What made me think "that’s so neat?" Electronic Training Jackets is a fascinating concept. The thought of being able to track and maintain someone’s progress and training with an ETJ is exceptional. I wonder how long before someone thinks of applying this to the civilian education system, if they haven’t already. How incredibly helpful it would be to have an electronic file on students that would follow him or her throughout their educational career.
When concepts and objectives are mastered it could be registered in some form on the ETC. The possibilities are boundless. I guess my concern comes with how much control will be the educators be able to maintain over instruction. I can see many pros and cons to ETJ’s; I wonder whether the advantages will outweigh the disadvantages.
My favorite activity of the semester was building the wiki. I enjoyed working with the other people in my group. It actually made the work interesting when working and collaborating with others. It also helped me to visualize what my students might go through if I used this as part of a project.
After being introduced to wikis, I started making a few of my own to help organize a couple of my classes and update my students as to where there should be in the assignment schedule. I have spent a good amount of time working on these. I have quite a few pages created consisting of assignment pages, handout pages, and link pages for several units. I have a number of students that have been utilizing these wikis because they have difficulty getting to class. Another feature I like with wikis is the discussion page. I can have students answer journal questions and respond to each others. Also, if they have questions, they can post them from home if they won’t be in for few days/weeks. It is a great communication tool for my students to utilize.
Also, a couple of teachers saw me working on them when I first started making them. I ended giving a presentation during one of our professional development days on wikis and using them in the classroom for a variety of purposes. One of the teachers I work, who was not able to attend the presentation because she was giving one at the same time, asked me to get her started. I helped her set up her account and gave her a quick overview. We worked on them together, periodically, if she had any questions. She now has five wikis set up for her classes, and her students love using them. She says they have made her life so much easier.
I haven’t reached that point yet because I don’t have a great deal of computer access in my classroom–but I’m working on it. I also plan on tweeking my existing wikis and creating more for other classes over the summer. I want to incorporate a more productive way of introducing them to students and teaching them how they can be used as a tool that will help them.
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Your thought that a “Jacket” could follow students though their educational career (and perhaps beyond) is probably already in use in some forward thinking school system. But is it a good thing? According to the latest surveys we all seem to be giving up control and privacy with little thought to the consequences. So much of our lives are being shared online. I read that Google is collecting data with our permission when we use their programs and services and we think little of the privacy issues associated with that. In the long run it probably is a good thing but at times I long to have a little of me that no one keeps track of.
ReplyDeleteI may have to come to you later on. I want to try using a wiki in the fall semester but haven’t put a good plan to it yet. It sounds as though you have become an expert.
Jim W.
I was impressed by the concept of Electronic Training Jackets, too. An adaptive system that functions as an intelligent tutor could help more students succeed. Maybe ETJ’s could bring “No Child Left Behind” efforts to a new level. Instead of standardized testing, technology could be used to guide students toward learning objectives in ways that best support individual learning.
ReplyDelete-Chad L.
Hi, Pat:
ReplyDeleteThe idea of Electronic Training Jackets also caught my attention when I read this chapter, and as long as you wear that jacket you are learning something. I am glad to see Electronic Training Jackets can integrated into our schools.
Shiao-Min
Hi Pat,
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting point you make about the ETJ and curriculum control. I hadn’t thought about it in a long time, but the U.K. has something called the National Curriculum. A few years back I had opportunity to talk to a few elementary (primary) school head teachers (principals) and I got the impression that compliance and reporting had become a huge part of their responsibilities and the curriculum drove everything.
I wonder if the adoption of something like ETJ at the top of a national curriculum structure would stifle creativity on the part of students and teachers alike. On the other hand, portability of a student’s academic progress could be an asset in a mobile society with children changing school districts throughout their educational experience. As you say, would disadvantages outweigh advantages?
Also, I want to wish you the best as you continue to pursue this program. I have enjoyed your postings, and your responses to mine. I hope we find ourselves in the same course again sometime.
Cheers!
Marilyn
I can see your point of having the Electronic Training Jacket follow a student, however I think that this could be a bad thing as well. It would kind of be like a credit report on a child. If they mess up at an early age, could, or would that be held against the student. Would a teacher treat the student differently just as banks treat people poorly if they have had bad credit. It is a scary thing to be able to have all info on a person at a drop of a hat.
ReplyDeleteNick
Training jackets were really interesting to read about as well as just about everything in this chapter!! I want to re-read it again when I have extra time! I too really enjoyed and learned a lot about the Wiki's! It was one of the best things I think I learned about in this class! Good luck in your future!
ReplyDelete.
Tara