Blog Post 6

Part 1
Hello out there!  This blog is going to take a look at inquiry learning and what it means in the classroom.  My definition of inquiry learning is the following:  teachers providing pathways of learning to students who are taking ownership of their own learning in terms of a particular concept.  Teachers provide learning opportunities to students who create/discover their own pathways to learning desired material about a particular concept and students use technology to enhance the learning.  As a science teacher, inquiry is the foundation of what scientists do to discover knowledge about things.  You might have heard of scientific inquiry.  This is a discovery process that uncovers all sorts of valuable information.  In my own classroom I am trying to do as Grant Wiggins writes in the article "Great Teaching Means Letting Go".  I am trying to provide the students with a great hook to get them excited with a concept, then having them research what it is they need to complete the activity, and then coming in at the end to see how the students did.  Were they able to find enough important information to complete the task?  If not I can come in and help them fill in the parts they are missing.  I have told the students for years that if they create or find something on there own, it means more to them than if I just tell them about.  They certainly retain more if with this type of learning.

Part 2

My mini unit will be done on either cells or human body systems.  I am not completely sure which one yet but I do know what types of things I want to accomplish with the students.  I have been teaching Life Science for a couple of years and these two topics are very important in what we do.  Usually students make strong connections with these topics because they both are important to growth, health, and well being.  In either case I would provide the students with multiple avenues for discovering materials and knowledge to develop on their on a product that would display their knowledge and learning on a particular concept.  With cells, I have students research the cell organelles through various websites, digital lectures, and other means to create a Prezi based on the topic.  Human Body Systems I divide the classroom up into groups and give each group a body system to research.  After the completion of the research, we have mini-debates within the groups as to which systems is more important to the body and why.  These type of activities where students are actively engaged in research and learning provide them with deep knowledge of the content.  This is further developed when they summarize and share their ideas with others.  Technology engages the students as well as allowing them to research concepts outside of the classroom if needed.  The internet provides the class with many pathways of learning as well.

Blog Post 5: Revisiting your personal learning goals with a focus on mindset, net-savviness, and diversity (the filter bubble)

I think that  the goals I set for myself in week one are coming along nicely.  My goals were as follows:

• How to implement technology into the classroom and increase student technological fluency.
• Use this technology to build an inquiry based platform for learning in order to develop a deeper understanding of the concepts.

 Many of the things we have done such as the Google searches, curation activities, blogs, and other tools have helped me in the classroom.  I am beginning to introduce these things into my classroom slowly and the students seem to like it.  We were working on a lesson a couple of days ago and I listed a couple of concepts on the board along with an activity.  The students were instructed  to first research the concepts and write down any questions they might have.  They were also to begin the activity and get as much done before I called time later in the block.  I am happy to report that they did a great job with the Google search techniques we have worked on and they were very successful at completing the given task.  I followed up with them and went over any question that the students had.  This, to me, is what technological fluency is about and the more we build a platform of student learning, the better off we all will be.  I told the students that by you discovering the information, it will mean more to you than me just telling you about it!
In terms of having a growth mindset I really feel like this reflects my own beliefs about many portions of life.  I am not saying that I have always been with this 100% but I have always believed that people can improve and be successful if they have the desire/work ethic to get the job done.  I admit that there are some aspects I have considered fixed, just as many people have, but the growth mindset (even though I did not know what it was) has always been in the back of my mind.  Mostly this applies to sports or games I played when I was growing up.  I have always believed that no matter the sport, there is a method to it and if a person works to emulate successful people, they too can have success at some level.  Working to get better at anything you do is what I have always tried to achieve.  As far as how the growth mindset will help me achieve my own goals in teaching will be to always believe that I can do better.  Keep an open mind and always try to increase the use of technology in my classroom to make my students better.  Never set a limit on what I believe a student can achieve, and talk to my students in more of a growth mindset voice.  Praise the students for the process and effort instead of fixed values such as intelligence.  By applying these characteristics to my own classroom I will be a better teacher and my students will become better learners.  I hope you have enjoyed today's blog.....see you next week.  RR

Blog #4  Letting Go

I really liked ready the article by Grant Wiggins, "Great Teaching Means Letting Go".  His analogy of sports and Soccer really gave me something to think about in terms of teaching in my own classroom.  The style of teaching he mentions in the article where teachers give students autonomy in the learning process is something that is on the rise, but also something that many teachers would have a hard time wrapping their brain around.  I like the concept and I get it.  You want thinkers that can think for themselves and not follow some pre-scripted routine.  I also agree with many of the people in the Chris Lehmann video in terms of teachers becoming more supportive than controlling in the classroom.  Our school is currently being infused with technology and in doing so I am learning that in a world of technology, students have to be motivated enough to take control of their own educational destiny.  We provide them with the tools and framework, then let them go out and build their learning around what we have given them.  They must be provided a supportive atmosphere in order to accomplish this.  Another great thing about this in the classroom is that this provides differentiation for all students involved as they will be searching, posting, creating, and manipulating information on content in their own way.  This is a wonderful concept that will take some time implementing but as teachers we really must learn to "Let Go".  RR