Week 5 - Reflections

I have put this assignment off all week.  I have had time to sit down and work on it, but I was not ready to really get into what I have learned, how to incorporate what I have learned into my classroom practices, and how to continue to challenge myself to continue to learn and reflect.  Really, I just was not ready to critically reflect.

In her blog entry, “Where is reflection in the learning process?” Jackie Gerstein, Ed. D. quotes Stephen Brookfield from his book Becoming a Critically Reflective Practitioner.   In talking about being critically reflective, Brookfield says, “A critically reflective teacher is much better placed to communicate to colleagues and students (as well as to herself) the rationale behind her practice.  She works from a position of informed commitment.  She knows why she does and thinks, what she does and thinks.”  It is my responsibility to teach my students the art of reflection so that they want to continue to learn.  I start each school year going over my classroom rules and expectations.  However, I stress the following each year as well.   “I want you to learn the material.  However, I know that you won’t all get it or you won’t all try.  More than learning the material, I want you to leave my class knowing that you know how to learn.  Learn to learn!”  I realize that to help my student s develop this skill and the desire, I need to teach them how to critically reflect on their learning, as well as model that behavior and practice for them.

Throughout this course, I have been challenged, but I have also felt validated by some of the concepts we covered.  I am not an artist, and have never felt like graphic design was anything I was good at or interested in doing.  However, when we started the first assignment about C.R.A.P., I realized that this was something I did every time I designed a worksheet, spreadsheet, test, flyer, and anything else I create for my students/school.  It was nice to know that what I had always done was right, and there was actually research and an acronym for it!  Teachers love acronyms!  Contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity – according to Robin Williams in her book The Non-Designer’s Design Book, are the “basic principles of design that appear in every well-designed piece of work.” (Williams, 2008)

I thought designing my personal logo was going to be easy.  It was probably the most challenging assignment for me for a couple of reasons.  First, I had no idea what to use to design it.  I have a mental block when it comes to using Photoshop, and I do not have Photoshop on my laptop.  Thanks to collaboration and social media, one of my group members suggested I use Pixlr.  Once I got the hang of how to use it, I enjoyed it.  It is a tool I will be using with my students this year.  (I just hope Pixlr does not decide to start charging for their services!)  The second reason (and what made this assignment so challenging for me) I struggled with this assignment was figuring out how to brand myself as a teacher and person.  I really liked my final logo, but it took all week to get there.  I always tell my students that they need to make sure they represent their best selves in whatever they do – social media, behavior at school events, and even their email addresses, but I never thought about it as branding.  Between Lea Alcantara’s blog and the other readings, I really had to dig deep to think about my brand and logo.  I don’t think anyone actually likes thinking about what others think of them.  I did not want to ask my friends to describe me in three words.  Much like this reflection, the logo assignment did not let me skim across the surface to complete the assignment.  I actually had to face some unpleasantness about myself.  However, according to Dan Schawbel on his Personal Branding 101 blog, you first have to discover your brand.  “Brand discovery is about figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life, setting goals, writing down a mission, vision and personal brand statement (what you do and who you serve), as well as creating a development plan.” (Schawbel, 2009)  I am teaching a new class this year, Career Prep, and our first project will be all about branding.  I am looking forward to helping my students develop their own brand and logo as I continue to improve upon my own.

As I go through this program and this course, I continue to learn more about myself.  I have always considered myself intelligent, but after years of not really having to challenge myself, I was not sure that I would be able to complete the work at the level I expect from myself.  I may not always give 100%, but I have surprised myself somewhat with what I have been able to accomplish so far.  A lot of my success in this program though is due to the collaboration with colleagues from across Texas and the country.  In EDLD 5363 and in this class, I worked with an amazing group on our video project on the group website.  The members of my group have all encouraged one another, been a critical friend throughout each assignment, and answered numerous questions in order to clarify or explain aspects of each assignment.  We have used the web conferences, social media (Facebook), and Google docs, hangout, and sites to get to know one another and collaborate on our different projects.  We each have different strengths and weaknesses and have used those to our advantage.   I have not always played nice with others, but getting to know the members of my group (Scott, Joseph, Lindsay, and James) and working with them has helped me want to be a better team player upon returning to work on Monday.  If you would like to look at our collaborative website, here is the link:  THE FRACTIONEERS.

When I collaborate or am part of a team, I usually try to observe to see which role I should take for that particular group.  This practice will not change.  I think by doing this, I let others see that my first goal is the success of the project/team.   Throughout my years of teaching, I have used “group projects” for several reasons, but not until the last couple of classes, did I realize there is so much more for my students to gain from learning to collaborate.  It will be a slow process, but I will help my students learn how to work together towards a common goal and why this is so important as they continue their education and begin their careers.

I will continue to research best practices in classroom collaboration as well as Web 2.0 tools that can help in classroom collaboration.  I have learned so much and have a lot of great ideas for this next school year.  I just hope I can use these tools effectively. 

I have a lab and a classroom, so I use the web consistently in my classes.  My students use the Internet for projects or career research.  I encourage my students to investigate college information, financial aid information, and other data related to their life after high school.  With some of my classes, I require them to complete “Current Event” assignments, so we look at news sites for current news stories on a variety of issues.  I use the website www.alfatyping.com to help my BIM students with their typing skills.  These are all great uses of my lab.  Earlier in the EdTech program, I decided I was going to use Edmodo for my classes this year.  However, our new technology director has purchased My Big Campus (www.mybigcampus.com) for our district, and I will be using this educational social media-ish site for my classes.  I am excited to use it and hope to be able to make a smooth transition from a paper-filled class to a paperless class this year.

Sources:

Gerstein, J. (2011, August 16). User generated education:  Where is reflection in the learning process? [Web log comment].  Retrieved from:  http://usergeneratededucation.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/where-is-reflection-in-the-learning-process/

Schawbel, D. (2009). Personal branding 101: How to discover and create your brand. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2009/02/05/personal-branding-101/

Williams, R. (2008). The non-designer’s design book, 3rd edition. San Francisco, CA:  Peachpit Press. 

Web Conference Reflection:

During this course we were supposed to attend three web conferences.  I attempted to attend three, but I was only able to make it through the one on July 20th.  For some technology reason, I cannot stay connected on a web conference or Google Hangout.  This was a problem with our group collaboration meetings as well.  I have called my Internet provider and they have run tests on my connection, but we cannot seem to figure out what the problem is.  Once I return to school next week, attending web conferences should work better through the connection at school.  Same laptop - different connection.  That being said, I do go back and watch the recordings when Dr. A posts them and I read through the chat logs.  If there is something I didn't understand or didn't get, I will text or a call a group member who did attend or I will ask a question on Facebook.  Scott January has been great about setting up group pages for our EdTech classes, and it seems we have all benefited from these as well as the web conferences.

I attend the conferences for clarification on assignments and also to get to know the other members of the class.  I have formed some great friendships from first attending the web conferences and then geting to know my colleagues through Facebook.  During the July 20th conference, we discussed what classes we would be teaching this upcoming school year.  I think it's interesting to learn about all the different backgrounds of the people in this program.  Since staying on a conference has not worked for me, I have gone back and learned several things.  Our group got some much needed clarification on the specifics for the group site. During week one, the conference helped me figure out how to look at the ancient manuscripts for the assignment.

I hope AT&T Uverse can get my Internet issues resolved so I can better benefit from the web conferences.

Animation - The Itsy Bitsy Spider (sort of!)

This week's assignment was to create an animation using a free program.  I chose to use Stykz.  Drawing stick figures is about all the artistic ability I have unless you count my superior flower doodling skills.  Eddie Clarke sat behind me all through high school.  I seriously doubt there was an assignment of his I didn't draw a flower on :)

Since I spent a couple of days last week with my adorable nephew, the Itsy Bitsy Spider was stuck in my head.  I attempted to capture the "essence" of the popular children's song as the subject of my animation.  Let me know what you think.

Personal Logo and Self-Branding

Let me just start by saying - I did not like this week's assignment at first.  I hate having to think about words to describe me and who I am.  It reminds me of every dating site I have ever looked at :)  Since I just admitted to using dating sites, I was shocked last night when I was looking through my "matches" and one of the guys had posted the following quote.  Who knew that Maximus1808 would help me with my homework for the week?!?

Even as a finance professional, I realize it is all about marketing -- selling your brand to your target market to maximize sales and ensure customer loyalty. But, before you sell your brand, you have to know what you stand for -- it has to be more than just your product. What beliefs, convictions, or ideologies do you represent? What does your company stand for, and why does it resonate with your customers above all your competitors? This simple metaphor can also be applied on a personal level. I realize that before I can effectively describe what I am looking for in a match, it is incumbent for me to truly understand who I am and what I am looking for -and that includes the corollary, defining who I am not and am not looking for in a match.

I think he said it better than anyone else.  No - I am not interested in him, but I did message him to thank him for his insight and to let him know I would be sharing it with others :)

I am not going to go into my self discovery or rediscovery on here, but I will show you the logo I designed using www.pixlr.com.  I have always been petrified of Photoshop, and Pixlr is very similar, but I muddled through :)

Let me know what you think!

Web Conferences Reflection

During the school year, it was easy for me to attend web conferences.  I would stay at school and use the Internet connection there.  It never went out and I could always hear and see everything.  For this class, I had trouble with every conference I attempted to attend.  However, I would go back and watch the recordings and read the transcripts.  Our Facebook group for the class was also helpful.  Those who attended would post updates about the conference on the page.  This was usually to get quick help about an issue.  

 I was still in school for the first web conference for the class and unable to attend, so I watched the recording.  I must say watching the recording made me panic a little bit because I had questions I couldn’t ask, but they were answered because others had the same question.  Does that make sense?  I was on vacation during the conference on June 10 and tried to tune in, but was not successful.  I watch the recording for that web conference.  I had questions about creative commons and that was brought up.  Dr. Abernathy encouraged us to use tools like Google and You Tube to help us understand something if we did not.  In a way, she has helped me validate my own teaching methods in my technology class because I encourage my students to research and explore on their own.  Obviously, high school students need a little more direction, but I think the best learning takes place with hands-on experience.

 I attempted to attend the web conference on June 22, but my connection at home was giving me all sorts of trouble.  I would get on and then get kicked off.  Dr. Abernathy kept trying to let me back on, but it would immediately kick me back off.  I think the entire group on the conference was frustrated with me.  However, I did go back and watch most of the conference.  By this point our group was solid on our content and direction so we didn’t need any guidance there.  However, I think a lot of this conference had to do with whether or not there was a Week 4 Discussion Board and the ISTE conference (which had I not broken my leg, I would have attended!).

All in all, I appreciate the purpose of the web conference.  If I have learned one thing, it is that I must upgrade my Internet speed at home.  I also appreciate Dr. Abernathy taking the time to meet with us on conferences, but also her willingness to take phone calls and emails from us at practically any point in the day.

EDLD 5363 Wk 5

Reflection - Campus Based Intern Hours and Action Research Plan

Campus-Supervised Internship Activities – Reflection:

When I first started the program and saw how many hours we needed to complete for our internship, I thought it was going to be really difficult to accumulate 150 hours.  As I look back over the list of tasks I have completed or am in the process of completing, I have well over 75 hours.  My site supervisor is not my principal.  I am actually working with our district’s Special Programs Director.  She is the current CTE Director for our district as well, so most of my hours deal with assisting her or leading CTE monthly meetings.  Part of my assignment from her is to develop an online course catalog and course sequences for our district.  I am in the process of putting together an advisory board for our CTE department.  I am serving on the district’s technology committee.  We are developing a new Technology Use Policy for the district that will take into account the new iPads that teachers and students will have access to in the fall.  Other assignments have included coordinating and budgeting prom, attending a school board meeting, working a job fair at Sam Houston State University, observing and discussing observations with other teachers, and working with the technology and curriculum directors in developing classes for our July in-service meetings.  Working with these three directors helps me begin to create the path I want to take when finished with this program.

I have enjoyed doing school work that is not in the classroom specifically directed at students.  I look forward to more opportunities in the fall and spring of the upcoming school year.

Action Research Project Update and Reflection:

My action research project is off to a slow start.  I am also going to have to tweak some things due to CScope changes.  According to the timeline I set for myself, I should have started preliminary work at the end of April and beginning of May.  However, due to testing, UIL, Prom (which takes a lot more work than you would think), and breaking my leg, I got very little done.  I missed a week of school with the broken leg, and after that it was time for end of year procedures.  I am going to revamp my project and regroup with the intention of starting fresh in August.  One thing I have done on my project is look at state test scores for CTE students; however, I have not done the analysis I should have done.  I know that the action research project I have proposed could benefit the students at the high school so I will continue to work and research to make that happen. 

Collaboration - EDLD 5363 Week 3

I think sometimes people see working with a group or collaborating as a bad thing.  Sometimes it is, but sometimes you are smart enough or lucky enough to choose just the right people to work with on a project.

I haven't always been so lucky.  There was the group project in college where I worked with three or four guys I didn't really know.  It was a management class.  They decided it would be a great addition to our project to show clips from Full Metal Jacket.  (Yes, that movie - language and all!)  I didn't stand up for myself or the integrity of the group.  I learned a valuable lesson in that class.  Working with a group means you need to work as a group.  I didn't...I let those guys take over, and in the process did not earn their respect and lost a little of my own self-respect.  (This also caused me to always want to be in charge, but I am working on that issue!)

As a classroom teacher, I like to have my students work together on projects.  It frustrates me when I see one kid doing all of the work and the others just riding the coattails of that student.  Some of them don't care, but others understand that to create the best project, everyone needs to be at their best.  I like to sit back and watch as they navigate through group dynamics.  We talk about it some before the first group project, but watching them learn to work together makes me proud to be their teacher.  Some learn how to step back and let someone else lead.  Others learn how to step up and lead.  Some never learn and continue to take over or do nothing at all, but it's a process :)

Group dynamics...it's not easy when you have a bunch of leaders and no followers.  Isn't that what seems to happen?  The go-getters always want to work together, but then they don't know how to work together!  I am in charge of prom at my school.  I coordinate the fund-raising, work with the vendors and contract for the venue.  I also keep track of the receipts and expenses.  I am in charge of ordering supplies and shopping for items to use as decorations.  It's a lot of work.  I don't like to share the responsibilities, but over the years, I have had to learn how to be a leader and team player at the same time.  I have had to learn to step back and let others take over where they have a strength that I do not have.

Learning to work with a group or learning to collaborate is one of the best lessons I could ever teach my students.  Whether they go straight to work after high school or to college, at some point they will have to collaborate with others to accomplish a common goal.

With all of that being said, I am so grateful for my group for this group project!  I don't know how I got so lucky, but working with Scott January, Joseph Cantu, Lindsay Matlock, and James Coates has been an incredible experience so far.  James set up a shared Google drive and Scott created our shared document.  We have a group chat going in Facebook where we discuss the project and other life lessons.  We have used Google Hangout twice now to collaborate and discuss this project.  I wasn't sure at first how the roles would be divided among the group.  I tend to want to be in charge, but I have learned over the years to sit back and listen and watch before deciding what role I need to fill in the group.  Because I have such a great group, everything just fell into place.  It doesn't matter that we are separated by great distances, technology has brought us together.  It may sound cheesy (and believe me, our project has a lot of cheese), but I am so excited to work with this group!

I am copying part of our proposal for our group just as a teaser for the final project.

General Information
Name(s)	Becky Brandon, Joseph Cantu, James Coates, Scott January, Lindsay Matlock
Project title	“Signore Fractioneri vs The Denominator Pizza Pie”
Purpose	Our purpose is to educate fourth grade students on how to compare fractions.
Audience	Teachers, Students and Parents
Program length	Two minutes
Costumes	Regular school-appropriate clothing, Italian pizza chef attire
Sets	Group members’ kitchens
Props	Regular school materials, pepperoni pizza
Locations	Various group member locations
Crew
Director(s)	Scott January
Scriptwriter(s)	Becky Brandon, Joseph Cantu
Talent	James Coates, Joseph Cantu, actors from James, Scott and Lindsay’s families
Camera operator(s)	Scott January, Lindsay Matlock
Editor(s)	James Coates, Scott January