Week four: Variety of assessment tools

http://mrbstechtools.weebly.com/instructional-tools.html

 I like the concept of Jigsaw learning. I remember reading about it a few years back. The concept is great if everyone is willing and able to do the work as assigned. There can be problems with communication if it is not clear and concise. Other problems can arise if the members are not able to achieve the expected goals. Here is a site to help with problems that may arise in the classroom. http://www.jigsaw.org/tips.htm In our groups we are using the jigsaw method to compile a module that will discuss the use of four different assessment tools.I am looking forward to learning about all the assessment tools from my group,Kermit: as well as from others. In our group the tools we are reviewing are: Quia-test builder,Edublogs,and Voice Thread, and wikis. I worked on wikis this week and how they play into collaboration in the classroom. I really like the wiki for its simplicity and its ability to allow others to participate and contribute to the content. It is pretty simple and basic in design, but as technology advances then more choices should be available also. Here is a wiki for teachers that won an award: http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/ From the reading this week I would like to note this quote, ”The more you teach without finding out who understands the information and who doesn't, the greater the likelihood that only already-proficient students will succeed.” It is important to find out who understands and who does not, and I believe it is also important to understand the psychology of children,but I don't think we are there yet. I run across children who have difficulties at home and this plays a big part in how receptive a child is to the learning process. This week's information also included a video. teaches that performance is more important than just passing a test. The video reminds the viewer that good test takers are not necessarily going to be able to handle real world situations. I know in my own life I have met many people who are good at school, but in the “real world” have little common sense. It seems that the teaching of today is working to embrace and expand a child's abilities rather than to just teach facts that are quickly forgotten and do not help the child learn how to solve real world problems. I am excited to be learning about so many new developments and plan to be working in the world of instructional design in the very near future to be part of the process to help teach our young people how to solve problems and cope with real-life situations.

Week Three: Perfect Storm

The most valuable information for me from this module: I enjoyed reading Dr. Bonk’s writings and watching the video. I found myself agreeing with many of his points. I particularly like the concept of matching activities to assessment. There are many tools to use to present learning, such as video streamed conference presentations, podcast shows, and synchronous conferencing. The assessment for these tools can be done by, reflection papers (one of my favorites), or online discussions, or quizzes to name a few. I also gained insight into teacher led vs the Learner- Centered Paradigm and I was most inspired by the latter and it would be my choice for teaching a class. I would like the students to be actively involved with the teacher serving as facilitator while the students are creating and collaborating. The students and the teacher both learn and the assessment is used to modify the lesson as needed in order to facilitate a better learning tool. •How I will implement this information in my work:I used Inspiration For my concept map and I found it easy to use, however, I was nervous when I could not find a “save” button. I found out by trial and error that the program has an automatic save. I was not able to log back in with my username and password, but luckily I downloaded the map and you can view it here •Areas where I feel I need more information or practice: I would say I could always use more computer information. One of my computers would not let me get into the blog. I will have to research more on fixing computers. I would also like to explore more on the tools I have mentioned above. I will have to look into more conference presentations and podcast shows, or create my own. I also need more information about creating Blogs, but as I do I learn. I wish I had a mentor to teach me the things I don't know. Professor Curt Bonk: Assessing Student Online Learning, available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=d0nfDOPaw_8 Bonk, C. J. (2011). "Sharing...the Journey" - a prequel to The World is Open: How Web Technology Is Revolutionizing Education.

Let's Go To The Movies Ice Breaker

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/3c/Out_of_africa_poster.jpg

I love the movie Out of Africa. I have to say that I pretty much love anything with Merle
Streep in it. The movie starts with the actress saying, "I had a farm in Africa, at the foot of the Ngong Hills". I am moved by the struggle and endurance of a woman fighting for something she believes in so strongly. The movie strongly depicts how life can be so cruel and unfair, and yet beautiful and emotionally moving at the same time. I am aware that parts of the movie are very different from the book, but still, I think the movie depicts the hardship and struggle that she experienced accurately.
As a mental health counselor is have admire the struggle that this woman endures. Oh if we could all face life with such reverence! I often share movies with clients as a therapeutic process. I am not sure I have mentioned Out of Africa too often, but I am sure my class mates can share movies that they found therapeutic in some way and I welcome your suggestions.

Week 2 Teacher Centered vs. Student Centered Learning

 This week I really enjoyed the reading and discussion regarding teacher vs student learning.  I know both are good and necessary, but I have to say I really like the student focused learning. I appreciate it because the main focus is on the learner and how he or she learns, that the student is indeed absorbing the information and his or her input is important. I can remember learning the 50 states…well let’s just say many years ago and I did poorly at the assignment and I can recall being somewhat defiant about the whole thing and just never really taking the time to learn them.  I can say now that had the learning been more student focused I probably would have learned them and with enthusiasm. Teacher focused learning was all that was provided and while many children did well with it, I was not one of them.  The teaching only worked well for those who were able to give good feedback upon command. I enjoyed the pictures of the student vs teacher centered learning.  I enjoy the student centered learning more, but there are times where it is important just to have the teacher teach and the students absorb.

So did I ever learn all the states?  No not exactly, I am really good at the western states as I have visited or lived in most of them, but as things move east I may not be able to re-create a map, but I can find what I am looking for.   I still notice in myself a bit of the rebel, but it has helped me to understand others better.  I appreciate that teaching is bringing experience into the classroom or even the counseling room, not just coming in to be fed and then regurgitate information. 

In the counseling arena it is important for participants to be part of the process, otherwise change does not occur. I have to make sure that I understand the position of the client so that I can be a better guide in helping the client achieve his or her goals.  I appreciate the assessment process and feel that I could certainly be better at it, so I hope to use this class to help me focus more on fine tuning how I assess and what I assess so that I can be a better teacher and student.

Week One Journal Entry

3/7/13 Cassandra Gadouas

 

• What was the most valuable information that you learned in this module?

I was reminded of the value of asking questions in various ways.  The icebreaker was an eye opener for me as one could ask, so tell me about yourself, or one could ask what was your favorite movie and what was it about the movie that you liked so much? And in that there is more to be learned about the person.  Some people write a lot and some not so much.  Some write about what the movie was about and others only there response to the film.  The way we ask questions provides more insight about the person.

I often do a similar sort of thing with children and have them create a picture out of many sorts of stickers.  The stickers they choose and where they place them can be very telling about their character.  I then have them tell me a story about the stickers that they have chosen and I find out a lot about them that way.  For many boys it is often about conquest and for girls it is often more about helping others, but what is going on in their lives at the time may or may not have an impact on the stickers and the story.

• How will you implement this in your line of work?

I will consider many avenues for assessment and work on using a variety of venues to bring out more information about my clients.

• In what area(s) do you feel you need more information or practice?

I want to make sure that I am very clear on what I am assessing for.  It is easy to get lost in the process and not be clear on what the objective is, so I want to make sure my objectives are very clear.

 I also find that there is always new information out there to learn more about and technology is moving so fast that there is no way I can keep up with it. I like to learn about new techniques and how to best help students and clients get the best and most out of the learning experience within the shortest period of time.  There are instances where more time is needed and things cannot be rushed, but in our current day and age time is a factor that has to be considered.  It may be in the future that people are scanned for assessment and there will be no need to think things through or figure them out, but until then the written word, time and processing are what is needed to complete an assessment.