My Fieldwork Experience was very educational. I had the opportunity to go back to the same fifth grade classroom I observed last year. The teacher and of course the students have changed which was made my observation even more interesting. Last year's teacher was a teacher with many years of experience and this years teacher was a young new teacher. The teaching styles and methods were very different. I won't compare, as I don't think that would be fair to either of them, but I will say, there is definitely something to be said in terms of experience. Not in the quality of teaching, but in the area of classroom management. I can only hope that in my own teaching career, I will be able to obtain good classroom management skill quickly. It makes for a much smoother process and it truly is something that I believe is mastered over time.
Overall, I basically observed the class, but finally got a chance to some hands on, by assisting in the Tech Class when we had the opportunity to try out my Webquest.... The pace in the classroom was very fast. I notice the teacher using mostly the Information Processing Model as his/her means of instruction. I'm not sure if that was because the material had already been taught using the Direct Instruction Model before my observation began, or if that was her teaching preference.
As I said above, I observed for the first couple of days in the classroom. The teacher moved at a very vigorous pace. When we moved to the tech room to introduce my webquest to the fifth grade class I was able to be more involved. This turned out to be an interesting observation. At first, I didn't want to use the quest. This was the first webquest I have ever created and I was nervous. It was a whole new concept for me. I was worried how it would work out. I finally decided to go for it, all or nothing. The tech teacher and I introduced the quest to the fifth grade class and they really enjoyed it! It was very easy for them to navigate through. We found some ways to improve and make the navigation easier for this grade level. When I created the quest originally, I had the links in a separate word attachment. The students had to jump back and forth between the quest, word, and Internet explorer. It was time consuming and difficult for some students. I modified the page and included the link directly on the page, rather than in separate document. It greatly improved the flow of the quest for this grade level. The students enjoyed it! The questions were perfectly aligned with what they were currently learning and it was a fun and exciting way for them to learn. The teacher asked if she could post it on the school website to use it again. This was a great feeling and sense of accomplishment.
Winding down from this semester and reflecting on what I have learned, I have to say this semester was a semester of "firsts" for me. I have grown in the area of technology more than I would have imagined in a semester. I created my first Blog which you are a witnessing first hand. I learned what a PBWIKI is! I created my first Webquest, and my first Treasure Hunt. I completed a SmartBoard class, which has encouraged me to continue to practice, so I can us it in my own classroom. It's definitely the way of the future. Beside the technological knowledge I acquired, academically, I wrote my first lesson plan, and then three more followed.
When I list what I have learned it seems like a lot of work. Actually it was a lot of work, but it was learning that was enjoyable, intriguing, and interesting. Those feelings for me, only enforce the fact that students will feel the same way when this type of technology are used in the classroom. I have observed over the past couple of years during my field work, how the energy in the classroom increases when technology is being used. Even if it just them creating power point presentations. The learning is elevated.
Winding down from this semester and reflecting on what I have learned, I have to say this semester was a semester of "firsts" for me. I have grown in the area of technology more than I would have imagined in a semester. I created my first Blog which you are a witnessing first hand. I learned what a PBWIKI is! I created my first Webquest, and my first Treasure Hunt. I completed a SmartBoard class, which has encouraged me to continue to practice, so I can us it in my own classroom. It's definitely the way of the future. Beside the technological knowledge I acquired, academically, I wrote my first lesson plan, and then three more followed.
When I list what I have learned it seems like a lot of work. Actually it was a lot of work, but it was learning that was enjoyable, intriguing, and interesting. Those feelings for me, only enforce the fact that students will feel the same way when this type of technology are used in the classroom. I have observed over the past couple of years during my field work, how the energy in the classroom increases when technology is being used. Even if it just them creating power point presentations. The learning is elevated.
I always envisioned a teacher, even myself, teaching using the direct instruction method. I didn't realize there were other methods of teaching. I have learned that a teacher needs to be able to use all three methods of teaching. Personally, I still believe direct instruction is first and foremost especially when introducing new material. But, I have come to understand, during this semester, the importance of incorporating the Information Processing Model and the Social Interactive Model in my curriculum and how they enhance and encourages student higher level thinking and social skills.
This was a fulfilling semester of knowledge and learning and many firsts........
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