C4T #1

Why Were Your Kids Playing Games?

This post by John T. Spencer on his blog, Adventures in Pencil Integration covers a scene between a teacher and his principal after the teacher is accused of playing games with his students instead of teaching. However, this really was not the case. The teacher was actually performing a simulation with his students where they were working in where they were making pictures. Hearing this only upsets the principal even more. He feels that the students should focus solely on rote memorization skills and algorithm packets. The teacher comes up with his on solution after hearing this and instead begins a simulation with his students where they create an algorithm factory and integrate it into their Conflict-Oriented Reading and Writing Project (a.k.a the Factory Game).
In my comment on this blog post, I applauded Mr. Spencer on his ability to really capture on tactics that should be used in today's education. I believe that students are able to understand certain concepts easier by being active in the learning process. A simulation is a very good way to help students be more active and hands-on. Also in my comment, I included how Dr. Strange commonly uses the phrase "burp back" to explain the difference between memorizing and learning. It is easy for a students to be taught something, have them memorize it, and let them burp it back on a test. However, they will soon forget it. With a more hands-on approach, like the simulations used in this blog post, students can not only learn the material but they can also understand it and be able to use it on their own.

10 Points on Pencils
This second post by John T. Spencer is a letter written to the superintendent about his concerns with Mr. Spencer's classroom and his students use of pencils. In the letter, Mr. Spencer addresses the superintendent concerns in an organized way by making a list of ten things. One topic that was addressed is pencil. He addresses this concern by saying that although pencil predators are real, most abuse happen in-person by close social interaction. One quote I really liked from this post is that "the power of the pencil is a nuance, the paradox, the gray area" He's saying that students have the chance to learn in a personalized way and at the same time be able to erase and move toward formative assessment.
In my comment of this post,I explained that I really like the statements that were being made in this letter. Honestly, I found them to be quite humorous in a sense of sarcasm. It really grasped how authoritative figures in the education field overreact to students and their capabilities to use such a simple object like a pencil. I also applauded Mr. Spencer on how he explained that the problems that causes such fear in this authoritative figures are much bigger than the students and pencils themselves. I really find Mr. Spencer's Blog very insightful and recommend it to everyone who would like to see more of his views on education.