A commenter asked what I was getting my degree in.
It’s CECS — Computer Education and Cognitive Studies. It’s an interesting program. I started it two summers ago, kinda of accidently. I decided to add an additional certification, technology applications, although I was grandfathered to teach webmastering.
Upon completing the certification, I learned I was eligible to join a district program that would give me this master’s degree. The district has been paying my tuition and we usually take one class a semester as a group, with the same professor.
For those of you who are still scratching your heads, here’s what the degree is all about: It’s an education degree and the focus is on teaching using technology. We’ve had a lot of interesting courses, last summer was all about researching the effectiveness of teaching with technology.
I’m taking two classes, one is telecommunications and the other is “readings in CECS”.
For those who are new to the blog, I teach high school in an urban school district. For the past 13 years, I’ve taught some form of computer science each year. I’m certified in mathematics, computer science, and technology applications. For the past 5 years, I’ve taught computer science and webmastering exclusively. Before that, I always taught a couple of sections of math and did math test tutoring.
Here’s what all the stress was about this year … our school is on the AYP list under No Child Left Behind. That means we aren’t making Adequate Yearly Progress. We’ve been in that state for two years so parents can transfer their students out of the school. One of the ways the district has decided to solve the problem is to take the experienced teachers in the building and have them teach the basics.
Next year I will be teaching Algebra I to students who have been specially selected. These students are not expected to pass the state math tests, most have not passed them in the past. I’ll see them for two class periods. I like that idea. When it was first presented to me, it was an additional math class, and someone else would have been teaching them Algebra I. That bothered me a bit, this way, if they don’t do well, it’s all on me.
While I enjoy doing webmastering, I’ve never really enjoyed teaching it. The kids really need someone who is into graphics, and as you can see by my websites, I really am not into that.
I do enjoy teaching computer science, but I would rather focus on an introductory type of computer science rather than teaching AP. I have found teach AP extremely frustrating. Unfortunately we’re all about the AP thing and it is very stressful.
Unfortunately it did mean moving out of my classroom for 13 years. The good news, is that I had to clean it out and take everything home for the summer because it is being remodeled, so I had started right after spring break.
I do think in the short AND long run, I’m going to be happier, but it’s been a hard process to go through. Change is always difficult and it’s REAL hard for me. Remember, I’ve been in the same classroom for 13 years!
The good news, is that I’ve always done very well with the type of students I will be teaching next year. I just haven’t done it all day.
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