Reflection of Cromosoma 5

The Crosoma 5 is a documentary about a premature child, Andrea, who is special.  After a lot of time researching about what happen with Andrea, the doctor finally said that she has a Lejeune syndrome or also called cri du chat. This mean that the cromosoma 5 is not totally complete.

How Andrea’s mother said, is difficult to understand how a minuscule absence of part of cromosoma 5 can affect in this way. How can change person skills so drastically  preventing communicate as other children, or do normal things or even express by herself.

I admire the strong with the family fight against this, they fight for Andrea’s happiness, she can train and have a good future. Other thing who I loved was the relationship between Andrea and her little sister, is incredible how can beneficiate children to other children because without she, although their parents fight so much how they do, Andrea’s situation probably  would be worst. Her sister do the situation more normal as possible and allow to Andrea live little details of normal life. This is the charming of the children I suppose. They act in a so natural way that always transmit good energy. For example when some children are interviewee they way in which talk about Andrea is so innocent and loving. I understand that having a special child must be so hard and maybe you live the worst moments of your life, but also every little step is seen as a big victory, and gift you the best moments that someone imagine. 

A deep part of me wish live a situation as this, obviously no with my future children, because in this type of situation is hard for the parents not only for all sacrifices what they have to do,  also the worried about your children’s future, if they will can marry with someone, have a family... But  I would like live the fights and happiness that this bring with it  because I think that you will live a lot of types of happiness and sadness along of your life  but something like that is totally different to all of them. I know that maybe this not have sense but it’s true, in part I would like know how is live that.

Project about our ideal school.

This weeks we have been working about a new project, in our works team, as always. This project was more abstract and complicated than the previous was because we had to think a original way to show what we have learnt about some documents which we had to read about the education system and how must be a inclusive schools with the people who need help or have problems to integrate in the society.

This is a difficult situation to the people and sometimes the children with this types of problems have had a horrible experiences which mark him forever. However, I’m totally agree with something that Yolanda said, The children aren’t racist or  cruel with other persons, absolutely. The children are the person more pure and innocents and  they don’t  have prejudices. I saw on twitter a picture that show exactly this, I like it:

This would have to think what we are doing wrong if innocent people become in a people with prejudices. The adult must be careful to don’t  pass their social ideas to the children. The children have to know the world by their self and make their owns ideas about the society. I think that it is a common mistake  in the school, families… in the society. The most of adult treat different a persons who don’t be like them, because the are from other part of the world, or they haven’t any par of the body, of they have problems to communicate… the school have to do that this little differences don’t be something about worry. And the school have to be ready with appropriate infrastructure but also mental and psychologically to accept children with some type of  disability. In this way they can feel comfortable and the learning can flow. Because in cases like this the most important is the positive attitude of school, the teacher and the students.

I think that this is the main ideas of the project, then each groups focus in differents ideas and make their videos in different and original ways. In  general I think that all we did a great work and all projects was very interesting.

Reflection of chromosome 5 documentary

Last week we saw a documentary based on a not very common syndrome called 'cri du chat' because the crying seems to a meow of a cat. Andrea is the main character of this story, she was a premature child and she had problems since her birth. She didn’t talk a lot, she had a strange crying, she couldn't express herself very well, she didn't sit down correctly and she had slanted features. After some months, doctors detected she the syndrome cri du chat caused by the lack of a part of chromosome 5. It was a very hard new for her parents, they weren't prepare to face with this situation. They fight everyday to give the best to their daughter, helping her to improve and learn new things. Andrea didn't go to a normal school everyday, she went three days to a special one. Although her syndrome, she had many friends that understand and accept her. They learned some signs and symbols to communicate with her and they didn't think she was special. Andrea had a sister, Billie, at the beginning she didn’t understand very well Andrea's behavior but then they played together and understand each other.

Any parent is prepared to have a child with a syndrome or disease but they have to accept it and fight to give their children the best. A disease not only affects to the involved person but also to the people around him or her. Many parents in this situation are afraid about what could happen if their children go to a normal schools because the other students may not understand and may make fun of them. Andrea was lucky because she didn't suffer bullying but in the documentary appear some children who suffered it. In bullying situations teachers have an important role to teach students to respect each other (no discriminate anyone) and make them aware that we are all equal.

Another important aspect is to make inclusive schools were any children regardless their disability can go, because is very important to them the interaction and cooperation with others. There should be teachers prepared to face these situations, able to teach and help this type of students. They have to be integrate so that they don't feel excluded and they become part of the school community. Finally I want to say that we should learn from each other because the differences make the world more exciting.

CROMOSOMA

El martes vimos un documental llamado Cromosoma; sin lugar a duda, es un documental muy impactante, que te hace pensar sobre el sentido de la vida y sobre todo de la valentía que es el enfrentarte a algo nuevo para ti por luchar y ayudar a los tuyos.

La película trata de una familia que tuvo una hija prematura, en un primer momento su esperanza de vida era mínima sin embargo, Andrea salió adelante después de estar un mes en la incubadora pero Andrea nació con un retraso psicomotriz y mental. Cuando pasó un tiempo, la médica les explico que esa enfermedad se trataba por la pérdida de una parte del cromosoma 5, y era una enfermedad minoritaria que recibe poca ayuda por parte de la sociedad.

La madre se planteaba como algo tan pequeño, que es lo que le faltaba a su hija, podía afectarle tanto y como su vida había dado un gran giro; cosas que desde luego yo también me hubiera planteado. Sin embargo, los padres decidieron salir adelante con su hija, luchando por ella y con el miedo de si algún día la podría pasar algo. Finalmente, junto con su hermana pequeña, Andrea es muy feliz y día a día todos luchan porque reciba un pequeño progreso en su vida.

Desde luego, nunca estás preparado para algo así; un familiar así te cambia la vida totalmente sin embargo, nunca hay que dudar por luchar por él y por su felicidad. Yo he tenido una experiencia así y desde luego que me encantaría poder volver a vivir momentos como los que he vivido, porque una sonrisa de alguien con una enfermedad mental es la mejor satisfacción que la vida te puede regalar.

Presentación día 13-2-14

El día 13 de marzo expusieron los otros dos grupos restantes;  el primero en exponer fue el grupo Kia compuesto por Ana Escribano, Ana Gónzales, Gizem y Pablo. Su video se basó en el programa de “esta casa es una ruina” sin embargo utilizaron la palabra escuela. En este video había numerosos técnicos que con un listado de cosas que los profesores querían cambiar, programaban esa escuela con aulas específicas, con una gran biblioteca, y gran integración de personas discapacitadas. El video estaba muy bien, además utilizaba los “playmobil”, sólo les faltaba la música, pues no acompañaba.

El otro grupo que expuso fue LASH, el grupo compuesto por Laura Borné, Andrea, Sara Sánchez y Héctor. Este grupo entrevistó a numerosos profesores de la facultad y usaron una cartulina en la que estaba dibujada la escuela; lo que más me llamó la atención fue la organización externa, es decir, como estaba el edificio organizado estéticamente, pues utilizaba elementos bastante modernos como son las escaleras de caracol; como todos los demás contaba con aulas especializadas como es el aula de baile; también se centraban en el trabajo en equipo y en la resolución de problemas.

Presentación día 11-3-14

El día 11 de marzo ha sido nuestro primer día de presentaciones de “mi escuela ideal”; desde luego que había muchas ganas de ver esos videos después de todo el trabajo que tienen detrás.

Los primeros en enseñarnos su escuela ideal ha sido el grupo encendiendo bombillas, compuesto por Laura, Javi, Elisa y Mónica; y desde luego que nos dejaron con un buen sabor de boca. A pesar de ser el video más largo de la clase, fue mucho más ameno de lo que todos esperábamos; este grupo había entrevistados a dos colegios, uno concertado y otro público, y a los niños de respetivos colegios (los cuales, sin ninguna duda, fueron los más graciosos).

Lo que me llamo la atención fue como les vas a preguntar acerca de determinadas aulas, si las tienen, como se distribuyen y todos los profesores o los directores, te dicen que lo tienen aunque sea mentira o no lo usen. Es decir, en el video salió que tenían buen acceso para los discapacitados y luego nos aclaró nuestra compañera que no tenían ascensor, o por ejemplo dicen que hay aulas digitalizadas como fuente de aprendizaje y luego sólo la utilizan los profesores.

En ese colegio público salen explicando que el trabajo cooperativo es muy escaso, que los niños se sientan por parejas y se ayuda a los niños que tienen dificultades; esto me parece bastante mal, es decir, el trabajo cooperativo fomenta el aprendizaje y es algo que habría que llevar a la aulas. En cuanto al uso de la biblioteca está muy controlado aunque se puede pasar en el recreo. Esto me parece bien, solo que si en la biblioteca siempre hay una persona, evitaríamos esa restricción.

En el colegio concertado al que fueron mis compañeros, una de las profesoras dice que se da una gran cooperación entre todas las personas que trabajan en el colegio, cosa que me parece fundamental pues de esta manera se reparten las tareas, permitiéndote centrarte en algo y ser más concreto. Las evaluaciones son muy parecidas al colegio público, los niños hacen exámenes individuales y se les va evaluando con fichas o diferentes actividades.

En este cole, sí que utilizan el aprendizaje cooperativo con grupos. La profesora cuenta que cada grupo tiene un nombre y se cambia entorno a 4 veces al año; esto me parece muy bien, pues así todos los niños trabajan con todos.

En cuanto a la entrevista a los niños, todos quieren empezar más tarde y que el recreo dure más; unos establecen que a algunos niños se les trata mejor porque ellos están siempre en la silla de castigados, cosa que me parece muy mal, todos los niños son iguales y no habría que hacer ningún tipo de exclusión; y por supuesto, todos quieren usar las nuevas tecnologías y que no sea sólo el profesor; yo creo que esto fomentaría el aprendizaje, la motivación, la participación,..

En cuanto a la “escuela ideal” de mis compañeros no se aleja mucho a lo que los demás hemos hecho, es decir, un colegio que tenga diferentes culturas, en el que el trabajo cooperativo esté presente en las clases, que todos los niños sean iguales y que tengas todas las aulas necesarias para el desarrollo de sus habilidades. Con evaluaciones continuas y donde la tecnología esté presente.

Los segundos en exponer fue el grupo de los minions, compuesto por Irene, Elisabeth, Ainara, Isabel y Raúl. Los cuales hicieron un gran trabajo, acoplando las voces de “mi escuela ideal” a los personajes de la película de gru. El video incluía una gran cantidad de teoría acerca del cambio de los peores aspectos de la escuela, sin embargo fue muy divertido. Se daba importancia al trabajo en grupo, y a la evaluación y autoevaluación; las personas discapacitadas estaban muy integradas y tenía todo tipo de instalaciones de interés como puede ser cafetería, pistas deportivas…

Presentations video 'Our ideal school' of 13/03/2014

This day two groups showed us their videos about how their ideal school would be. The first group was KIA composed by Pablo, Ana Gónzalez, Ana Escribano and Gizem. They made a video based on a TV program but they called it 'This school is a ruin'. First they talked about the bad things of nowadays schools like narrow corridors where there is little space, lineal tables where children can't work in a cooperative way, there aren't collaborative activities between all the courses, there are few elevators which is a problem to disabled people, etc. Then they planned how their ideal school would be and what things they would have to change. One thing very interesting is that they created their school using playmobil toys. I think they have made a very hard work and they have obtained good results. We understood perfectly how it would be because we saw it in a real way. They would like to have one room for each subject like a music room, a laboratory, a maths room, etc. They would also have computers so that children learn how to use and work with them, a library, a resting room, a swimming pool, a very equipped gym and a theater. The video was interesting and creative but they didn't choose a good music so the video was a little bit slow. In general I think they have made a very good job, they have explained things very clear and they have cooperate among them (which was one of the aims of this project).

The other group was LASH composed by Sara Sánchez, Laura Borné, Andrea and Héctor. They explained their ideal school using pictures and interviewing some teachers. Through a poster they showed that they would like to have a music room, staffroom, dining room, library, computers room, art room, laboratory swimming pool, a soundproof dance room and a mechanical ramp. They also introduced some opinions of teachers about the importance of having technologies in schools, that schools are like a society so we have to solve internal and external problems and try to cooperate as a community. They made a very good job and they solved very well the problems they had in the previous work so they have learned to work as a team. The video was creative and entertaining so I liked a lot their work. 

Presentations video 'Our ideal school' of 11/03/2014

Today three groups have presented their videos about 'Our ideal school', one of them was my group. I am very satisfied with the results of my group, because in my opinion we have made a very good project. We have worked a lot, spending many hours on creating the video but I think that we also have learned many things. Not only theoretical aspects (such as the most important things of a school, not discriminate, respect each other, accept the rest without relying on race or disabilities, the best disposition of rooms, etc); but we also have learned to cooperate as a team. As I said, we have spent too many hours together so we have learned to work in a team, respect others opinions, be critical with all the ideas, cooperate between us, etc. I think the most important thing for the group to work well, is to collaborate and that everyone cares about the results and the group functioning.

Another group that has presented their video, was 'Encendiendo bombillas' composed by Elisa, Mónica, Laura Sanz and Javier. They made a long video (more than the time estimated) but at the end it was entertaining and interesting because they have included many things. At the beginning they have interviewed some directors and teachers of Alcalá and Azuqueca schools, which was very interesting. The first school was a public school of Azuqueca and after interviewing teachers and students, we can make conclusions. Students help each other but only to those who need help, without been conscious that everyone needs help. They also mentioned that they use technology in class but only to read the same of the book, so this is not a well use of technologies. Moreover, they don't cooperate too much in class only in some activities they compare between two or three people; so they don't develop collaborative skills. The second school was a private school of Alcalá and they also interviewed some teachers and students. Here there are better things but also worse; teachers make an individual follow but only too those who need more attention, they connect the topics with examples of the real life, they encourage children to learn different languages and make many activities for children to work in groups. In the other hand there are other teachers that put students sitting individually, they don't take advantage of all the benefits of technologies, and some of them give a different treatment to some students. At the end of the video they explained how their ideal schools would be by giving their own opinions and asking to some teachers of the university. They would have a school with many rooms (music room, laboratory, library, gym, swimming pool, etc), they would use many types of technologies to learn not only to read the same of the book (such as tablets, computers or videogames), they would accept all the people without discriminating anyone and they would encourage the cooperation and teams work.

 

The other group that presented their video was 'Los minions' composed by Elisabet, Ainara, Irene, Isabel and Raúl. I really like this work because they made a very creative and entertaining video. They introduced all the theoretical aspects through a story of minions where they decided to change the organizations of nowadays schools and create an inclusive one. Maybe they included many theory but the video wasn't boring. In their schools they would include all the people (even those who have disabilities), teachers would have to encourage students, they would also have to communicate with other teachers, let students to work in groups, everyone should learn from others, the school would have two elevators, a music room, a meeting room, a dinning room, a cafeteria, a break room and sports installations. At the beginning the director didn't accept the proposal but then he realized that the most important figures of a school are the students; so its organization and structure must try to satisfy the needs of children.

Cooperative learning: Third day (Presentations of 18/02/2014)

Second day of expositions.   The first group was “Encendiendo Bombillas” (Elisa, Mónica, Laura Sanz and Javier).  They present about the environment. The structure was: Introduction (with the index) - Team plan (responsibilities, aims…) – Science sequence  – Bibliography.

The didactic unit consisted on 4 sessions. In the first one, the class would be separated in base teams, using Jigsaw technique. I think it’s one of the best techniques to practice cooperative learning; in fact, most of us used this method.  The secret is that every child has importance in the group so, as teachers, we create a respectful atmosphere where everyone can expose his/her ideas.

The second lesson was to prepare an excursion to botanic garden. Children would do it in experts’ teams to share different information in order to plan and organize it. I think excursions and this kind of activities are great for children to really learn and remember different experiences because they enjoy more, they live the theory the use to listen.

So the third session is the proper excursion to botanic garden, where kids are going to search for information and plants feature.

The last session was quite interesting, but I missed a clearer specification, because at our assessment time we didn’t know what was the exactly aim or work. It consisted on, by groups; make a notebook with pictures and plants information. I think it’s great to have a binnacle in groups, too interesting, but I have doubts what is better: groupal notebook or an individual one. I really like the idea of having one per group, but maybe, it is more beautiful to have on each person.

This Organization team proposes to give a regard, a certificate to each child, what is perfect. They also propose other 5 different awards (prettiest notebook, more information, better understanding of the topic, most cooperative group and better use of materials). One of the prizes was a positive point, but only for one, maybe that’s better for a common prize. Other prize was to explain the next lesson, what may be is not a prize for them, so we have to talk with them in order to know what they consider a prize or not.

They finish the didactic unit with a self-evaluation for the pupils, in order to make them to reflect about their projects and what they can do better. It is a good idea to promote critical thinking and develop self-concept skills.

In conclusion, it is a great project with interesting ideas. Children are going to learn too much, but what it’s more important, they are going to do it by enjoying their time.

Global Reflexion

I think that this project have helped us a lot to understand in what consist the cooperative learning. In addition at the time that we doing the presentations about this topic we are practising this applying the theory as different techniques, the organization of group as each one have to have a rol, a responsibility, each one has to get their own objective and team objective… Later to see presentation after presentation we have depped in the ideas so is a good way to learn and don’t forget.

 This way of learning not only serve us to learn and apply this topic, in addition it serve us to know the tipical wrongs which we don’t know that is a mistake but in fact, it is. For example, we must’n evaluate to students using ‘bad, ‘good’ and ‘very good’ because they can think that we don’t valorate their efforts, so we always must valorate them with ‘good’ and ‘very good’ and may be ‘really good’ for exceptional situations. Also that sometimes we don’t be concients that the exercises that we propose do that the children compite between them, so we must be very careful with that. Another thing with we must be careful too is the prizes, we can’t give a prize to a student and other student don’t. Always  have to  exist prizes for everyone,if it isn’t this way they can think that their efforts are recognized as I said before. Always we must do that the children feel importants and they are part of something.

The Last Presentation of Cooperative Learning Project. 25/02/2014

Today has been the last day of presentation, today was the day of Gizem. She has to do the project alone because she comes from turkey when the projects  already was working.

Her project was divided in 5 sessions which they are very entertaining because they do several activities like go to the museum or preparing a poster…

The structure is the same as most of us at first doing base groups, in this case 5 groups of 4 members and for the visit to the museum the class is divided in groups of experts in which each member has a subtopic, then they return to their base groups and preparing a poster.

Gizem has marked good her objectives but she didn’t or she didn’t show us her planification, her table times. I consider that is a important point because is where she demostrate that she know organize herself. Other point in which I don’t agree and she isn’t the only that did that is about the prizes. I share that all students have to be rewarded for their effort but in my opinion those examples aren’t appropriate. If I were the pupil and this I commented with some partners , I wouldn’t consider as award doing other exposition in front of more people. Sincerely, I don’t think that some children think it. Besides that, I think that the differents rewards haven’t sense each them, It’s totally different do the exposition again and organize a picnic or other activity for you partners.

Leaving that a side, I think that she has done a great job and in the presentation she has been pleasant and friendly.

Presentation of 20/02/2014

This day the group LASH composed by Laura Borné, Héctor, Andrea y Sara Sánchez have presented their project about the different  types of diet.

They started with the index where their explined their plan, also they showed their team plan, their objectives, their materials and each one talked about his personal commitments and the techniques which they used to do it that they are used the popular jigsaw technique and at the end they included TGT technique.

In the first session they divide the class on six groups with 4 members each one the way that they can help each other and divided the lesson in 4 subtopics.

In the second session the teacher tech them how to look for information with computer, something that in my opinion they know to do already because they are digital natives. Each one search information about their topic. In the third lesson

The people who have the same subtopic share their ideas to make a mural. Then, in the fourth session they returned to their base groups and share the knowledge that they have learnt in the experts groups. This way all students know the main ideas of each subtopic. Finally they do a game with animals cards. And they do a self-evaluation, coo-evaluation and teacher evaluation.

 I think that it’s a good project but is a normal project, nothing special or original but the methodology is good.