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The Importance of Reflection

9/27/2016

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"...the single most significant indicator of student success is an excellent teacher." -Margaret Reagan

Educator Margaret Reagan's Six Steps to Master Teaching: Becoming a Reflective Practitioner focuses on professional development throughout a teachers "entire professional career".  She states that "the single most significant indicator of student success is an excellent teacher".  
 She examines 6 areas that will help you become a master teacher.

  1. Understand your reason's for teaching
  2. Cultivate Ethical Behavior in Your Students and Yourself
  3. Pool Both Patience and Perseverance
  4. Design Curriculum That Works
  5. Perfect Instructional Practices and Assessment Skills
  6. Connect Positively to the Whole-School Culture

The most meaningful part of her blog is that you are typically only regulated by yourself.  That is you must have the motivation to constantly improve upon your teaching because no one else will force you.

 It reminds me of my time in the Army.  We would always [I mean always] conduct an AAR (After Action Review).  There was no rank, nothing off limits and most importantly no feelings.  Anyone could comment on whatever it was we just finished doing.  It included what we were supposed to accomplish, what was actually accomplished, things we should sustain and things that needed improvement.







One phrase that has really motivated me is "be a lifelong learner".  I don't remember where I heard it, but I identify with it.  I don't know where I picked up my desire to learn (no pun intended), but it is something I crave now.  I hope that it never fades.
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Get Connected!

9/27/2016

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​The following information was retrieved from 05 October, 2016 from
https://elearningindustry.com/the-8-best-free-video-tools-for-teachers 
​

Screenr is a web-based screen recorder. Yes, you read it right. It’s web-based so that means, you wouldn’t have to install it on your computer but it requires Java to run. Screenr allows you to easily capture your screen by logging on to their website, clicking on the record button and keeping it open while you are capturing your screen activity.  Keep in mind that you only have a maximum of 5 minutes per recording. Files are saved on the site. When you’re finished, you’ll be given a link that can be easily shared by email or can be embedded on websites. It’s absolutely free, works on both MAC and PC and will work even on your iPhone.

Ezvid is a 100% free video creation tool that allows you to capture everything that appears on your computer screen. It also allows you to edit your recorded videos by splitting your recordings, inserting text and audio, controlling the speed and even drawing directly on your screen. There’s also a Gaming Mode specially designed for gamers to avoid black screen problems when recording games such as Diablo III and Call of Duty which are full screen games. You can save your edited videos for later use or you may directly upload them on YouTube.

I can easily see myself using either of these programs to help students navigate through programs such as AutoCad Inventor.  

There are many mutually benificial reasons for student and teacher
  • Students can use it with out fear of asking questions
  • Teachers will save time by proactively addressing questions
  • Information can be repeated as much as the student needs 
  • Students can revisit topic as much as necessary
  • Teachers may find common "sticking" points in their curriculum, this allows for immediate and easy one on one tutoring that doesn't require one on one focus.
Weebly
Have your students start a website for each of your classes.  Students can share information, start a blog communicate with other classes or schools.  It is a great way for them to share their experiences with the world (or maybe their parent[s]).

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A True Quantum Leap

9/21/2016

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Middle school has changed so much in the last 25 years!  I remember sharing three computers with an entire class.  We would gather around and play Oregon trail after we navigated our way through "C" prompt.  It really wasn't all that difficult, just new to us.

Today students are able to dissect problems in minutes; those same problems would have taken me years to complete.  I feel sometimes that I learn as much from them as they learn from me.  

We have started a new section in which we  use Autodesk Inventor. I am fortunate to have years of experience in AutoCAD that would help; or so I thought.  I have been out of computer aided drafting for 6 years now, I thought I would be able to jump right in, again I was proven wrong.

I feel like the student; asking the teacher or some of the more advanced kids in class how they completed certain steps.  Although I am very familiar with AutoDesk products, using a "simpler" version did not seem so simple to me.  I am starting to get the hang of it and it is coming back to me awfully quick.  I am in sheer amazement at the things students are able to accomplish in general, let alone they are only in 5th and 6th grades.


One of the most helpful items that I saw incorporated was the teacher's use of instructional video.  He has taught this section for about two years now; recognizing common sticking points.  Instead of having students get "stuck" and waiting for help he just sends them a link to his video tutorial.  It does two things: allows him to focus on keeping students on pace, and forces the students to problem solve before asking for help.


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Kinesthetic Learners

9/21/2016

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Kinesthethic Learning
-A learning style in which learning takes place by the students carrying out physical activities, rather than listening to a lecture or watching demonstrations. Also know as active learning.  

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I can not speak for everyone, but I learn best hands on.  I found through my experiences in the military, that I need to be shown as well as understand the material.  A 2014 study in STEM education examined how technical items were learned best by students interacting with  their peers.

"As a whole, when trying to enable better student motivation and learning results, enough space must be given for students' contributions." (Rissanen 2014).

My most vivid memory of active learning in the military was earning, then teaching  and grading for the Expert Infantryman Badge (EIB).  EIB is were Infantry soldiers must complete 34 tasks in three days, most of which are highly technical and require precision (no more than two mistakes through all 34 tasks).  EIB candidates will spend multiple hours perfecting these tasks using active learning; cadre and peers readily provide tips and strategies to employ.  This task would be nearly impossible without the active learning method..

WATCH one example of the 34 tasks below!
Correlating my military experience to the classroom may seem like a stretch, however when you teach, coach, mentor and train over 1,000 soldiers in a two week period, you see first hand how individuals learn.  The statistics will of course not back up my rant, since the attrition rate is typically somewhere near 93%.  In my mind I think 7% passing rate is somewhat high, it is that tough.

A 2015 study of a biology class found that we need to "...move to a reduced lecture and increased interactive tutorial/workshop and practical approach to promote student learning and development" (Downs & Wilson 2015).



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Myself grading a canidate during EIB testing at Ft. Bragg, NC









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References

​Downs, C. T., & Wilson, A. (2015). Shifting to active learning: Assessment of a first-year biology course in South Africa. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 27(2), 261-274.

Rissanen, A. J. (2014). Active and peer learning in STEM education strategy. Science Education International, 25(1), 1-7.
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Design Backwards

9/13/2016

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I first was introduced to backwards design in the military or as the U.S. Army calls it 'backwards planning'.  The best feature, in my opinion, is that you are constantly evaluating your plan (lesson) against your desired end state (goals or standards).  It really reduces any redundancy in the planning process and allows to focus on what is important.  The acronym A.S.S.U.R.E. is a great tool to use.
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As a teacher the two biggest questions you must ask are what do your students already know (analyze) and what do you want them to know (objectives or goals)?  Once you have identified those it should be fairly easy to draft a general lesson.  Sure every student will respond differently, that is why the last four steps are just as important.  

Evaluate and revise is the step that I see being the most neglected.  The importance of reflecting back and deciding what worked and what didn't is essential in everything that we do.  Don't just evaluate the students, evaluate your teaching, your lesson plan, what can you do to adapt your lesson or class to make it better.

Backwards design is very important; it puts the student first.  Students are dynamic; our lessons should follow.







References
Headquarters Department of the United States Army, March 2007,. FM 3-21.8 Chapter 2, Troop leading procedures. The Infantry rifle platoon and squad.

Kearsley G., & Culatta R. (n.d.). ASSURE. Retrieved 21 September from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/models/assure.html


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Chalk Board vs. Interactive White Board

9/13/2016

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There is no comparison, the chalk board looses and here is why.

Does every classroom need a whiteboard?
I do think that every teacher should incorporate Interactive White Board [IWB] activities into their lesson planning, however it may not be necessary or financially feasible to have them in every classroom.  I plan on doing the majority of my teaching in labs using Kinesthetic [hands-on] learning.  The IWB will definitely be incorporated into my class in two different ways.
1. Peer lead, by encouraging students to use  during 
  • collaboration 
  • communication 
  • creativity (brainstorming) for projects. 
2. During instruction involving the interaction of students
  • to identify components in automotive technology
  • during the prerequisite safety training before all labs 

 I understand the importance of utilizing multiple methods to reach students, it took me until I was 32 years old and in the U.S. Army Advanced Airborne School [AAS] before I figured out how I learn best.  All because I never had the exposure to different teaching and learning styles.  
Although not all students have the same learning preference depending on pedagogical style. ISTE standards and documented research have displayed interactive white boards increase learning (NEA, n.d).  The NEA also states that "multisensory, hands-on learning is the best way to engage" students.

The NEA states that...


Classroom applications for using interactive whiteboards include:
  • Multimedia lessons and presentations including audio and video
  • Collaborative problem solving
  • Showcasing student projects and presentations
  • Virtual field trips
  • Recorded lessons that can be used by substitute teachers
  • Documentation of student achievement
Click here to read the whole article

I will leave you with a quote and a couple links to resources.
​"It is the context in which IWBs are integrated into the classroom that could have the greatest effect"-DiGregorio, Sobel-Lojeski, 2010.

Click on the video below to open a great resource for IWB activities or ​click me to visit my favorite SMART exchange resource.

References
DiGregorio, P., & Sobel-Lojeski, K. (2010). The effects of interactive whiteboards (IWBs) on student performance and learning: A literature review. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 38(3), 255-312.

Miller, D., Glover, D., & Averis, D. (2004). Panacea or prop: The role of the interactive whiteboard in improving teaching effectiveness. Paper presented at the Tenth International Congress of Mathematics Education, Copenhagen, July. Available online at: http://www.icme-organisers.dk/tsg15/Glover_et_al.pdf (accessed February 12, 2009).

National Education Association(NEA n.d.).  
Interactive Whiteboards Enhance Classroom Instruction and Learning Retrieved 2016, September 18 from https://www.neamb.com/professional-resources/benefits-of-interactive-whiteboards.htm
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Communication through Technology

9/13/2016

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Current students excel faster and are more engaged in communication than I ever was as.  Their ability to adapt is unbelievable, as a teacher I must constantly adapt or I will be left behind, or worse, loose touch with my students. How do I keep up?

The method of communication says a lot about our character.  Often times email is preferred method of all formal correspondence.  Do students check email outside of school?  I would assume not many.   Is it ever acceptable to send a text message or post to twitter to reach a parent or a student?  I think so,  maybe you need to get a message out, or you need to remind parents of conferences.  There are many ways to communicate and involve both students and parents.

While I was in the military I learned to love text messages.
In the beginning my soldiers were in constantly sending me text messages, at all hours day or night, it was irritating!  It took me a while, but I realized they just needed reassurance or needed to be reminded of timelines and tasks. I came up with two conclusions; either I was not providing the information clearly through verbal means, or there was some forgetfulness.  It was most likely a combination of both.  This problem was easily solved through technology.  I could send text messages to my soldiers pro-actively which allowed me to effectively and efficiently relay information.  One advantage was they could refer back to that message at any time to review the content.  This eliminated long conversation or explanation and held both my soldiers and myself accountable for dissemination of information.  

​How does this relate to teaching?
As teachers we have access to technology that many of our students or their families have access to.  They may not have ready access to the internet, computer or cell phone. As teachers we must constantly be aware of how we present communication to ensure we are inclusive.  A best practice would be for the student and parent to both fill out a form that suggests their preferred form of communication outside of the classroom.  An idea would be to have many options such as Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, phone call or mail.  Of course you should check with your school policy before incorporating any of these ideas.  The point is that I should not use the method of communication that I am most comfortable with (which I believe is what traditionally has occurred), rather the use the method that suits the student best.

I plan on communication with students by adapting to the method that they will respond to most consistently.  I will have to adapt to the current trends and technologies.  A study was conducted using twitter to "encourage students to engage in convergent communication inside and outside of the classroom" (Parcha, 2014). The study was reinforcing the Communication accommodation theory (CAT) that students learn more when they interact (Giles, Mulac, Bradac, & Johnson, 1987).  Each student may or may not know how they learn best, so I will provide information in a medium in which they are familiar.





References
Gallois, C., Ogay, T., & Giles, H. (2005). Communication accommodation theory: A look back and a look ahead. In W. Gudykunst (Ed.), Theorizing about intercultural communication (pp. 121–148). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage

Keefe, Mike (2009, March 27).  Evolution of Communication.  The Denver Post.  Retrieved 2016, September 13 from       http://www.denverpost.com/2009/03/26/evolution-of-communication/

Parcha, J. M. (2014). Accommodating twitter: Communication accommodation theory and classroom interactions. Communication Teacher, 28(4), 229-235.
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Enabling 21st Century Students

9/13/2016

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According to the National Education Association (NEA)"...​interviewed leaders of all kinds to determine which of the 21st century skills were the most important for K-12 education. There was near unanimity that four specific skills were the most important(NEA, 2012).
The "four C's" are 
  • critical thinking,
  • communication,
  • collaboration, and
  • creativity.
These topics relate to students so they can thrive in the world after they have completed their education.  As a technology education teacher [a very broad description] all of these are essential in successful education.  For example I must be creative and think critically to bring new and exciting content to our students; one essential way is to collaborate with teachers in other content areas such as mathematics, science and special education. 

The use of "four c's" combined with the International Standards for Technology Education(ISTE) are staples in planning, execution and evaluating ourselves as teachers(ISTE, 2016).  Continued collaboration with other content areas is imperative to inspire student learning by providing context, utilizing technology and communication similar to what they will experience with a global digital society.  

As an educator I should be able to reflect on my teaching(daily) and ask, Have I supported, emphasized or enabled the use of the "four c's"?  In my preparation, design, execution and assessment have I inspired creativity, student learning?  The most difficult benchmark for me is modeling the digital world.  I will strive be a facilitator and enabler.


References
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE)., 2016. ISTE Standards for Teachers. Retrieved September 13,         2016 from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/standards-for-teachers

NEA, 2012  An Educator's Guide to the "4 C's".,  Teaching Strategies Retrieved September 13, 2016 from http://www.nea.org/tools/52217.htm
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IM 522 student blog

9/6/2016

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Hello,

This blog is intended for my course at St. Cloud State University.  The intent is to give you insight into my classroom, teaching philosophy and personality.  I plan on writing periodically as items peak my interest.  This is a public forum, feel free to comment, but it is for the world to see. Please exclude from using names or specific topics that can be related to individuals.  This should be a place for freedom of expression and learning.
With that out of the way.  I decided to pursue a career in education after the experiences I had serving as an Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer in the United States Army's 82nd Airborne Division.  It was the most eye opening experience of my life; specifically being a mentor, a leader and sometimes a parental figure to young adults.  I experienced a feeling of importance in young adults that I have never felt before; providing purpose, motivation and direction in their lives.  Most importantly watching them succeed after they had never given themselves the chance
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    Michael S. current educator and former paratrooper

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