Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Research or you will be sucked into wasteful writing programs!
Routman tells us to be cautious about choosing writing programs to introduce in the classroom. I chose this video because this writing program called Excellence in Writing expressed online to be an effective writing program to boast students’ skills. As the program is introduced, the set comes with 9 DVDs and the first 6 are for the teacher, the rest are for the students to watch. This is TIME consuming. Why would teachers want to make their lives more complicated by wasting time watching videos instead of observing other teachers practices or talking amongst their colleagues to share ideas? This maybe a good program but it requires more out of the teacher. Routman illustrates a model that does not require hours of preparation and students watching videos. The optimal learning model is more engaging and the students will develop all the skills this writing program is trying to separate into different lessons. Are students really learning watching a video on how to write? How is that going to improve their writing? Why do you think teachers gravitate towards these writing programs without seeking their immediate resources first? If you were a teacher would you buy this program?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This actually is a great program used at many schools, public and private to give teachers additional training in an effective method for working with students, using very clear and useful structural models and stylistic techniques. Many teachers will admit that teaching writing is one of the hardest parts of their job, and the materials for helping them are not effective. This is one of the few things we've found that actually works! And any teacher who's not willing to put in a few hours every few weeks for professional development and self-improvement isn't likely to be all that successful in the long run. I wonder if Jessica has any experience with IEW other than this video. If not, her assumption and generalization is quite unfair. We love this program!
ReplyDeleteI think that IEW is a good program to help teacher and students with their writing. However, I believe that as teachers we need to learn how to teach our students the techniques and different ways of writing. As far as a teacher reference, I believe that this is a good program. For the students, it is something that can be beneficial, but only if the teacher teaches it to them. Most often students need a role model or someone to help explain certain subjects within writing or grammar. It is important to have an effective program that teachers and students can benefit from.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I believe that peer collaboration is extremely important. A lot of times we can solve problems about writing right in our own schools. If we as teachers talk to each other and figure out how we can solve these problems together, it not only will solve the problem, but also cause teachers to be on the same page together. If writing techniques are consistent in every classroom, then the students will feel more comfortable and confident about their work. Personally if I was a teacher and was struggling, I would first ask my peers. If we could not come up with a solution altogether then I would gravitate towards IEW and use it as a tool for all teacher to watch together and discuss it.
I feel like a program that includes DVD’s as the teaching part would not be effective in the classroom. Teachers choose these programs because they are lazy and do not want to use the optimal learning model that Routman explains. Teachers just hope that their students will magically learn how to write, which is not the case. I think that if teachers buy this writing program suggested in the video that the students will learn nothing. Students cannot just watch a DVD and then know how to write well, it doesn’t work that way. Learning to write takes time and practice, but it also takes examples coming from the teachers. Popping in a DVD gives the teacher free time while the students watch and learn nothing. I would never buy a program like this because I have no faith that it would work. I think by introducing writing in front of the all the students and showing my own work will get the students interested more. By using the optimal learning model I can slowly let go of a step at a time and in the end the students will be wonderful writers. There is no need for expensive programs, all you need is for students to write every day and practice their skill.
ReplyDeleteThis program, IEW seems confusing to me. I am sure once a teacher actually receives this set program, it is step by step, but then again, what is the purpose of teaching if you have to use other people's sources to teach your own students? A good teacher should want to be creative and come up with new ways to teach their students to write. I know this is easier said than done, but isn't that why teachers teach?
ReplyDeleteHaving these programs are a waste of money, and are the students really going to remember those dvds as a positive learning experience when they look back on their schooling later on in life? I highly doubt that.
This video frightens me that teachers actually use this. The speaker said that the program is not about brainstorming, but teaching writing. Like a teacher can just skip the whole idea of brainstorming. I thought that brainstorming was a huge part of creating one's own ideas when writing. This program gives me the vibe that it is robot learning.
Teachers can just put in a dvd, and then out comes better writers? This cannot be possible. Routman's entire book, with her Optimal Learning Model, along with activities, and tips to teachers has to be less expensive than this IEW program, and way more helpful in the long run to helping children receive a positive and successful writing experience they will cherish for a long time.
After watching the video I had mixed emotions towards the IEW writing program. I thought the program would be positive for teachers, because the more resources the better in my opinion. As a teacher it never hurts to have numerous resources to refer to or use for lesson plan ideas, information, or for other purposes. I would not mind buying this product as a resource for myself in the classroom. I could use these resources to get more ideas and further educate myself as a teacher. The programs package seems packed with lots of resources that I am sure would have lots to offer a teacher.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand I am not going to show my students DVD’s on writing. I feel that shared writing or “whole-class share” as discussed in Routman (2005) would be more beneficial to student development in writing than watching a DVD. I would argue that most students would either zone out while watching the DVD or not take away anything from the DVD. Rather, in shared writing and “whole-class share” within the classroom, students are able to grow as confident, well-rounded, passionate, and creative writers (Routman, p. 207). Students will participate in writing along with their peers and the teacher, and learn and review writing techniques. As well, like the DVD, shared writing and “whole-class share” appeals to visual learners (Routman, p. 207). In addition, as discussed in both the text and in class, students need to be given real reasons to write, and I feel that opportunity would arise more within the classroom than in a DVD (Routman, p.13). I believe teachers can use the resources in the IEW program to enhance teaching and lesson plans, while using creativity and classroom modeling exercises to help students develop as writers. Instead, teachers should use the DVD for their reference only.
I agree with the statement that these DVD videos would be a waste of time and money. Teachers and students both need real tangible life experiences that they can learn from. As Routman discusses, student conferences and class discussion on writing are extremely important and the skills learned in these interactions can't be acquired through a video. Teacher's that are becoming burned out begin taking a disinterest in their subjects that they teach and look for new methods that allow them to take an easy way out of teaching. This also goes back to Routman's statement that if it is demonstrated to students that all writing is about is watching and practicing techniques learned in a video, then what message does that send students? It demonstrates to them that their teacher doesn't value writing by lacking enthusiasm in this passive teaching style. This enthusiasm that drives children to write can only be achieved through real human interactions occurring between students and teachers within the classroom.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is easy for us to say that we wouldn't use resources like instructional DVDs on how to teach writing, I think that some teachers don't see other options for innovating new ways to teach their students writing. I think that it also seems like an easy option to pop in a DVD and think that you are more knowledgable on teaching writing. I do not agree that these DVDs would be the most efficient or effective ways to get ideas about how to teach writing, but I can see why some teachers may think that. I think that observing other teachers and doing more hands-on work with teaching writing would be a better idea. I think that other teachers within your school would be a great resource to use to bounce ideas about teaching writing off one another. It does not even necessarily need to be the same grade level, because writing is an art that only becomes more sophisticated as students get older, but writing lessons can be adjusted to fit a variety of grade levels. As for students watching this DVD, I think that is ludicrous! The only way to get students to improve their writing skills is to writing. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! :)
ReplyDeleteThis IEW program seems like it might have some good qualities. It probably provides resources that show a step-by-step way to teach writing productively that could help teachers who don’t have a cohesive curriculum prepared. Having said this, I feel like this program may end up being very redundant and robotic. Having all the steps written out in a series of lessons, leaves very little room for creative freedom. If teachers taught every lesson by simply going through the motions of a multimedia lesson, I feel like it would be very boring for the students. I really like Routman’s Optimal Learning model because she provides a skeleton for a successful teaching tool, which the teachers can use to teach their own creative lessons. The Optimal Learning Model is not a step-by-step, but rather a way tool to help teachers execute their lessons more productively.
ReplyDeleteAnother part of the IEW program that I do not condone is having the kids watching DVDs to teach them how to write. This is absurd. What is the point of teachers if this DVD is going to teach for them? With Routman’s model, the learning process includes teacher, student, and peer cooperation. It encourages working together to promote writing. Using DVD’s is an impersonal way to teach. I think it is important for students to see that the teacher cares. This helps students to gain confidence. By removing the teacher from the learning process, a huge void is produced. Teachers and students need to work side-by-side to build a productive and enriching learning environment.
When choosing a writing program you do need to be careful because what you choose can and will affect the way your students write and see writing as a whole. At times teachrs have tried out most of their resources and will look to try something like this. I believe that this is ok to a certain extent. I feel that you should look to these kinds of programs for ideas that can help you as a teacher help to motivate your students and get ideas on differnet kinds of ways to present the methods of good writing practice. Some students may learn better like this but at the end of the day it is NOT a subsitute for a real teacher teaching writing skills.
ReplyDeleteRoutman gives a plenty of amazing ways to go about teaching the subject of writing.
BY: WILLIAM BURNS
I agree that the optimal learning model is the most engaging way to develop students writing. The program, Excellence in Writing, seems like an effective writing program but it does seem very time consuming. I think that the most important thing is to get students writing and practicing hands on instead of watching a video on how to write. I know as a student I never enjoyed the videos we watched in class and found them boring and a waste of time. I always thought it was a way for teachers to take the easy way out and a way for them to get out of teaching writing which can be a difficult topic. I think I would use these writing videos as a supplement to Routman’s model and just show clips of important points. I really do not think it is necessary to buy the set of 9 DVDs when as a teacher there are many other programs such as Routman’s optimal learning model that proves to be just as effective if not more so.
ReplyDeleteI definitely have mixed emotions about this Excellence in Writing program. At first I was watching the video thinking that this was just another infomercial trying to get money from any source possible. I then started thinking that in today's time and day, technology has definitely been influential in younger generations. Just as new video games are producing exercise and educational games for younger children, EIW is embracing this phenomenon. If a student gets to watch TV while learning how to write, they might get a lot out of it. But then I also think that if we can just take away the teacher aspect of the program and turn on a DVD to teach writing, what is then our purpose of being there? Do we just turn on the TV and supervise the students as they learn to write by watching the DVD? I think at Chapman, we are spoiled with wonderful teachers who actually teach us to teach writing, which will then allow us to teach our future students, without depending on a DVD program to do the work for us.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't sound like a great tool to use in the classroom because it violates a lot of teaching roles. Such as teacher and student connect, the teachers' ability to be creative and come up with their own lesson plans. The dvds might be okay to help teachers become better teachers, something a teacher can watch on their own time. Also could be a faster way to inspire a teacher, if the video is an effective one. Such as help a teacher develop a writing lesson plan, or introduce helpful techniques to teaching writing. Even though it is possible to get this from a book, like the one we are reading in class, a dvd could be the visual version.
ReplyDeleteIn general I don't believe that writing programs are that effective. They are expensive and time consuming. I also believe that it is extrememly difficult to find a program that will work for all of your students. I'm sure IEW has some good material, but there are other ways that are more cost-effective and less time consuming.
ReplyDeleteAs the teacher, you should know all the students in your classroom. You know what does and doesn't work for your class as a whole and individually.
As a student I would have rather watched a DVD than do a boring writing assignment. However, watching a DVD does nothing for the students. They need to actually practice writing in order to get better. Teachers need creative, engaging writing activities to get their students excited and willing to write. A lot of these programs stifle teacher's as well as the students' creativity. The instructors could watch the DVDs during their own time and implement key elements, but I don't suggest that the students watch the DVDs during class.
Teachers could meet with one another and discuss various methods that were either successes or failures and they could even brainstorm and collaborate on possible lessons and exercises. I'm sure there are plenty of great free resources found online that offer tips and materials for teaching writing. Blogs such as this one, or teacher forums are a great place to discuss and exchange ideas as well.
I agree with Jessica, I do not believe that students are learning to become better writers by watching videos. I believe it to be much more effective to have a teacher demonstrating the writing process, rather than watching a video. The optimal learning model, suggested by Routman, is definitely more effective than watching a video. By having the demonstration, shared demonstration, guided practice, and independent practice stages utilized in the classroom can be very effective for students who are trying to become better writers. I think some teachers choose to use writing programs that involve watching videos because it takes less effort, concerning actual teaching during class time. The teacher can allow the videos to teach the students instead of taking the time to utilize the optimal learning model. If I were a teacher, I would not buy this program. To be used properly, the program would take a lot of extra time outside of class, which is very precious to teachers because they already have many tasks to complete, including planning, grading, and other preparations. I would choose to utilize Routman’s optimal learning model because I believe it is a much more effective way of teaching students to be better writers.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this video and writing program is way too time consuming. To think that a teacher can sit down and watch 6 DVDs on how to teach writing is crazy. The optimal learning model is simple and teaches students what they need to know and how to develop. Also, the optimal learning model is a lot more engaging than having students sit down and watch 3 DVDs. I don’t believe that students are going to want to watch a video on how to write. If they do, they will not gain enough information to actually improve it. Again, the optimal learning model gives great examples and models of work. I think that teachers would want to do something like this because they can just show a video and not have to do anything. They could probably skip watching the first 6 videos. Also, I think teachers believe that a video can teach more and better than they can. If I was a teacher right now, I would not buy this program. It’s like someone else is doing my job for me.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gilanie, I'm not necessarily sure that writing programs work. I think that there is some research done in order to create the program but it's not necessarily guaranteed to work. I also don't feel that, like Megan said, that students will be engaged or WANT to sit in front of a computer to learn how to write. I feel that children have a hard enough time listening to the teacher teach them about the basics of writing. As everyone else has said, these programs are too time consuming. You would need to sit and watch the 6 DVDs and then go into the classroom and teach the lessons. It would definitely make it hard on you, as the teacher, to learn and then teach the material. As great as these programs may claim to be, I feel that the optimal learning model would be better because it's a simple yet proven way in which students learn.
ReplyDelete