Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/7398
whether they are visual, audi- tory or kinesthetic learners, says Shimamoto of Dartmouth Middle School in San Jose. “For me, the document cam- era is the best thing ever.” A document camera replaces an overhead projector and allows the user to project text, photos or three-dimensional objects on a screen in the classroom. “It’s changed the way I can use models for discussion, correct homework or do worksheets with them and makes shared writing easier.” Today’s students are con- stantly asking whether the information they are learn- ing is relevant, says Daniel Watts, a computer graphic arts teacher at Elinor Lincoln Hickey Junior/Senior High School in Sacramento. “They School cuts Continued from page 31 Education Coalition partners were busy in the state Capitol urging lawmakers to reject the governor’s spending plan — a plan that would renege on his agreement with educators ear- lier in the year and undermine principles of fairness spelled out in educators’ contracts. CTA and the Education Coali- tion, representing more than 1 million Californians, are battling revenue limit funding cuts of $1.5 billion (about $250 per student), in addition to cuts of $550 million from class size reduction, another $202 million for nearly all K-12 education programs, $200 million in child development programs, and $45 million to county offices of education. The coalition is also denouncing the governor’s deci- sion to back away from his agree- ment and unilaterally redefine the school funding floor for the cur- rent year. That manipulation paves the way for the governor to cut a total of about $2.5 billion in addi- tional school funding in 2010 and 2010-11 and breaks the governor’s promise to repay schools more than $11 billion. The governor’s redefinition is part of his plan to reduce state funding for schools in the cur- rent year and in future years. By reducing current year funding levels, his plan would also lower the Proposition 98 guarantee in future years.The governor’s plan would cut state school funding so drastically that it would actu- ally drive education spending $600 million below the “mainte- nance of effort” (MOE) level that the state is required to meet in order to qualify for federal stim- ulus funding. LEN FELDMAN MIKEMYSLINSKI say, ‘Why do I need to learn this? What’s in it for me?’ I try to explain why they need to learn something and make the lessons relevant so they can relate to it.” His lessons are shorter and more “to the point” to com- pensate for Generation Z’s short attention span. Because verbal communication skills are lacking, he also tries to demonstrate to his students how to ask and answer ques- tions correctly at every op- portunity. The students may be dif- ferent, but some things haven’t changed. “They want to know that you care about them and they want you to give them a pat on the back,” says Watts. “Those things are still very important.” Credential, Certificate and Professional Development Programs at Your Fingertips! Online Classes Available! Accessible and Affordable Online Programs for K-12 and Postsecondary Educators New Courses Beginning Every Month— Most Programs can be Completed in Under One Year Interactive, Research-Based Programs with Practical Classroom Application Programs include: • California Clear Credential (Ryan and SB 2042) • CLAD Through CTEL • CCTC-Approved Reading Certificate • Career and Technical Education (CTE) • College Counseling • Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) • Teaching Adult Learners • Teaching Online • Professional Development/Salary Point Coursework For more information about online programming available at UC San Diego Extension, please contact Morgan Appel, Director of Education at: (858) 964-1064 or mappel@ucsd.edu or visit: extension.ucsd.edu/education FEBRUARY 2010 | www.cta.org 37 FA09-2032