Capture/Reflection 4 - 9/30/2010

So I missed out on class on tuesday leaving me nothing to capture or reflect on there, yet I do have items of reflection on both the personality inventory and the readings. I don't have a lot to capture or reflect upon with the personality inventory due to what I assumed I missed on tuesday and the discussion that took place, but as far as my thought I can share such. I began taking the inventory not knowing what I was getting into, yet the inventory caused myself to really think about myself and who I am and who I want to be. I know that with teaching comes individual styles and techniques, meaning that I feel anyone can become a great teacher without becoming someone else. For example, the differences between both Dr. Shumway, Dr. Wright, and Dr. Christensen present great contrast in styles and approach. The contrast isn't in the subject, but rather in the personality of the individual and the techniques used in the classroom. I am apparently an analytical/amiable/expressive person and as such need to lear how to take such and apply and succeed in my efforts as a teacher.

As far as my readings, I did it all very quickly due to my procrastinating that I don't have as much to reflect upon as if I truly studied the material. Either way, I found many of Gong's thoughts and ideas very helpful in getting my mind to turn, and "analyze" who I want to become. I feel if I get anything out of this class it should be in the realm of learning who I am, teaching styles and techniques that are available to me, and then beginning to apply such in a way that builds upon my strengths and personality, all in an effort to become an effective teacher. In an effort to capture and reflect now I am going to share a few things that stuck out to me in my readings and why. On page 8 Walter states how he doesn't like giving people definitive answers but rather motivating questions. I like this philosophy on teaching, though I do also like just receiving the answers too. I feel that providing the student with "motivating" questions can lead to greater and longer lasting learning than just providing the answers. As a teacher one of my goals is to provide knowledge far beyond the classroom for my students and in order to do that there needs to be more than just the dispersion of information, but a given drive to explore and create within the individual. One of my greatest struggles as a student in retaining information that I was simply just given, whereas the information that I searched for and found I find easier to remember and apply. Another idea that Gong touched upon that brought thought and reflection was the idea of assessing your own success. He mentions on page 57 that he knows when he is "succeeding when the children who know the answers, instead of blurting out what they know, start waiting and coaching their neighbor to get it." As a teacher I know that there is a great feeling of accomplishment when your students begin teaching you, but also when they take the extra effort to teach and help each other. Now such success I believe comes from more than just your effort in the classroom but also others outside, yet I know and hope to be able to continue to feel and appreciate throughout my career the honor of seeing your students lear, understand, share, and apply the knowledge you are trying to pass on to them. As a missionary you knew the investigators or members understood what you were teaching if they then went and shared such with their friends and family. The same principle applies in the classroom. I feel that there is where you can measure success and know that you are making a difference.

Capture/Reflection/Teach Something 2 - Capture 9/21/2010

Today I taught about the basics of photography, pertaining specifically to ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture. Twelve minutes is tough. There is so much to talk about with the three said subtopics, and even though I tried hard to keep it basic and simple I ran out of time just barely too early. I enjoy photography and love sharing the little knowledge I have about it because I believe it's a useful tool that all should have a basic understanding. So as I taught about the basics of ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture I found it very difficult to not just ramble on.

Though I had a Powerpoint I worked really hard today in my lesson to ask questions and stimulate interaction. As I explained the said principles, I then would ask one to multiple questions to the students to clarify, expound, or merely provide feedback on the specific principle. Though I had visual aids, I struggled to bring focus and attention to the students on them as I struggled to cover the material in the given time frame. That, I believe, was a big mistake on my part. Visuals when teaching anything can be ideal if not crucial; photography falling into the crucial category. If I were to reteach I would need to structure and organize my time better, utilizing the visuals into my teaching better.

Though I evaluated a lot throughout the lesson, I am bummed that I was unable to get to my final evaluation and assessment which would have helped me to better understand the students overall understanding of the subject matter. Despite my errors I do feel however that my students were able to understand the key components of a camera, namely ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture. Specifically I felt that I was able to help Evan as he was the only one in the group with little or no background in photography; which as a teacher is my goal in helping all in the class come to an understanding of the subject matter.

Capture/Reflection 2 - 9/16/2010

In reflection of this past week I learned an overwhelming amount of information. actually, correct me, I'm striving to learn an overwhelming amount. While speaking and learning about educational philosophers I particularly enjoyed Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences. I have always known there were different ways of learning, but never the specifics or theories of what those different categories were. I also enjoyed trying to identify the different ways I learn well as well as the different ways in which I struggle.

Other great informative keys given during class were the keys of a good teacher. (1) Know the content; (2) Objective based lessons; (3) Expect more -focus on growth; (4) Engaging Environment; (5) High Trust in the students; (6) Use assessments/evaluations. In preparations as well as developing confidence, I found these keys very beneficial and helpful.

A particular quote I enjoyed was, "Good teachers create an environment where they are passionate about discovery." I'm not sure who that was, but it made me think. Am I passionate about teaching; about the subject matter? How can I be that kind of a teacher?

There were many other great and interesting things taught in class as well as what I read from WONG, but I'm not going to sum up everything. Lastly though I did enjoy our class discussion about moral dimensions. This thought as often come to me and I've wondered how I can directly and indirectly have such an influence on my students. I did not know the specific do's and don'ts, but one of the main reasons I want to teach is because of the impact I know I can have on the students; beyond the classroom. I have been greatly influenced in my past and hope to have such an impact on others in the future, and I know that high morals will be a tremendous factor in doing such.

Teach Something 1 Reflection 9/7/2010

I attempted to teach the class about Human Etiquette in Bear Country. For five summers I worked at a wildlife observatory in Alaska called Anan Creek. It was here where I learned proper human etiquette while in bear country. I briefly touched on the importance of maintaining self discipline and regulation with food, in reference to hiking and camping. Second point made was about the importance of hiking or camping in groups to provide added security and safety. Third was the importance of making noise while hiking through bear country to reduce bear encounters and eliminate surprise encounters all together. Lastly was what to do if one were to have a bear encounter; proper attitude and actions to hopefully prevent encounters from escalating to the point of injury or death.

I do admit I was highly disappointed with my teaching. Nervous? Yes, but the information is nothing new to me, rather the situational teaching experience was. I knew I needed class participation to help make the lesson more interesting, yet I forgot all together to do so by not asking questions or opening up opportunities for the students to comment. It was a great learning experience for myself in what further I can do to prepare and how to better deliver the subject matter. I can now only hope to take this experience and learn from it in an effort to improve and grow.

TEE 125 - Interesting finds from RSS feeds - 9/7/2010

-- http://lifehacker.com/5630880/how-to-change-color-in-a-photo

So I found this article on how to change color in a photo quite interesting. I have only been getting into photoshop a bit here and there over the last year or so. Most of my editing to any of my photographs are very basic and elementary, but I enjoy learning new things about it too. Thought I would post this so that any others who also may interested can check it out.


-- http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-websites-html5/

Now this particular article isn't of great interest to me but I believe it will be of interest to others in the class. Previous to the other day when we were talking about all the many acronyms of the computer world, like html, I knew nothing. So, when I came across this article about html I actually had a basic idea of what it was all about, meaning the language writeup of the web. Anyways, goes to show I am gaining that basic understand that many others had long ago, yet I'm trying.

TEE 276 - Teaching Philosophy as of 9/6/2010

My Philosophy on Education

I believe that teaching is a unique opportunity to guide, cultivate, build, and most importantly bears the power to help unlock the endless potential that exists within each and every individual. Such a power can only exist in an atmosphere of security, love, and enthusiasm, yet also an atmosphere of structure and respect. There is passion in teaching and a need for an environment to be created where equal or greater passion can be planted and nourished within the learner. It is my earnest desire and utmost responsibility as teacher to help students find passion in subject matter and develop courageous hope toward their endless potential.

The end goal is to help each student taste and visualize their limitless potential as an individual. Through structured programs and activities that rear and push the learner one stride at a time, an atmosphere of mutual love and respect will form aid in the vital process of cultivation. Though individual subject matters play imperative roles in the array of different indivuals one will teach, the great importance lies in guiding each student to embrace the underlying principles of learning. To create a student centered environment, students will be provided with independence yet also opportunities to collaborate in an effort to discover, problem solve, construct, and apply given assignments.

As an educator, teaching provides myself with the opportunity to continually learn and grow and share my such knowledge and experiences with others. In life ones needs to find and develop passion, passion for a given subject or idea, or above all a passion for learning. As an educator I can help plant the seed of passion, nurture the seed of self respect, and cultivate the seed of limitless potential.

TEE 276 - Capture/Refletion 1 - Got a new Blog as of 9/1/2010

So, not sure exactly how formal you would like these posts, but it seems more so as a means of communicating our learnings with you that I am paying attention and trying to learn and grow in an effort to become an effective teacher.

I've often thought about my teaching philosophy, and actually started a basic writeup once in a coaching class I took a while back. Teaching has been a great desire of mine, an opportunity to do more then just design or build, but rather share and captivate others to find passion and love for a subject or trade. In class you listed and discussed with us the importance of asking yourself questions in the development of your personal philosophy. Some of the questions you've posed and I've thought about are: Why am I doing this? Can I be more then just an average teacher? Do I want to be more then average? How do I create an environment to cultivate and enhance my students? The questions are endless, but needed; this was a valuable lesson for me to help myself get started, thinking deeper as to why I want to teach. Aside from the questions you asked, you stated to us that we ned to think deep as to the whys because otherwise teaching will be no more than a job or career rather than a passion and way of life.