Measuring effective teaching

This is a guest post from Dr. Bob McNergney, Professor of Education, University of Virginia. He is a native of Nebraska and started his education career by teaching high school in Iowa and Nebraska. Dr. McNergney has co-authored three books and his writing has appeared in the Handbook of Research on Teacher Education, Educational Researcher, Journal of Teacher Education, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. He was part of a University of Virginia team that created Virginia's teaching performance assessment used for state certification. I want to thank him for making this post for our class. --Dr. Topp
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Even though I am a co-founder of an education/technology company, this is my first blog participation. Please forgive me if I goof it up!

I am interested in the use of technology to evaluate teaching behavior. See the article from the Journal of Teacher Education attached. Don't worry about the statistics, but focus on discussion of the Teaching Performance Record (TPR). Long story short... go to tpr.casenex.com and explore the instrument using "district" as the name and "demo" for the password.

I submit to you that if you are a teacher, it doesn't matter where you go to school, how smart you are, or even whether you like students. What really matters is what you do when you plan for instruction and as you interact with students. That is what TPR measures!

December 3-10 -- Internet Safety

Please read the short article on requirements of schools concerning Internet Safety.

http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/top-news/news-by-subject/safety-security/index.cfm?i=55557

What should schools do to help students stay safe online?

In the comments section, add 2 bullet points that you think would be best.

Also, read your colleagues' comments and give your reaction if you wish.

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

Read the article from the Atlantic.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200807/google

and the letters to the editor related to the article
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200810/letters

Post comments on the following questions.

Has the Internet changed the way you think and process information?

How can the ideas about thinking and information processing presented in the article be applied to the classroom?

September 23-30

Review and investigate the following wiki
http://webtools4u2use.wikispaces.com/About+This+Wiki

This wiki was created for school library media specialists by Dr. Donna Baumbach and Dr. Judy Lee, University of Central Florida. The purpose is to provide information about some of the new web-based tools (Web 2.0) and how they can be used and are being used by school library media specialists and their students and teachers.

Direct your comments to two areas:
1) Did the information on this wiki help you learn about Web 2.o?
2) After investigating the link under "And More," titled : 100 Helpful Web Tools for Every Type of Learner,
Give one example of how you might be able to use one of the Web 2.o tools in your teaching.

Class Blog - September 9-16

Please watch the video "Why We Need To Teach Technology in School." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VnHdqpE4RM

What is your reaction? In your opinion, is the video correct or incorrect or biased?

In what specific ways should the content of this video impact education?

Schools: Preparing Students for the Future???

Schools should be changing but are they? Check out this article http://www.time.com/time/printout/0,8816,1568480,00.html. What is your opinion on this topic?