I loved completing this inventory since it asked questions about how we teach. This is so what my philosophy is about teaching, learning, and assessing. I loved it. If you would like to take it as well, here is the link: Assessment: Teacher-centered or Learner-centered?
I do agree with my results. As I have evolved as a teacher over the years, my philosophy regarding assessments has changed greatly. I greatly prize learning with my students and learning from our mistakes. A simple test is not really going to tell you a student has mastered the material you have been working on in class. This is where portfolios or projects come in for assessments. The world of education has changed and I for one am very happy it has.
Friday, February 11, 2011
"Let's Go to the Movies" - Breaking Away / Hoosiers
I think you can probably tell from my choices where I grew up - Indiana. These two movies always remind me of home. Breaking Away is a story about four young boys from Bloomington, IN who don't fit in with the college students who attend Indiana University. They are the townies or most specifically "cutters" since their dads were cutters of the limestone. Once boy in particular, Dave, really wants to fit in and loves to ride bikes. Due to some scuffles with the college kids it is decided the "cutters" will participate in the "Little 500" a race which only the students rode in before this decision. It is a great movie about growing up, facing the challenges life throws you, deciding what you want to do, and making your dreams come true. It also showcased the beautiful campus of IU which is where I started my undergraduate work. (See trailer below)
Hoosiers is about the most sacred thing in all of Indiana - basketball! Ask anyone about March Madness and you will get an earful. This is also a movie my husband and I enjoy watching together. It is nice to see a small school in Indiana face all of the bigger schools and win the state championship. This is based on a true story and I love the message again about following your dreams no matter what life throws at you. This too was filmed in Indiana as well. (see trailer below)
As you can see, these movies are special to me for many reasons but overall I think it is the feeling of home I get when I watch them which keeps me viewing them. While I may be a Buckeye since I have lived in Ohio for over 21 years, I will always be a Hoosier at heart dreaming of my Indiana home as the song says.
Assessment in eLearning - Module 2 Reflection
This has been a trying week for me. I have had to teach my online unit about the Atmosphere to my fifth graders as well as keep up with all of the duties for our Pilot Math group – exhausting. Then I have been trying to figure out how I wanted to tackle this week’s assignments for this class. At first, I thought I would use my Google Sites for the blog, but realized this would not be the best thing since it does not really allow for interaction as a blog. Next, there was a lot of reading to do about blogs! I have been blogging for almost 2 years now but without any real information about it other than what I learn as I go about doing it. However, I so appreciate having the resources now to learn just how to use this tool in the academic arena. What a wonderful tool when used in the right manner. What is the right manner? Well, that is something the teacher will have to decide. Still so much to learn from this course and it is only 8 weeks long and we are already in week 2. Looking forward to seeing what week 3 holds in terms of learning!
Assessment in eLearning - Module 1 Reflection
Well, it is time for another eLearning class to start. I am anxious for this one as it will be interesting to see to see how different assessment might be in the online environment. We started the class by posting to a WIKI of which I was the second one to post on netiquette. This is something near and dear to my heart as we have been working with our fifth graders on this very thing. Amazing how little they know about the topic and how much they have to learn. However, I ran into a problem in the middle of the first week when I could not get a second comment to post. After sending messages to Jim about it, I finally discovered I was putting my information into the wrong field. Mentioned and noted to self – do not do work like this when you have a migraine!
Another task was a survey we took to help Jim tailor the program and help assign us to groups. I am impressed he took the time to ask us about what we wanted. Not many teachers/professors really want to know your opinion. For the discussion boards, we had to complete two tasks - write about alternative assessment techniques and give our favorite movie(s). The favorite movie(s) will be a separate post. For the alternative assessment, we were asked to think about the WIKI, survey and the icebreaker (which was about the movies) and how we could or could not use them as assessment tools. I thought the survey and the WIKI would probably be the most useful for these purposes since it is easily tailored to many different areas depending on how it is constructed but then again so could a WIKI now that I think about it. My favorite was the WIKI. I started working with them about a year ago for another class. At first, they were extremely challenging, but the more I have used them the more I want to find ways to utilize them in my classroom as well. Until next time!
Another task was a survey we took to help Jim tailor the program and help assign us to groups. I am impressed he took the time to ask us about what we wanted. Not many teachers/professors really want to know your opinion. For the discussion boards, we had to complete two tasks - write about alternative assessment techniques and give our favorite movie(s). The favorite movie(s) will be a separate post. For the alternative assessment, we were asked to think about the WIKI, survey and the icebreaker (which was about the movies) and how we could or could not use them as assessment tools. I thought the survey and the WIKI would probably be the most useful for these purposes since it is easily tailored to many different areas depending on how it is constructed but then again so could a WIKI now that I think about it. My favorite was the WIKI. I started working with them about a year ago for another class. At first, they were extremely challenging, but the more I have used them the more I want to find ways to utilize them in my classroom as well. Until next time!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Shared Vision = Coherence?
While reviewing Lambert, I kept finding myself drawn back to the statement about shared vision. “Realizing a shared purpose or vision is an energizing experience for participants, and a shared vision is the unifying force for participants working collaboratively.” (pg. 6). Within our school, we are working towards meeting AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) this year. The items we have in place to help us achieve this goal, such as Scantron, might help. The problem lies in the lack of communication shown when the time came to implement. I am not saying we could have changed it (we know we couldn’t have), but it would have been nice to have a dialogue with the parents and teachers. This goes along with the shared vision and working collaboratively.
Now, there is an air of mistrust between the parents and administration. Teachers also feel left out as well. Parents now feel we are teaching to the test. However, if they would look at what we are doing and look at the curriculum as well they would see the two go hand in hand. However, the handling of the initial issue was enough for parents to have a hard time seeing beyond how it all started.
Everyone needs to come together and discuss the issues at hand. We know the chances are we will not make everyone happy. However, you have a greater chance of winning over the parents and getting their support when you include them in on what is best for their child’s education. Not only are students educated in the public school system, the education continues in the home as well. Most parents feel comfortable when the vision they have at home matches the one of the school as well.
Now, there is an air of mistrust between the parents and administration. Teachers also feel left out as well. Parents now feel we are teaching to the test. However, if they would look at what we are doing and look at the curriculum as well they would see the two go hand in hand. However, the handling of the initial issue was enough for parents to have a hard time seeing beyond how it all started.
Everyone needs to come together and discuss the issues at hand. We know the chances are we will not make everyone happy. However, you have a greater chance of winning over the parents and getting their support when you include them in on what is best for their child’s education. Not only are students educated in the public school system, the education continues in the home as well. Most parents feel comfortable when the vision they have at home matches the one of the school as well.
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