NPR : Illinois Lowers Cut-off Scores for Immigrant Kids
Bless NPR. What else would I do on that hour drive to work? :)
This is an interesting story regarding the testing of ELLs in Illinios. There are many more issues raised by the story than are answered.
The lead in makes it sound as if Illinois is simply lowering the scores required to pass the state tests for ELLs. Then they disclose that this is a different test than the non-ELLs take and the it was originally just a proficiency test. The passing rates for the proficiency test were oringally based on cut-offs for exiting the bilingual programs and entering mainstream classes. Confused yet? Listen to the story, it won't help much.
There are a few questions that come to mind that are left unanswered in this piece.
1. Which ELLs take this alternative test? NCLB allows for ELLs to be tested using alternatives to the state test only for 3 years after entering the US educational system. This piece makes it sound as if all ELLs take this test for accountability measures.
2. Are these tests used for accountabililty reporting? They shouldn't be based upon my understanding of NCLB.
3. How does this proficiency test assess academic knowledge? Many of the proficiency tests that I've seen are better at assessing "everyday English" than academic language, much less content area knowledge.
Lots of questions, no answers for now.
Monday, July 25, 2005
Monday, July 18, 2005
Dekita.org: Central Weblog Exchange
Dekita.org: Central Weblog Exchange
I think that the idea of a central weblog exchange is wonderful. I'm sure that this would work with many classes, but many in US K-12 would likely point out that their schools have restrictions against publishing public pages.
This is tough to get around. Either you have the teacher act as mediator, or you password protect the blog. Either of these would make an exchange possible, if a little difficult.
Maybe a blog exchange could act as a "key master" for these blogs? This would alleviate the need for exchanging and managing passwords. Maybe set up like a social networking site. Teachers could make "friends" with other teachers. These "friends" could then access class blogs.
Just some ideas.
I think that the idea of a central weblog exchange is wonderful. I'm sure that this would work with many classes, but many in US K-12 would likely point out that their schools have restrictions against publishing public pages.
This is tough to get around. Either you have the teacher act as mediator, or you password protect the blog. Either of these would make an exchange possible, if a little difficult.
Maybe a blog exchange could act as a "key master" for these blogs? This would alleviate the need for exchanging and managing passwords. Maybe set up like a social networking site. Teachers could make "friends" with other teachers. These "friends" could then access class blogs.
Just some ideas.
CNN.com - U.S. schools lack adequate Chinese language skills - Jul 13, 2005
CNN.com - U.S. schools lack adequate Chinese language skills - Jul 13, 2005
Not too surprising for those of us in the field. I have heard this numerous times in the past couple years, but little has been done to improve the situation.
Many people are comparing this Japanese in the 80's but I think this is a foolish comparison. While learning Japanese would have been beneficial in the 80's, and today for that matter, China is a is a market that it just going to grow and grow and grow for the foreseeable future. While only time will tell, I would say that the sleeping giant of the 21st century is awaking.
Regardless of the economic and geo-political growth of China, we need to lift our schools out of a dated Euro-centric focus on language learning. I'm am a product of Spanish and Italian language classes myself and love both languages. Spanish has proven quite useful in numerous situations, but Italian has only proven useful in Italy and restaurants. Why not give students exposure to a language spoken by a billion people in China alone (assuming Mandarin is spoken by that many)?
Not too surprising for those of us in the field. I have heard this numerous times in the past couple years, but little has been done to improve the situation.
Many people are comparing this Japanese in the 80's but I think this is a foolish comparison. While learning Japanese would have been beneficial in the 80's, and today for that matter, China is a is a market that it just going to grow and grow and grow for the foreseeable future. While only time will tell, I would say that the sleeping giant of the 21st century is awaking.
Regardless of the economic and geo-political growth of China, we need to lift our schools out of a dated Euro-centric focus on language learning. I'm am a product of Spanish and Italian language classes myself and love both languages. Spanish has proven quite useful in numerous situations, but Italian has only proven useful in Italy and restaurants. Why not give students exposure to a language spoken by a billion people in China alone (assuming Mandarin is spoken by that many)?
Sunday, July 17, 2005
CNN.com - Older students transforming some colleges - Jul 15, 2005
CNN.com - Older students transforming some colleges - Jul 15, 2005
These articles come along once in a while and remind us that not all college students are 18-22. In fact, the "Non-Traditional" Students seem to be making up more and more students. These students have different needs and different requirements.
I offer this in response to critics who insist that today's students are better in tune with technology than their parents. According to this article, their parents are in the same classes :)
These articles come along once in a while and remind us that not all college students are 18-22. In fact, the "Non-Traditional" Students seem to be making up more and more students. These students have different needs and different requirements.
I offer this in response to critics who insist that today's students are better in tune with technology than their parents. According to this article, their parents are in the same classes :)
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
MSN Spaces
MSN Spaces
I guess this is SharePoint for the public :)
They must be testing the waters with this release. I'm not sure where it will go from here, but I give a review of what I've tried to use.
Modules - This is a system based on what they refer to a modules. I'm assuming these are similar to portlet/webparts/etc. This allows you to easily add/remove and position functions on the screen. I like the ability to drag and drop the modules, which is not possible in other similar applications, such as phpNuke.
Access - You can open this space to the public, everyone on your MSN Messenger contact list, or selected persons.
Custom Lists - These are somewhat limited. It basically allows you to make link lists.
Blog - I like the Blog utility. It's a pretty good interface and gives all the basic bells & whistles that most blogs include.
Archives - I think that this is an archive of the entire space during that period, not just an archive of blog entries. I guess I'll have to wait a month to figure this one out.
Photo Album - This looks like the neatest module, but I can't get it to work. It won't let me choose pictures on my computer to upload. Hopefully this gets worked out soon.
All-in-all, this is an application to watch. The power of MS and their seeming ability to succeed even when coming to the market late may win out in the end.
I guess this is SharePoint for the public :)
They must be testing the waters with this release. I'm not sure where it will go from here, but I give a review of what I've tried to use.
Modules - This is a system based on what they refer to a modules. I'm assuming these are similar to portlet/webparts/etc. This allows you to easily add/remove and position functions on the screen. I like the ability to drag and drop the modules, which is not possible in other similar applications, such as phpNuke.
Access - You can open this space to the public, everyone on your MSN Messenger contact list, or selected persons.
Custom Lists - These are somewhat limited. It basically allows you to make link lists.
Blog - I like the Blog utility. It's a pretty good interface and gives all the basic bells & whistles that most blogs include.
Archives - I think that this is an archive of the entire space during that period, not just an archive of blog entries. I guess I'll have to wait a month to figure this one out.
Photo Album - This looks like the neatest module, but I can't get it to work. It won't let me choose pictures on my computer to upload. Hopefully this gets worked out soon.
All-in-all, this is an application to watch. The power of MS and their seeming ability to succeed even when coming to the market late may win out in the end.
Technology - Remembering Netscape: The Birth of the Web - FORTUNE - Page
Technology - Remembering Netscape: The Birth of the Web - FORTUNE - Page
An interesting, yet long piece on Netscape's role in the "birth" of the Web. It tends to drag on a little, but if you're like me, you'll enjoy the account.
An interesting, yet long piece on Netscape's role in the "birth" of the Web. It tends to drag on a little, but if you're like me, you'll enjoy the account.
CNN.com - Bloggers learn the price of telling too much - Jul 11, 2005
CNN.com - Bloggers learn the price of telling too much - Jul 11, 2005
This is a two-pronged article that addresses not only the dangers of adults posting personal blog entries, but also the growing danger of our children posting personal information on their blogs.
The focus on adults is that postings will lead to negative consequences down the road in their careers. The focus on children hints at this as well, but cautions more on the the dangers of posting personal information online that can lead to embarassing situations at least, not to mention the physical dangers that can arise out of letting the world view your personal information.
The article suggests a couple ways that we can education both adults and children on the dangers.
This is a two-pronged article that addresses not only the dangers of adults posting personal blog entries, but also the growing danger of our children posting personal information on their blogs.
The focus on adults is that postings will lead to negative consequences down the road in their careers. The focus on children hints at this as well, but cautions more on the the dangers of posting personal information online that can lead to embarassing situations at least, not to mention the physical dangers that can arise out of letting the world view your personal information.
The article suggests a couple ways that we can education both adults and children on the dangers.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Bloggers Need Not Apply
Thank's for the heads up from EFL Geek
Bloggers need not apply
Here is a scary article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. However, it makes sense. When someone publishes a blog they open their writing (and sometimes these lives) to the world to see. So, we either hope that the committees are not tech-savy enough to find our blogs, or you hold your tongue and keep it professional. I'll vote the second option.
What this article doesn't address is the fact that most people who dish on their blogs tend to do it in an alias. While it might be possible to track someone down, it is highly unlikely that a committee will do so (hint, hint ;)
Bloggers need not apply
Here is a scary article in the Chronicle of Higher Education. However, it makes sense. When someone publishes a blog they open their writing (and sometimes these lives) to the world to see. So, we either hope that the committees are not tech-savy enough to find our blogs, or you hold your tongue and keep it professional. I'll vote the second option.
What this article doesn't address is the fact that most people who dish on their blogs tend to do it in an alias. While it might be possible to track someone down, it is highly unlikely that a committee will do so (hint, hint ;)
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