Go Broncos!!! Well my schedule will have to stay crammed for one more week as we managed to take Sectionals and are now on our way to the State Tournament. Hopefully, the delay in my relaxation time will be rewarded with a good showing at Madison but for right now I'm just really proud of my girls.
As for this week's class, I found the game to be very interesting and fun but at the same time very frustrating. I didn't really fully understand the way we were going or what the problem was that we were trying to solve and this made creating a plan of attack very difficult. With that being said, I think the experience really highlighted a lot of the problems that our Administrators face when implementing change as well as the difficulties we will face in the future as we try to implement change. The time constraints seemed to be very accurate as change seems to take forever. In addition, the feeling of not knowing who is going to get on board and who isn't seemed to very accurate to me because everyone has their own agendas and you can never really fully predict who is going to come along and who isn't.
I look forward to round two of this experiment and hope that a better sense of what is going on will help alleviate some of the feelings of frustration. In the end I think that this whole process will lead to a better understanding of how exactly to approach change in the future.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
CEDO 565 Week 3
Whoever decided that it would be a great idea for me to complete my Master's while also serving as a Union Rep and Head Coach of a very successful softball team should be shot. Oh wait, that someone was me! Ok so maybe not shot just severely beaten. I apologize to all for the tardiness of this post but right now there are so many other issues that are taking precedence that there isn't enough hours in the day to do everything. With that being said, I just keep telling myself that in 4 short days things will die down tremendously, and hopefully in 2 weeks the softball season will be over and hopefully not before that 2 weeks because that will mean we will be bringing home another State Championship!
Now that I've got my venting out of the way I will get to the real reason I'm posting here. Week 3 Work! I must admit that I felt Week 3's work was a little repetitive for me because I feel that one thing that I do really well in life is understand the leadership role and it's implementation. Because of my position in life and the experiences I've had, I feel I really understand systems and how they operate and how they are beneficial to success of a whole. I think this is one reason that my softball teams have been tremendously successful and I also believe it is the biggest reason that I have been successful in the classroom.
One thing that I did find really interesting though was the tune in and mindset information. I always felt that I didn't necessarily fit-in with my age bracket and that my personality matched up better with people who were older than me but this really cemented my belief in that. I have always been someone who liked older music, things done hands on my way, and internalized things and applied them with a realization of the affects of the whole rather than the individual. I also have always been someone that once I decide to do something it is going to get done no matter what. I may want to switch or do something else but my personality won't let me move on to anything else until that task is completed. I know I also have some characteristics that fit my age group as well like my desire for acceptance and to be patted on the back as well as my affinity for new technologies and new methods. With that being said, however, I feel I better fit in the Gen X'rs than I do the Millenials.
Now that I've got my venting out of the way I will get to the real reason I'm posting here. Week 3 Work! I must admit that I felt Week 3's work was a little repetitive for me because I feel that one thing that I do really well in life is understand the leadership role and it's implementation. Because of my position in life and the experiences I've had, I feel I really understand systems and how they operate and how they are beneficial to success of a whole. I think this is one reason that my softball teams have been tremendously successful and I also believe it is the biggest reason that I have been successful in the classroom.
One thing that I did find really interesting though was the tune in and mindset information. I always felt that I didn't necessarily fit-in with my age bracket and that my personality matched up better with people who were older than me but this really cemented my belief in that. I have always been someone who liked older music, things done hands on my way, and internalized things and applied them with a realization of the affects of the whole rather than the individual. I also have always been someone that once I decide to do something it is going to get done no matter what. I may want to switch or do something else but my personality won't let me move on to anything else until that task is completed. I know I also have some characteristics that fit my age group as well like my desire for acceptance and to be patted on the back as well as my affinity for new technologies and new methods. With that being said, however, I feel I better fit in the Gen X'rs than I do the Millenials.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
CEDO 565 Week 2
So this week we've been asked to review statistics for our individual schools. I have had to do this in the past for grant applications and I must say that prior to my introduction into the world of education, I never knew that the State kept track of such things. I find it truly amazing all the stuff that the State keeps track of and feel that we as teachers should be required to review these stats more frequently. Every time I look at these stats I learn something new and this really helps to identify just what it is that I'm dealing with in my student body.
I have to admit that I haven't had time yet this week to complete my assignments as we had a rainout, a game, a three game tourny, and my NA test for my dog. I just got home a little while ago and this is my first chance to sit down so I will get on the assignments tonight. I do, however, sincerely look forward to completing these assignments and gaining additional insight into my student population.
I have to admit that I haven't had time yet this week to complete my assignments as we had a rainout, a game, a three game tourny, and my NA test for my dog. I just got home a little while ago and this is my first chance to sit down so I will get on the assignments tonight. I do, however, sincerely look forward to completing these assignments and gaining additional insight into my student population.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
CEDO 565 Week 1
I have to apologize for the tardiness of this post. It's been a hectic week with rain cancellations and makeups, a game last night, and three today. With that being said, I hope this finds you all well and enjoying the rapidly approaching end of the school year. I for one know I can't wait for my schedule to die down.
As for this weeks learning. I find leadership to be an extremely valuable characteristic in our profession. I can't imagine being a teacher and not a leader. I can't believe that one can be a poor leader and a quality teacher because I believe it is our responsibility to lead young people as much as it is to teach them x's and o's. I, myself, work very hard to be a quality leader within my school and I believe that my commitments attest to that. I am the varsity head coach of our softball team, the treasurer for our union, trap shooting advisor, SKILLS USA advisor, chair of our union scholarship committee, and personal advisor for students. I work extremely hard to not only lead by example for my students but also to make myself available at all times to mentor my students. I think my strongest trait as both an educator and an individual is my ability to lead individuals. I have always been this way and I attribute a lot of this to my years in athletics but also my desire to see others accomplish more than I have.
I'm looking forward to learning additional ways I can continue to improve upon my leadership skills and learning how to improve leadership amongst others. I sincerely look forward to seeing where this class takes us and seeing what I can take from this class to improve my own skills and those of my studnets.
As for this weeks learning. I find leadership to be an extremely valuable characteristic in our profession. I can't imagine being a teacher and not a leader. I can't believe that one can be a poor leader and a quality teacher because I believe it is our responsibility to lead young people as much as it is to teach them x's and o's. I, myself, work very hard to be a quality leader within my school and I believe that my commitments attest to that. I am the varsity head coach of our softball team, the treasurer for our union, trap shooting advisor, SKILLS USA advisor, chair of our union scholarship committee, and personal advisor for students. I work extremely hard to not only lead by example for my students but also to make myself available at all times to mentor my students. I think my strongest trait as both an educator and an individual is my ability to lead individuals. I have always been this way and I attribute a lot of this to my years in athletics but also my desire to see others accomplish more than I have.
I'm looking forward to learning additional ways I can continue to improve upon my leadership skills and learning how to improve leadership amongst others. I sincerely look forward to seeing where this class takes us and seeing what I can take from this class to improve my own skills and those of my studnets.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
CEDO 555 Week 5
It's week 5 and another class is nearing the end of the line with me scrambling to try to get caught up from a busy stretch. I finally got my culminating experience proposal written up and off to the Instructors and am now awaiting a response. My proposal consisted of creating screencasts that would link to my Ning and thus allow my instruction to continue on even on days where I am unable to be in the classroom. It was for this reason that I chose to take a Master's in Instructional Technology so I feel it only fitting that this be my culminating experience. Upon entering this program I was quite aware that technology could be of assistance to me in helping me be more prepared and more efficient with my instruction but I didn't have enough experience to figure out just how that would be. This program has given me plenty of insight on different ideas for doing that and this screencast is just one major example of that.
As for my portfolio it coming along slowly but surely. I did in fact have dump the aesthetic appeal of applying pictures and various layout formats as I eluded to in my previous blog, however, I still tried to make it as functional and pretty as I could given my time constraints. I did learn a thing or two about setting things up and linking stuff together but again with the time constraints didn't have enough time to go back and change everything as I didn't figure this out until most of it was already posted. Again as I eluded to in a previous post, I will be going back and making this into a personal portfolio that I can link to my Ning and I can't wait to create a site of my own to represent me as an instructor.
As for my portfolio it coming along slowly but surely. I did in fact have dump the aesthetic appeal of applying pictures and various layout formats as I eluded to in my previous blog, however, I still tried to make it as functional and pretty as I could given my time constraints. I did learn a thing or two about setting things up and linking stuff together but again with the time constraints didn't have enough time to go back and change everything as I didn't figure this out until most of it was already posted. Again as I eluded to in a previous post, I will be going back and making this into a personal portfolio that I can link to my Ning and I can't wait to create a site of my own to represent me as an instructor.
CEDO 555 Week 3
Ok so I'm struggling to find the time to create my portfolio but I have been able to get layout done. Unfortunately I'm affraid at this point in time I'm going to have to abandon my aesthetic's goal and shoot for a grade goal of just accomplishing what is required and getting a grade. I hate this approach but with 13 games in 7 days and this just being midseason with very little end in sight, I don't know what other approach I can take at this point.
The beauty for me is that I totally see the value in a process like this and fully intend to complete this after the class. I'm not going to lie, I will likely change this portfolio to be a personal portfolio rather than a Master's portfolio, however, I love the idea that much of it will already be done for me. I will pry include a lot of my artifacts and class work into my curriculum vitae, and will likely use much of what I learned in looking at other sites to put together what I feel is not only a true representation of who I am as a teacher but also as a person. I can see linking this portfolio to my school website so my students and parents can get a sense of what I have accomplished and who I am outside of the classroom and I feel that this will benefit in the long run. You also never know when you may need something like this and should I be in need of it, I'm sure the time will be stressful enough without having to add the stress of creating a portfolio at that point in time.
As for the site itself, I must admit that I'm not totally comfortable or don't necessarily like the tools and mechanics of the site, however, I'm hoping as I get an opportunity to use them more, they will grow on me. I certainly look forward to the completion of this site and look forward to the completion of my culminating experience and maybe, just maybe, a couple of days where I can relax and take time for me.
The beauty for me is that I totally see the value in a process like this and fully intend to complete this after the class. I'm not going to lie, I will likely change this portfolio to be a personal portfolio rather than a Master's portfolio, however, I love the idea that much of it will already be done for me. I will pry include a lot of my artifacts and class work into my curriculum vitae, and will likely use much of what I learned in looking at other sites to put together what I feel is not only a true representation of who I am as a teacher but also as a person. I can see linking this portfolio to my school website so my students and parents can get a sense of what I have accomplished and who I am outside of the classroom and I feel that this will benefit in the long run. You also never know when you may need something like this and should I be in need of it, I'm sure the time will be stressful enough without having to add the stress of creating a portfolio at that point in time.
As for the site itself, I must admit that I'm not totally comfortable or don't necessarily like the tools and mechanics of the site, however, I'm hoping as I get an opportunity to use them more, they will grow on me. I certainly look forward to the completion of this site and look forward to the completion of my culminating experience and maybe, just maybe, a couple of days where I can relax and take time for me.
Friday, April 9, 2010
CEDO 555 Week 1
I have to first admit that I have been dreading this class for months upon months. It isn't the work that I'm dreading, well in fairness, it is but only because I'm in the beginning of the season when I'm busiest and there is a lot of work required for the class so things are stressful. With that being said, I am truly looking forward to the end results as I fully and completely understand how beneficial the documentation and illustration of my work.
In my first week I researched several different educator's portfolios and I was amazed at the diversity I found. I found many sites that just didn't make much sense to me and didn't really elecit much thought or feeling that these instructors had trully worked hard to demonstrate their skills and their knowledge and it therefore gave the impression that they were not trully great teachers despite the fact that I'm quite sure many of them are. In addition to the negative portfolios I found, I also found many great examples that blew me away. Because of these findings, I have become even more determined to create a quality portfolio of my own. I work very hard to provide my students with quality and meaningful instruction so to drop the ball on my documentation of this and make myself appear to be a subpar teacher makes little to know sense to me.
I look forward to creating a site that not only identifies my passion for teaching but also depicts my students successes in the classroom. I strive for this goal as I am firm believer that with any good instructor their is a certain amount of pride in their own work yet any self-service is secondary to success of our students. I believe that like any good employee we are only as good as our product and as educators our product is dependant upon our ability to reach our students. It is my fullest intent to allow this portfolio to be my documentation of this, my success as an educator.
In my first week I researched several different educator's portfolios and I was amazed at the diversity I found. I found many sites that just didn't make much sense to me and didn't really elecit much thought or feeling that these instructors had trully worked hard to demonstrate their skills and their knowledge and it therefore gave the impression that they were not trully great teachers despite the fact that I'm quite sure many of them are. In addition to the negative portfolios I found, I also found many great examples that blew me away. Because of these findings, I have become even more determined to create a quality portfolio of my own. I work very hard to provide my students with quality and meaningful instruction so to drop the ball on my documentation of this and make myself appear to be a subpar teacher makes little to know sense to me.
I look forward to creating a site that not only identifies my passion for teaching but also depicts my students successes in the classroom. I strive for this goal as I am firm believer that with any good instructor their is a certain amount of pride in their own work yet any self-service is secondary to success of our students. I believe that like any good employee we are only as good as our product and as educators our product is dependant upon our ability to reach our students. It is my fullest intent to allow this portfolio to be my documentation of this, my success as an educator.
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