As mentioned in previous blog postings finishing my master’s degree is first and foremost on my agenda in terms of professional growth and leadership. The courses continue, the learning continues, and the ideas continue to formulate. I believe the area in which I am slowly changing is allowing for more student centered learning rather than teacher centered learning. Ertmer and Simons (2006) talk about problem-based learning (PBL). Taking their ideas of presenting a real world problem to students before a unit begins is of interest to me. I think there is real value in these types of lessons and units. However, as they suggest, start off with something small. In most cases this type of teaching and learning will require a learning curve on both the students’ and teachers’ sides. I would like to be patient with myself to incorporate these ideas correctly. I want to do them with skill and correctness so I can fully pass on the information to my colleagues.
I do not know if it is my nature, the master’s program, or that I am a more senior teacher in my school, but I have started to take on more issues on behalf of my fellow teachers. I do not like people standing around and complaining or comparing a situation to somewhere else. I find myself raising these issues at meetings to get a healthy discussion going. Mostly, I find myself in discussions with my principal lobbying for new technology for our school or allowing various web tools to be used on our school network. Currently I am not enrolled in any new courses or programs, but I have gained the confidence to speak my mind on issues and make proposals that I believe would make our students more successful in school.
Being so involved with work and university, my goal to use more technology with my students is going slower than I expected. I have had the chance to try Google Sketchup with my class. They really enjoyed experimenting with it and I believe I can incorporate this tool with a PBL unit. I also have three students who receive heavier adaptations to their program. These three students have elected to do research on an endangered species. They have also indicated that their preferred method of presentation will be a video. It looks like I will be learning Moviemaker with my students.
In the grand scheme of things I am happy with how my plan is unfolding. I am a person who likes to really think about things before I act. My plan may take some time to complete, but I am alright with that. I also feel that I am willing to make any changes necessary as they arise. I have also thought about changing school divisions if that is what it takes to more fully reach my goal.
References:
Ertmer, P., & Simons, K. (Spring 2006). Jumping the PBL implementation hurdle: Supporting the efforts of K-12 teachers. The Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning, 1(1), 40-54. Retrieved from http://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=ijpbl.
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Like you I am making a slow transition to student centered learning. Some of my activities have been very successful, and some of them have just resulted in mass chaos. There certainly is a learning curve attached to this process!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about taking on issues at work. I am the teacher in my grade level that everyone talks to when they want someone to talk to the administration about a problem. I was recently sent to a seminar by my school about changing school culture. It was very powerful and changed a lot about the way I think about work and how I tackle issues. The presenter- Anthony Muhammad was discussing the principles of his book called Transforming School Culture (by Anthony Muhammad). I actually believe that if every teacher and administrator read this book and followed all of his principles the world of education would be vastly different- in a good way. Anyway, you might find this book worth looking in to.
Amber,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the book tip. One thing I find frustrating is the pace at which my school division tries to implement changes. One year it is one thing and before teachers get a chance to try it, use it, and become familiar with the proposed change, the administration assumes it is done, and we are on to the next item on their agenda. PBL is supposed to be a gradual process, other implementations should also be done slowly.
It sounds like you are talking about my district! It is a long standing joke every year as we sit through a new training on the next new thing that it is not even worth learning because we will only be doing it for a year. I was at that seminar with a lot of administration and the presenter touched on that very thing, and I felt bold enough to point it out to them that this is a repeating cycle.
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