Learning Activity - Successful

Since I haven't taught yet, I'll have to share a learning activity from my Internship at Alaska Center for Children & Aduts (ACCA)--Project TEACH.

I was working with a severely limited young 2 year old who was not only developmentally delayed, but physically challenged too. She had been placed in the tub of balls (like at McDonalds, but on a much smaller scale), and was propped up in the corner to stabilize her. Several of the Early Intervention Specialists were involved with her, that is they were in the room, but I was the one 'in training', so she was MY responsibility at that particular time.

My goal was to engage her, physically & mentally as much as possible--to get some sort of reaction, movement, whatever I could from her as an indication that she either enjoyed the activity or disliked it. Well, I jumped into the balls with her. She was tickled to death. Together we kicked the balls, laughed and played (as much as she was able) until I was just too tired to continue.

We all considered this a success, in that she demonstrated to us that she indeed was capable of displaying her pleasure with that particular activity.

My 'Home Room'

I hadn't really given any thought to where my classroom portal would be, but I love the funtionality of Blogger, and of course the fact that I can make my page pink is HUGE! I think Blackboard would be my second choice. I'll know more when I get started. If I decide to not use blogging, then my homeroom will be Blackboard.

Assessment in a public forum

Pros:

Constructive critical feedback
Gain experience
Contribute to learning cycle
opportunity to advance knowledge


Cons:

Ethical issues (confidentiality)
potential for emotional breakdown

My Add-ons

The extensions I decided to add are:
All-in-one sidebar
Clear Cache button
colorful tabs
resizeable textarea
zotero

Haven't really had a chance to play a whole lot but am anxious to get to it.

Chris' presentation

Intriguing: Didn't know that the television was originally meant to be used as an educational medium. Funny how far from that it's strayed almost to the point of being destructive.

Irritating: Chris is an articulate, knowledgeable individual. I found myself wanted to write down MOST of what was said and frustrated at myself at my inability to type and actively listen at the same time. (solution: took notes and just missed a few words at a time) 

Head-scratching: Several words/concepts new to me: exibites, Atalay model, Connectivism.

General Introduction

Howdie! I'm Carol. I've been an employee at UAF for almost 11 years now, and absolutely LOVE my job. I'm in a staff position and deal mainly with Assessment and Accreditation, when I'm not covering the daily administrative duties. I'm very excited about iTeach and can't wait to learn who all will be in the cohort.

To answer the 4 posted questions:

a) What's so great about teaching?

The fact that learning has the potential to be reciprocal. The opportunity to learn from one another is so rewarding. I believe we all have something uniquely ours to teach others, and in exchange others provide us their own unique wealth of information.

As rewarding would have to be those 'AH HA' moments, when you're able to visualize that your message was received and understood, or that that this sudden realization prompted further inquiry or investigation.

 b) What's the most interesting thing you've learned in the past 6 weeks?

Just the other day I called myself helping my son with his homework (he's a freshman in high school), and together we learned a few new attributes in Microsoft Word--not new to Word, but new to us.  I consider myself a power user, but there always seems to be something more to be learned. We learned how to wrap text around graphics. Generally I'd use a desktop publishing program for this, but since there wasn't one installed on his laptop we figured out how to do it in Word. We were both thrilled and since it was hands on learning it'll stick with us. TECHNOLOGY ROCKS!

c) If information was food...,

The bread, cereal, rice & pasta of my information pyramid consists of information I consider foundational--what's happening in the lives of those closest to me (family, friends, coworkers)--what impacts them, directly impacts my decisions, actions, thoughts & emotions.

Vegetables/fruits would have to be current statewide/countrywide/worldwide stimuli that can impact me and those in my world indirectly and/or directly.

The 3 required servings of milk, yogurt, cheese would be advice & guidance I seek from others. Meat, poultry, fish--2 servings, equals constructive criticism. Others are more capable than am I at seeing area that are in need of attention.

Finally at the top of my pyramid is information either unknown, or relearned.

d) How often do you refresh the content of your course?

Since I am not currently teaching, (hope to be in the near future, though), I would have to say I think this would depend upon what course is being taught. Different disciplines would require more or less refreshing than other disciplines. 

As far as the course I'm prepping for iTeach, Social Work and the Aging Society, I believe refreshing would be vital every time the course is taught--at least to some extent. There are always new research studies coming out, and older studies being refuted; new technology constantly impacts how a course is being taught and can impact what is being taught.