The videos that we watched today were about creativity but not in your traditional way of thinking about creativity. Well at least in the way I had always thought about if when it comes to being artistic. After putting more thought in to what creativity means to me. My ideas really started to change. Being creative is thinking out side of the box. When a person is creative they can face life challenges. John Sealy Brown stated that we can't truly prepare our students for every problem they may face because they will be facing many new problems that we have yet to face. New skills will be need to face these problems and they are going to have to be the creative ones to develop these new skills.
We will have to call upon different types of creativity to face our new challenges. We are all unique and bring different strengths to the table. I think that it difficult for us a a society to see that creativity can be brought froward in many different forms just like Howard Gardner explained in his theory of multiple intelligence. We need to celebrate each strength that our students bring to the classroom. I know that in my class I have to make sure I take the time out to point out creative ways of thinking in my classroom because you know new what small ideal will spark another students learning. I know that sometime I struggle with this at times because I sometimes don't understand their way of thinking and I can stifle their creativity when all I want to be is foster their creativity. In those moments I realize that I too play a part in limiting my students true creativity. I find my self struggling with opportunities to allow my students to me creative. This year I am trying to provide my students with more opportunities to work on project based learning assignments. It has been difficult to start because my students want me to do all the thinking for them and they really struggle with pushing through problems they have. I can already see their creative juices depleting. I have noticed that when I am more hands off with my students some of their best work is brought forward.
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“What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must we want for all children in the community. Any other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely; acted upon, it destroys our democracy” This quote really stood out to me. As a parent I want the best for my child when it comes to her education because I know that the quality of her education will play a very important roll in her life. I also, know that the her quality of her education does not fall on the hands of her teacher alone. I know that I play just an important roll in her education. I also know that many students in low economic situations don't always have the necessary help at home to help with their education growth. This is one of the reasons I chose to work in a Title 1 school. I want to bring my enthusiasm to the classroom to ignite their love for learning. Dr. Hammond developed 5 key elements that are necessary to provide the best education to all students no matter where they are coming from. These 5 key elements I believe are just good teaching practices.
http://www.pbs.org/video/school-sleuth-case-wired-classroom-skype-classroom/
This video is about a teacher who used Skype in her classroom to have her students meet other student around the word. that were the same age. This teacher is showing her students how vast the world is. We can talk about how cultures are different or we can show our students. The students did research before hand to learn about the culture and then they were able to see it in action. Technology can bring cultures all over the world right into our classrooms. I have always wanted to do something like this but did know how to get in contact with other teachers to share an experience like this with. This was a total student experience the students were in charge of their learning. http://www.pbs.org/video/school-sleuth-case-wired-classroom-district-wide-tech-implementation/ This video is about the Los Alots School district who had district-wide tech implementation. They have taken technology to a whole new level. They are not just being consumers of the technology but creators. Students were creating 3D game piece to board games they developed. They were not just asking google question, or filling out a google doc but creating new things on their own. Students were engaged in learning both with and with out technology. I think this is because the students knew that at the end of their hard work they would be able to create something of their very own. Technology isn't just about limiting paper but allowing them to explore and create. http://www.pbs.org/video/school-sleuth-case-wired-classroom-video-games-education/ Mr. Stone is taking his Social studies students to new places with his new approach with his teaching. Just like in the video before it is about crating something of their own that they can be proud of. Mr. Stone lets the students use their own cell phone, tables, and computers in class to create their own ideal civilization. To him it did not make much since to strip the students of their technology when they are engulfed with it in their everyday lives. Technology is not going anywhere so we should be embracing it in the classroom. Students were engaged in academic discourse, problem solving, and team building during this lesson. What Am I Passionate about...
I am a passionate learner! I love to learn. I am always looking for new ways to bring teaching to life in my classroom. I am always signed for of as many PD as I can get my hands on. Right now I am loving the world of technology and teaching. There are so many wonderful tech tools to use in the classroom. It can be a little overwhelming on how I could use them in my classroom. I am passionate about STEAM learning. At my school many students student with reading, writing, and math, in the traditional sense but those students shine so bright when they are able to express their knowledge in a STEAM activity. I love watching how creative they can be when faced with a challenge. I think we can learn more from our students when we allow them to show their knowledge in more unconventional ways. It keeps them engaged and excited to learn. This semester has been on roller coaster of emotion. Most of the time I felt like I was falling to my death with trying to balance everything. I was extremely overwhelmed, I don't think I've ever struggled this much with balancing everything. I think because of this I didn't come out with as much as I wanted too. Even through I wasn't quite sure what I was expecting but I am hoping that when next semester will be a bit more smoother for me.
On a more positive note, I did find that my spark for innovative teaching turned in to a small flame. I am even more excited to see where I can take my classroom when it comes to 21st century learning. There are so many tools out there that can help me reach all of my students and their learning. This course has only strengthened my passion for collaboration and technology. I know that this program will help me better prepare my students for their future. Allowing them to take the helm and lead us on their own personal educational journey. pushing me towards a more student driven class then teacher. I am excited to see what is coming next. I love the idea of flipped teaching but I am really struggling to find the time to allow my students the opportunity to explore CBL or PBL. I know that in my class I am strapped to the new curriculum that has purchased and it seems that every minuet is accounted for. I think flipped learning is amazing for students because it allows them to take control of their learning. They control the pace of their learning and are the driving force behind their learning. Allowing the students see themselves as the problem solvers. Making the shift to more student talk can be difficult at times. I noticed for my self with so many struggling readers and ELL's students that I want to over explain things to them to ensure they are grasping the materials. I have to remind myself to limit my talking time and allow them the opportunity to lead the discussion. Just like John Medina said we are "powerful and natural explores".
As teachers we need to fuel our students curiosity, allow them to explore, and get messy!! Hearing Musallam’s three rules to spark learning really struck a cord. Am I putting curiosity comes first? At times. Do I embrace the mess? At times. Do allow time to practice reflection ? Not real reflection. After asking myself these question I realized that I need to make a shift in my teaching. How can I bring the spark back into learning when I feel like I have very limited say on what I get to teach in my classroom. Currently, I am trying my best to grasp the new curriculum that is being implemented in our district. Now that I am starting to feel a little more confident in the curriculum I have added some PBL activities. With the few that I have implemented I see such a shift in the level of excitement in their learning and engagement. The conversations are richer, engagement is higher, but the best part is the sighs you get when its time to stop. I think totally flipping my class would be a little difficult with amount of struggling readers and ELL students that I have. Those students need the face to face interaction or lectures. I think there needs to be a balance of both traditional education and CBL/PBL in the classroom. I have not yet found that balance yet but I know that in time I will be able too. The world around us is changing at a rapid pace and many of us teachers are struggling to keep up! Myself included! It is my job as a teacher to prepare my students for their future and in order for me to do that to the best of my ability. I personally feel that many teacher including myself are failing to do that because the only thing that seems to matter is your students scores on a standardized test. We are teaching our students to the test not to be their needs!
Yes, students need to learn how to read, write, and do math, but those are not the only skills they need to be productive in our ever changing world. We need to teach our students how to use technology to their benefit. If they are able to use a device in the classroom and are unable to spell a word, show them how they can use spell check. Provide them with tools to help them solve their own problems. If they have a question let them look it up online because lets face it we all do it. We don't rush down to the library to find our answers we ask Siri! The United State education system frowns on creativity and diversity. But, the fact of the matter those are the skills innovative companies are looking for. 21st century teaching is about teaching our students how to create an effective learning environment for themselves. What techniques work for them and what doesn't. From where or how they sit, how they take their notes, knowing what tools can help them in the areas in which they struggle, to knowing their body (hungry, tired, stressed). 21st century is not teaching to a test it's teaching to the student. |
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December 2017
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