Professional Development Reflection

As an educator it is easy to become consumed with how to engage and teach your students. As a result, it is equally easy to forget how important it is to continue your own development as a professional. The world does not stop evolving when I graduate. Technology doesn't cease to improve. This means that if I am going to be able to reach my students in new and exciting ways it is important that I continue to learn in order to be able to teach.

What would our schools look like if every teacher only taught what they learned when they were in college? Considering many teachers don't retire until they're in their 60's, there would be generations of students who are still under the impression that the Cold War is still at the top of America's foreign policy agenda. Granted this is an extreme example, but it makes my point. If I fail to continue my education beyond graduation I would be doing a disservice to my students and to myself.

Knowing that there are numerous resources available for continued professional development makes me more confident in my life after graduation. Educational opportunities can be available, but without taking advantage of them, they are worthless. Being able to educate myself on the my continued professional development makes pursuing such abundant opportunities less daunting.

WebQuest Reflection

I've come to understand that there is more to teaching than trying to impart knowledge to students. Yes, I want my students to learn, but if I can't inspire and motivate my students, I won't be able to impart anything to them. The key to motivation and inspiration in learning is finding interesting lesson plans that will do more than engage the students in the assigned projects, but to help them to see the real world applications of the material.

In my course area, Literature, it can be all too easy for students to think, "what's the point?". In my own education I have met people who have found my pursuit of a literature degree to be merely a pursuit in the ability to claim that I am well read. As an educator, it is my responsibility to show my students how Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet can reach them where they live. My WebQuest lesson plan covers both of these points.

By guiding students to think beyond the play of Romeo and Juliet and look at the relationship depicted in the play, I am helping the students to draw relevant correlations between dramatic love, which is often idealized inappropriately, and healthy dating relationships. This is what the goal is of the WebQuest Romeo and Juliet: True Love? I am asking students to think critically, work collaboratively, and to be creative beyond the normal scope of acting out a scene.

The technology involved in this lesson plan is equally important to the student. The utilization of preselected websites allows the students to focus on the material to aid them in avoiding the common pitfall of research: becoming overwhelmed. Furthermore, this application of technology is interactive and inspiring. To go even further, the students will be creating a video that will be posted on YouTube, thus engaging them in a medium that they are familiar and comfortable.

Professional Development

Copyright and Plagiarism Reflection

It is really quite amazing how frequent and pervasive copyright infringement and plagiarism are in the educational system, especially when you consider how a majority of it is unintentional. In learning about these topics, it was equally surprising to realize how little I knew on the subject. For example, I was unaware that it is considered copyright infringement to use more than 10% or 3 minutes of a song in a multimedia project. I had always assumed, like most people, if you purchased the song, you can use it, at least for educational purposes, without it being against the law.

Understanding copyrights are extremely important for students. In the real world and in the business world it is expected that people will know and abide by the law. Unfortunately, many people fail to educate themselves resulting in a lapse of communication. In addition, it's important to convey to the students that copyright laws are not just about preventing the unlawful use of materials protected by others, but also about protecting their materials as well. By educating students on copyrights, you are helping them to be law abiding citizens, people who value the work of others, but also value their own work.

Although the issue of fair use and copyrighted materials are important issues to cover, students will find the topic of plagiarism to be far more relevant to their academic careers. Many students understand that copying words out of a book and passing them off as their own is wrong. However, many students may not realize the potential plagiarizing pitfalls that await if the they don't understand how to properly cite their sources, fail to adequately use their own words, or even misuse quotations. It's scary, but unintentional plagiarism is still plagiarism and potentially grounds for expulsion.

By properly shining a light on these topics I can further ensure my own understanding, but also ensure the success of my students in the mastery of these concepts. Glogster is a fantastic means of sharing this information and kicking of a more involved discussion. By providing my students with an interactive learning experience like, Glogster posters provide, I take a potentially scary and dull drum topic and make it more approachable and fun.

 

Excel Lesson Plan Reflection

The Microsoft Office Suite is a widely used software package utilized for both business and higher education purposes. This is just one of the many signposts that indicate the growing role of technology in the world at large. A decade ago it was a benefit to have an employee who possessed the technological skill set to use the Microsoft Office Suite. However, this benefit has evolved into an expectation. No longer is it acceptable to be proficient in one of the multiple applications within the Office Suite, i.e. Word. For students pursuing a college degree and for job applicants pursing a means of employment, it is expected that each qualified individual will be experienced in Word and Excel. As an educator, it is my job to ensure that the students I teach are well prepared to meet the expectations of these institutions.

Excel is one of the more challenging programs within the Microsoft Office Suite. It requires the user to do more than type and make use of simple formatting to produce an effective and appealing product. As a result, students may perceive the use of this program to be daunting and thus, shy away. This hesitancy is understandable, but it is also surmountable. By integrating the use of Excel in classroom projects, I am helping students to familiarize themselves with a program that is both important and often misunderstood.

In many ways, Excel is the Shakespeare of the Office Suite. Students are put off by it as a result of its reputation. As their teacher it is my goal and responsibility to break down the material for the students so that it is both manageable and approachable. With my spreadsheet lesson plan, it was my goal to combine these two seemingly insurmountable subjects to help build the confidence of the students and reinforce concepts. The end product was a lesson plan that involved creating a portion of a timeline that is generated within Excel for Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

The Hamlet timeline asked students, in groups, to build a timeline for a specific section of the play. I provided an example of a spreadsheet timeline for this project that also worked as a starting point for the students to build off of. Hamlet is a complex play with a lot of plot and subplot activity that can be confusing. By asking the students to build a timeline for specific sections in the play they are being asked to dissect a portion of the play for plot points. This will reinforce their understanding of the text as well as help to make Shakespeare more manageable aiding in their analysis of Hamlet.

By requiring the students to use Excel in the creation of their timeline, I am giving them the opportunity to explore a program they may not otherwise utilize. In addition, by using this program to build a timeline students are able to recognize that there many different uses for Excel outside of the standard pivot table or graph. This will help each student to recognize the endless technological possibilities available at their fingertips as long as they are willing to think outside of the box.

The final component, which I feel is essential to the success of this lesson plan, is the collaborative learning component. Despite my best efforts, there will always be a student who doesn't feel comfortable approaching me with questions or concerns regarding a project or the subject matter. However, regardless of a student's inability to approach me directly, it is still my responsibility to ensure every student learns and has their educational needs met. For many students a group setting is an environment that is more conducive to voicing confusion about the material as they are not typically alone in their wariness. This means that students who may have otherwise suffered in silence are able to engage their peers in dissecting the material not only clarifying it, but also increasing the level of retention.