and interactions with others from many other countries, races, and cultural backgrounds and feel comfortable with the relationships.

My students also feel that access to the internet is becoming ubiquitous. Everyone has access, whether by computer or cell phone. It's almost as common as a TV (or several TVs) in the home. They are concerned about the quality of information their students are accessing and the depth of their research and quest for knowledge. Good issues and good discussion.

Are you all having similar discussions with your classes participating in this project?