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.

PowerPoint Lesson Plan Reflection

Up to this point, I have been focused on how I can use technology to engage my students and their parents. I have thought of different ways to utilize my technological skills to make learning more fun and the information I wish to share more appealing. However, with the PowerPoint Lesson Plan I not only found a way to apply my technological skills, but also to help my students apply theirs while at the same time, helping them to comprehend the material we were covering.

This lesson plan focused on the creation of a modern day inferno using Dante's Inferno as the premise. With older texts, i.e. Dante's Inferno, The Iliad, etc. the language the author's used and the references/subject matter can make the text seem unapproachable and irrelevant. By asking the students to apply the subject matter, i.e. the inhabitants of the inferno in a modern context, it helps to illustrate to the students why this book is timeless. In addition, by framing the subject matter in relatable terms, the students are able to better understand what the author's original intention was.

However, regardless of how clever an idea may be, if it fails to engage students, it's useless. If I asked students to build a modern day inferno using construction paper and glue sticks, only a small fraction of the students would find this interesting. Not all students are artistically inclined in a physical medium. The beauty of technology is that with the right information, anyone can produce a professional piece that they are proud of. With so many students living in and playing in the technological medium already, by taking this lesson plan and asking students to build their idea of a modern inferno using PowerPoint, I am engaging the students on a more relevant level and helping them to hone their own technology based skills.

It would be easy to stop there, but I chose to take this lesson plan one step further. In the working world, cooperation and team work is a key component to success. By making this project a group project and allocating the tasks across relevant class periods, I am encouraging the students to work together as a community to accomplish a common a goal. In small groups they are asked to complete a PowerPoint presentation that depicts 5 types of Inferno Inhabitants with modern day examples. However, I have no assigned these inhabitants to the groups. The students are asked to communicate with one another to ensure that there are no duplications and to ensure all inhabitants will be represented. All of this communication is encouraged to take place both in the classroom, but also utilizing the class discussion board on the class website.

The online discussion board and class website are also key components to this technology based lesson plan. I want students to not only be engaged in the material, but with each other. The class website offers a discussion area to iron out concept issues and even discuss any confusion regarding the text itself. Students are also asked to share any interesting resource materials they may come across during their research that may prove interesting or beneficial to other class members. One of the requirements of this assignment is that students provide two hyperlinks to interesting resources they discovered in their research. In the past students have been pitted against one another in competition, but by asking them to share their resources, they will realize they are working within a community rather than working against one another.

 

 

RSS Reader Reflection

As a solitary teacher in a classroom, it is easy to become isolated. The isolation of educators not only erodes the morale of teachers, but it also prevents the continued growth and education of teachers. Through the utilization of the RSS Reader, teachers are able to stay connected to a very large community of teachers.

In our digital age, teachers are of all ages are reaching out to the great ether, sharing their triumphs and frustrations as participants in the educational process. Whether they are just venting, attempting to remind themselves why they want to be teachers, or are trying to reach out to other teachers, many educators are blogging. These blogs are valuable resources to all teachers as it reminds us that we are not alone. These blogs give teachers of all experience levels a means of connecting with one another in ways that teachers prior to the invention of the blogospere couldn't have even imagined. Teaching can be emotionally draining and just knowing that you're not alone can make all the difference.

The community of teachers online isn't just a resource for emotional recompense for those needing validation or a shoulder to cry on. Teachers are able to share lesson plan ideas and project concepts. This is important because none of us are bottomless wells of fabulous and inspiring teaching ideas. Sometimes we hit a brick wall and having an online resource in which we're able to search and draw from to find tested plans that engage the students is a win win scenario for everyone.

The utilization of the RSS Reader is an intriguing and innovative tool for educators that brings all of this together. Rather than scouring the internet and bookmarks for these resources, I am able to subscribe to the resources using Google Reader. In addition, I can share these resources with my fellow teachers so that they, too, can avoid the pitfalls of isolation. This allows me as a teacher to "Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership" while also "Model[ing] Digital-Age Work and Learning".