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myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

Actually, that depends on what level you are teaching. Level 3 teachers have detailed lesson plans available to use if we wish. I believe that levels 4 and 5 have them also. Last year, all the levels had lesson plans. Things are in a bit of a disarray this year with the new "paperless" policy that was implemented with no planning whatsoever and no thought to the consequences for students and teachers.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

Shine28 · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 14

Cmp45...do you work there, just out of interest?

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

I think the students are quite happy using technology in the classroom. Many students I have taught rarely ever brought a notebook or paper anyways. If they were able to upload their textbooks on their gadgets and do all their assignments online or within the university system I am sure they would and they would adjust a lot easier than the teachers. Plagiarism is an issue within any system. Will it increase? Time will tell.

Switching to such a policy is never an easy task. The technology has to be in the classroom and working. Teachers need to receive training workshops on its use. Moodle and I-tools are prime examples, but introducing them into the system and phasing out the books (paper) takes time. I never said it was an easy situation, but when it happens all one can do is try their best and go with the flow. The alternative is to quit and find some place that is still teaching with chalk board and paper. Those places are dwindling as high tech takes over. Swim or sink Cool

auhruh · Joined: 01 Aug 2013 Posts: 37

[quote="AJ88"]

Shine28 · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 14

Dear All,
Just to clarify - the transition is not the issue. Resistance or unwillingness to embrace the change is not the issue. Technology is not the issue. The situation we have been presented with is to be told of the intention of becoming paperless at some vague point in the future.. with no ipads or tablets actually being used at present and many of the classrooms having no working equipment such as an OHP. But because of this intention to become paperless, we are not at present allowed to print out anything to assist us in our teaching. Indeed, I was told to get friendly with those students who have a printer at home then ask them for favours - can you believe that? So no technology, no printed materials, no books. We are in limbo and that is what the previous poster was referring to when they said the transition was announced without thought for the teachers. I count myself one of the lucky ones to at least have a whiteboard. I am speaking from a position of knowing this situation accounts for some of the levels. .. perhaps other levels are allowed things like paper.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Yes shine28, I suspected that paperless didn't so much mean getting rid of texts, but getting rid of the copy machines and worksheets and and. And it sounds like your lack of a decent technology infrastructure would just leave all the teachers hanging.

One of the last places that I taught in the ME had instituted a system where the students had to go to a particular office on campus and pay to have their worksheets and extra materials printed. It took a bit of organization on the part of the teachers to make sure that the originals were there on time, but it worked quite well once the students understood the system and realized that the responsibility was theirs. (it was also a place that allowed the teachers to fail students when they didn't perform)

VS

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

I see nothing obvious or apparent from CMPs comments other than he regards the forum as some kind of p***ing contest as do so many others.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

myohmy · Joined: 31 Jul 2013 Posts: 119

Yes, perhaps I do! A nice vacation has mellowed me a bit and I realize the stress made me lash out, so I apologize for taking your remarks too personally. This is my second year at PNU, and believe me things are much worse than last year due to the new ill-conceived and poorly implemented "paperless" policy and due to the fact that there really isn't enough classroom space for PYP at the new campus, huge as it is. I have over 40 students in my classes, no whiteboard and an OHP that doesn't work properly. The students are expected to do a lot of work online, yet they don't have access to the internet on campus unless they have their own plan, which many don't. One student told me that she was "pissed off" because not everyone can afford internet at home (it's true that the lower level students here are not as well off as the higher level ones and have not had the same opportunities for education). Some of the leadership here (and I'm not just referring to the Saudis) are incompetent micro-managers. I think I am a fairly resilient and tolerant person. Last year I couldn't understand where the whiners were coming from, but now I totally get how people could be driven to do a "runner". In fact, I anticipate that many will not return after the break. The one good thing about this year is that my students are amazing - bright, beautiful, respectful and motivated. At first I thought it was just a honeymoon phase, but I've been with them for over a month now and they continue to delight me. If it weren't for them, I would be so out of here.