I hope all of your NETS explorations have been dolphin safe. You should have gone from the exploration of the NETS, to the creation of a PowerPoint, to the creation of a rubric. I have been trying to get everyone to see way in which you can use technology to integrate into your content by using PowerPoint to teach the NETS. The whole concept of grading someone else might be a bit scary. . .but you'll need to practice!! Creating and using a rubric is a good start.
Note: I am a bit behind in my regrades and late assignments. . .I promise to catch-up soon!
This week: Don't forget to bring at least three of your rubrics to class!! We will finish our rubrics and PowerPoints, then grade each other in grade-range groups. Then I will introduce the concept of a colaborative Wiki. . .I am going to wait for a few weeks to introduce Inspiration. . .
Journal #5: Extra Credit!! It's a good idea to complete this journal to get ahead in the middle of the semester. You can pick an article from ISTE's L&L or any other article from source on our blog. . .or any that interest you. Ensure your article focuses on issues of technology in education.
This week's question: How do you feel about gender-specific schooling (e.g. all-boy or all-girl schools). What are your reasons for either agreeing or disagreeing? Does the age range matter?
22 comments:
Honestly, I am not sure what I think about gender-specific classrooms. There is a HUGE part of me that supports the concept, especially in the middle school grades; and there is another part of me that says separating genders is just another type of segregation that will lead to increased anxiety and stereotyping between genders. I would like to read a lot more research on the issue prior to issuing an opinion.
I have never really thought about gender specific schools to have an opinion. Possibly because I have never had any real exposure to them, other than television or read any artiles on its pros and cons. Since I have been asked, I think that I have arguments for both sides. It would be interesting to read more about research of all boys or all girs schools.
I have tried both mixed gender and gender specific in church classrooms and there were positives & negitives, but it seemed really to be depended on the individual student and their home life dynamics. But I have my twin girls in kindergarten this year so I will have to get back to you. The twins are almost in a all girl class b/c there are 17 girls and 2 boys.
Paul C.
I am a little torn myself on this topic. I have done some research on this topic in the past and in most cases segragated schools had a higher academic success rate than non-segragated schools, especially girls. They had less distractions, anxiety and were able to focus on learning rather than competition against the opposite sex. On the other hand they lose out on the social aspect and some students will push themselves harder to prove themselves against the opposite sex.
I have mixed feelings about gender specific schools. On one hand, I have heard women who have attended such schools (in high school or college) say they are able to do better in school and are freer to be who they are because there are less, uh, distractions. However, I have also observed (at the Catholic University that I went to) that those who attended gender specific high schools seemed to be a lot more immature when dealing with the opposite sex. I guess there are pros and cons to everything!
I have been in both environments and think both have advantages and disadvantages, but I prefer a school environment that is coed. I think it gives more perspective to what students learn. I have always found that the arguments for or against an issue seemed to be more inspired when the students are mixed together.
I think it might a good idea for the younger kids, but not high-schoolers. I learned a lot about interacting with different kids and genders in high school. I'm not sure what the case studies say, but I would follow their recommendations I think. When I have kids, I will send them to the best public schools that I can afford a house/condo/apt in - regardless of whether or not they were gender specific.
It seems to me that socialization is one of the goals of middle school and younger, being less important as students get older. This being said the schools, teachers and environment will play a role in the success or failure of acheiving this goal. Home life also plays a factor. In general i would be in favor of non segregation in schools as it helps with the the normal ineraction of the sexes.
My initial reaction to gender specific education is that it is a good thing for kids in middle school and beyond because they are prone to hormonal influences and ego posturing with the opposite sex. Being segregated helps to keep the focus of school on the lessons rather than the social aspects of flirting, etc... However, the Supreme Court has stated that seperate can never be equal and with that in mind, seperation based on gender could stall the progress of burying old perceptions and stereotypes of inequality based on gender. So I guess I am left with the opinion that it depends.
I think that gender specific education is a good idea, especially for grades 7-9. I have noticed that this age range in general is highly distracted by the opposite sex, especially boys. The age range could probably be extended a couple of years on either side also. This distraction is especiall evident in mixed P.E. classes.
I think that there may be some subjects that would be very beneficial to teach gender specific. I remember being very intimidated by the boys in class who were good at math that I was afraid to ask questions. Suppose it was taught to just girls? Interesting concept. I'd give it a try and measure the results!
Margie and I had a great conversation about this topic, and we both agree that gender-specific classrooms would be most appropriate for middle school children. Instead of trying to impress the opposite sex AND deal with adolescent issues such as puberty, they could each focus in a more controlled environment. In theory this sounds great, but I am not sure how this actually plays out in real-life!
Margie and I had a great conversation about this topic, and we both agree that gender-specific classrooms would be most appropriate for middle school children. Instead of trying to impress the opposite sex AND deal with adolescent issues such as puberty, they could each focus in a more controlled environment. In theory this sounds great, but I am not sure how this actually plays out in real-life!
I know nothing about gender specific classrooms but I would assume that it is a touchy subject. I don't really have a strong opinion and could go both ways on the issue. It would probably be beneficial to seperate older students rather than elementary kids.
I personally feel that having gender based classrooms would be advantageous mainly to middle school age kids. I find that as this age they spend so much time flirting and trying to impress the other sex; that their school work is neglected and not important to them. The boys spend so much time trying to impress the girls by acting out and trying to be the class clown, that they disrupt the whole class and waste so much time. I definitly feel that gender based schools during the teen years would be a good idea.
My reaction is to say no for just about any age bracket. However there might be some advantages to pushing children out to a special resource that is gender specific. I have not done any research in this area, nor do I have any experience, so this is just a shot from the gut.
I really dont care either way about gender specific schools. I do favor more to co-ed schools because I don't think that you can learn everything from one gender. I don't think that children really get much from only seeing one side of the story.
I think gender specific schools can be good and bad. Good because less distractions, in my opinoin. Bad because of the lack of the social interaction between the sexs.
I am not opposed to gender specific classrooms. I think that girls would achieve much higher standards without boys in the classroom. Girls mature earlier and in general are able to sit and focus longer on a subject at a younger age than boys. Boys catch up later.
Gender specific schooling doesn't really bother me that much. I feel that is something that should be left up to parents/children to discuss. My nephew attends an all boys school in Chicago, and from the outside it appears to be like any other school. During the day they attend classes, after school they play sports. A sister school, if you will, does the same. When it comes time for dances, games, and other functions, they do come together.
I don't believe that dividing children by their gender at a early age could have a positive effect. I think that children should be exposed to diversity and know that it is a part of life. Learning about and learning from one another can be done best by exposure and what a better place to that than a school setting.
An older age such as high school or above may be a more appropriate place to have a gender specific setting. Such a setting would seem to be less distractions, and less "drama"(maybe).
I don't think that there is merit to gender specific schooling. I want to think that there is - fewer distractions for those middle schoolers and a chance for girls in particular to achieve academically without being stereotyped - in reality, I think the same distractions and pressures would be there. I truly believe would still dress to impressive and there would still be nerds and tomboys and everything else there is in a coed school.
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