Test Taking

It was interesting what they consider are the basic things to know for technology. I thought the tests were easy. The only challenging one was Power point. I know power point pretty well so it was frustrating when I had problems with the animation working. Luckily it wasn't just me. I did use something for the first time (or first time in a really, really long time) and that was the microphone to record my voice. I think I have done that, but never to record the whole presentation. So I even learned something new that day as I was working on it.
I do think it is important for all teachers to be able to know how to use all those programs. I don't think it should matter what kind of teacher you are.

Building from ground zero

Today was a cool high school observation that has made me do a lot of thinking. This teacher started as an English teacher and then moved into the News/TV production. He started with minimal tools to work with and now has a News studio, servers lots of computers and other equipment. The thing that amazes me is how he developed his knowledge. HE is a organized teacher who knows how to deal with students by giving them important assignments. That is definitely one thing that I need to remember is people need to feel important and not just another person in the class.

But the thing that it made me think about was, what will I do when I am teaching. How will I develop a program from where it is when I get there (maybe nothing) to a magnificent production where all the students feel like they are making a difference. These students can do amazing things if you let them. I think that is one marvelous thing that I am seeing in most of the schools that I have been to is that students are really being let go. Teachers are letting them think for themselves and the production standards are going up. I think that is fantastic. I think back to my high school years. We hardly had anything. We had several business electives, wood shop, architecture/drafting, computer classes, and that was it. These schools blow me away. What can I do to do that? I want to go back to my high school and check out what programs they have now. It would be interesting if I could end up student teach there or something. Kids these days are blowing us out of the water. I need to catch up so that I can help them.

What an incredible future that we have going for us!!!

STLs again

Class today was fun. We were able to recollect the things that we have learned this year so far by writing the things that make a good teacher. I liked that activity because it reminded me of the things that I need to work on to become a better teacher. I definitely need to review the things on wiki because I couldn't remember a lot of those things and especially who said them.
The things we learn in this class are interesting in understanding what we are supposed to be teaching our future students about technology.

But one thing that I thought was really interesting was when we were talking about personality. I think I have a good personality and one that fits teaching one on one. I need to work on letting my personality shine through my teaching as well. I love teaching. I just wish I could show it more. I am hoping that as we finish this class I will be able to see a difference. My teaching has improved. But is it where I want to be? No. Practice, practice, practice. And that is why I love feedback so that I can improve.

HIgh School Visit #2

This visit was really awesome. I wish the actual multimedia people could have gone too. BUt it was really far away. Those kids are amazing. This teacher is actually teaching 3 classes in one also. Those teachers amaze me. I hope that I can do that some day. It truely does help the kids out a lot.
Anyway so these kids were setting up 3D rooms. and later on they will no actual animation. They use MAYA, which is really interesting because I have used a program very similar to this with my architectuer to make our architecture stuff look really real. Those programs are fantastic. I love that animation stuff, but I don't think that I am any where near their talent. Maybe someday.
Waking up really really early was worth it to see thier facilities, the type of teacher and how he stays organized and their program. AMAZING. I give it 5 stars.

STL

Well class didn't go as planned. Only a couple people went. I was supposed to go, but to tell you the truth I really wasn't ready. I thought or missing because I didn't feel really well. So my days lately haven't been great for school work--very busy. I tried preparing but things just didn't go like I wish they had. May be some teachers say that I have my priorities mixed up because their class isn't my first priority. And maybe I need to reevaluate my priorities but that's too bad right now. My health is what I am concerned about since I just got over a rhinoceros. And that day it felt like it was coming back. I went home and went to bed.

BUt my technology standard will be definitely ready for Tuesday. I felt I would have done worse than my first time. I don't want that.

Behaviorism

Today we didn't have official class but were responsible for researching a certain topic. Mine was on behaviorism. I remember studying about behaviorism in my psychology class before my mission. But common I am the type of person that doesn't like psychology. I don't agree with a lot of it because its like stereotyping. But anyways, behaviorism was a concept that a person can be molded into a certain behavior in several different ways. some people like this idea others don't. My thing with psychology is that you really can't determine things in only one way. For example with this idea of behaviorism. It does not involve mental thoughts or emotions; it is strictly concerned with action. There is more to people than just there actions. How a person thinks determines there actions as well not just their environment around them. So I was able to refresh on this topic and reignite my irritation with psychologists.

Feedback

I enjoyed class for several reasons. We were given an article by President Gordon B. Hinckley to read that talked about things that we should teach. One thing that I thought was interesting is that it was given in the 1960s and he was talking about them being a lazy generation. I think this generation is even lazier and try to get away with as little work as possible. One thing that my dad taught me is to have integrity and work hard. And Pres. Hinckley said the same things. I sometimes get frustrated with others when they think they did a good enough job when they missed a lot of important things. The story of the Boeing 707 is a perfect example of needing to do your best all the time. I am grateful that this article was given; I want to refer to it in the future and apply those principles to my teaching.

We also got critiquing on our presentations of the standards. It is important to hear what others see because we don't always recognize those problems. I love criticism because then I know what things I need to do to make goals and improve. I know one thing that I really need to work on is my intonation. It's true that sometimes I have a hard time expressing my true enthusiasm for a subject when I am presenting. I can be animated, now I just need to do it whenever I am presenting. It was also good to see the critiques of others because I need to work on those things as well even if they weren't mentioned in my personal critique. Some day I will be a great teacher as I apply these comments.

High School Observation #1

I went to Timpview High school and it was a wonderful experience. I think high school is where I really do want to teach. We first went to a pre-driver's ed class and I actually did learn a couple new things. It was interesting to see the difference between JH and HS. I will have to remember the attention span of HS students is still only 30-45 minutes. Even though the teacher was using a hypothetical situation adn have students participate in it, still many students lost imterest and were doing other things.
The greatest part was when that teacher later asked us what our emphasis were and then introduced us to the teachers that focused in those areas. I was able to go to the drafting room. It was fun to mingle with the students and talk to them about their experiences in the class. Dave Creer (or something like that) was teaching three classes in that one period. I asked the students how does he do it and they say that they don't know but he is amazing. He seems to be able to help everybody even though there are many different activities going on. The teacher had written on the board the days of the weeks with the classes and what they should be working on. So I think that helps him and the students stay on top of things. I also got some info. from one of the students of a possible job oportunity in the rendering business.

Being Sick

I hate being sick because I then miss important things and can't do things to my full potential. But while I was sick, I was able to read over the PowerPoint that Geoff sent me. I don't know if I completely understood what moral dimensions mean but it gave me a few things to think about. One of the things was PEEP.
Providing access to knowledge for all children and youth (We need to make sure the students have access to the resources needed to find the information to survive in the world)
Enculturating the young in a social and political democracy (Help the kids and ourselves work with each other in society)
Ensuring responsible stewardship of schools (I'm not sure completely bu I like this quote, "An educated citizen is a steward of the mind.")
Practicing a nurturing pedagogy (We need to show them that we care)

The other interesting thing in the presentation is Bloom's Taxonomy:
Evaluation (most evolved)
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Understanding
Knowledge (least thinking)
I don't know if I completely agree with his philosophy although some parts I do agree. Some of them seem too close to me to see a difference. But there is more I can learn from this.