New Way Of Learning:Using Technology In Classrooms

At Hemet's Tahquitz High in Hemet, California staff is tryig to approach teaching in a new manner. Schools are making Wikispaces, Facebook's,Twitter's, and even texting answers in class to engage students in learning. Everybody knows that cyber spacing and texting is the new trend for teens. Most schools try to make up rules that go against using electronics in classroom settings. It was discovered in a U.S. history class last week, students were shown questions on a projection screen and were given four possible answers, each with a corresponding six-digit code they could text. Quickly, they tapped out the code for what they thought was the correct answer, and in real time a graph showed the percentage of those who guessed each answer, changing as more texts rolled in. Many students have admitted to liking this teaching method better than just reading out of a book. This new method allows students to feel more comfortable about learning the material. This also makes students more interested in learning which is great. It also helps school save on printing cost. I've experienced this new teaching method myself and i also enjoy it. When my class did this, it helped me retain the information better. I think we should incorporate more technology in school systems. My teacher has also set up a Wikispace,Twitter,and Blogger; with those we can go look up missing assingments and ideas for our blogs.


                               Question: Will technology improve study skills in students?

         Link : http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_etahquitz26.3136eac.html

Is Cheerleading A Sport?

 A Judge in Connecticut ruled that Cheerleading is not considered a sport. This came about because Quinnipiac University in Hadem,Connecticut pulled funding from the Volleyball team to support a competitive cheerleading squad team. The school says they made the changes according to budgeting.It cost $70,000 for the volleyball team with only 11 players and cheerleading cost $50,000 for 40 players. The volleyball team was upset with their decsion so the team sued the school claiming that redirecting money intended for women's sports teams to a cheerleading squad violating Title IX.The 1972 federal mandates equal opportunities for men and women in education and athletics.U.S Judge Stefan Underhill ruled that the school broke the law when they pulled the money for the cheerleading. Judge Underhill wrote this in his ruling:             
                            "I conclude as a matter of law that Quinnipiac University
                               discriminated on the basis of sex during the 2009-10
                              academic years by failing to provide equal athletic
                                     participation opportunities for women,"

He ruled that cheerleading is not an actual sport. Underhill said hat it is too under developed and too disorganized to be treated as genuine varsity athletic participation.This makes complete sense but at he same time I totally disagree with this judgment because they are similar to gymnast and to me they work out like other athletes. They train together, practice and not only that,they also go to competitions and compete with other teams, similar to other sports. Cheerleading has been around for many years so idon't see why it hasn't been established as an actual sport yet. Now Quinnipiac has 60 days to come up with a plan to keep volleyball through next season and comply with gender rules.



Question: Do you agree that Cheerleading should be established as a sport? Why or why not?

http://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-cheerleading-sport-quinnipiac-university-squad-title-ix/story?id=112199