Monday, September 20, 2010

The first few weeks

The first few weeks of school are always an adjustment but here I am, finding myself back in Dr. Smirnova's class and to top it of...BLOGGING! This year is a different approach.  Now that we have all learned the basics, we are now learning how to apply them.

These first few weeks have been fun.  We started the semester off with the t-shirt project.  This project allowed us to get to know each other, which in turn is what we will actually do on the first week in our own classrooms.  It's funny because in the long run, you learn that what you do in your classes with your teachers is what you will actually be doing in your classroom when it is yours.  Another thing that we did in class was read and ask questions about the syllabus.  Now I know that this has nothing to do with what I actually learned, but I'll get there.  I think that this is always a key part of the classes that we take and the things that we learn to do in our classrooms because it allows the students to ask questions and be aware of what they are in for.

Now onto the good stuff..
We reviewed our goals and objectives, went over CBC format, and even learned about different models of instruction.  This is all going to benefit us in the long run because we will know how to deal with different student's different leanrning styles.  For instance, if I want to teach a student "how to.." do something I might want to take the Behavioral Learning method.  This would make the student see clearly how to do something and it uses direct instructions.  Another form of direct instruction is the Behavior Processing Model.  In this model the teacher teaches the student how to learn on their own.  Other models of instruction include the Social Interactive model and the Personal Model.  Both of which are indirect teaching methods.

This leads me to talk about Direct and Indirect Instruction.  Now, I don't wanna state the obvious here, BUT direct instruction is the teacher as the center of the class directing the instructions to the students.  Indirect instruction would be student centered.

The last thing that we have gone over is how to make a WebQuest on the PBworks website.  Now, I am familiar with PBworks from Dr. Smirnova's class last semester so this comes easily to me.  But if you all would like to follow here is my space.

Enjoy your week everyone, I'll be back...

Unfortunately.