Things Have to Get Worse..

I'm sure everyone has heard the saying, "Things have to get worse before they can get better." Well, that's how I feel it is going to be during the next months. I decided to go back to school to learn different and better teaching techniques and force myself to learn new computer applications to enhance my students' learning and kick up my teaching skills. If future classes are going to be as informative and motivating as Instructional Design with Dr. Monson, I made the right choice. This class has renewed my spirit to teach and reminded me that I am here for the students, the students are not here for me. However, what I didn't plan on was the time it was going to take to complete all the class assignments, which in turn is stealing time from putting all my new knowledge and skills into action; some of the new ideas will have to wait to be instituted until I graduate from the program. So watch out students of 2011-2012, here comes the new and improved me.

How About That!

Sometimes being a teacher is an eye opener. It amazes me how much I learn while I am preparing to teach. While investigating theories of Jerome Bruner, I found out that Alan Kay of Xerox studied Bruner's Three Modes of Representation and based the GUI system for computers on what he learned. Kay felt, like Bruner, that using symbols and icons would make it easier and faster for students to learn how to use computers.

As we finish our Instructional Design project, I am astounded by the work my group members have put forth; I only wish that I had the time to produce the same wonderful instructional materials for each and every class I teach. Using graphic organizers like the ones we created, I know that student learning would increase.

The first major change I plan on incorporating is a better needs analysis based on what outcomes I want for my students and plan my assessments accordingly.

Never To SME To Learn

After years of teaching, I was hoping that going back to school would train/inspire me to add new techniques to my teaching style and I have not been disappointed. In Monson's class I have been reminded that the curriculum should be focused on student learning, not teacher teaching; that we should have the outcome squarely in our sights as we prepare each lesson. In Swenson’s class, while preparing my lesson for December 3rd, I have been inspired by Jerome Bruner (said to be the father of Instructional Design) and the Three Modes of Representation. I see that I have to be more diligent in setting up the lesson so that students can make the connection between what they know and what new knowledge they will learn. Put some "discovery/play" back into the classroom. If I weren’t so tired between the work-load at both schools, it would almost be fun to teach again; something to look forward to in 24 months.

Visting Unusual Places

I had no idea that the Olympic Museum on the University campus even existed. I think it is sad that many Utah residents don't take the time to research and to visit all the unique places available to them. It took me until I turned 45 to even visit the Kennecott lookout. I am trying to take my grandchildren to as many interesting places in Utah as I can find, the museum is now on our list. I think I will start asking them about the design of each place we visit and have them tell me what they think the author, designer, or builder was trying to convey.

Fear of Technology

After reading several articles about advancing technology and its impact on education, including this week's article, I can't believe that a majority of articles talk about the fear of technology and how its growing impact in the classroom will be the destruction of student learning. I guess the thing that really makes me mad is the authors' belief that teachers are so stupid they can't figure it out for themselves that technology is a tool, not a substitute for interaction between student and teacher.

Is it technology fault?

After reading several of the discussions about the good and bad of technology, I am surprised how many people believe that technology in the classroom is going to be the down-fall of our youth. Has the technology of the white board caused student learning to plummet? Has DVD use the classroom sent learning out the window? Has the transition from the ditto machine to the laser printer ruined the student's right to a good education? One discussion talked about taking classes to learn technology but complained that no one taught him when to use the technology. People, people, people when does it become your responsibility to seek out ways to use the new technology you are learning. When do you take ownership of technology, not as its slave, but as its master?

We, as teachers, are always updating our lesson plans, why are we not explore new ways to deliver those updates. As teachers, we should be modeling life-long learning, but when it comes to incorporating technology, for some, the will to learn just stops. New and changing technology has been here since the dawn of time; make the leap from I won't to I will.

I Think I Need Analysis

Analysis, how do you determine what is too little and what is too much?