Monitor and adjust is a practice all educators, parents, etc. implement on a daily, if not moment by moment, basis without really realizing that we are monitoring and adjusting.
As educators, we monitor our students' comprehensions of a concept taught by asking questions, creating assessments, and providing opportunities to apply and synthesize the concept. Once the assessment is completed- whatever form it might be- we adjust our teaching practices to meet the needs of our students if the outcomes are not satisfactory.
With the growing use of technology in the classroom, I have had the opportunity to monitor and adjust often- network goes down, laptop acts up, Smartboard does not connect... What do you do? This past week, when the school's network decided to take a little break, I could not use any of my technology tools. The students thought they had a "free" day. However, much to their dismay, I took the Smartboard down and began writing on the white board. A collective gasp could be heard in the neighboring county. The students could not believe that I - 1. took down the Smartboard-wasn't that against the law- 2. could remember information that was saved on the computer- and 3. had the audacity to continue a lesson without my technology tools. When I wrote on the board, I wrote in cursive. You would have thought I was writing in a foreign language. Again, I had to adjust to meet the needs of my students.
This little glitch in the system gave me a chance to share the importance of being prepared. The students had to present their research PowerPoint projects at the end of the week, so I tried to impress upon them the importance of backing up their work and saving it on more than one device. One young lady- "Jean"- we'll call her- brought her flash drive in on Tuesday- the day before her presentation- to make sure her project would open up on the screen. It didn't, of course, and she began to panic. She said that it was my laptop and that the flash drive worked at home. She wanted to know what I was going to do if the project wouldn't open up on Wednesday. (She had monitored; now she had to adjust.) I smiled and suggested that she visit our media/technology specialist or one of the computer aps teachers to make sure nothing was wrong with her flash drive and that she should burn the presentation to a CD. The CD suggestion presented me with the "Have you lost your mind?"look.
Wednesday arrived, and the presentations began. "Jean" was the first to present. When her flash drive would not open her presentation, she pulled out a CD, put it in, and began. At the end of the presentation, she had to address what she learned from the research that was most beneficial for her and her future. Her response-with a grin at me-"CD's are still useful and always be prepared." Of course the responses had nothing to do with her research topic, but they are beneficial to her future. CD's might not be the back up source for saving information, but something will be. And being prepared is -well- just good sense.
As for monitoring and adjusting, it is a means of survival.
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Monitor and adjust is a requirement for teachers who work with students with ADHD and/or learning disabilities. You not only have to think fast on your feet, you must have Plans B,C and sometimes D. I, too, write in cursive when I write on a board or overhead. My kids (6th grade) are just learning to read cursive. They are also just learning to write in cursive. All only because I require it. My frustration is that even though I feel I give my kids everything possible, it is still not enough.
ReplyDeleteOh-How True!!! We hear so many stories of how the computer crashing is the "worst thing" that could ever happen. Really now! I have had some pretty interesting looks when I say-well you could have written the assignment out for me. I know I get on my son's nerves when I emphasize penmanship-but the "old school" in me still feels that it is important. How Happy I was to see a story brought home last week written in cursive and laminated by the teacher. I know that there can be a grand mix of both worlds!!
ReplyDeleteMonitor and adjust is part of the teaching life. We have to reconcile ourselves to this part of the teaching life. We have to do it so often. It just becomes a natural part of life. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed at students' lack of preparation when they have to present something in class. We, as educators, are expected to monitor and adjust and always be prepared--our job depends upon it. I have had similar experiences where students thought because the smartboard didn't work or the laptops wouldn't connect that a "free day" was in their future. I love watching the disappointment on their faces when they realize, "Oh no, they have a back up plan..."
ReplyDeleteLast semester, my students had to create public service announcements related to the research papers they created in English 101. The papers were based on controversial issues, and the PSA was supposed to reflect the argument they were stating in the paper. I was amazed then at the lack of preparation on their parts. One out of every three would get up to present and had not "published" the presentation in moviemaker, yet they would look at me as if I had done something wrong. They could not believe that I would not allow them to go to the computer lab and "fix the problem" right then so they would not lose full-credit for the assignment. Many of them were forced to learn the hard way about the importance of giving your technology and presentation a "test-run" before just crossing your fingers and hoping for the best.
I too have received "the look," so I know what you mean. Even with small assignments, I tell my students to create a backup because I have learned the hard way to do this. Back in December, my students were using EssayScorer. The program very plainly suggests typing and saving the essay in a word processing program and then copying and pasting. One of my seniors didn't follow my verbal and written instructions. When his computer froze, he lost what he had typed. Next step, type it over...guess what? He still did the same thing. I had no sympathy for him. What started as a quickwrite in his journal could have developed into an excellent essay. I refrained from giving him the "DUH" look when he started whining!
ReplyDeleteOh, my goodness! I'm sure any one of us could have written a similar post, just different names, and assignments. We are the "Kings" and "Queens" of Monitor, Adjust, and Flexible. that's the name of our game. My husband is in a completely different field than we are. He cannot believe the amount of adjusting we have to do. I say..."Teachers are the Masters!"
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