Ginger's+Blog

The above was originally published August 22, 2009 at http://ginger-shaw.blogspot.com/2009/08/module-1-reflection.html Blog Entry Module 1 Ginger Shaw

This module has made me think about my role as an instructional designer in the following ways: the importance of goal setting, the value of encouraging individual creativity, the benefit of reducing student anxiety, and the time involved in preparing a well-developed unit plan.

Goal Setting – psychology states that people who set goals work harder, smarter, and more efficiently than those who do not set goals. In addition, the goal setters are far more successful in life. Goal setting is a habit, learned over a long period of time. However, very few teachers make this life skill a part of their core curriculum. I learned that I can incorporate this life skill into instruction by allowing students to define individual learning goals at the onset of any project, follow through with the plan of action, and feel successful upon its completion.

Encouraging Individual Creativity – Although I have always been a productive worker, I was never a good student. Now, I understand why. My high school teachers were staunch traditionalists who allowed no freedom of expression. As a teacher, I have tried to be more flexible; however, I find that my type-A students are so accustomed to memorization and recall that they often panic when a project objective is assigned, but the parameters of its completion are open-ended. This module shows that project requirements, instructions, and assessments be well-planned and meticulously written in detail. While I can see value in that process, I plan to leave room for individuality to flourish.

Reducing Student Anxiety – I have always used projects (never requiring technology because of my student’s lack of access at home) to supplement major grammar units and novels, but I have never used them as an assessment of the student’s understanding. I always give minor grades for completion. As a result, I have not practiced formulating an effective assessment rubric. Perhaps, having a very detailed rubric to show students exactly how they will be scored will lessen anxiety and promote motivation. I also think that completed sample units are crucial to give direction to struggling students.

Time – I can usually think of projects that enhance student learning, but the time it takes to prepare an activity for use in the classroom has – at times – kept me from implementing them. When adding technology as a core component to the project, I am nervous that the prep time for me will drastically increase.

I understand that students must be taught differently in order to be most successful in today’s world. Watching the video in class earlier in the week and reading module 1, I realized that I have not adequately fostered my student’s use of technology. I work hard to provide interesting and valuable real-world assignments, teaching students that no one can ever have “all the answers” but one can always learn where to go, who to ask, and how to investigate in order to find the answer. Sadly, I have rarely used technology to drive these assignments because of my own fear of electronics. While organizing my unit plan, I thought of completing Stargirl skits. I realized that fancy video equipment would not be necessary because most all students have camera phones. Little adjustments in my thinking can make a huge difference in the projects implemented in the classroom. I could use this opportunity to let the students teach me things that they know!