ipt classroom

Reflection #11

2010-12-10T15:15:00.000-08:00

Fire-hose of material to be learned. All is vitally important. I guess we live in the information age, but sometimes i feel fatigued with the flood of information.

Especially as the semester approaches an end, my feet sink deeper into the murky swamp of assignments, projects, and expectations. Lifting one foot causes the other to plunge deeper into the engulfing bog. The band Dream Theater captures the equation of my funneling barbarity and distress.

Watch me
Fading
I'm losing
All my instincts
Falling into darkness

Maybe that's a little drastic or cynical, but, in contrast it could also be veracity verbatim.

One of the main reasons I enjoy the TEE major is justifiably because of the high expectations and the encouragement to learn. Although this can de daunting and overwhelming it helps us stretch and reach a little higher to obtain goals. This is the inspiration I hope to instill in my students. To Dream the Impossible Dream. To set goals, stretch self, and become better because of it.

Reflection #7

2010-12-10T14:52:00.000-08:00

Here is a reflection on forgiveness. Several days ago I tried submitting this reflection but it was closed, and I could not. Now that it reopened I feel like this can be a second chance, a new beginning.

When we feel like all our doors are closed, there is always a way for them to be reopened. On a religious note, I am grateful for the plan of salvation and the chance to change our lives through Jesus Christ. The gospel he teaches is one of personal progression, repentance, and change.

Christ, the Master Teacher taught with love and compassion. He instructed through illustrations, painting a paramount picture of perfect principles. His words gently urge and encourage us along as we emerge from our old selves and purge ourselves from the ways of the world.

Relection #12

2010-12-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

In class we talked about the educational psychologists a little more, and about teaching technique and philosophy. This was interesting to touch on again since it has been so long since we initially developed our own teaching philosophies.

As I think about my own teaching philosophy, I can tell it has been influenced at least slightly by this semester's activities. My philosophy now has many angles and various considerations, and sounds a little more based on research and study than simply opinion and preference.

Something else I have reflected on at the end of this semester is how our confidence as students has built. Initially we taught for only 5 minutes with little training. Now, with a semester behind us we've taught in an elementary school for a couple hours at a time. This is a great way to boost confidence.

Teaching is something we all do everyday, but knowing techniques in how to do it better is invaluable. I hope to be able to use these skills to teach future students and inspire them to go above and beyond the boundaries of learning they have previously set. That's where inspiration and realization begin to change someone and help them exceed a previous notion about their potential.

Reflection #10

2010-11-11T09:40:00.000-08:00

Today and last time we have been in groups working on our lesson plans for the sixth-grade classes. Even though we are planning to teach them, I am learning a lot in the process.

I learned once again that working in a group can be difficult at times because there are so many ideas from different perspectives. The benefit of this though is that usually the best results come from this sometimes difficult process of collaboration.

Planning lessons has given me a greater appreciation for teachers who really take the time to plan for their classes. It has also helped me to categorize different styles of teaching and use them together in such a way that they support and built off of one another.

Learning new things everyday is the best. Hope it goes on forever.

Reflection #9

2010-11-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

Today in class there were several things that I observed that I liked and could incorporate similar ideas into my own teaching.

-Geoff teaching about lab maintenance with such passion and energy. Looked like the man in charge when he stood on the shop table and we had to literally look up to him.

-Steve's example with T of the bridges and how they are supported.

-Tyler's debate, that got the students excited and involved.

-Greg's activity with building houses out of "pre-fabricated" graham crackers.

I think I enjoyed these examples in particular because they involved the class and were full of charisma. This helps the students get invested in the material and develop a desire to learn more. It gives importance to the subject being taught and the material presented.

Reflection #8

2010-11-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

Something I noticed this week was that for one of the teaching classes Professor Wright was not initially in attendance. Some students asked whether or not he'd be there later, or if he'd be there at all. In any case, the class began as normal, and class procedure seemed to run smoothly.

The students taught one after another, and the participants took notes and evaluated the teaching. Everyone knew what he or she was supposed to do, and where to be. When Professor Wright eventually did show up, class was unaltered and the transition was smooth.

What I observed from this is that it is important to have a set schedule so that if you have to turn your class over to someone else, things go well. This also makes the job of the TA or the substitute teacher much easier, and facilitates a seamless transition from teacher to teacher. This is an important situation to address and prepare for so that when it happens you are prepared.

Reflection #7

2010-11-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

We've recently been watching everyone else teach in class and receive feedback. This has been very helpful to see strategies that are effective, and those that could be adapted for success in various classroom settings.

One element we've discussed several times is that of proximity. When the teacher moves around and includes the students in what is going on, the lesson becomes more engaging. This is something I noticed we could all work on.

Also, this series of instructional lessons has prodded me to cultivate creativity and explore new teaching methods. Diversity in instruction can lead to diversity in learning.

These were the main points I've noticed thus far.

Reflection #6

2010-10-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Today in class I was among several who taught lessons relating to technology in the medical field.

I taught about robotics in surgery. This was really interesting for me to study and learn more about. When I taught it I was able to solidify this knowledge and see the areas where I needed to study more.

I noticed that while I was teaching a few questions came up that I had a hard time answering. Now I know in the future to study more and imagine potential questions that might be asked. This would help the class flow better and engage the students in helping them learn specifics that they want to know.

I also received feedback that I need to work on proximity---getting up in people's faces and moving around. So I'll work on that too.

Reflection #5

2010-10-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

After we discussed the personality test in class I evaluated more completely my own personality results.

Initially, I was very surprised to see I scored highest as Analytical. I don't see myself as a very analytical person, but according to the results I indeed do. So does everyone else. AND I work that way too. As a possibility for these results I concluded that this is my somewhat coerced destiny of personality because my second highest score is hardly compatible with "real life".

Being expressive as a second highest I needed something to keep me in line, so I guess I turned analytical. When I'm not tied down to a task or working however, I do maintain a very non-chalant and often very expressive demeanor.

This personality test was quite revealing, and could be very beneficial in dealing with people and improving communications.

Reflection # 4

2010-10-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

This last week we went to another Jr. High school to make observations. This was a much more positive experience than the former. This visit I noticed many effective teaching strategies and techniques that worked well for this age group.

The class I observed was a class of 7th or 8th grade students. They were learning about the basic principles of physics, and building paper rockets. Here are some of the techniques the teacher used that I would like to remember:

- Musical, rhythmic, and repetitious jingles to help the kids get quiet
- Lots of checking for understanding. Frequent questions.
- Smart delegation. Each student knew his/her responsibilities and expectations.
- Energy and excitement for the material
- Real world application

These are the main things I noticed that I thought were very well done and effective in this particular classroom.

Reflection #3

2010-09-24T14:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday for class we went to a junior high school to make observations. It was very interesting to see teaching in this way. It put me in a different perspective, as an observer, rather than as a student participant.

As I watched the goings on of the class I noticed the level of effort it must take to keep control of a jr high class. It seemed like the students always wanted to be talking and making jokes and certainly not paying attention. When the students actually began paying attention or doing work, it seemed they all simultaneously needed attention and answers to their questions.

Several students I noticed simply stopped working if they got stuck, or would not even make the attempt to solve the predicament in which they found themselves. This poses a problematic situation as there is often a classroom full of several needy students, and only one teacher.

Also, many students were disrespectful in action or words. Little note was usually paid to these inappropriate jests. Maybe they just didn't understand how this could affect the people who they were disrespecting.

Reflecting on this made me want to be a better teacher and explain material more clearly to avoid these problems. It also made me realize that if I taught jr. high school I would come off as a very strict teacher, because in my classroom rules would be rigid and respect would be required.

Reflection #2

2010-09-16T09:30:00.000-07:00

Reflection # 2

Thus far in the semester I have learned valuable information that I find useful and that I want to remember.

Last night I read the article entitled “Mindtools” that discussed the idea of using computers as tools to promote critical thinking and individual learning. It proposes changing the way computers are used to deliver information and make them more interactive. It encourages using computers as a tool to enhance learning. Learning with computers, not from them.

There are so many different programs categorized as mindtools that seem to be very useful. I can see how using something like a mindmap could help me organize and prioritize thoughts and ideas. These technologies can help individuals be more productive and organized with their time.

Another thing we’ve talked a lot about in class lately is that of Moral Education. I’ve been reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, wherein he supports the idea that there is a Moral Code or Rule that all are born with. Everyone knows what is “right” and what is “wrong” only because we have a standard to compare it to. That standard is within all of us. Introducing Christian ideology into the classroom is, to an extent, only reinforcing a moral code that is universally accepted. No one likes to be dealt with unfairly. No one likes to be lied to. People appreciate honest, genuine, amiable associates. These principles and values of “goodness” can and should be encouraged in the education system.

Supplementing the implementation of commendable standards in education is the potential to affect lives while teaching. This is very important to me because the interest a teacher shows in his students can drastically change the path of that individual. I hope to be able to encourage my students to be better, and aid them in improving the quality of their lives and futures.

I’ve also really enjoyed reviewing and learning more about psychology and the ideologies of noted psychologists. Ever since I heard about Maslow, Skinner and Pavlov, I’ve been intrigued by their theories and experiments. It has been great to learn about Thorndike and his experiments with cats, about Watson and his 12-infant study, and about Descartes and his explanations on dualism. These ideas and theories will act as a catalyst in the process of developing a teaching theory and philosophy tailored more specifically to me.

Wikis

2010-04-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

Learning about wikis has been informative and educational. I can see wikis being very effective in classes for collaboration and information sharing. In my teaching I may use a wiki for students to post their ideas about upcoming projects, and get feedback from their peers.

View my ipt wiki contributions here

Copyright Assignment

2010-04-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

This is a really interesting video with lots of intriguing statistics. The statistics were not cited, and neither was the music. These could have been addressed so viewers could verify the validity of the stats.

Copyright Assignment

2010-04-13T20:40:00.000-07:00

This video uses a few different songs, but doesn't site any of them. Usually, the whole song or a large part of it is playing. To comply with copyrights they could have used very short clips of the music, gotten permission from the creator, or fabricated their own.

Lifetime Learning

2010-04-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

This semester has really been great! I have learned a lot about new technologies and the possibilities of using them in a classroom setting. There is so much to learn and know, so I hope I can continue to learn more and improve my skills.

IIC Video Pitches

2010-03-31T12:22:00.000-07:00

Team Lit1:
Boring video. Not captivating. Good ideas, but could have been presented in a more engaging way. More b-roll footage to show subject matter and avoid static and lengthy shots.
Clever catch line at the end about how this is not just a competition, but a real and current issue. The approach presented (in-class writing) could be effective in the classroom.

Team Lit2:
Too much text at the beginning. Need more head room on first shot.
Great idea appropriate for kindergarten age-range. Visual and aural skills combined would definitely be effective. The question would be if this is feasible in regards to budget. Probably not.

Team 3 Lit4:
Great opener, "essays?!". Refreshing to see a little creativity and fun.
Sounds good, but maybe a little complicated for the students. This approach seems like it is more focused on analyzing and annotating rather than on actually composing an essay.

Team 4 Lit6:
Fun music. Sounds like a good idea. Budget-friendly, especially if elementary classrooms are already equipped with appropriate projectors.

Lots of good pitches. Some ideas would work in the classrooms better than others, but they are all ideas worth considering.

Learning New Technologies

2010-03-24T14:44:00.000-07:00

Last night I was sitting in my Adobe After Effects class and realized how much there is to know just about that one program. I think I will have to decide on a few programs I know I will use, and then specialize in them so I can remember all the new things I am learning.

The IIC Experience

2010-03-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Participating in the iic competition was a great learning experience for me. It helped me learn new things about imovie that I wasn't aware of. It also encouraged me to learn Jing, and how it works. It was a little stressful sometimes, but the learning was definitely worth it.

iic continues. . .

2010-03-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Still working on the iic competition. Things are going well, we made several screencasts to enhance our project.

IIC competition update

2010-03-03T14:12:00.000-08:00

We are still finalizing some details for our project, but plan to do a large part of the work this Friday. We are excited to create what we have visualized.

IIC Project

2010-02-23T23:42:00.000-08:00

For the iic competition we are planning on creating an instructional video teaching how to construct a solid persuasive essay. I've considered using Mindmeister to organize our ideas, and After Effects to edit the project.

PERSONAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECT

2010-02-16T11:39:00.001-08:00

Posted below. I would like to learn how to use mindmeister effectively.

Sponsor a Child

2010-02-12T11:31:00.000-08:00

This is a video some classmates and I made to heighten awareness of children in need and how we can help them. There are many organizations where you can "adopt a child" by making a small monthly donation. We entered this into the Imagine Cup competition, and if viewers like it we can move on in the competition. Vote by going to the site and selecting I Like at the bottom.

Mindmeister

2010-02-12T11:03:00.000-08:00

Here is another screen shot of a technology I am thinking about learning in the next couple of weeks. Mindmeister helps to group ideas together and make more organized brainstorming. This could be useful to me for writing, film-making, or content creation exercises. It couls also be useful for students as they prepare for writing assignments in order to organize their ideas.

Personal Learning Network

2010-01-24T21:17:00.001-08:00

Here is a list of the five resources to which I subscribed. I chose these specifically because they relate to my probable area of study and my current interests. I selected feeds about graphic design and digital/film editing so I would be up to date on the latest developments in that area. I also subscribed to some resources for teaching with technology and the benefits of e-learning. I finally chose one on career path choices and development, because I still have doubts occasionally about what I should do professionally.

http://www.lynda.com/

2010-01-10T19:17:00.000-08:00

Because my background in technology is limited, I need a good set of instructions to help me learn. This site is great for learning useful software. It takes you through a series of tutorials for each software program, and helps you learn both the basics and the more advanced things as well. Usually the first few lessons for each material are free.

climbing

2010-01-10T19:07:00.000-08:00

I went climbing last night at an indoor gym. It was great, but I remembered how fun it was to be outside when it was warm this last summer. Here is a great informative and instructional site about good locations for great climbs.

success

2010-01-04T16:12:00.000-08:00

Created a blog.