First of all, it was both exciting and scary for me to assign innovation week. Exciting because I really wanted to see what the results would be without having too many educational "constraints." Scary because, during the class discussion, I decided to give up all control on the content of your innovation week topic. Initially, I wanted to tie it to learning and technology, the topic of this course. However, I soon realized that this would not make it very authentic. I know that I would have probably picked something techie or educational, but that's because it is what I am consumed with both professionally and personally. But the look on Christina's face when she immediately thought, "Yoga," really cemented that fact that this was the right thing to do.
Why innovation week? Well, as most of you can probably tell, I am fascinated with intrinsic motivation when it comes to learning. I don't believe that learning acquired extrinsically. . ."chasing a carrot," or a grade, produces the type of deep learning that lasts. I have studied for many a test the evening before, received the carrot, an A, and then completely forgot what I had learned in a week or sooner. This I believe, is the effect of a ubiquitous cultural value on "winning" and getting good grades. I'm not saying that one cannot receive both good grades and learn deeply, but I am saying that this is more the exception than the rule.
Now that you have all completed your innovation week projects and reflected on them, I want to make a deeper connection to you as a future teacher (although I realize that many of you are also currently teaching). A few of you have touched on this subject in your reflections, but I would like you to take it a bit deeper. After reading and commenting on your peers' innovation week reflections, I would like you to write about the next step, how you are going to apply what you learned, either conceptually or personally, to your future as a learner and as a teacher. . .I want to hear about the future you; hopefully, someone who has a class full of learners not students ;-)
I have also been working very hard to connect with Professor Alec Couros, who teaches a course called Social Media and Open Education for the University of Regina, in Saskatchewan, Canada. I am hoping to connect our small class with their class, which is not only attended by U of R students, but by anyone who would like to take the course. . .the open education concept. . .
Here is a link to his course schedule. The courses are synchronous on Tuesday evening, 8-9:30 pm our time and the recordings are hosted on the class website. We will discuss the possibilities this evening. . .
Question: What is your Tuesday evening schedule?
My Tuesday's are pretty crazy. I have class from 5-7. So when I get home around 7:30 I eat dinner and then do work for other classes or finish work for my class I teach. Then I go to bed around 9:30/10ish so I can wake up at 5:30 to teach the next day.
ReplyDeleteI have class from 4pm-10pm, so unfortunately this would not work for me. I can open up the edchats or read online during my first class (which is still difficult because everything is discussion based), but definitely not my second.
ReplyDeleteI have class from 4:00 - 6:50 PM in Room 147 (with Marissa). Tuesday nights are also the time for me to finish my lesson plans for Wednesday - Friday Classes. Every once in awhile I'm also meeting with my teachers/professors as these are the only office hours I can make.
ReplyDeleteLike Melissa said, we have class from 4-7.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention:) I can make Tuesday night work. After 8pm is better because the kiddos will likely be asleep or getting there (fingers crossed).
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been away for so long! It cost me $20 to be on the internet for 15 minutes while I was out of the country on the cruise ship and decided I couldn't afford it!! TweetDeck was my first stop today when I got back!!
ReplyDeleteI have class on Tuesday nights from 4-7pm.