I had a great opportunity to teach this week. It was a good learning experience. I've had teaching experiences in the past, but usually the topic is broad. This time I was given 20 minutes to create a lesson plan based on recognizing that new technologies introduce new words, icons, images, acronyms, and sounds. It was a long time to talk about such a simple topic. That's where I had the hardest time. How do I make this lesson last 20 minutes? I went to school scared to teach because the lesson plan I originally made involved a fun activity that I realized had nothing to do with my topic and more to do with Amy's topic, and try as I did, I could figure out how to twist the topic enough to involve the activity still, so I scrapped the activity 12 hours before the lesson and had an incredibly difficult time preparing the lesson from there on. minutes before I was to teach I threw a few more ideas on to a piece of paper and did the best I could. It went much better than I anticipated but not as good as I'd have liked.
Feedback:
1. Stick to a central purpose/topic. I introduced a few things that had some relevance, but distracted from the central purpose.
2. use the room. It was pointed out that I used the computer kind of like a crutch, and it's true. Though that wasn't my intent, I definitely was close to my notes because I wasn't adequately prepared.
3. "We Got It". Later that day someone in the class asked me if I wanted a little more advice, I welcomed it and she said something I said to myself on my mission "We Got It", or in other words, move on. I have a tendency to hit a point several times and repeat my self over and over again. With this lesson it was more because I didn't know what to do with it, but still, in my normal teaching situations I tend to say something several times... I don't really even know why, I just do. Kind of like umm's, people often don't even know they're doing it.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
3 fold mission of a teacher - insite and venting on teaching
I think teachers have a 3 fold mission:
1 - To Teach
2 - To Inspire/encourage
3 - To Prepare
These hit me really hard the other day because I've reflected on the teachers I learned a lot from and the teachers I didn't learn anything from and these 3 things are what really sets them apart.
To Teach - Specifically the things the students expect from the class. There is nothing I hate more in school than to sign up for a class and then find out the class isn't following the course requirements. Happened to me in a Book of Mormon class. When you sign up for a Book of Mormon class you expect to spend a lot of time studying the Book of Mormon. We read maybe 30 verses from it the entire semester. The remaining time we read from the old testament and the doctrine and covenants. If a teacher is not going to teach what the course info says he will teach than the teacher either needs to change the course info or stop teaching the subject. The teaching methodology isn't as important to me as teaching what you say you'll teach, because if a student is not learning what he/she felt they signed up to learn, the student will stop paying attention to the class. I do however believe that the teacher should enjoy what they are teaching. There are a lot better paying jobs out there and if a teacher doesn't enjoy what they're doing, that teacher needs to do something else for the benefit of everyone.
To Inspire/Motivate: The best teachers I've seen have been those who made their students want to learn and know more. There's usually some anticipation "I can't wait for friday's class when we learn about ...". The teacher may not be best friends with the students, but he/she should know all the students by name and be interested in the progress of the students. When a teacher is excited about my progress I'm more excited about going further in my studies. When a teacher encourages me to do some difficult assignment I'm more likely to get it done on time and with a better outcome. When a student likes a teacher the student yearns for praise, for recognition, not to boast or brag, but because a pat on the back physically, mentally, and with real excitement is better than a candy bar any day... though candy bars are good too.
To Prepare: I feel a purpose of teachers are to prepare students for what is coming next. If a first grade teacher is not preparing students for the second grade I don't feel he/she is doing their job. Elementary school teachers should prepare students for middle school, middle school for high school, high school for college and college for the work force. But there is more to it in high school than simply preparing students for college. I feel high school is where students really need to get an idea of the possibilities that are out there. I think schools need to do better at preparing high school students to select a major by introducing them to more subjects. I've never been a fan of the rediculously large number of required courses that high schools require because of those classes most do not prepare the students for college. I think the individual subjects are important, but not so important that a student should have 4 years of history, 4 years of english/writing, and 4 years of science. I would put math up there, but I do feel that math is so widely used in college that a student should have gone through everything needed before pre-calculus before they graduate. But even that is 3 years for most. In college you are required to take a certain number of general credits, and I'm fine with that, in fact I think it's wonderful, but it's only 1/3 of your overall credits. In high school that percentage is more like 3/4ths of your classes are general required classes, most of which you'll forget before the next semester starts. If a high school's purpose is to prepare students for college, where 2/3rds of your classes are geared towards a specific goal (teaching, programming, electrical engineering) and the courses specific to that purpose (certain math and writing skills), why don't we do more of that in high schools? Is it so incredibly important that a student memorize all the rivers, counties, mountain ranges, and lakes in Oregon? Are students ever going to be hired as an electrician because they were able to memorize the names of every signer of the Constitution and identify from which state the representative came from? I believe we do need to make our students well rounded, and I don't think we should ignore these classes all together, but I do think we should do more college preparation, and I don't feel that the number of history and geography courses most high schools require does that.Of the 2 history courses I took at BYU, none of the information touched upon previously learned ideas in school. Most of the names were not taught in high school. If the courses are not building upon that which was already learned, then was the previously learned information important enough for college prep?
1 - To Teach
2 - To Inspire/encourage
3 - To Prepare
These hit me really hard the other day because I've reflected on the teachers I learned a lot from and the teachers I didn't learn anything from and these 3 things are what really sets them apart.
To Teach - Specifically the things the students expect from the class. There is nothing I hate more in school than to sign up for a class and then find out the class isn't following the course requirements. Happened to me in a Book of Mormon class. When you sign up for a Book of Mormon class you expect to spend a lot of time studying the Book of Mormon. We read maybe 30 verses from it the entire semester. The remaining time we read from the old testament and the doctrine and covenants. If a teacher is not going to teach what the course info says he will teach than the teacher either needs to change the course info or stop teaching the subject. The teaching methodology isn't as important to me as teaching what you say you'll teach, because if a student is not learning what he/she felt they signed up to learn, the student will stop paying attention to the class. I do however believe that the teacher should enjoy what they are teaching. There are a lot better paying jobs out there and if a teacher doesn't enjoy what they're doing, that teacher needs to do something else for the benefit of everyone.
To Inspire/Motivate: The best teachers I've seen have been those who made their students want to learn and know more. There's usually some anticipation "I can't wait for friday's class when we learn about ...". The teacher may not be best friends with the students, but he/she should know all the students by name and be interested in the progress of the students. When a teacher is excited about my progress I'm more excited about going further in my studies. When a teacher encourages me to do some difficult assignment I'm more likely to get it done on time and with a better outcome. When a student likes a teacher the student yearns for praise, for recognition, not to boast or brag, but because a pat on the back physically, mentally, and with real excitement is better than a candy bar any day... though candy bars are good too.
To Prepare: I feel a purpose of teachers are to prepare students for what is coming next. If a first grade teacher is not preparing students for the second grade I don't feel he/she is doing their job. Elementary school teachers should prepare students for middle school, middle school for high school, high school for college and college for the work force. But there is more to it in high school than simply preparing students for college. I feel high school is where students really need to get an idea of the possibilities that are out there. I think schools need to do better at preparing high school students to select a major by introducing them to more subjects. I've never been a fan of the rediculously large number of required courses that high schools require because of those classes most do not prepare the students for college. I think the individual subjects are important, but not so important that a student should have 4 years of history, 4 years of english/writing, and 4 years of science. I would put math up there, but I do feel that math is so widely used in college that a student should have gone through everything needed before pre-calculus before they graduate. But even that is 3 years for most. In college you are required to take a certain number of general credits, and I'm fine with that, in fact I think it's wonderful, but it's only 1/3 of your overall credits. In high school that percentage is more like 3/4ths of your classes are general required classes, most of which you'll forget before the next semester starts. If a high school's purpose is to prepare students for college, where 2/3rds of your classes are geared towards a specific goal (teaching, programming, electrical engineering) and the courses specific to that purpose (certain math and writing skills), why don't we do more of that in high schools? Is it so incredibly important that a student memorize all the rivers, counties, mountain ranges, and lakes in Oregon? Are students ever going to be hired as an electrician because they were able to memorize the names of every signer of the Constitution and identify from which state the representative came from? I believe we do need to make our students well rounded, and I don't think we should ignore these classes all together, but I do think we should do more college preparation, and I don't feel that the number of history and geography courses most high schools require does that.Of the 2 history courses I took at BYU, none of the information touched upon previously learned ideas in school. Most of the names were not taught in high school. If the courses are not building upon that which was already learned, then was the previously learned information important enough for college prep?
Friday, October 15, 2010
Research Idea
So I've been contemplating ideas for the ORCA research application that's due this next week. I'm still wanting to do it, but I think I've changed my direction a little bit.
Oregon has a technology teacher of the year award and about 7 years ago my computer science teacher - who is retiring this year - won the award. I always felt he was an amazing teacher and I would like to see what qualities are common amongst technology teachers who become noticed and awarded such recognitions through the state.
My Idea for the orca grant is to go back to Oregon and do a few hours of job shaddowing with 5 or 6 of the winners of this Technology Teacher of the Year award. I'd like to interview them and find out how they bring students into their programs, how much extra work they do to help the program succeed, and so forth.
Oregon has a technology teacher of the year award and about 7 years ago my computer science teacher - who is retiring this year - won the award. I always felt he was an amazing teacher and I would like to see what qualities are common amongst technology teachers who become noticed and awarded such recognitions through the state.
My Idea for the orca grant is to go back to Oregon and do a few hours of job shaddowing with 5 or 6 of the winners of this Technology Teacher of the Year award. I'd like to interview them and find out how they bring students into their programs, how much extra work they do to help the program succeed, and so forth.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
That's Who I'd Be
A sweet musical all should listen to is Shrek the Musical. It's full of awesome music, much different from the "Disney on ice" type of things you'd picture from the title given. There is a song sung by Shrek shortly after princess Fiona is saved entitled "That's who I'd be". It's an inspiring song where Shrek expresses his desire to be something other than an Ogre. The lyrics are at the end of this entry if any are interested in reading them. Anyways, what does this have to do with teaching? Well keep reading and I'll connect the two.
Today I went and visited Mr. John Moss, a video broadcasting and journalism teacher at Wasatch High School in Heber City. Home of the Wasps (their school pride is displayed so much and mentioned so many times I'm rather surprised there wasn't an active Wasps Nest in the main corridor). Mr. Moss' Video Broadcasting classroom was quite amazing. I honestly expected to see a simple green screen, a camera or two, a desk, and a couple computers for editing videos, because that's about all my school had. I was rather surprised to find that it was as close to a real news production studio as you can get without being NBC. What was most inspiring to me was the story of his program from when he started to where it is now. When he started he had basically what i mentioned my high school as having, but there was a goal, to be on an equal standing as Kearrn High School's news broadcasting studio. I haven't seen that studio, but I feel safe to say they are there, and possibly beyond. Mr. Moss realized that not all teaching is about throwing information and making students memorize it. His purpose was to teach by jumping into the real thing, or as close to it as you can get. His idea of teaching is to take the desired ending product and prepare the students for it by practicing, not reciting broadcasting history or having students write papers on various news reporters.
As a teacher I will probably be placed in a classroom that is not my ideal classroom. It will probably not have all the equipment I need, it will probably lack software, it will probably even lack a well designed program by the previous teacher, but that doesn't mean I have to let it stay that way. Like Shrek, I have a dream, but my dream reaches far beyond myself, but to my program. My dream is to build. To look into the lives of those I'll teach and to not be content with letting the world progress and letting my program stay the same. I want my program to be like Mr. Moss', ever growing, ever improving. Preparing students for careers and colleges, introducing students to real businesses that do the things I teach about, and giving students assignments and projects that provide real application. That's who I'd be. Similar to how Shrek couldn't change the fact that he is an ogre, there are things about me that I can't change, but like Shrek, Those things don't define my abilities or the type of person I can be or do. With time I hope to be able to create a technology program in my high school that other schools will envy.
"That's Who I'd Be" - From Shrek The Musical
I guess I’d be a hero, With sword and armor clashing
Looking semi dashing, A shield within my grip
Or else I’d be a Viking, and live a life of daring
While smelling like a herring, upon a Viking ship.
I’d sail away, I’d see the world, I’d reach the farthest reaches
I’d feel the wind, I’d taste the salt and sea.
And maybe storm some beaches.
That’s who I’d be. That’s who I’d be.
Or I would be a poet, and write a different story,
One that tells of glory, and wipes away the lies
And to the skies I’d throw it, the stars would do the telling
The moon would help with spelling, and night would dot the ‘I’s
I’d write my verse, Recite my joke, it’d fit in perfect timing.
I’d share my heart, confess the things I learn, and do it all while rhyming.
But we all learn. But we all learn.
An Ogre always hides, an Ogre's fate is known
An Ogre always stays in the dark and all alone
So yes I’d be a hero and if my wish was granted
Life would be enchanted, or so the stories say.
Of course I’d be a hero, and I would scale a tower
And save a hot-house flower, and carry her away
But standing guard there’d be a beast, I’d somehow over whelm it,
I’d get the girl, I’d take my breath, and I’d remove my helmet.
We’d stand and stare, we’d speak of love, we’d feel the stars ascending
We’d share a kiss, I’d find my destiny
I’d have a hero’s ending, a perfect happy ending.
That’s how it would be
A big bright beautiful world
But not for me.
[Fiona]
An ogre always hides. An ogres fate is know. An ogre always stays
[Donkey]
In the dark and all alone
[Fiona]
All Alone
(All at the same time)
[Shrek]
So yes i'd be a hero, and if my wish was granted my life would be enchanted or so the stories say.
Of course I'd be a hero and I would scale a tower to save a
haukhouse flower and carry her away!
[Fiona]
There are rules and there are strictures. I belive the storie books i read by candle light
[Donkey]
Don't let me go, Don't let me go, Don't let me go
[All]
A perfect happy ending, thats how.... it.. should be!
Today I went and visited Mr. John Moss, a video broadcasting and journalism teacher at Wasatch High School in Heber City. Home of the Wasps (their school pride is displayed so much and mentioned so many times I'm rather surprised there wasn't an active Wasps Nest in the main corridor). Mr. Moss' Video Broadcasting classroom was quite amazing. I honestly expected to see a simple green screen, a camera or two, a desk, and a couple computers for editing videos, because that's about all my school had. I was rather surprised to find that it was as close to a real news production studio as you can get without being NBC. What was most inspiring to me was the story of his program from when he started to where it is now. When he started he had basically what i mentioned my high school as having, but there was a goal, to be on an equal standing as Kearrn High School's news broadcasting studio. I haven't seen that studio, but I feel safe to say they are there, and possibly beyond. Mr. Moss realized that not all teaching is about throwing information and making students memorize it. His purpose was to teach by jumping into the real thing, or as close to it as you can get. His idea of teaching is to take the desired ending product and prepare the students for it by practicing, not reciting broadcasting history or having students write papers on various news reporters.
As a teacher I will probably be placed in a classroom that is not my ideal classroom. It will probably not have all the equipment I need, it will probably lack software, it will probably even lack a well designed program by the previous teacher, but that doesn't mean I have to let it stay that way. Like Shrek, I have a dream, but my dream reaches far beyond myself, but to my program. My dream is to build. To look into the lives of those I'll teach and to not be content with letting the world progress and letting my program stay the same. I want my program to be like Mr. Moss', ever growing, ever improving. Preparing students for careers and colleges, introducing students to real businesses that do the things I teach about, and giving students assignments and projects that provide real application. That's who I'd be. Similar to how Shrek couldn't change the fact that he is an ogre, there are things about me that I can't change, but like Shrek, Those things don't define my abilities or the type of person I can be or do. With time I hope to be able to create a technology program in my high school that other schools will envy.
"That's Who I'd Be" - From Shrek The Musical
I guess I’d be a hero, With sword and armor clashing
Looking semi dashing, A shield within my grip
Or else I’d be a Viking, and live a life of daring
While smelling like a herring, upon a Viking ship.
I’d sail away, I’d see the world, I’d reach the farthest reaches
I’d feel the wind, I’d taste the salt and sea.
And maybe storm some beaches.
That’s who I’d be. That’s who I’d be.
Or I would be a poet, and write a different story,
One that tells of glory, and wipes away the lies
And to the skies I’d throw it, the stars would do the telling
The moon would help with spelling, and night would dot the ‘I’s
I’d write my verse, Recite my joke, it’d fit in perfect timing.
I’d share my heart, confess the things I learn, and do it all while rhyming.
But we all learn. But we all learn.
An Ogre always hides, an Ogre's fate is known
An Ogre always stays in the dark and all alone
So yes I’d be a hero and if my wish was granted
Life would be enchanted, or so the stories say.
Of course I’d be a hero, and I would scale a tower
And save a hot-house flower, and carry her away
But standing guard there’d be a beast, I’d somehow over whelm it,
I’d get the girl, I’d take my breath, and I’d remove my helmet.
We’d stand and stare, we’d speak of love, we’d feel the stars ascending
We’d share a kiss, I’d find my destiny
I’d have a hero’s ending, a perfect happy ending.
That’s how it would be
A big bright beautiful world
But not for me.
[Fiona]
An ogre always hides. An ogres fate is know. An ogre always stays
[Donkey]
In the dark and all alone
[Fiona]
All Alone
(All at the same time)
[Shrek]
So yes i'd be a hero, and if my wish was granted my life would be enchanted or so the stories say.
Of course I'd be a hero and I would scale a tower to save a
haukhouse flower and carry her away!
[Fiona]
There are rules and there are strictures. I belive the storie books i read by candle light
[Donkey]
Don't let me go, Don't let me go, Don't let me go
[All]
A perfect happy ending, thats how.... it.. should be!
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