More than a number

Technology has made its way into the classroom and its here to stay. The University of Nebraska at Kearney uses technology in several classrooms. The lecture halls have adopted the clicker to make participating a lot easier. The Personal Response System, or the clicker, makes participating easier for the student and the professor. The clicker is very helpful in lecture hall settings, but most of UNK’s classrooms are smaller than 30 students. This makes the technology unnecessary in some forms. Making use of the clicker campus wide is not what UNK should do. UNK believes you are not a number in the classroom, but with a clicker that’s what students become. A number.

When using the clicker, students click in for attendance and to take quizzes throughout class. This may be useful for the professor but what about personal interaction? Professors then know you by your clicker number and not your name. UNK is known for their small classroom numbers and this is what attracts students to attend. The small classroom size gives lots of opportunity for personal interaction. Professors know your name as well as understand your learning style. The clicker takes all that away. Professors still encourage questions and input, but with a clicker in hand most students no longer talk in class. This is not the case for smaller classes on campus. Interaction is key in these classes and usually a requirement. Having a clicker at hand would put the interaction on the back burner and the focus would be on the clicker.

Having total focus on the clicker takes away from what should be learned in class. Technology does fail and the clickers do fail. If your clicker doesn’t register on the board, then you could be out of points for the day. Telling the professor may help but let’s face it; this just takes up class time. Technology will forever slow down classroom time when it fails, think about having 10 clickers fail in class. The clicker then creates an unnecessary frustration and class time is once again lost. Let’s take the clicker out of classrooms that do not need them. Small classrooms are made for discussion and the clicker halts the discussion.

UNK should not make clicker technology campus wide because it will hinder learning in small classrooms. Students come to UNK for the class size and personal interaction. Let’s not take that away from students by adding unnecessary technology. UNK does not want students to be a number in the back of the classroom. Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen by voicing our opinions about the use of clickers on UNK’s campus.

Katie Moss

What happened to rasing your hand in class?

The clicker system is called Personal Response System. Personal response is not something this device does in my opinion. I would much rather have my professor know my name rather than knowing me by my clicker number. I found an article at UNL about the use of clickers on their campus. UNL did a two semester trial run with the clickers and it was successful. 20 Lecture halls were made fully equip for clickers. The cost was 2,000 for each building...you do the math. Each student were to buy a non refundable clicker for $30. Many professors got on a waiting list to use the classrooms made for clickers because it was a hit at UNL. I think this works for UNL but not UNK. The size difference plays a role here. UNL has many more lecture halls then we do and their attendance is a lot more than us. That's okay because our campus focuses on the small classroom with personal contact. There are days I want to be a number in the back of a classroom but not always. I am not the loudest in my classes but I think if I had a clicker I would never talk. Technology is taking away a lot of personal contact and I think we are all falling into that trap. It's easier for a professor to take grades from a clicker. This is because you click in with your number and it automatically records in the grade book. I know this helps encourage students to participate because points are on the line but I want the normal lecture class to earn my points.Another thing I want to point out is our campus is making budget cuts left and right...how would we pay for this? Professors are asked not to print off things for students to save paper. Matt and I noticed today that Thomas Hall has new classroom numbers and office number boards outside each classroom. I don't understand the budget cuts and I don't even want to get into that one, but I think we need to think about the clicker issue seriously before we make this campus wide. Clickers are not needed campus wide at UNK, I just want to raise my hand.

Here is a link to the users guide book on PRS.

Clickers Number Us

I was talking to a friend about using clickers campus wide today and she brought up a good point. How long would it take to get something passed in order for this to happen? Would we vote on it or would it just be placed into our school? I don't have a problem with clickers in classrooms but I think they should only be used in certain situations. If every class had them would the attendance policy change? There is not a campus wide policy now so I think having the clickers might change that. English classes are made for discussion about a reading or something along those lines. Science classes are made for understanding and retaining information. English would be very different if we change it to click in to answer a question. I think this would make a professors job more complicated. I think this because they would have to make the clicker quizzes all the time, whereas now the professor starts a conversation and students give input. The reason I came to UNK is because of the class size UNK doesn't want you to be a number in the back of a classroom. With a clicker I think we would be a number. That's not what our campus is about and I don't want to see it move that direction.

Jail Tour

Yesterday my mother and I went on a jail tour. I wanted to go because in class we talked about individual showers and I wanted to see if this was true. Yes it is very true. But there is reason behind it and other things have been taken away. Prisoners no longer have contact with their visitors or the judge. It's basically like Skype. Each cell has two people in it and a shower. But what I am thinking is, the water is probably turned on for a small amount of time and that's it. There is no cafeteria, all prisoners eat in their pod. The only time they leave the pod is to exercise. The exercise area is no longer outside, its a small room with two windows. The officers said inmates just walk in circles. The jail is only half done but they will be using the new one in March. The officer told us that UNK students will be coming in this next week as pretend inmates. Officers will practice using the booking area, the pods, and serving meals. There are at least 100 students signed up. That would be interesting but I wouldn't want to do that. It was an interesting Saturday afternoon and I learned a lot about the purpose behind this jail. Safety is a huge issue so inmates hardly leave their cells. The officer said during the weekends they tend to fill up.....I wonder why.

Technology Does Fail

I have been thinking about using clickers in the classroom and I just had a thought...what if technology fails? Technology can either be friend or foe and we all know we get frustrated with it. What if I am sitting in a clicker class and my clicker fails? I will tell the teacher; we will change the batteries; and we will try it again. By this time we have used 10 mins of class time. What if this happens to multiple students? I would be frustrated not only with my own clicker but others clickers as well. Technology in Thomas Hall is lacking on the fact that it does not work well. Last semester a teacher of mine would yell at the technology for at least 20 mins then finally give up.

After reading the article in The Antelope I now understand that UNK doesn't want each building have this technology. A professor just wants all the teachers to know how to use it in case they want to. This is mainly for large lecture halls or teachers who find it handy. I used one and it was frustrating at first. You are assigned a number and when you click in your number shows up on the screen. Now let me mind you that there are over 100 students doing the same....good luck finding your number. I am not against this technology by any means I just don't see it working out too well on UNKs campus. Our classes are too small to have a need for them. But who knows maybe UNK will becoming a clicking college.

Clickers in the Classroom

Having clickers in the classroom is new to most students. I used one in a biology class here at UNK and it was fine for that class. That was a large lecture hall and it would be hard to have everyone participate equally. Now all of my classes are under 20 students and it would be ridiculous for us to get out our clickers to take attendance or take a quiz. I found a video of elementary and high school students using them, and I found it to work quite well. The teacher made a point that all the students have to participate because if your number doesn't pop up on the screen then you get called on. Also this shows students who think the same way they do and this doesn't make them feel different. Also the teacher can adjust lessons due to the results of the clickers. Also those students who do not like to raise their hand can simply click in their answer. This video put clickers into a very good and helpful light. But in a college class (that is not a lecture hall) I don't see this working as well. I also think the subject being taught plays a role in this. Clickers in an English class just wouldn't work in my opinion. I don't think UNK should rewire all the buildings to be clicker friendly because not all classes would use them. Where is the personal contact? Technology is taking over the schools in a good and bad way. The next generation isn't going to be able to communicate with out their clicker....lets not go there.

Resources that don't work

It has been one heck of a weekend for me and it's still not looking up. I had to make the long journey to Illinois on Thursday for my grandpa's funeral. It was a long and emotional weekend for me and my family. I came back on Saturday with part of my family but my parents stayed one more day to help my grandma. Since no one was going to be at my parents house I drove to Fremont to see my boyfriend. Now it's Sunday and time for me to head home. It's sunny out and the snow is beginning to melt. To me that looks like a good day to drive home. I checked 511Nebraska.org to check on the highway and interstate conditions because my parents who are driving home now say the wind it blowing snow like crazy. The website said everything was open and clear. Well guess why...they LIED. I was about to get on the highway when I saw road blocks and cars being pulled over. The highway from Fremont to Seward is closed. I go back to my boyfriends and we check the website. It is still telling me it's open. Now I am unsure if I will make it back today or if I will miss class yet again on Monday.

If we have these resources, then why are they not correct. I could have saved a lot of time, money, and energy if the website was correct. Why even have it? Aren't there people just sitting on their butts updating this? I think there should be. I am upset because I know the highway didn't just close right when I pulled up to it. This website appears to be reliable and functioning but it's a joke. A complete joke!

I am a little frustrated with this but there is not much I can do about mother nature. The website is now updated with the information I need. Thanks for that an hour later. Hope I make it to class on Monday!

What I learned from the Super bowl

Who knew the super bowl could be a teaching tool......here's what I learned

1. You can build a house out of Bud Light. It's best if the cans are full so then you can just rip one out of the wall any time.

2. Snickers can turn you into an old person in the middle of a football game. Also Betty White can take one hell of a hit.
3. We should focus on family because Tim Tebow tells us to. Also it's okay to clothes line your mom because you are clearly focusing on the family.

4. Dorito's Nice Play commercial is how every little boy should be.

5. The Simpson's will never die.

6. Sketchers Shape Ups just make you walk funny.

7. Bridgestone tried to be funny like the Hangover but it didn't work.

8. The Boost Mobile Shuffle is the new Cupid Shuffle for sure.

9. E-Trade babies are back with more attitude

10. There was a football game going on in between all the commercials.

For me the super bowl has always been about the commercials and this year I learned more than ever. Anything is possible in 31 seconds.

Teach what the Students want to Know.

School systems thrive on making their education program the best it can be. Nebraska thought they did just this when a large lump sum from the federal government was given to teach abstinence only. The abstinence only program teaches children nothing about sex, it’s just a regular health lesson. When the chapter about sex comes up, students are simply told, “don’t do it.” Students do not receive any information about protection, birth control, or how to use them correctly. If students don’t understand all there is to know about sex, then how can they make the right choices? Nebraska public school systems must teach sex education the correct way to ensure students can be safe in the choices they make with sex.

Sex education does not corrupt students but rather it helps them be prepared. Sex is a part of life, just like driving a car. We have students take drivers education to prepare them, sex education can be used in the same way. Teaching abstinence only simply leaves sex a big mystery and that doest not prepare them for when the time comes. Being prepared for anything in life is what school teaches us. School teaches us how to read, write, add, subtract, and even how to become apart of society. But why does the public school system leave out a big part of life? This is because the school system sees sex education as promoting sex.
Promoting sex is one thing but promoting safe and protected sex is the correct way. Teaching students how to put on a condom may be scary to any parent, but the outcome will be great.

Promoting safe sex will help reduce high school pregnancies. Parents will be happy to know their child is being safe and this can ease their minds. Public schools must teach sex education because parents don’t always have the talk. Parents avoid the talk at all costs because it’s awkward for them to tell their teenager about sex. If this was a required subject in Nebraska schools, then parents wouldn’t have to worry about this. Their child would be learning about sex in a safe environment and they wouldn’t be required to talk to their parents about this.

Nebraska public schools needs to take the issue of sex education into their own hands. Having sex education in schools will help promote safety and a life long education. We all learn about where babies come from in school, but what they don’t teach us is how to make them. Sex education needs to be a required course to allow students to make the right choices. Nebraska public schools needs to give the federal money back, and teach the students what they want to learn. Teaching sex education is a must for all public schools, especially in Nebraska.

Katie Moss

Nebraska State Law

Nebraska state law does not require sex education. Local school boards decide whether or not to teach sex ed and which subjects. In 2006 Nebraska received $1,256,681 in federal funds for abstinence only until marriage program in 2006. Why doesn't NE take that money and teach kids something valuable. On the web site sexetc.org there is a book being promoted in order to help teens get the sex ed they need in their schools. This book is called Road Map and it gives all the reasons why we should teach sex ed and also we schools are refusing to teach this. I read through most of the book online and I found it to be great. It even gives tips to teachers on how to make the sex conversation less awkward. Most sex ed classes fail to give the information and skills they need to navigate a world that is full of sex.

We need to force schools to teach sex ed the correct way. If students knew all there was to know then maybe teen pregnancy wouldn't be so common. Parents need to step up as well. Making it known all the consequences behind sex will go farther than you know. I feel like NE was given all this money to shut us up and just teach NO SEX. Well we all know kids do it....so lets teach them right.

The Video

I am trying to find a new out look on sex education in schools because it has been an issue for so long. Then I thought about the video I watched in 4th grade. The boys and girls were divided into different rooms and parents were invited to watch the video as well. I remember having no clue what this video was about. Once I watched it, I had a lot of questions. So here is my question now, should we even show that video at such a young age. I realize it's about puberty but we don't go through it in 4th grade. That is a question to ask parents and see what they think about that.

I was looking for that video on youtube because I couldn't remember what it was about. When I found the video, I was asked to use my youtube account because you have to be 18 yrs or older to watch it. STRANGE. If we can see it in 4th grade, why can't I watch it online.

Anyways I know I am talking about a whole lot of nothing but it's because the school systems just need to make a choice and stick with it. Parents are always going to fight the school system no matter what. I think if it's a mandatory class that tells you the outs and ends of sex, then parents can prepare their child before they take it. Talking about the birds and the bees is apart of life.

I think public schools systems are afraid to teach this matter because of parents. But if parents don't like what public schools are doing...then they can send their kids to a private school. I still haven't taken a stand on this issue yet because morals always play a role. Lets just say I feel bad for the professor who has to teach putting a condom on a banana to a bunch of high school kids.

Light one up...I dare you.

While reading the Lincoln Journal Star I came across an article that wants to target kids caught smoking by fining them $100 for having it in their possession. Senator Stuthman wants to outlaw the possession of tobacco for underage kids because he feels like it will keep the young from being addicted. I feel like this bill is a massive DTP! It's just like kids getting MIPs. They know that it happens but it doesn't stop them from getting wasted. Same with this bill, we know what will happen to us if we get caught....key word, caught. I think that lawmakers are honestly trying to make Nebraska a better place to live by making these bills, but at the same time I think we need to spend our money on better things. Don't we already have a law or something about this? Why don't we change the law about the age of being able to smoke. Make it harder to purchase them instead of seven 11 workers turning their heads. To scare you into this bill even more...it stays on your record forever. Scary right?

Who needs to teach it?

Should schools talk to kids about sex or should parents be responsible? Some parents do a great job and informing their kids but some parents who shouldn't even have kids probably don't care. When I was in high school sex education consisted of telling us the body parts and watching a birth. I think we watched the live birth because it was a scare tactic....didn't work for half my graduating class. The heath teacher taught us all the STDs but most of us had no idea how you even got them. I don't think it was even called sex education at my school. It was just a section of material for health class. Plus having an older man teach you about sex is not how you really want to learn it.

Do I think kids should be teach how to use a condom or what birth control is...I am not sure yet. I want to teach middle or high school kids and I don't like the thought of these kids knowing the ends and outs of sex. But at the same time we need to look at it from a birth prevention stand. You can look at this issue as a moral view and I think the school system does this. If it's simply education then what is the problem? Is there a problem with the abstinence only approach?

Watch this video and then you decide.