This is my second and hopefully last time taking this course. Last year I failed miserably as I let issues in my personal life negatively affect my school work. I've kept my focus on what's important and necessary in my life at this time and think I'm doing much better in my academics because of it. I'm sincerely enjoying my experience of this class, it's one of the few I look forward to on a typical school day.
This semester I was the target of a bully. My teacher handled it professionally and with much sympathy. Words cant really describe how much I appreciate the way Robert Nellis dealt with it. It can be an uncomfortable topic for many, yet he didnt hesitate to take a full class to dicuss it.
A lot of my blogs are posted on the same day. This is because I have been writing them in my notebook as my computer has been broken. Hopefully there is a sufficient number of entries. This class was a great experience and I'll definately remember it as one of the best!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Operant Conditioning (Nov 14)
When it comes to operant conditioning I think that positive reinforcement is the best approach. It's pro active at keeping good behaviour up while avoiding bad behaviour and there is nothing negative about the experience.
Fairness (Oct 29)
We watched a video a couple days ago and the introctor said that fairness is giving kids what they need to learn. It isn't giving the kids all the same attention. It seems simple but probably wouldnt occur to a lot of people.
I never once thought of fairness this way until I heard this. It makes perfect sense though. Every student should be entitled to what they NEED to learn something. Some kids may need less than others and that's ok but for those who need more should get more until they've achieved what the other students have achieved.
I never once thought of fairness this way until I heard this. It makes perfect sense though. Every student should be entitled to what they NEED to learn something. Some kids may need less than others and that's ok but for those who need more should get more until they've achieved what the other students have achieved.
Codes / IPP (Oct 27)
While codes are a mechanism for funding to help a student, they are also labels which in my opinion can have a negative effect on a student. Just like IQ scores being detremental to the attitude of a student who doesnt learn traditionally, a code can discourage a student from trying becuase "there's no point."
IPP's are important and seem very organised in theory. Without them, there would be too much guess work with students as they move on through the years/levels of schooling. Setting small goals in order to achieve large ones is so simple yet genious.
IPP's are important and seem very organised in theory. Without them, there would be too much guess work with students as they move on through the years/levels of schooling. Setting small goals in order to achieve large ones is so simple yet genious.
How Difficult Can This Be? (Oct 26)
Wow! That movie was quite an eye opener.
It really helps to understand what's going on in the head of a learning disabled student. I think watching it will help us as future teachers to be more sympathetic with these types of students and more likely patient and understanding when it takes them longer to do things.
Seeing the instructor in the video being so intolerant and impatient really helps you to see how detrimental that can be to a student. No one likes being talked to like that. It really reinforced the importance of patience!
It really helps to understand what's going on in the head of a learning disabled student. I think watching it will help us as future teachers to be more sympathetic with these types of students and more likely patient and understanding when it takes them longer to do things.
Seeing the instructor in the video being so intolerant and impatient really helps you to see how detrimental that can be to a student. No one likes being talked to like that. It really reinforced the importance of patience!
Bullying in College!? (Oct 28)
Today on my way to class someone stuck a sign to my back the said "you're going to hell fag." A friend took it off my back once I got into class. I never expected something like this to ever happen in post secondary! I was more embarrassed than anything.
Perhaps letting the class know that I'm gay wasnt the best idea yet if I could go back in time, I wouldnt change it for the world. I am who I am and I feel bad for anyone who feels it's necessary to go out of their way to do something like this to one of their peers.
I think the only way to make a good example to other people or to younger kids going through something similar is to be confident and proud to be myself.
Perhaps letting the class know that I'm gay wasnt the best idea yet if I could go back in time, I wouldnt change it for the world. I am who I am and I feel bad for anyone who feels it's necessary to go out of their way to do something like this to one of their peers.
I think the only way to make a good example to other people or to younger kids going through something similar is to be confident and proud to be myself.
Homophobia in Schools (Oct 19)
I personally havent experienced a lot of homophobia in schools while growing up. We didn't really have any openly gay students in my grade in high school so there was never really an opportunity for it.
Apparently research shows that "males tend to be more homophobic than females." Durring todays discussion I disagreed with that. I think it depends on the individual because when I told my friends that I was gay just after graduating high school, some of my female friends wanted nothing to do with me after that while all of my male friends stood by me.
Apparently research shows that "males tend to be more homophobic than females." Durring todays discussion I disagreed with that. I think it depends on the individual because when I told my friends that I was gay just after graduating high school, some of my female friends wanted nothing to do with me after that while all of my male friends stood by me.
New to this Country (Oct 12)
"If people are new to this country, then they ned to adapt to us! Plain and simple, I'm not changing for anybody!"
This sounds like a rahter closed minded individual. I think that we need to acknowledge the presence of new comers to our country and embrace their ways of living. That doesnt mean we necessarily need to adopt their ways of life but we certainly need to respect them at the very least.
As for language barriers, I think if you're coming to this country and you want to be a part of the work force you should expect to have to learn english. It is the prodominant language in this country and learning it is the only way to succeed and reach your full economic potential. With that said, we should have patience for those who are in the process of learning and trying to find work.
Back when I was a cutomer service manager at Wal-Mart, I was given 3 new cashiers to train in my last 6 days of employment. None of them could put a full sentence together in english and they expected them to run a cash register and associate with hundreds of customers on a daily basis. This particular example was an unattainable expectation for new comers to our country that dont yet speak our language.
This sounds like a rahter closed minded individual. I think that we need to acknowledge the presence of new comers to our country and embrace their ways of living. That doesnt mean we necessarily need to adopt their ways of life but we certainly need to respect them at the very least.
As for language barriers, I think if you're coming to this country and you want to be a part of the work force you should expect to have to learn english. It is the prodominant language in this country and learning it is the only way to succeed and reach your full economic potential. With that said, we should have patience for those who are in the process of learning and trying to find work.
Back when I was a cutomer service manager at Wal-Mart, I was given 3 new cashiers to train in my last 6 days of employment. None of them could put a full sentence together in english and they expected them to run a cash register and associate with hundreds of customers on a daily basis. This particular example was an unattainable expectation for new comers to our country that dont yet speak our language.
IQ Testing of Children (Oct 7)
I personally disagree with IQ testing of children. If the child in question learns best through his bodily kinaesthitic intelligence then the test is going to give a result portraying the student as less than smart when in actuality the student may be quite gifted.
Once a student is told that they have a low IQ they may use it as a crutch and stop tyring. They could simple say "no, I'm dumb. I have a low IQ so why even bother." It can take away a child's hope for success.
Once a student is told that they have a low IQ they may use it as a crutch and stop tyring. They could simple say "no, I'm dumb. I have a low IQ so why even bother." It can take away a child's hope for success.
Garnder's Multiple Intelligences (Oct 7)
I most identify with the spatial intelligence. When moving or rearranging furniture, I can imagine how it's going to be placed and what it will look like and I've yet to experience failure with executing my plans.
Not once did I need someone to show me how to parallel park. I saw it happen and I just did it, imagining what the outside of the vehichle was doing. When working for a city doing land scaping I had to do tailer traning with the pick up truck, it took me half the time that it took my coworkers.
Spatial skills just come naturally to me with out much effort so I think it's safe to say that it's my strongest intelligence.
Not once did I need someone to show me how to parallel park. I saw it happen and I just did it, imagining what the outside of the vehichle was doing. When working for a city doing land scaping I had to do tailer traning with the pick up truck, it took me half the time that it took my coworkers.
Spatial skills just come naturally to me with out much effort so I think it's safe to say that it's my strongest intelligence.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Digital Nation
First off I just need to say that those MIT students really threw me for a loop. There's such a thing as being too connected. I feel that it's very important to disconnect and experience the world first hand. For example, when I go hiking for several hours I turn my phone off and put it at the bottom of my nap sac. I dont need to know what someone is doing or has done while I am in class because they'll still have done it by the time I'm able to talk to them or turn my phone back on to read that text.
As for those kids texting while eating meals together; If my friends just stopped a conversation mid sentence to read something I'd be a little offended.
This movie showed that technology has so much merit when it comes to education. It gets students engaged more by keeping their attention. Grades even went up significantly in some situations simply by introducing technology in to the classroom and utilizing it to it's full potential.
Near the end of the film they examined an army recruitment practice referred to as the "Army Experience Center." Here, kids were allowed to play all sorts of war games free of cost as a way to get them interested in joining the military. I think this is a significant and serious misuse of technology to catch kid's attention. It gives them an unreal ideal of what it's like to be a part of war. As one woman said "there's no reset button in real life."
Over all I think technology is a great thing in moderation. We shouldnt let our youth lose sight of the world right in front of them! Technolgy should be used in such a way that it's benefitting the child and preparing them for the future rather than sheltering them from real life.
As for those kids texting while eating meals together; If my friends just stopped a conversation mid sentence to read something I'd be a little offended.
This movie showed that technology has so much merit when it comes to education. It gets students engaged more by keeping their attention. Grades even went up significantly in some situations simply by introducing technology in to the classroom and utilizing it to it's full potential.
Near the end of the film they examined an army recruitment practice referred to as the "Army Experience Center." Here, kids were allowed to play all sorts of war games free of cost as a way to get them interested in joining the military. I think this is a significant and serious misuse of technology to catch kid's attention. It gives them an unreal ideal of what it's like to be a part of war. As one woman said "there's no reset button in real life."
Over all I think technology is a great thing in moderation. We shouldnt let our youth lose sight of the world right in front of them! Technolgy should be used in such a way that it's benefitting the child and preparing them for the future rather than sheltering them from real life.
Current Main Priority?!
In Erik Erickson's stages of human development I'd have to say I fall right in stage 6 (Intimacy vs. Isolation) My age fits in the stage aswell as my every day thinking. It seems to be an on going thing in my life and the lives of many friends...an inconsistent definiton of their relationship statuses.
Today we were asked what our current main priority in life is. If I were being honest, I'd say that while school and work are main priorities, so is my relationship with the person I'm seeing right now. While more of my time and emphasis are put on school and work, that doesnt necessarily mean that they are more important to me, it just means that I know they need to be done.
Today we were asked what our current main priority in life is. If I were being honest, I'd say that while school and work are main priorities, so is my relationship with the person I'm seeing right now. While more of my time and emphasis are put on school and work, that doesnt necessarily mean that they are more important to me, it just means that I know they need to be done.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Piaget vs. Vygotsky
Vygotsky resonates more with my personal preferences. He focuses on the individual rather than the group. In my opinion, this allows for the success of the struggling individual rather than the average grade of the class.
He's got less structure to his methods which allows for flexibility and change.
He's got less structure to his methods which allows for flexibility and change.
Pys. Ed vs. Academic Success
We watched the video about Allison Cameron and the connection she made between physical activity and academic success rates.
I was blown away by the progress that this teacher made with these students that so many would probably describe as lost causes. Adding Physical activity to their weekly routines drastically improved their grades.
While watching this video I realised how true the lesson really is. When I'm having trouble focussing on homework or studying, I always go to the gym for a couple hours. Once I'm done working out, I can focus without a problem. I never really knew the theories behind these methods, I just knew it worked for me.
I was blown away by the progress that this teacher made with these students that so many would probably describe as lost causes. Adding Physical activity to their weekly routines drastically improved their grades.
While watching this video I realised how true the lesson really is. When I'm having trouble focussing on homework or studying, I always go to the gym for a couple hours. Once I'm done working out, I can focus without a problem. I never really knew the theories behind these methods, I just knew it worked for me.
Why I Want to Become a Teacher?!
Today we were asked why we wanted to be teachers. My answer to this is endless but I'll give you the short and sweet version.
I want a career that has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of others. If I manage to improve even one kids life in all of my time as a teacher, I'll consider that a great success.
I didn't have the easiest time in high school. I was teased for being the fat kid and constantly had my sexuality questioned by my peers. If it werent for a couple of the teachers I had, I would be a very different person today. Seeing first hand the positive effect that good teachers can have has made me want to be a teacher.
Long story short; I would like to make a difference with my work.
I want a career that has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of others. If I manage to improve even one kids life in all of my time as a teacher, I'll consider that a great success.
I didn't have the easiest time in high school. I was teased for being the fat kid and constantly had my sexuality questioned by my peers. If it werent for a couple of the teachers I had, I would be a very different person today. Seeing first hand the positive effect that good teachers can have has made me want to be a teacher.
Long story short; I would like to make a difference with my work.
Effective Teaching
Today we learned about effective teaching in action. While I agree with everything we learned today I also think that it's very important to relate to the kids. This calls for many different strategies or approaches based on the age of students you're dealing with.
Grade twos for example. I think it's imprtant to get down to their level and speak to them as individuals aswell as a group. If they dont understand a part of the lesson, rather then talking down to them like a child, speak to them as if you were speaking to one of your peers.
Relating to the students and showing that you know and understand the social pressures that they're experiencing helps them to see that you're on their side and that you're there to support them along the way (their helping hand in the drawn out experience that we've come to know as scaffolding.)
Grade twos for example. I think it's imprtant to get down to their level and speak to them as individuals aswell as a group. If they dont understand a part of the lesson, rather then talking down to them like a child, speak to them as if you were speaking to one of your peers.
Relating to the students and showing that you know and understand the social pressures that they're experiencing helps them to see that you're on their side and that you're there to support them along the way (their helping hand in the drawn out experience that we've come to know as scaffolding.)
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