Reflection on 10 Minute Training

I forgot to mention some things during the presentation: Can use video and I uploaded my letter to parents to get permission to be on websites.

I was excited to see that there was an educators account that gives us more time.

Characteristics of Adult Learners

This was a very informative article.  Some of the information (Learning Styles) was just a review but other parts of the article will be great for us to use in our own development of professional development.  The comparison of young learners vs. adult learners shows that adults need more of a challenge or learner-centered and not just informational lectures.  Adults can handle more "do it yourself" instruction whereas a young learner will need more background knowledge to complete such tasks.  It is also harder to keep adults interested in what you are teaching because, as the article stated, most of the time it was their choice to attend the PD so they feel they can up and leave while young learners know they "have" to be there.

I had never seen the thinking styles before which was very interesting to me.  I hadn't thought about the different way people think or solve problems.  That portion of the article will be great to have as a reference while developing professional development so I can be sure to give problems that will suit all thinking styles!

Teaching Teachers

There was a lot of great information in this article.  Much of it seems common sense but is not necessarily used in schools today.  For example, knowing if the professional development is working.  It seems simple to think that a follow-up or evaluation of teachers using programs/material taught to them would allow administration to really see if it works.  However, this is rarely done.  So, we will definitely have a follow-up discussion to see if teacher like/dislike the material as well as their students and to see the impact that it is having within their classrooms.

In addition, it discussed that students perform better when their teachers attend PD that directly impact the students' learning.  I believe the PD we are planning will definitely do this and hopefully the teachers at school will by into it as well!! :)

Classroom Comparison

avoca37.org
This is a great representation of what the article classrooms would look like.  This shows students engaged and working on diligently on a project or assignment in collaborative groups.  Both the article and the ISTE standards show us as teachers how to be more student led and integrate technology for the students' best interest.

At times my classroom looks this way, but not with laptops.  I do try to keep my classroom in pods so they can collaborate on all subjects.  But I do find it hard to keep everyone that has needs towards the front and each child away from the one or two that bothers them and parents have asked they be moved away from.  It also seems difficult with the number of students we have now.  Once a few start talking the discussions in the classroom take over.  I am going to continue using groups and trying to make my classroom more student led.  The standards and article definitely help us as teachers see that it can be done and it is expected of us!


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