Cheaters Are Innovative

Post 911 made a lot of us parents a little less hesitant or maybe even anxious to put cell phones in our children's hands. And Florida law keeps them there while they are in school and at school functions.

Florida statute 1006.07(2)(e) states “a student may possess a wireless communications device while the student is on school property or in attendance at a school function”. It also states “each district school board shall adopt rules governing the use of a wireless communications device by a student while the student is on school property or in attendance at a school function”.

Our policy states “cell phones and/or any cellular device shall not be activated or used in any manner during school hours. This includes having such devices in any silent, vibrate, or visual-only mode. Cellular devices shall be defined as any electronic device that reproduces, transmits, or records (voice, pictures, text, or any other type of media)”.

Long story short, this means students are legally able to have cell phones while on school property, but they can’t be turned on or they could be confiscated and the student could be subject to disciplinary action.

This readily accessible technology brings with it a myriad of problems. Cheating being one of the worst. According to a poll by CBS.com 1 in 5 students has cheated; whether by text messaging, taking pictures of test with cell phone cameras, calculators, iPods, or even Bluetooth wireless phone-ear pieces. Students are very innovative when it comes to using technology to cheat.

I am an advocate of technology as a teaching tool and have posted in the past about teachers using technology as a tool. But what about students using technology to cheat?

Any ideas on how should the school district address this issue? We have talked about dampening cell phone reception as one method, but this does not address all of the ways kids are cheating.

Here is an article in the Washington post that gives some strategies on dealing with cheaters.

Thoughts? Teachers…how do you stop students from cheating. And what should be done to students when they are caught?

Donald Sprangers IP Environmental Education Award $10K Grant

This teacher is an inspiration. To learn more about Sustainable LIFE Curriculm go to http://www.agclassroom.org/teacher/award07/donald.htm

Talking education

As posted on the Gradebook...Want some of the inside scoop on the nation's eighth-largest school district?

Show up for a chat with Hillsborough School Board members April Griffin and Susan Valdes, along with USF prof Sherman Dorn, at the Northwest Hillsborough Democrats' meeting Tuesday. The venue is the Northdale Recreation Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive. The time: 6:30 p.m. Be there.

Originally posted on the Gradebook

Broward teacher may lose job over MySpace

Broward School Board members vote Tuesday on whether two teachers should be suspended without pay and eventually fired over inappropriate behavior last school year. Their behavior obviously crossed a line, but what about employees voicing thoughts that are contrary to their employers?

Read the article in the Miami Herald . "What are your thoughts about school district employees use of internet instant publishing and when has a line been crossed?”

Technology and times are changing and this is a regular topic of conversation at the district. I want to have a conversation about this issue.

Negotiations come to an end

Hillsborough County Schools and unions representing teachers and blue collar workers came to an agreements on salary increases.

Teachers will get an 8% raise and, support staff will also get a 6% pay raise , while administrators will receive a 5.5 % raise.

With budget shortfalls in districts throughout the state we are thrilled to be able to offer thus far, the largest salary increases in the state.

Read about it in the Tampa Tribune article or the St. Pete Times Article.

Thoughts?

Hillsborough Superintendent Elia not applying for state post

As reported by Leticia Stein and posted in the Gradebook. MaryEllen Elia is not going to throw her hat in the ring for Florida's Education Commissioner.

She said Wednesday afternoon. “We’ve got some great work going on with the School Board and all of our schools and all of our employees.”

School grades

Are out and as the St Pete Times says...there's A lot of good and a little bad.

We have analyzed the scores school by school, grade by grade, and subject by subject. The common factor is the science scores. The schools that did not fare as well all had low science scores that brought down their overall school grade.

We are not going to make excuses for the bad scores. We are going to focus on science and improve their overall grade.

What are some suggestions teachers, students, and parents have to engage students and get them to love science?

I have been talking to kids, starting with my sons, who both LOVE science. My oldest son who would watch Mythbusters over playing video games any day said "watch Mythbusters...they make science fun". He also said labs are always something he looks forward to. My youngest son echoed his sentiments. Other students I have talked to say reading science fiction books piqued their interest in science.

We are going to get more non-fiction science reading materials in the schools and do some cross curriculum study. After talking with kids I think more science fiction books would also be good.

What do you think we could do to get students interested in science?

Superintendent MaryEllen Elia considers...

The number one position in education in Florida.

The Gradebook is handicapping MaryEllen Elia.

Thoughts?