Rection 10 EME 2040

I have learned many things in this class. One of the many things that I have learned in this class is a lesson plan is an extremely important tool in a teacher’s arsenal. What a lesson plan does is acts as a guide for what you want to teach the students. It outlines everything step and everything that you want done during the lesson. I feel that this is a tool that makes the difficult job of educating the next generation a lot less difficult. When the professor first introduced us to lesson planning I was amazed on much planning it takes to create a lesson plan. A good lesson plan takes time and effort to do. It is not something that is thrown together on the fly. Many times educators research other lesson plans and try to look at research that proves a particular lesson works. A lesson plan is immensely detailed and through and it has to be in order for it to be effective. There is also not just one type of lesson plan. In this class we went over three distinct types of lesson plans. These lesson plans are the Behaviorist, Constructivist, and Transpersonal lesson plan. These lesson plans are different in style and approach but they have proven to be effective. The main focus of these lesson plans are to educate students and have them be able to use what they have learned in the future.
Something else extremely important that was learned in this class is the use of technology. Technology is another important tool in the classroom. Technology can help the students better understand the lesson. When we were creating our lesson plans we used technology. Technology has made learning more accessible and easy for both educators and students. If students need help with an assignment, the internet which has a wealth of information is at their finger tips. Teachers and students can send emails to one another and there is even virtual school. This has become an important part of education and as technology grows, so will our use of technology in the classroom. As important as technology has proven to be in the classroom, we must still be mindful of it. The internet is full of material and some of it is inappropriate or full of false information. It is the responsibility of educators and students to make sure they use reputable sites.

Reflection 9 EME 2040

Technology is extremely important. Technology moves society forward and drives us to create new ideas and make existing circumstances better. Technology makes life easier and can help expand our knowledge. Technology opens windows to new ways of learning and helps students learn in ways. Technology aids everyone from the work place to daily life. It aids teachers in the classroom and helps them reach students in ways never thought to be possible. Technology has proven to be vital in society and the advancement of society. We need technology for many reasons and this reflection cannot begin to express all the reasons that technology is needed.
With all of this being said technology plays a pivotal role in the classroom. In the lesson plans that had to be created for this class we had to find resources for which we were going to use to aid us in the teaching of the lesson. In many cases we choose videos. In these cases we used technology. We also had to have the students do an assignment. The assignment that I had the do was one in which they had to do research on a particular topic. The students were to use the internet or any other resources which was in the class. Technology was to be used for this assignment. One of the resources that I found was a game which helped the children with multiplication. This is another example in which technology has been used in the classroom. This resources and learning aids were invaluable to the absorption of what I wanted the students to learn. Technology helps the students learn by different means which I feel is beneficial. I feel that this is beneficial because it creates an environment where knowledge is readily available. In the past, in order for students to do a research project, they would have to spend long hours in the library searching for books on the topic that particular topic. Technology has made this process much shorter and easier. This process has been made this way by the internet. Using the internet you can search for specific subjects and topics and find a multitude of information on this subject. As stated earlier in this reflection you can use technology to help students who may need extra help. You can refer students to websites and programs that can help them in areas where they lack.

Reflection 8 EME 2040

I believe that a Philosophy of Education is extremely important for every person to have. As an educator, a philosophy of education is imperative. I believe this because I know that this will guide me in my teaching endeavors. It will also help me guide the students in their future endeavors in a way that I hope is positive. I also believe that your education philosophy should reflect on yourself and the students that you will be interacting with.
My personal educational philosophy is to help a child become the best students and person as possible. As an educator it will be my duty to do whatever I can to assist the students in my care to become the best students they can be. I am well aware that this will be something that is extremely challenging because every child is different and every child learns differently. I am also aware that students are going through different situations in their personal life that may have an impact on their learning. As an educator I must recognize these signs and find a way to work with the student so he or she can learn as much as possible. I feel that students learning as much as possible is extremely important because everyone knows that knowledge is power. Also, knowledge is success. We see example of this everyday in our lives. One such example is the current president of the United States, Barack Obama. Everyone knows how much education that he has and everyone knows that he could not get to where he is now with an education at his side. Our current president is living proof that a good education is imperative.
The example I gave has proven that education can change our lives for the better but with an education you can change the lives of the people around you also for the better. What I mean by changing the lives of people around is becoming a good influence on the people around. One thing that I have realized is the people in our lives have a great influence on us. Education is important to me because it was and still is very important in my household. Also with an education you can have a better job and with a good job comes money. I feel that money is not the main reason why an education is important but money is obviously immensely important. To get to my point, with money comes the opportunity to take care of the people around you, i.e. your children, parents, and anyone else who are important in your life. Individuals with master’s degrees make $1.3 million more than individuals with a high school diploma (US Census Bureau, 2010). Also, as we all know, most jobs no longer hire people unless they have a high school diploma or GED.
The second half of my educational philosophy is just as important as the first have. As an educator it is my duty to do whatever I can to make the student the best person he or she can be. As we discussed earlier in class teachers are also therapist, social workers, and friends. As educators we must look at for signs of abuse or distress. If possible we must help the student with council or any other way possible. This help may teach them to deal with problems and help them grow. Also, we must equip students with reasoning skills and problem solving skills that they will be able to use throughout their lives. We also must set an example of what a moral, rational, and ethical person can be.
As educators we are privileged to have an impact on student lives. We have the honor of guiding students at a particular point in their lives. We have great influence on their educational experience so this cannot be taken lightly. We have the opportunity to shape their lives and how they feel about school. I will try to illicit the best out of my students so they can become successful student and successful adults.

Reflection 7 EME 2040

There are many tools that we use today in education and learning. One of the great tools of today is technology. In the technological age of today we must incorporate technology in education. I am happy to be witness to technology being an important faction of learning. The computer and the internet is an extremely important part of learning today. There are programs on the computer that can aid in understanding and learning. There are countless resources on the internet that helps us understand everything in education and learning and has changed the way we learn. One important technological tool that can be used in learning today is the Digital Story.
In class we have just went over what a Digital Story is and how it is done. The program that is used to create a Digital Story is Photo Story 3. I would have to say that the program is an extremely effective and efficient tool to use in education. It also directly relates to the EME 2040 class because it integrates technology into education and learning. I would say that a digital story is a story with pictures that relates to learning and education. A digital story can be used for many things. It can be used to teach a lesson to students or to convey a message. It can also be used in the way that we are using it in this class; as an assignment. Digital story always have an explicit topic and of course, there always is a story. The topic of the digital story that must be completed is Why technology is important in grades K-12. I would say that this is a fitting topic because as explained earlier in this paper, technology is an important part of education. It teaches and reaches students in different ways. I also feel that technology is important because it familiarizes students with technology that they will use later in life. I don’t see a better way to convey this message without using technology. We are explaining the importance of technology using technology. As a student, assignments such as this also enhanced my understanding of the subject matter. If I had to do an assignment where the computer and internet research was involved, I always felt that I learned better using these tools.

comments on: for frederico garcia lorca

This poem is about the grief that the author felt at the time of death of Frederico Garcia Lorca, who was the President of Spain at the time of his death. As I found out by the professor he was beaten and killed by hired henchmen of his lover. The grief that he felt at the time of death for Lorca inspired the grief of his own father’s death. He remembered the death and turbulent life of his father. The death of Lorca inspired something else in the author. It showed that someone’s death meant something because of their life. You must remember the way they lived and the things that they have done. In this your grief may be consoled.

Reflection 6 EME 2040

Telecollaborative learning is collaborative learning that involves the use of the internet or email or any type of communication with another class. In the reflection prior to this one I took a look at cooperative and collaborative learning and explained what I believed these types of learning to be and explain what they consist of. I expressed in that reflection how important I believe these types of learning to be. I believe that telecollaborative learning is just as important as the two. One of the articles we are to read discuses how a Canadian classroom did telecollabortive learning with an Israeli classroom. They did this by exchanging emails with one another. The students were to describe what a safe place was to them. Towards the end of the lesson they were to right a poem discussing what a safe place is to them. Because Israel suffers from terrorist attacks they talked about not feeling safe because of these reason. The Canadian students watched a CNN report on the internet regarding these attacks. It would seem by the end of the lesson the Canadian students had a better understanding of what the Israeli students have to deal with and felt empathy for them. They also gained a greater appreciation for their environment which was comparably immensely safer. I believe that if this is the kind of learning and understanding that takes place during telecollaborative learning then it is extremely important.
The learning that takes place in this type of learning is not readily achieved. This type of learning seems to teach understanding of other cultures and people and empathy for others. It also teacher respect for other cultures which is another extremely important factor of life. This type of learning can help a student develop a more diverse point of view because they are listening to the opinions and ideas of students who have different life experiences then themselves. This is important because we learn to see the world in different ways and from the eyes of a different person which is important. This promotes equality and nonprejudicial behavior. We all know how prejudice and inequality has harmed us in the past and is continuing to harm us today. Another reason that I am a fan of this type of learning is because it involves technology which has become an important tool in student learning.

Reflection 5 EME 2040

How do you feel about working in groups? I am always weary about working. I feel this way because usually when I am in a group certain things take place that I am not too keen on. One of those things are Group think, which is the group taking on one idea to avoid conflict or to get things done within a group. Another is it usually seems one person does the brunt of the work which I feel is never fair. Oh yea, there is always someone who does the least amount of work or nothing at all. Also, there is always someone that proclaims them self the leader either implicitly or explicitly. One other thing that usually leaves a bad taste in my mouth about groups is a usually always feel that I could have done the assignment much better all by myself.
With all these negative things being said about groups, I have had many immensely positive experiences in groups. Some of these experiences had lead to better self confidence because in a group I was forced to speak up. Another was I have learned to work with other people. Learning to work with others has lead to me gain conflict resolution skills. These are a few aspects and skills learned with cooperative and collaborative learning. Cooperative learning involves students working together to complete an assignment. Collaborative learning is a kind of cooperative learning that involves students working on an activity in small groups. These individuals are nose-to-nose and each person in responsible for their share of the work and the work of the entire group is important as well. The enfaces are on small groups because this provides an opportunity for students to use their strengths and work on their shortcomings. This happens because small groups give each student the chance to express their opinions and ideas more easily. I am not a big fan of working in groups but I do understand how important working in groups is. Working in groups develops interpersonal skills, which everyone knows are extremely important to have. Interpersonal skills will help you not only academically but through life as well. These small groups also enable respect to be afforded to everyone in the group. If everyone in the group feels respect then learning will take place more easily and effectively.

Comments on: for black arthur blythe

This poem is paying homage to the life and music of Arthur Blythe. He was a jazz saxophonist. The author talks about the way Blythe’s music sounded. It was a compilation of the types of jazz from Ragtime to Cool jazz. He was able to take these jazz styles and make them into something new, something that was his own. The author says that his music almost seemed to be improve. It may have seemed this way because the way he changed the melody of the music to fit better suit him. In his music he was free because his music was authentically him.

Comments on: we cannot but chuse to hear

The oil spill in BP seems to be getting worse by the second. The solutions are limited but the devastation is limitless. Not only is this disaster devastating at the moment but the long terms affect are devastating as well. As we all see on television the animals are covered in a brown, thick, mud like substance. We all see this same strange substance washing up on the shores of beaches and layered on the seafloor.
We as a human race have to release that we must protect nature but instead we have been doing the exact opposite. It is high time that we learn that we have a duty to protect nature and the earth. We have failed at this because of greed. The greed that consumes us is profit. We do any and everything to make a profit but look at where it has gotten us. We are in a recession and have the worst environmental disaster in history.

Reflection 4 EME 2040

How do you learn? Do you learn by listening intently to what is said by the teacher or do you learn better when you see how something is done? How do you understand? Do you understand better when you listen to the teacher intently or when you are involved in the lesson? Being involved in the lesson is the corner stone of Inquiry-based learning. The purpose of this kind of learning is to get the students to understand and there has been research to support that students understand better when there are involved in the activity. We all know that students learn in different ways and as educators we must recognize the different ways students learn and accommodate them but I believe this is an effective way to learn. The traditional way that students are taught is as follows: we listen to the teacher speak and listen and write down notes. We may not understand something but we just do it or memorize it the way that the teacher has told us. For many students this is an extremely effective way to learn but I believe that this method is not so effective in getting students to understand the material. Inquiry-based learning encourages asking questions and hands on activities.
The article suggest that we are natural inquires. He gives examples of babies interacting with their environment to better understand. It is true that babies do this to better understand their environment so the author suggests that this is the natural way that we learn but traditional does not have us learn this way. Inquiry-based learning teaches us in this fashion. In this method of learning we do not try to seek an answer to the problem but try to find a solution to the problem. There may also be many different ways that we can do this.
In my experience this has been an extremely effective way for me to learn. I have always been the kind of student to ask many questions. It has never been enough for me to listen to information but I also had to understand why it was this way. When I was involved in an activity I understood it even more. I can understand night and day when I understand that the Earth tilts away from the Sun during the night. I believe the basis of learning is understanding and if we understand then we learn.

Reflection 3 EME 2040

In this class we are learning about different lesson plans. In this reflection I will give my opinion on the Constructivist Lesson Plan. This type of lesson plan consists of six parts and its goal is to invoke planning and contemplation in regards to the way that students learn. This is extremely important because in order to teach we must understand the way students learn. We all know that students learn in many different ways and this type of lesson plan address the different ways students learn. This type of lesson plan is effective because it accommodates every student and promotes a learning environment. The six parts of this lesson plan are Situation, Groupings, Bridge, Questions, Exhibit, and Reflections. All of these steps are equally important and different of one another but are codependent of one another. Each part works as a team to bring the most out of the student and help the student learn. In this type of lesson plan a situation must be created in which you create questions that may be asked from the students and what is expected from the students. The students are also broken up into groups and the material also. The educator is the one who decides how this is happened and in how many groups. You must also devise a way to test the prior knowledge of the students and incorporate that into the lesson. I believe the grouping portion promotes peer learning. It is known that students learn well when they are taught with other students. Also, peer interaction is extremely important in the growth of the student.. You will also ask the students questions in order to better enhance their understanding of the lesson and to enhance the other elements of the lesson plan. The students must also explain how they felt about the lesson and explain what they got out of the lesson. This enables the students to use critical thinking skills which we all know are extremely important. Critical thinking skills are imperative to solve real world problems throughout life. You also want the students to explain what they will most remember about the lesson and how they can apply to real life. This aids the students in understanding the material and enables the students to get the most out of the lesson.

Comments on: a different sort of mule

This poem addressed some comments that Governor Jan Brewer made about the illegal immigrants migrating to Arizona. She had that for the most part; mainly drug mules are coming into Arizona. The author of this poem feels that this kind of thinking is from the inherent belief that whites feel that they are superior to all races. He feels that it was inappropriate for her to make this assumption but it was not surprising. The author feels that because whites have portrayed a belief of superiority among all races it gives them the privilege to make degrading comments such as the ones made by the Governor. He feels that this kind of thinking does not separate the whites from the drug mules. In fact he believes it connects them. This happens because they are smuggling ideas of those that came before. Ideas of prejudice and injustice witch have proven to be detrimental to society.

Reflection 2 EME 2040

In the first Reflection I talked about how important a lesson plan is. We know that it is guided by our educational philosophy and it helps us organize what we will be teaching our students. The two types of lesson plans that I will be comparing today is the Behavior Lesson Plan and the Constructivist Lesson Plan. These types of lesson plans have their similarities and their differences. The Behaviorist lesson plan was developed by Madeline Hunter through years of research while she was at UCLA. This lesson plan consists of eight steps. I believe the overall goal of this type of lesson is plan is to make sure the students learn effectively. The second type of lesson plan is Constructivist. This consists of six steps and I believe the overall goal of this lesson plan is to invoke thought and learning about student learning and to invoke thought and learning within the students. This lesson plan has been modified many times over the years.
Both of these lesson plans seem to be effective. They both have been scientifically studied and proven to work for teachers and students. I believe that the lesson plan that will be best for the students depends on the type of students you have. If you have students who you want to effectively grasp the material and you want to make sure they are absorbing the information that is given to them, then you want to use the Behaviorist Lesson plan. On the other hand if you want to develop critical thinkers and want your students to learn how to function in groups then the Constructivist lesson plan is the way to go. In my classroom I will try my best to use a combination of both because I believe that they both are equally effective. It is important for students for students to grasp the information and are able to use the newly acquired information but it is also important for the students to think critically and work in groups. We must also remember that both of these lesson plans have outcomes which should be addressed in the beginning of the lesson. In the Behaviorist it is called the Purpose and in the Constructivist it is called the Situation. These are similar in that they both address what the students will learn from the lesson and why the lesson is important.

Reflection 1 EME 2040

A lesson plan is an extremely important tool in the teaching arsenal of an educator. The reason that lesson plans are extremely important is because it guides educators on what needs to be taught and how. Educators may often deviate from lesson plans but this is not a problem as long as learning takes place. Before I was an educator I figured out that a lesson plan is something that is imperative to a teacher. I have been in many classes where the educator was teaching with a lesson plan and teaching off the cuff. There was a great difference in the classrooms. The teacher with a lesson plan was more organized and was better equipped to deal with incoming questions from students. The teacher that did not have a lesson plan had many pauses between teaching and the lesson seemed to be everywhere. As a student this was irritating because it was difficult to retain information and hard to find questions to ask that would make me understand the subject matter better. On the other hand, the teacher with a lesson plan made the information interesting and easy to grasp. The lesson itself answered many questions that I had and the teacher seemed prepared to answer questions from the students.
One definition for a lesson plan is an educator’s outline of what will be taught. A lesson plan is to correspond with the educator’s philosophy of education. What this means is the lesson plan is to be relevant to whatever you feel the most important element of education is. I believe this is extremely important because many times an educator’s philosophy of education consists of more than learning. Many times they consist of life lesson and transcending morals which also teaches students.
Another definition I found said that a lesson plan was nothing more than a document used by a teacher to teach a subject. I believe that lessons plans are much more than this. They are much more than mere pieces of papers that teachers use to teach. It is said that creating a lesson plan is more difficult than the actual lesson itself. With this being said it must take an immense amount of time and thought to create a lesson plan. Lesson plans incorporate the subject, the time needed for the lesson, the objectives, and many more aspects that will help them and the students.

Reflection 1 EME 2040

A lesson plan is an extremely important tool in the teaching arsenal of an educator. The reason that lesson plans are extremely important is because it guides educators on what needs to be taught and how. Educators may often deviate from lesson plans but this is not a problem as long as learning takes place. Before I was an educator I figured out that a lesson plan is something that is imperative to a teacher. I have been in many classes where the educator was teaching with a lesson plan and teaching off the cuff. There was a great difference in the classrooms. The teacher with a lesson plan was more organized and was better equipped to deal with incoming questions from students. The teacher that did not have a lesson plan had many pauses between teaching and the lesson seemed to be everywhere. As a student this was irritating because it was difficult to retain information and hard to find questions to ask that would make me understand the subject matter better. On the other hand, the teacher with a lesson plan made the information interesting and easy to grasp. The lesson itself answered many questions that I had and the teacher seemed prepared to answer questions from the students.
One definition for a lesson plan is an educator’s outline of what will be taught. A lesson plan is to correspond with the educator’s philosophy of education. What this means is the lesson plan is to be relevant to whatever you feel the most important element of education is. I believe this is extremely important because many times an educator’s philosophy of education consists of more than learning. Many times they consist of life lesson and transcending morals which also teaches students.
Another definition I found said that a lesson plan was nothing more than a document used by a teacher to teach a subject. I believe that lessons plans are much more than this. They are much more than mere pieces of papers that teachers use to teach. It is said that creating a lesson plan is more difficult than the actual lesson itself. With this being said it must take an immense amount of time and thought to create a lesson plan. Lesson plans incorporate the subject, the time needed for the lesson, the objectives, and many more aspects that will help them and the students.

Comments on: sketches of cité soleil

This poem is talking about the state of Haiti; past and future. This poem addresses how Haiti was taken advantage of in the past and the internal corruption of the country. He talked about how Haiti had to pay France in order to remain a free country. This was a treaty written by the U.S. He also talks about how the U.S. sells cheap goods to the Haitians which has flood their markets. These goods were also cultivated in Haiti and sold back to the Haitian people. He also talks about the violence and rape going on in Haiti. This violence has been going on for many years but has become worse because of the recent earthquake. Haiti is in an extremely bad state but he talks about how there is hope for the country.

Comments on:we cannot but chuse to hear

The oil spill in BP seems to be getting worse by the second. The solutions are limited but the devastation is limitless. Not only is this disaster devastating at the moment but the long terms affect are devastating as well. As we all see on television the animals are covered in a brown, thick, mud like substance. We all see this same strange substance washing up on the shores of beaches and layered on the seafloor.
We as a human race have to release that we must protect nature but instead we have been doing the exact opposite. It is high time that we learn that we have a duty to protect nature and the earth. We have failed at this because of greed. The greed that consumes us is profit. We do any and everything to make a profit but look at where it has gotten us. We are in a recession and have the worst environmental disaster in history.

Comments on: fix the shading on the cildren's faces

“We have come so far.” That is what many people say but instances such as this proves that we have a long way to go. Racism and prejudice occasionally rears its head and shows the true nature of society. An artist was hired to paint a mural on the school wall that was supposed to depict green transportation but when the boy on the mural was too dark the community needed it to be changed. Racial slurs were thrown out and showed how people really felt. This situation proves that racism, prejudice, and classism is alive in well. I agree that we have come far but we still have a long way to go. If the people who wanted this mural changed look at the real reason they wanted it changed, they would be disgusted with themselves.

Assignment #2.9

Many people do not like politics but politics are very important for us to understand. I must admit that politics are extremely confusing but I do my best to try to stay as informed as possible. I do my best to stay informed because many times politics direct affect me. This political season is even more important than others because of the recession. One thing I know for sure is that the recession affects everyone.
The questions that were given in the survey were important. I feel that they had issues that are relevant to what is going on today. I feel that the most important concern for Americans today is the recession. Many Americans, just like I am, are worried about their money and if they will have any in the near future. I am going into the teaching field and I know in Miami-Dade county there is a hiring freeze even though there is a shortage of teachers. This may mean that I will probably have to go to another city or state to find a job if the recession does not get any better.
Another concern many Americans have is government regulation. Many people feel that currently there is too much government regulation. I feel that at the moment all of this government regulation is necessary. The reason I feel this way is because what got us into this mess was little government regulation and now the government needs to step up and look out for the Americans best interest. It seems that President Obama is different from all other politicians because he seems sincere, which is exactly the kind of leader America needs right now.

Assignment #2.8

An educational philosophy is extremely important to have. It helps guide you through the journey of an educator. In my EDF 1005 class the professor expressed to us that every educator must have an educational philosophy. I could not agree with her more. I will explore why this is important.
My education philosophy is in line with that of Reconstructionism. I believe that education should focus on the students but at the same time reconstructing society into a better place. It is obvious that educational system is having problems. I believe that this system has to be changed first and then we can begin focusing on aiding the children reconstructing society. When the curriculum is changed and the way funds are allocated is changed, educators will be able to work on teaching children ethics and morals that do not conflict with their beliefs of course.
My personal educational philosophy is educators must help students become the best students and individuals as possible. We create great students by catering to the different ways that students learn and creating a constructive learning environment. We must prove to the students that learning is fun and everyone deserves the chance to learn. We create great individuals by teaching them morals through our actions. Educators must remember that there are different cultures in each class so we must be successful.