Reflection for week Nine

This assigned readings this week were focused on being an expert teacher. Essentially what it boils down to is knowing what you teach, knowing how to teach, and knowing who you are teaching. These are the what, how, and who of teaching. Of course it goes much deeper than that but that is the bottom line. Some key points of interest that I reflected on as I engaged in the learning process was that a great teacher loves to learn and engages in the lifelong learning process. An expert teacher engages her class in relevant learning activities and will adjust her teaching strategy to accommodate the learning style of the class. A great teacher will create a learning environment conducive to learning while displaying a passion for learning and enthusiasm for the subject.

Sunday Football

I took a much needed break today and watched a little football. Here is my reflection on that event.The Dallas Cowboys are:

Self-centered
Over indulged
Pompous
Indignant
Catered to
Egotistical
Narcissistic


How long will this team be able to BUY their way into playoffs, and for that matter, buy wins in the Super Bowl. I am specifically referring to the super Bowl XXX fiasco, debacle, on January 28, 1996 when Neil O’Donnell blatantly threw two interceptions directly into the hands of cornerback Larry Brown of the Cowboys. The Cowboys sealed the victory by converting Brown's interceptions into 2 touchdowns which winded up being the ultimate demise of the Steelers in that particular Super Bowl.

At leaste the Steelers have more Super Bowl ring. SIX, count em’ Cowboys fans SIX. Yes that means you have to use the fingers of both hands.


Steelers Rule !!!!!

I will blog latter on this week about a more scholarly subject for IDT 744.

Adapting to technology

My Wiki is really aggravating me today. I seem to get locked out every couple of weeks. No wonder it is so diffiult to incorporate technology into the classroom. I'm doing homework again tonight, just like every night and I find myself wondering, how will I "really" incorporate technology into my teaching style. We read, yet again, about learning centered, knowledge centered, and community centered taching environments. Each one of these approaches has merits and I would like to use all of them. In reality, however, I usually focus on one or the other depending on the type of students I am teaching.

This week I have begun to sink my teeth into my project for IDT 744. My partner and I plan to use a blog space for my CJ 280, Victimology class. I have a difficult enough time trying to get these students to find professional research articles on Ebsco host let alone trying to get them to delve into the strang and mystifying land of technology. They love to text, and some of them like to use apps on their phone but as for blogging, the students I have discussed this with do not blog.

I feel confident that these students have the intelligence to actively participate in this project and I further believe that they will contribute valuable information and learn from the experience. Plus, a little extra credit will serve to increase participation :-)

Student life

I feel like a chameleon-student, teacher, advisor, mentor..... Sooooo many hats soooo little head. had a phone/internet with Dr. Whitehouse and my project partner yesterday and I'm feeling really positive about the project for IDT 744. We have a focus. We are going to use a bolg for my CJ 280 (victimology) class and have them add video links or some other digital media link. We will post three different news storys regarding the same victim and have the students analyze how each article presented the victim and identify a corresponding theory for each story. Does anyone out there have any feedback regarding this project?

Just Wondering

Just wondering if all this homework is worth it. Wondering what will come in the future. I am really learning this semester and I feel very productive, but will it be worth it. The sacrafice of time, being just a little jealous of the care free life my friends seem to have, looking at my motorcycle on sunny days fanatsizing about all my future trips when I finally get some free time, making a list of all the "fun" books I'm going to read when I don't have to read text books as much, are a few ideas I'm wondering about today. But, alas [how often do you get to use the word alas :-)] I now begin my homework.

What does it mean to be an adaptive and analytical educator in the 21st century. I posted the beginning of my response to this on my group Wiki site yesterday. That's the official version-you know- the one for an actual grade- but what is the "keep it real" answer?

Teaching is the best job I've ever had but ironically, it's the lowest paying job I've ever had, but that's ok because you can't put a price on happiness.