OTEN Reflection

On September 24th I was fortunate enough to attend the OTEN conference at Willamette University.  I must admit, prior to the conference I was dreading my attendance. I thought that the presenters would eb boring, and that I would not learn anything from the speakers since I am technologically inept and won't be able to incorporate or understand anything that they presented.

I am happy to present that this was NOT the case!

The key note speaker, the head of the Canby School District technology, was fabulous. He discussed all of the huge strides their district has made with regards to test scores as a direct link to the grants they received for technology. He described the many educational uses that an iPad can have, and how they can be applied to any age level (including elementary)!

I was very excited about the first break out session that I attended with Jennifer Roberts. Jennifer was able to show the attendees a wide array of uses technology can have in our classrooms. I was very intrigued when she was able to do an in class poll on the board that updated in real time as we all texted in our answers to the site. It was a fun and interactive way to receive classroom data rather than doing a simple show of hands. Lastly, she showed us numerous websites that could be used for presentations and in-class activities. With this activity she provided us a "breakdown" of these online tools into Bloom's taxonomy.

The second breakout session I attended was a presentation on the use of games in the classroom, presented by a speaker from George Fox University (his name escapes me now). During this session we were introduced to more uses on an iPad with regards to games in the classroom. He showed us an application called "Where's Mommy" and had us construct a game with the program. We were also introduced on how to use a Smartboard to create games as review (such as a football game). I think that games are very important in making learning fun and I think that this session was very helpful in allowing me to explore more options for doing this using technology.

Instructional Applications of Blogging

I think that there are many uses for blogging in the classroom.
As a teacher, I believe that I could construct a classroom blog in order to keep my students and their parents informed as to what is occurring in the classroom. I believe that this could differ from a normal classroom website because it could allow for discussion to occur between students on projects, or with the parents themselves.

For students, I think that it would be a good idea to have them create their own blogs so that they could provide their own reflections on projects. I think that this would be a great way to incorporate literacy into classroom projects and in area content area. 
I also believe that this could be a great informal assessment tool for the teacher. It could allow for the teacher to see what exactly each student is doing and has accomplished in the class so that they could better tailor their lessons to fit the needs of the students.

Best Practices

Math Methods Research Assignment

Best Practices: Education

Resources Found:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=schools_and_education&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=47652

http://ozpk.tripod.com/00best

http://www.ctserc.org/s/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=8&Itemid=28

A closer closer look at the last link:   9 Steps
1. Clear and Common Focus
2. High Standards and Expectations
3. Strong Leadership
4. Supportive, Personalized, and Relevant Learning
5. Parent/Community Involvement
6. Monitoring, Accountability, and Assessment
7. Curriculum and Instruction
8. Professional Development
9. Time and Structure

Best Practices: Instruction

Resources Found:
http://www.saskschools.ca/~bestpractice/index.html

http://www.utexas.edu/academic/ctl/assessment/iar/teaching/plan/why-practices.pdf

http://www.ttms.org/best_practice/best_practice.htm

A closer look at the last link:    4 Ideals
1. Teaching practice can be defined
2. Some practices are better than others
3. Practice cannot be separated from theory
4. Best Practice is always getting better

Reflection

While researching this topic, I found that it was very difficult to separate both "education" and "instruction." The articles I found were all very similar in content, but differed only in language and what they listed. The goal of all was to become a better - more effective- teacher. I think that it is important for each and every one of us to really develop our own sense of who we are as a person and as a teacher, and use that (coupled with our knowledge of other practices) to develop our own unique style that works best for us. There were some practices I read, for example, that focused heavily on the use of technology, while there were others that spoke out against technology as the main tool. I personally know that I do not get along well with technology (for lack of a better way to state that) and know that while I will use it merely as a tool to aid my instruction. I do not and will not make it my primary form of teaching, as for my personal style, I know my instruction and teaching would suffer. Others, however, might do better with the aid and guidance that having technology may provide.

All in all, I think that the "best practice" in both education and instruction revolves around the idea that we must constantly adapt and change our methods through time as they will evolve based on you as a teacher, your students and their needs, and the subject matter and goals from which you are teaching.

About Me

Well goodness, I never know what to write about myself...
So here goes nothing!

I am nerd at heart and probably one of the most spontaneous people you will meet. I love to experience new things and go on crazy adventures, so I never know where I am going to be next. One second I am here, the next I could be jumping out of a plane, on the back of a motorcycle, or perhaps simply driving to the coast just to lay and read a book, run through the water, and throw a ball for my dog Tucker. Though extra slobbery, this highly energetic, 70lb, four-legged companion continues to share in my excitement and experiences in life. It is also not an uncommon occurrence to find me at home listening to jazz, sipping on a glass of red wine, throwing paint on canvas (or doing some other art project I have my mind set on at the moment). Life is just too short not to enjoy as much of it as you can!

I hope to use my creativity and passion of learning to become an excellent elementary/middle school teacher. While elementary is my primary focus in this MAT program, I am also pursuing my certification in both middle school math and health, as well as obtaining my reading endorsement. I think that really enjoying what you do is important not only for your own well-being, but for your students as well. I hope that I am able to use my energy and enthusiasm to instill a love of learning in my students.