1. Describe the teaching environment.
Classroom with tables and chairs separate from shop area. Walls full of posters declaring rules as well as pictures of cars and planes... Shop area consisted of many simple tools (multiple scroll saws and lathes...) and multiple work benches. I found the teaching environment physically to be very cluttered and messy, but yet the teacher himself made the atmosphere very comfortable and confident for the students. How? Not sure exactly how he did it entirely, but rather he was very organized and confident himself, demanding respect and achievement.
2. Describe what students were doing.
Class assignment was building water bottle rockets, each student designing and building their own. Students were given set of requirements and challenges and set free to design and build using personal creativity to accomplish the desired task.
3. Describe students attitudes.
I was very impressed with the attitudes of the students. Most were very much on task and innovative. Most students were very social, but productive in so doing. They gave the teacher respect and were attentive while he spoke. Many were very confident in the assigned task. Positive interaction was evident in all my observations as they interacted with one another.
4. Describe teachers attitude.
I found the demeanor of the teacher to be very trusting, almost too trusting. In conversation with him on safety on many of the tools and machines, he placed a lot of trust within his students on their uses. In one particular incident the teacher found two boys misusing the scroll saw (or rather using it for unnecessary uses in their given assignment), and in response he did not yell or embarrass the students in their fault, but rather strongly and calmly warned them of consequences of misuse. He was a very confident and patient teacher with a goal to just provide safe, yet fun activities for his students.
5. Describe perceived teacher strengths.
The teacher was very experienced in his teaching and subject matter (18 yrs), as well as trusting (though I see it as a strength only to a certain level personally). His classroom was well managed and organized despite physical clutter. He created a very positive and comfortable environment for all to work in, pushing each toward accomplishment.
6. Describe areas of possible improvement.
If I were to enter his classroom as a principle and after observation and conversation with the teacher, I would stress the importance of greater push on safety and uses of equipment. I felt there was a little too much trust given to the junior high kids and uses of power equipment was questionable by some of the students. Also, in conversation with many of the students on their plans, all that I spoke to had little planned or designed prior to construction of their rockets. A little more emphasis on planning and designing in their given project I felt was something that was missing, as many of the students were just "going with the flow."
7. Describe instructional techniques/ teaching styles.
In our particular observation on the given day there was an emphasis on the student-centered teaching. The objectives and purposes of the project was for the students to create and have fun. There was personal and guided practice throughout the day. The students worked independently and cooperatively with other students in the class. Their was scaffolding used in an effort to lecture less and build more.
8. Compare and contrast your teaching method and approach.
Though it's junior high, I felt that the learning objectives can be more applied rather then just "fun." Though application may not be seen as being as fun as just building, it can be and needs to be a greater emphasis. Also, I would put a great emphasis on safety previous to being granted privileges to using certain tools and machinery. I really liked the demand of respect for the teacher as well as the other students within the classroom; something I hope to integrate into my classroom as well.
9. Discuss overall impression of teacher, classroom, students, learning effectiveness, etc.
The class was well behaved, hard working in general, with both an independent and cooperative learning atmosphere. The students well understood the rules and the teacher demanded obedience, and when such was not in place he kindly corrected and reminded students of such. The teacher was very helpful to all students as they requested assistance and was continually moving around the classroom in his effort to teach and educate.
10. Other comments.
The teacher was very effective in gaining the classes attention, yet I feel not particularly safe. In an effort to gain attention of the entire class while in the shop the teacher turned off the lights and proceeded to blow a whistle. I thought it was great, other than the fact that he kept the lights off for several seconds rather that just flickering them. Concern lies in the fact that there were several students running machinery (scroll saws), and I felt that to be a potential hazard for those student that were on such. I would not feel comfortable myself being at a powered machine and loosing sight of what I was doing all so my teacher could gain attention of the class. I felt the experience to be very enlightening and helpful in helping me determine a few key things I want to focus on in my future teaching as well as many things to think about and consider in future experiences.
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