[nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
Heather Field
missheather at comcast.net
Thu Nov 15 22:50:35 UTC 2012
Hello Elizabeth,
Arthur has asked the correct question. He asks "What does it mean to be an
independent classroom teacher?" Those of us who are out in the real world
answered your question from that perspective. Cut backs in public and
private schools mean that there are fewer paraprofessionals and general
staff available to work as classroom assistants than ever before. This means
that, unless you want to invite a parent to assist you, thus undermining
parent confidence in your ability as a teacher, you will not have anyone to
run your computer for you during a lesson. We suggested that you use your
time at college to get yourself into that mindset and prepare yourself to
make an independent presentation and delivery so that these challenges will
be long behind you when you are student teaching or working as a teacher. .
I agree that no one, blind or sighted, lives a totally independent life and
that insisting on total independence could be dangerous under some
circumstances, both for blind and sighted people. However, your response to
the tough stand that the working teachers have taken regarding your question
is neither arrogant nor dangerous in its implications for your conduct as a
classroom teacher.
The problem for student teachers is that, despite the fact that blind people
have been successfully teaching in public schools for more than fifty years,
many of the college professors and school staff with whom students work do
not know this fact. Therefore, your ability to be a successful teacher is
doubted from the beginning, often from your first day of college. This is
the opposite of the expectations for most sighted student teachers. It is
expected that most sighted students will succeed. But, it expected that it
will be a struggle for most blind teachers and most people doubt that they
will succeed without inordinate amounts of help. Some students have even had
supervising professor who tried to prevent them from being allowed to do the
practicum portion of their degree because they just can't imagine how a
blind teacher can do what is required. So, the measure of the blind
teacher's ability is the professor's ignorance. Now this, is arrogant.
So, unfortunately, Elizabeth, your decisions about how independent you will
choose to be during a 5-minute presentation have ramifications for you
beyond the mark you will receive for a successful presentation. Seeing your
efforts to find alternative ways to present nonvisually demonstrates to your
professor that you are a creative problem-solver. It gives them the correct
impression that you have ways of doing things that they haven't thought of
and it makes them your ally, should you need one this can be invaluable.
You have mentioned several times the position you have in the room for your
presentation. Sometimes, being an independent and successful blind teacher
means that you make a choice to advocate for change, rather than asking for
sighted assistance. Perhaps you could request time to position yourself
quietly while the student scheduled to present before you is finishing. Or,
perhaps you can ask to present from another position in the room. You are
obviously a very competent young woman and can figure out alternatives if
you put your mind to it. but that, Elizabeth, is our point exactly. We are
encouraging you to put your mind to finding ways to make your presentation
independently. We know the real necessity for you to learn to be as
independent as possible and to recognise the difference between those times
when assistance from another person is crucial and when it is not. We are
out here teaching and we are seeing the choices you can make with the twenty
twenty clarity of hind-sight. We have faced discrimination both from college
personnel and from school personnel, including those in administrative
positions. We are giving you advice that works in the real world. You don't
have to like it and you don't have to agree with it. You can completely
ignore it. Of course, you have every right in the world to make your
presentation however you like. but, your reactions and opinions don't change
the facts in the real world. You need to become the most independent teacher
you can possibly become, as soon as you possibly can. Choosing to opt for
sighted assistance at any time, for any reason, when it is not absolutely
essential to the completion of the task, will prejudice the opinions of
those who are assessing your competence as a blind teacher, and it also robs
you of valuable opportunities to extend yourself and see what you are truly
capable of achieving independently.
I wouldn't waist energy on being offended Elizabeth. The Federation Family
loves you and, as in all families, sometimes people say things you don't
want to hear. Kudos to you for asking the questions. I wish you all the
success in the world in finding the answers that work for you and enable you
to get, and keep a teaching job.
Warmest regards,
Heather Field
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Anderson
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 7:22 AM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
Hi, Ashley.
You are correct, the PC in the classroom doesn't have JAWS on it and I have
been hooking up my own equipment for the last three lessons, an so I think
at this point, I have proven my ability to solve the problem of how I myself
might present the lesson. Now, I'm trying to concentrate on classroom
movement and delivey. Besides, the presentation time for the lessons is
getting shorter, and it takes almost as much time to set up and load my file
as it does to present.
There are a couple of people on this list who think that they must not rely
on anyone under any circumstances, and that kind of mentality is both
arrogant and dangerous. I think that sometimes you have to concede and
realize thet interdependence is necessary sometimes.
-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ashley Bramlett
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 8:07 PM
To: National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
Hi Elizabeth,
I am not studying to teach as I got discouraged from that in my undergrad
degree. Which subject do you want to teach? In an increasing multi culture
setting, we need foreign languages for our workforce. So, I imagine your
classes will be popular.
As to your question, I agree with you. Given you have limited space, time
and flexibility in the environment, I think asking someone to turn slides
isn't a big deal. As you said, you want to assure that people see you and
have a smooth presentation.
Also, I suppose you do not have jaws on this pc you need to interact with to
turn slides.
I see what people are saying about independence, but I believe we have to be
interdependent on people sometimes to let our abilities shine. In this
instance, you have a limited time for the presentation; you do not want to
worry about the technology or where you are standing in relation to the
board. You want to focus on delivering your presentation.
When you teach I'm sure you will be independent by setting up your equipment
or finding other means to present rather than a projector. For instance,
handouts or transparencies.
Good luck.
Ashley
-----Original Message-----
From: Elizabeth Anderson
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:44 PM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
I'm very glad for you, but this is a classroom setting in which I have no
control. Iam literally stuck in a corner between the desk and the white
board. I am not assured that people can see me, and I think I need to adapt
the situation accordingly, don't you think?
-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandy Wojcik
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 6:45 PM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
I'm just telling you that 5 minutes or 50 you need to get your degree the
same way other people get their degree. I never had an accommodation special
to me, and when I graduated I had 2 teaching offers. I was in the school
paper, and did many talks for people earlier in the program. One day you
will need to do a 5 minute talk in a staff meeting and it wouldn't look good
if you couldn't do it.
-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Anderson
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 8:36 PM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
But the thing is, the presentation is only five minutes long. I'm not doing
an entire lesson, so it's not realistic.
-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Brandy Wojcik
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 6:02 PM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
You need to do the whole thing. If you want people to think you can teach on
the same playing field as them you need to do the tech. You are going to
have this same problem in the classroom so you should start now.
-----Original Message-----
From: nobe-l [mailto:nobe-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Anderson
Sent: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 7:13 PM
To: 'National Organization of Blind Educators Mailing List'
Subject: [nobe-l] lesson plan presentation
Okay, everybody, I have an interesting dilemma, and I want to get an
opinion. I am taking a teaching methods class for teaching a foreign
language and each student is tequired to present a lesson plan.not the
entire lesson, just about five minutes or so, just giving a summary of the
lesson and the activities and that sort ofthing.
As part of the lesson, the class must see on the projector the lesson while
the student talks about it. I have been watching other students move back
and forth from the computer as they operate it and then move so the other
students can see better and talk. Do any of you see anything wrong with me
having another student operate the computer so that I don't feel so confined
when I set up my own technology and so that I have that freedom of movement
and so that I am assured that others in the room can see me?
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