Coding = World Languages, an ongoing dibate

While the Industry tells us that they need well-rounded people, our educational system is still wearing blinders targeting "STEM" and ignoring the value of the Humanities.

The most clamorous example coming to my mind is the movement for recognizing CODING as a foreign language. While learning a second or third language develops skills and thinking patterns that facilitate the acquisition of a coding language, it so absolutely not true the reverse process.

These are some great articles arguing this case:

• Students Should Learn Programming. But It Shouldn’t Count as a Foreign Language. By Valerie Woolard Srinivasan
• Math OK as substitute for coding but foreign language isn't, bill hearing suggests. By Alex Mann
• Coding or Foreign Language: What Should Be Taught? By United Language Group

Tech Needs Humanities

"Encourage  them to be whatever they want to be!" I love and share this stand of Eric Berridge for so many reasons.
This is my mantra with my own students, in spite of what society and mainstream media are force-feeding to them, as Mr. Berridge very well presented.
While all my formal education has been mostly related to Humanities, in my personal and professional life I have always been attracted to technology. Hired as an international marketing specialist in the e-commerce business, I ended up working as a graphic designer and webmaster. This compilation of skills and knowledge turned out to be fundamental in the successful outcome of my first job in education, as Sped Aide, working 1-to-1 with an intensive need student.
Today I am a foreign language online teacher and Humanities are my worlds, yet technology is constantly present. Personally, I find hurtful recognizing their importance, while seeing how they are being shuffled to a class B or C level for the promotion of STEM. In my opinion, Humanities give students the opportunity to develop thinking abilities that, later on, can easily be transferred and applied to other domains. Mr. Berridge presents a very clear manner how the job force of today and tomorrow needs these skills and why we as society and in particular our education system, should support and promote students' interest in pursuing educational pathways in the Humanities, and not only in STEM.
This is a breath of fresh air, in my opinion, and I am very pleased of coming upon this video at this time. In the past 3 years I have been the Teacher Leader of the students' organization Educators Rising in my district., and I am looking forward to sharing this video with the sutdents of my organization for promoting some interesting discussions and hear their stands on this matter.

Back to school, one again...

Me and my Grandma, on my first day of elementary school.

Looking at my Tweeter profile, I define myself as a lifelong learner, so no surprise that once in a while I am back again "taking my seat" in a classroom. It was a few years that I was pondering the option to enroll in the M.Ed. Learning Design and Technology, and finally this year I found myself in the "perfect storm" for dusting off my red messenger bag, ironing and starching my blue ribbon, polishing my black shoes, and head out to my "latest" first day in a classroom. Well, this time I did not have the tactic haircut I had back in this picture, indeed I learned not to play with gum with my brother... but this is an all different story, good for another occasion.

Honestly, I find it refreshing being a student. First I know all too well how much I need to learn about being an online Language teacher, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to have some formal training specifically on what I have been doing for the last 9 years on a "swing it" mode :)
Second, being back to the desk, helps me relate more empathically to my own online students. I have to admit, I am one of those people who FREAKS OUT for tests! Oh yeah... the sweaty hands, the grumbling stomach, lost of appetite but for chocolate, the sense of the incoming end of the world...well, that's me still today every time I have to take any sort of test. This self-awareness allows me to relate to my kiddos and try to do my best for making them feel comfortable and safe at the time of assessment so that we can really assess their mastery level and not their panic level.

Overall this new beginning is already great and I am excited to join a group of current educators in pursuing this common goal.

Now for the sake of sharing something true and false about me, here we go:
I have been teaching online foreign language for 9 years in Kenai. I used to live in Haines, and I miss very much the Southeast rainforest and PEOPLE! I do not know why, but people are just more friendly down there. In my free time, I love to do many activities such as making pottery, sewing, crocheting, kayaking, boating, fishing, skiing, reading a good book or two, and walking my dog and my cats in the woods. English is not my first language and I learned at school when I was a child. Although I love to have friends over for dinner parties, my husband has to do the cooking because I am quite challenged in that department...  :)

If you are a "grammar nerd", you will love this Infogram!


Source: www.grammarcheck.net