I am slightly late with my reflections for this week as submission of the proposal took priority. The main focus of the lectures and workshops were to assist each other with our proposals.
I was very positive about my proposal and after talking to Sall’ee I know I am heading in the right direction. It became apparent to me that a few of my colleagues were a bit off the mark of what they needed to achieve for the written proposal. As I had a better understanding of what the intent was I felt it necessary to assist them during the workshop. I have noticed that the negativity that has occurred during this semester has made me more focussed to assist others in understanding what is required from them as a professional educator. I need to make sure thought that I do not force my opinions onto people as this can be seen as arrogant and condescending to many. I feel it is good that I can turn around negativity to a positive.
Project progress
I have submitted the surveys to the teachers of the focus years this week and am waiting for their responses. Hopefully I will receive some qualitative data to build the student surveys from.
I had a very useful discussion with one of the year five teachers this week that assisted me in organising my thoughts. He inquired as to what the actual project focus was and what the timeline of the project is (six weeks). He asked me questions such as; how long are you going to have with the students per week? How much can you do in that time? What students do you think you will get a response from?
These questions alerted me to the fact that I have a total of twelve hours spread over six weeks with the students. How much can I truly teach in that time? Not every thing on my concept map I have made. As the year five teacher commented “do something small really well, not something big badly”. I need to focus on a particular software application or tool that will improve the student’s skills. It needs to be useful and exciting and relevant to them. They need to be able to implement it and use it in their everyday lives and lessons. I now have a more refined focus for the project.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Week Four
The lecture for this week was again engaging us as a professional educator within a community as a researcher. It gave us an insight into how to achieve correct results for reporting and collecting data for research. I found this very useful as I am concerned as how I am going to achieve the collection of data that is required and how I am going to justify it as qualitative information. It is my understanding that useful research does not need to be correct or right it just needs to build on relevant data therefore concluding if the initial goal was right. I believe it isn’t to prove something wrong or right, but you need to make connections between your own research and others.
The workshop was very interesting as we were given the chance to discuss data collection tools. We engaged in a jigsaw activity and found each other’s interpretation of each tool. I found we were quite similar in many respects. The discussion turned towards the actual project and how to collect data during the project (observations, anecdotes, surveys etc). This was when a rather heated discussion occurred about how we as pre-service educators have not been given enough information (by the uni) to achieve the best results for the project. I was not in complete agreement during this discussion as I believe at this point in our careers we need to be far more proactive. It is the responsibility of us as future educators to research, investigate, report and engage with information. We need to do this now and learn how to do this otherwise when we become teachers in the classroom an un-proactive nature will transpose onto the students we are teaching. There was also a complaint with the amount of workload that is being evoked upon the current cohort for the duration of the internship. I was on the opposite side of this opinion also as I believe as educators the workload will increase far more than what we are currently engaged in. By the response in the workshop this week many disagree with me and I am in a minority with my current work ethic (a worrying thought).
Project progress
This week I have managed to make a fair bit of progress on my project. As mentioned in a previous post I found that I am a very visual person. I was having difficulty seeing were pieces of the project were going and how many parts to it there were, mainly which software to include. I decided to create a mind map to achieve the structure and organisation I require to start creating tutorials and surveys. I will also create a digital version of this, so watch this space. It has helped immensely to work out what questions I need to ask and realise that the project is an Action Research project and will need to continuously evolve and change. This will be at the request of the educators, students and school community’s needs. This has been a very good and productive week in regards to the project. I need to now finalise my proposal for submission hoping I am on the right track.
Cheers for now
Al
The workshop was very interesting as we were given the chance to discuss data collection tools. We engaged in a jigsaw activity and found each other’s interpretation of each tool. I found we were quite similar in many respects. The discussion turned towards the actual project and how to collect data during the project (observations, anecdotes, surveys etc). This was when a rather heated discussion occurred about how we as pre-service educators have not been given enough information (by the uni) to achieve the best results for the project. I was not in complete agreement during this discussion as I believe at this point in our careers we need to be far more proactive. It is the responsibility of us as future educators to research, investigate, report and engage with information. We need to do this now and learn how to do this otherwise when we become teachers in the classroom an un-proactive nature will transpose onto the students we are teaching. There was also a complaint with the amount of workload that is being evoked upon the current cohort for the duration of the internship. I was on the opposite side of this opinion also as I believe as educators the workload will increase far more than what we are currently engaged in. By the response in the workshop this week many disagree with me and I am in a minority with my current work ethic (a worrying thought).
Project progress
This week I have managed to make a fair bit of progress on my project. As mentioned in a previous post I found that I am a very visual person. I was having difficulty seeing were pieces of the project were going and how many parts to it there were, mainly which software to include. I decided to create a mind map to achieve the structure and organisation I require to start creating tutorials and surveys. I will also create a digital version of this, so watch this space. It has helped immensely to work out what questions I need to ask and realise that the project is an Action Research project and will need to continuously evolve and change. This will be at the request of the educators, students and school community’s needs. This has been a very good and productive week in regards to the project. I need to now finalise my proposal for submission hoping I am on the right track.
Cheers for now
Al
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Week Three
Tutorials & Lectures
The lecture this week was thinking about engaging within a professional community and how educators need to correctly reflect on their own professional practice and pedagogy. The importance of the reflective nature of teaching is apparent throughout all the lectures so far this semester. What was different in this particular one is how we need to be calculating when we are reflecting on things. It is not enough to just sit there and write thoughts, ideas and narrative. Higher order thinking and connections to theory need to be established to achieve proper and useful reflective practice.
Also in the lecture was the discussion of the collaborative nature of an educator within a learning community. Establishing the educator as a ‘key’ to a successful learning community is imperative and this can not be done without educators functioning as professionals.
The workshop for this week was to assist us with researching books, journals, articles, literature and resources for our project. Some useful tips were given by the library staff and the new search engine on the library website is useful.
Project
This week has been a mixture of anxiety and confusion as I had lost track of what my goal was for my project. I was unable to see a clear vision of what I am trying to achieve in the six weeks whilst on my internship. This came about whilst looking for resources in the workshop. I was very happy looking for computer literacy, digital world and ICT in education books online, but it struck me that I was being too vague with my literature research. After asking Sally (lecturer) and having an extended conversation with her, she asked me a question which left me wondering even more. What are you actually researching? I didn’t have an answer. I was stumped. I was also a little scared. If I don’t know at this point in time what I am actually researching surely I am setting myself up to fail. I needed to get some more information and decide to see the course examiner Joan. After explaining my dilemma she helped me to visualise the project and extract the main points I wanted to achieve, thus determining my goal. Listed below are the items discussed:
Computer literacy – This is the over arching theme which I am basing my project on and which the literature I will find will back up the need for computer literacy in schools.
Computer Club – This is the practical application of my project. I am going to put one in place where there isn’t one currently.
Employed teacher to continue work – The main goal is for an established teacher, who works at the school, will recognise the benefits and upon my recommendations continue the work already begun.
That’s it for this week
Cheers
Al
The lecture this week was thinking about engaging within a professional community and how educators need to correctly reflect on their own professional practice and pedagogy. The importance of the reflective nature of teaching is apparent throughout all the lectures so far this semester. What was different in this particular one is how we need to be calculating when we are reflecting on things. It is not enough to just sit there and write thoughts, ideas and narrative. Higher order thinking and connections to theory need to be established to achieve proper and useful reflective practice.
Also in the lecture was the discussion of the collaborative nature of an educator within a learning community. Establishing the educator as a ‘key’ to a successful learning community is imperative and this can not be done without educators functioning as professionals.
The workshop for this week was to assist us with researching books, journals, articles, literature and resources for our project. Some useful tips were given by the library staff and the new search engine on the library website is useful.
Project
This week has been a mixture of anxiety and confusion as I had lost track of what my goal was for my project. I was unable to see a clear vision of what I am trying to achieve in the six weeks whilst on my internship. This came about whilst looking for resources in the workshop. I was very happy looking for computer literacy, digital world and ICT in education books online, but it struck me that I was being too vague with my literature research. After asking Sally (lecturer) and having an extended conversation with her, she asked me a question which left me wondering even more. What are you actually researching? I didn’t have an answer. I was stumped. I was also a little scared. If I don’t know at this point in time what I am actually researching surely I am setting myself up to fail. I needed to get some more information and decide to see the course examiner Joan. After explaining my dilemma she helped me to visualise the project and extract the main points I wanted to achieve, thus determining my goal. Listed below are the items discussed:
Computer literacy – This is the over arching theme which I am basing my project on and which the literature I will find will back up the need for computer literacy in schools.
Computer Club – This is the practical application of my project. I am going to put one in place where there isn’t one currently.
Employed teacher to continue work – The main goal is for an established teacher, who works at the school, will recognise the benefits and upon my recommendations continue the work already begun.
That’s it for this week
Cheers
Al
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Week Two
This week
The lecture was good and held some more interesting points about the teacher as a researcher and how we need to have our own guiding principles as well as abide by the code of conduct that is imposed by our employer. It also discussed the ethical implications when taking on a research project and who will eventually read that publication or report. Who will it affect? How will it affect them? What confidentiality do you need to think about when engaging in a project? These questions amongst others where interesting, as it is important to realise who I am going to be using my project for and who will be reading it. I feel certain that my mentor will require a finalised copy which is something to consider throughout the whole task.
The lecture also discussed the limitations of the project and how far the project can be taken with the goal that has been devised. Knowing when to stop and being able to control the focus of the project is paramount as it can get side-tracked, therefore data collected would be on the incorrect topic for the purpose of the goal.
The workshop was also very interesting as we delved deeper into ourselves as professional communicators. We discussed the situational context of our projects and how this would be described in the analysis part of our proposals. I found our group to be particular useful in the way we discuss things and engage with each other. There is an ease in discussions when the participants are able to communicate with each on a personal level as well. The issue I have found with this though is that going off task occurs frequently and interruptions happen often as we realise no-one will become offended easily. I am guilty of interruptions and need to realise this, as in a professional context it can offend very easily. During discussions I find it extremely difficult to sit back and not say anything if an idea has come to mind. I need to be patient and wait for the speaker to finish first.
We were also introduced to a ‘diigo’ which is a social bookmarking website. It is a fantastic tool to allow you to bookmark all your journal articles, books, websites etc and share them in a professional community.
Project development
Looking through the questions I believe in this early development stage some of these questions can’t be answered yet. The main development this week is the learning curve I have been on through Google Sites and how to develop a website. The work involved is astounding. I am glad there are tools and resources available to me that make my life easier to navigate.
This week’s focus:
• Answer at least 2 of previous blog post questions
• Start on video tutorials
• Start on questions for questionnaires (teachers & students)
My feelings on this project are positive currently and I don’t believe I am trying to achieve to much as I want the school to have good recommendations when I finish my report. I do realise that this is a complicated process and that it can be very daunting for many people. There does seem to be a running theme of negativity towards this whole semester which has been generated, I believe, through lack of understanding of the subjects, confusion of the tasks and a non-proactive approach to learning for the last semester. I find it frustrating that my peers are unable to grasp the necessary concepts that have been engaged in the first two weeks. A sense of panic has overcome the cohort leaving them unable to comprehend how to engage with the structure of the tasks ahead. I feel it is necessary for me to assist and help any of my peers who are unable to understand the current situation. Although this is becoming increasingly difficult as there seems to be confusion at every turn. This is all I can say on the subject for now. I only hope it improves over the next few weeks.
Thank you
Al
The lecture was good and held some more interesting points about the teacher as a researcher and how we need to have our own guiding principles as well as abide by the code of conduct that is imposed by our employer. It also discussed the ethical implications when taking on a research project and who will eventually read that publication or report. Who will it affect? How will it affect them? What confidentiality do you need to think about when engaging in a project? These questions amongst others where interesting, as it is important to realise who I am going to be using my project for and who will be reading it. I feel certain that my mentor will require a finalised copy which is something to consider throughout the whole task.
The lecture also discussed the limitations of the project and how far the project can be taken with the goal that has been devised. Knowing when to stop and being able to control the focus of the project is paramount as it can get side-tracked, therefore data collected would be on the incorrect topic for the purpose of the goal.
The workshop was also very interesting as we delved deeper into ourselves as professional communicators. We discussed the situational context of our projects and how this would be described in the analysis part of our proposals. I found our group to be particular useful in the way we discuss things and engage with each other. There is an ease in discussions when the participants are able to communicate with each on a personal level as well. The issue I have found with this though is that going off task occurs frequently and interruptions happen often as we realise no-one will become offended easily. I am guilty of interruptions and need to realise this, as in a professional context it can offend very easily. During discussions I find it extremely difficult to sit back and not say anything if an idea has come to mind. I need to be patient and wait for the speaker to finish first.
We were also introduced to a ‘diigo’ which is a social bookmarking website. It is a fantastic tool to allow you to bookmark all your journal articles, books, websites etc and share them in a professional community.
Project development
Looking through the questions I believe in this early development stage some of these questions can’t be answered yet. The main development this week is the learning curve I have been on through Google Sites and how to develop a website. The work involved is astounding. I am glad there are tools and resources available to me that make my life easier to navigate.
This week’s focus:
• Answer at least 2 of previous blog post questions
• Start on video tutorials
• Start on questions for questionnaires (teachers & students)
My feelings on this project are positive currently and I don’t believe I am trying to achieve to much as I want the school to have good recommendations when I finish my report. I do realise that this is a complicated process and that it can be very daunting for many people. There does seem to be a running theme of negativity towards this whole semester which has been generated, I believe, through lack of understanding of the subjects, confusion of the tasks and a non-proactive approach to learning for the last semester. I find it frustrating that my peers are unable to grasp the necessary concepts that have been engaged in the first two weeks. A sense of panic has overcome the cohort leaving them unable to comprehend how to engage with the structure of the tasks ahead. I feel it is necessary for me to assist and help any of my peers who are unable to understand the current situation. Although this is becoming increasingly difficult as there seems to be confusion at every turn. This is all I can say on the subject for now. I only hope it improves over the next few weeks.
Thank you
Al
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Week one - Internship project & workshops
Another semester begins! This is the final one for most of my colleagues that I have spent the last three years with. Many of them will be offered positions in the next 6/7 months as a qualified educator. I on the other hand still have one more semester to complete.
As part of these final subjects we all have an internship to finish over a six week period teaching in a school of a choice. During that time we need to engage in a research project of some kind. This project needs to be of benefit and use to the educational institution that we are working in. The purpose of this blog is to show the thought processes behind the creation of the internship project. In addition to this it will monitor the progress of the project and give reflective insights into any changes that may occur along the way.
This week
The lecture was about the teacher as a researcher and how we are always going to be learning. We now need to be in the frame of mind that this is who we are now as we move from student to teacher. I realise that this point of my teaching career is only the beginning as I will be learning every day in the classroom I am teaching in.
Our workshops created good debate as we were discussing our abilities with communication skills. In particular within learning communities and in a professional context. Having completed a Myer-Briggs test to show our personal style. My results were:
E - Extrovert
N - Intuition
F - Feeling
J/P - Judging or Perceiving
The description for ENFJ or ENFP were both very close to my personality.
Internship project
The initial idea for my project is to create a computer club at my school. I have already received permission from the appropriate departments within the school to do this. The next step in the process is what do I actually want to achieve from a compute club. I already have a list of unanswered questions:
Do I want it to continue after I have left the school? How and by whom?
What standard of computer literacy do I want to achieve with the students?
What do I think they need to learn?
What do other educators, parents and the students themselves think they need to learn?
How am I going to find this out?
What benefit will this give to the students overall learning?
How am I going to show progress and collect data on improvements to students computer literacy?
Am I going to get other people involved? e.g experts, parents, other teachers etc
All these questions need to be answered in the early stages of planning as they define how the project will work and evolve. I hopefully will have some answers shortly.
Thank You
Alun
As part of these final subjects we all have an internship to finish over a six week period teaching in a school of a choice. During that time we need to engage in a research project of some kind. This project needs to be of benefit and use to the educational institution that we are working in. The purpose of this blog is to show the thought processes behind the creation of the internship project. In addition to this it will monitor the progress of the project and give reflective insights into any changes that may occur along the way.
This week
The lecture was about the teacher as a researcher and how we are always going to be learning. We now need to be in the frame of mind that this is who we are now as we move from student to teacher. I realise that this point of my teaching career is only the beginning as I will be learning every day in the classroom I am teaching in.
Our workshops created good debate as we were discussing our abilities with communication skills. In particular within learning communities and in a professional context. Having completed a Myer-Briggs test to show our personal style. My results were:
E - Extrovert
N - Intuition
F - Feeling
J/P - Judging or Perceiving
The description for ENFJ or ENFP were both very close to my personality.
Internship project
The initial idea for my project is to create a computer club at my school. I have already received permission from the appropriate departments within the school to do this. The next step in the process is what do I actually want to achieve from a compute club. I already have a list of unanswered questions:
Do I want it to continue after I have left the school? How and by whom?
What standard of computer literacy do I want to achieve with the students?
What do I think they need to learn?
What do other educators, parents and the students themselves think they need to learn?
How am I going to find this out?
What benefit will this give to the students overall learning?
How am I going to show progress and collect data on improvements to students computer literacy?
Am I going to get other people involved? e.g experts, parents, other teachers etc
All these questions need to be answered in the early stages of planning as they define how the project will work and evolve. I hopefully will have some answers shortly.
Thank You
Alun
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