Robert+Lofton

This experience has been my foremost use of technology in the classroom. It has been a great experience and really fun. I allowed me to get to know the people in my group better. Edwina, Beth, and Lauren are extremely smart and talented and have been a pleasure to work with. I doubt if this had been a traditional, hand-written project the experience would have been as effective. I enjoyed working on the scenario involving our teacher and our sports star Derrick. I want to be a writer some day, and this helped to develop some writing chops I didn't know I had. Our idea was based loosely on situation the University of Memphis sports program currently finds itself in. Sports are undeniably very popular in our country, and I think education sometimes gets lost in all the hoopla of athletics. I myself am a sports junkie and former high school athlete, so I have a special insight into the situation of Derrick. Whether schools want to admit it or not, athletes do receive preferential treatment. It is an understanding that these students will miss some class time but they should still have to do the work and earn a passing grade just like every other student. The particular situation that led to our idea was the scandal involving Darrell Arthur, a player for the 07-08 Kansas Jayhawks championship team. After the title game, one of his high school teachers came forward and said that he gave Arthur a failing grade. There was no way he should have passed his class, he claimed. The teacher had received great pressure from the administration to remain quiet on the issue but decided to open voice his story. He believes that Arthur's grade was changed by the school administration and then submitted. Unfortunately, the NCAA Clearinghouse claimed they had no jurisdiction on the issue and dismissed the allegations. But the accusations ring loud to a serious problem in our schools today. I like the fact that our story has no real antagonist like the other case studies we've read. We tried to make Derrick a normal, likable kid. He comes from an impoverished background and does have a disability so it is easy to feel sorry for him and understand his situation. But readers also find the teacher as a sympathetic character and can relate to her character conflict. I think all teachers at some point have a similar internal conflict as our teacher does. While it is a career meant to provide for you and your family, teaching is based on helping others progress as individuals. So many times one does have to ask themselves the question: do I do what's best for me or for the child? As an African-American male, folks tell me that I should teach for an inner city school system because they need strong role models there more that anywhere else. But are inner city jobs the best place for me to earn a living and progress in my career? This is a question that I struggle with and I really wanted to show this element in our narrative. Wiki as a whole was very cool. I like the fact that it was very interactive and surprisingly easy to use. I definitely plan on using this in some nature with my class to encourage learning outside of our designated class time