Treasure Hunt

We had to make a treasure hunt with a given topic. I also had an inventive time doing this project.
Here is the url for my treasure hunt. http://syneticsel.pbworks.com/w/page/32786694/Welcome

I find this project reinforced how technology is the way of the future.

Web quest

Here is the name of my web quest.
ourjourneys.pbworks.com
I had fun and learned many things along the way

Web quests

I found doing a web quest myself made me appreciate what a student will go through doing their own web quest.  I selected a topic, a design,described how learners will be evaluated,designed the proess and polished and prettified my web quest.  I found the creative side of me coming to live by thinking of ways to make it interesting without using words.  I used many moving designs and objects for my web quest.  I tried to make it more interesting to keep the person interested in continuing the quest.  I know that as a future teacher I have to know how to use and teach my students to do many things with the internet. 

Direct and Indirect Instruction

Direct instruction is teacher centered where she/he gives the task to be done and the students do it. Lecture, questioning, modeling, practice and drill are used.
Applied Behavior analysis is used ABC; A-Antecedent, B-Behavior, C-Consequences .

In our groups we were given a part of the DI model to teach to our classmates. This helped me grasp the concept and actually practice my given part which was drill and practice.  Seeing the parts demonstrated to me helped me see how I would actually do this with my future students.  

Indirect instruction- which is web quests, puzzles that students actually do themselves or in a group.  The student is given something they must find  or complete a web quest.  This helped me to see what my future students will be doing with their web quests.  It is a process that takes time but the finished product is worth it.  It takes the student to thinking and actually finding things on a topic.

My web quest is called Dr. Shape's Detectives.  The students have to find the given shape with clues they are given.  They have to help Dr. Shape complete all his shapes for his puzzle.

I found this gave me a new insight into the digital world we are living in and have to be prepared to teach our students . We have students that have been brought up with all the technology that we have to teach on their levels.  Technology is fun and can add many things to our classrooms.   

    

Direct Instruction

Direct instruction is highly teacher centered.


 Lecture is used and questining what, where, when, and how.
The teacher models and the students are expected to do a task.  There is practicing and drilling also used. Prior knowledge is assessed and corrective feedback is also given.
For applied behavior analysis the following are used. ABC A-antecedent, b-behavior and c-consequence .

Direct Instruction

I learned that Direct Instruction is teacher oriented.

Focus activities should be keep short 2-3 minutes. I knew that activities should be short but never realized how short.

I learned that the think aloud is a kind of modeling where techers verbalize their thoughts.

I learned that V-A-K-T is visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile approaches. I think this is a easy way to understand and remeber the approaches.

I know that the teacher should always check the students for understanding.

I also know that positive reinforcement is a MUST in any classroom.

Direct Instruction/ Behavioral Model

Direct instruction is highly teacher oriented.
These were reinforced again through the student presentation in Methods class
Goals are clearly stated
Time is sufficient & continuous
Performance is monitored
Feedback is immediate
I also learned  about Automaticity which is the result of direct instruction.
I learned in the readings I do, We Do It Together, and You Do It. This helps the concept of DI to be understood a little better.

Small chunks of information is given for student learning 10 minute.
I thought you could not use the students prior knowledge, but found out I was mistaken. 
There is low transference, problem solving and low motivation for students.

Behavior Model / Direct Instruction

The Behavioral Model
There is importance placed on the behavior and external environment as a cause of human behavior and learning. 
Positive reinforcement is important in today's classroom.  If our children were given more positive reinforcement they would achieve higher goals in school. When a child is given positive praise they will want to learn more. If  a child is given negative reinforcement they will stop  participating in class and not achieve their highest potential. 


Direct instruction
With direct instructing the students are taken through the steps of learning systematically.  There are 5 simple components
1. Clear goals for students and make sure they understand them.
2. Well thought of coursework
3. Clear and to the point explanations and illustrations of the subject matter.
4. Inquire to see if the students understand the work.
5. Many opportunities to practice what was learned by the students.

Direct instruction also teaches basic skills which is something new I learned reading the articles for class.

I found the reading material informative.  Reading the article on the other theorists such as  J.B. Watson and B.F. Skinner refreshed my memory their ideas on the classical conditioning and operant conditioning approaches they came up with.

I know that the material we had to to read will provide me with important ideas and ways of becoming the best teacher I can for my future students.  I will have to try many ways to keep my students interested in learning and positive reinforcement is definitely one I will use in my classroom.  Each student deserves to be treated with respect and given a chance to achieve their goals. 

Behavior and Direct Instruction Strategy Methods

Behaviorism deals with many things such as:
1. Behavior of the students
2. Environment of learning
3. Observable behavior
4. Rewards

Watson's Classical conditioning behavior view of people is  that people have  involuntary , reflexive, reactions.  This involves a neutral stimulus that trigger a reflex.  Eventually the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that triggers a response.   Skinner's view was Opperant conditioning , voluntary actions.

Direct instruction
1. Giving precise goals and  making sure the students understand the goals.
2. Using well planned coursework for the students.
3. Using questioning to find out if the students understand the work.

Direct instruction is effective in teaching basic skills. This is something new I learned reading the articles on direct instruction.
I know not  the instructional models are not one size fits all.  As a teacher I need to incorporate many methods and find out what works well with my students to achieve the best they can in their lives and learning.  I found many informative ideas and readings in the articles that we had to read for our class.

Models of Instruction

There are four models of instruction that go from the broadest to specific.
1: Behavioral approach-goal is to develop basic skills and knowledge in students.  This is shown by having a student write an essay or draw a graph. Lowest level of learning.
2: Information processing-Focus on how the student processes the information.  Goal is to give  the students information have them search, organize, find information and reflect on the information . This is meta cognition to see if the student was taught well.
3: Social interaction- Goal is to focus and improve social skill and interactive skills.
4: Personal- Goal self reflection, self esteem, develop students talents, and self identity.  All individual skills and abilities can be shown.

There are two  instructional strategies
1:  Direct- Teacher center of class teaching and explaining. Set of steps teacher follows to reach goals.
Behavior model is direct-deductive
2: Indirect- IPM,SIM,Personal 
Students create environment and interact with it.  They are given projects that shows their talents and skills.

Pedagogy is a method most systematic way of reaching a child. 

Do not use % for a criteria was reinforced again.

I had a new prospective of the models of instruction when it was discussed in classs.



 

Tshirt project again

I found the tshirt project again a good idea to get to know one another.  This is a way for us to encourage one another, and for us to improve for when we are actually teaching our own class.  This was a way for us to self reflect on what is important to us and what makes us anxious about teaching.  Some students said it was difficult finding the right picture to show what they wanted to convey to the rest of the class.  I know alot of us were nervous, but we can support one another .  We can become a better presenter with practice. 

We worked on our objectives in our group in class.  I realized after speaking to Dr. Smirnova that that we should avoid using % with accuracy as a was to measure performance. How can you measure performance by using this?   The objective should be so clear that the teacher can teach it in class.   A good example is Given 10 pictures of  sea animals the student will label 4 our of 5 correct.
I listened to other students objectives and it cleared up some questions I had.

Tshirt project

After reflecting again on our tshirt project which we had to answer 4 questions about ourselves I have some other things to say.
I thought this was a good way to know everyone and realize most of us were nervous and had anxiety speaking in front of our peers. This was a way for us to learn, self reflect and give each other positive reinforcement. This is a microteaching practice for us all to be prepared for our other presentations and most of all teaching. Some had difficulty finding the right picture to express what they wanted to show about themselves. This gave many practice with the smartboard that will be in our future when we are teaching in the classrooms. This is a way for us to be a better presenter in front of people.

I found discussing our objectives with my group and each other in class helped me clear up any questions I had on my objectives. I learned to avoid using a % with accuracy as a way to measure performance. The CBC format has to be clear when doing objectives.

I also read the assigned readings on Lesson Plans and found them helpful. I found out that all websistes are not reliable.

Methods of Teaching/Childhood

I reflected on the days we had class and the t-shirt project. I thought this was a good idea to get to know one another. I found it interesting that we all have the same or similar concerns.  I was impressed that a few students wanted to teach at their prior schools.  I think this is great that they had a positive experience with their schools and want to give back to their communities.  I looked at my t-shirt and chose to use different colors  and pictures to express my feeling of pride to have a interest in our children.  I feel we are shaping the next president, mayor or doctor.  All children deserve to be treated with respect and a feeling of worth. It was nice to see how many student's have  had experiences working with children.  I think we all need to be enthusiastic about teaching and I saw it with our class presentations.