Technology Education Observation

I had to put on safety glasses first thing. It seems like an extremely important and very enforced rule. The class has created drag cars. Students are working independently, in groups, and with assistance of their teacher. The tasks are varied. Some are painting, some are racing their drag cars, and some are sanding and cutting new apparatuses for their work. I noticed that the students are welcomed to ask questions and I am a firm believer in that!

The students' work was very creative and appealing. They seemed to hold a sense of pride about their work. They are very capable at this 7th grade level to follow printed directions without assistance.

Speaking with their teacher, Mr. Kinner, he told me that they had worked on a computer application and they had drawn their cars before using the machines in the lab. They had also had safety awareness lessons prior to entering the work stations in the lab.

The students seemed very relaxed and proficient at using drill presses, saws, and sanders. I think it is great that they are this fortunate to have this class with such an adept teacher.

I am going to think how these students can benefit additionally from the media center and media specialists regarding this class. Maybe if the students found books in the media center that would aid them in drawing, painting, constructing, or racing these vehicles. I know the technological aspect can be accomplished since the classroom is loaded with computers. I think books might add something to this class.

Introductory Physical Science

After spending an entire day observing a science lab, I realized that there were some very valuable techniques that I have seen and applied to a peer's research findings discussed in last night's Methods course.

The teacher for science was incredible in her realm. The students were very interested in the project and I believe it was because she was so confident in them that she let them work on their own. The students are very independent and are always asking questions. Asking questions in this type of introductory class was encouraged. I feel that the students thrived in an environment where everyone was competing for teh teacher's attention. In the collaborative class, there were next to no questions being asked. I feel that since there were half the amount of students in the collaborative class and that the teachers' time was not as scarce as in the other classes that the students were less inclined to ask a question. When the teacher's time was less, the students were more likely to want her attention. When she had too much time to give, they were not as interested in it!

This is at least how it was seen on a middle school level.

To apply the skills learned in the media center, the media specialist can suggest or order books that relate to science, science labs, student situations in a lab, etc. This can also be applied in the media center by researching topics related to the curriculum such as their element research report.

I see value in the media specialists coming into the classroom to see what the students are working on.

I was much better at helping students later in the day when they came to teh media center to graph their scientific data because I knew what they were working on it class.

PowerPoint, Works Consulted, Coordinator Meeting, Media Associates Unite

First thing in the morning, I arrived and prepared some work for the meeting with Internship Coodinator and Professor, Bill Derry. I spoke with the Media Specialists to inform them again of his coming.

I observed Karen's final PowerPoint class. During this class, she quickly reviewed what was accomplished during my lesson. She also showed the students how to cite a picture from the web over WorksConsulted.net. At the end of the class, Karen played the DVD that I brought as a supplement to my lesson which I did not have enough time to play since we accomplished so much. The students had a taste of it on Wenesday with me and were much more receptive to it once they had a second exposure on Friday.

I thought it was good since it opened their eyes to new ideas and it was good that Karen saw this took and elaborated what I had said which leaves a bigger impression on the students when they have two influences on the material. Thus, the benefits of co-teaching are seen.

During the class, I was able to assist some of the students in minor trouble-shooting areas. In computer skills, it is always valuable to have an extra helping hand with tiny issues. If there were aides helping me in my lessons, I would like to speak with them after the class to assess what they felt were the areas where improvement was necessary.

I am glad that my coordinator got to meet my colleagues at Eastern Middle School. I think it brought understanding on both sides.

I was definitely benefited by the meeting, not only to see Media associates unite, but also to go over my work and final project in a much more clear way than through email communication

Lesson Handout, Special Education, and Maintaining Leisure Reading of Students

Following the role of the teacher, the media specialist can have much lesson planning work to do. Creating a handout on a topic that can be conquered verbally in a few minutes can be painstaking.

I tried reading a book to a severely disabled student today. I gave him time and attention and guided my actions to what he was suggesting to me. He uses a Mercury Computer which speaks for him what he touches. He always tells me that he likes folk and jazz music. I would be interested in finding books about folk and jazz music or books that would go with music for him.

Another special education teacher asked me if I would be able to suggest some books to 2 students who are in 6th grade but on a slightly lower reading level. I perused the fiction section and got some ideas. I brought up some titles to the media specialist that I thought might work for the students. She looked up the reading levels.

The one student needed two different books so the media specialist, after finding out who the students were, their level, and what books they have recently read was then able to say that the Peter Abrahams book would work.

I went to the presentation that Peter Abrahams did with students needing special education so I guess I knew that it would be good for them if possible to take what they knew from one situation and transfer it to another. A connection has already been made. The value in author visits can really be beneficial to students and media specialists!

One of the 8th grade boys who comes to the media center for a study hall in place of a language class when I am here tells me that he does not like to read because he is lazy. He told me that he can get A's if he wanted and does get some, but he likes to be relaxed and does not really see reading as relaxing but as a chore.

He enjoys downhill biking. I looked up to see if I could find books available on that on Amazon.com. I found:

Amazon Title, Soul on Bikes by Tobie Levingston (Author). He said this might be cool, but he would not prefer travel-oriented bike books.

A Visit to Somewhere New--Central Middle School

The media specialist at Eastern used to work at Central. She told me that I really need to hear Judy Peterson give her booktalks. So, she set it up that I can go to Central today.

The first booktalk consisted of several "good reads". The students were all very much engaged similarly to how I have seen at Eastern.

The environment is beautiful where the booktalks take place, separated from interferences yet open to the windows.

The media specialist here is on a great level with the students. She is has a perfect level of comfort with them. It is nice to see that. I know she has many years of experience at this institution.

I saw four different groups of students hear Mrs. Peterson give booktalks on several books each class. She invited students to join her in the telling of different books. Students like to tell her when they have read a certain book. She was truly amazing that she could talk about 6-7 books per class!

Students were laughing and she had a great time with them and they listened well to her.

Authors and PowerPoint

On Tuesday morning upon arriving, I met a local author who is in the process of publishing a book. She has asked me to read her manuscript and let her know what I think about it. Believe it or not, I felt excited to be a part of such an assignment. I see the value in literature especially from someone who is looking for an honest review.
After speaking with the author, I found out about her life and why she is interested in that field.

Later, I was reviewing a DVD-Rom that I received on an Interlibrary Loan from Fairfield where they received from Sacred Heart's library. I find the reQuest catalog very, very valuable for finding text and books at any library in the state with a quick search inquiry. I even love how they tell you how far away the found library is from your location.
I showed this to the Media Specialist and Media Assistant who took some time and found some interest in David Byrnes work in PowerPoint because it is so different.

Toward the end of my day there, I was asked to take three Special Education students to see a presentation from the author Peter Abrahams in the auditorium where other classes also heard his stories. Not only was it nice to spend time with these students but also to hear the lecture from the author.
The author gave a detailed account of some portions of his life. He made the audience aware of his other works with a sense of pride. What I liked most about the lecture was when he read his book! That was what I remember most. This is a key idea about book talks. I would like to read a portion of each one:)

Lesson Planning and Book Reviews

Today I worked on a lesson plan for the students. It will be about PowerPoint. Of course, I am trying to include their objectives, my objectives, Fairfield University methodologies amongst other things.

Also I was discovering books that I thought would be good that teh library does not carry such as Vonnegut, Robbins, Burgess, Darwin, Pynchon, Nabokou, Dostoevsky, and Palahniuk. If they did carry these books, it was only one. I did not hear of all these authors but as I was digging I thought some of them would be worth looking into. Perhaps they may be for an older type audience, since the high school does carry more of the aforementioned, but I think the students need to be aware of these authors at an earlier age since they may need to hear of them for some time before they actually pick them up.

The media specialist told me that they go to Greenwich Library's web site, search their catalog for the book to see if it has been reviewed by School Library Journal. If yes, it is a-go, but if not, futher deliberation occurs.

Two 8th grade boys checked out books that I suggested. The one told me that he hates books, so we have a challenge going to see how he likes the one I picked out for him. He said that he hasn't checked out a book in ages. This spurred an idea--not to let that happen. Have emails on file notifying who has not used their account in a while. We can send them a survey to find out their interests so we can help them maintain an interest in books!

Survival Books

Today was a hopping day! In addition to all the new books, the media specialists were thinking about intellectually stimulating books about survival. As they were mentioning titles, I added some suggestions. One was relevant from a multicultural course taken at Fairfield University in which we read young adult diverse literature and wrote critical analyses of the books. I remembered a title that I thought was appropriate. I told them about the book and then one of the media specialists found the book on the shelf. I them remembered that I had that analysis of that particular book saved in my one email account. I printed out my summary and then I later saw the other media specialist with the book and my analysis! It made me feel good, I do admit; that my input was considered so genuinely. I also made a suggestion about White Fang since she mentioned Call of the Wild, a book they just read and that their teacher wanted the students to expand upon that theme with a new application of the material. Next thing I know, the media specialist is calling book stores locally and finding out how many copies of these survival books she can get that day! There were hundreds of books everywhere and she was going for more! I felt how lucky these students are to have such great resources at their fingertips!

What a great media specialist so determined to get the right books for the students she will do a book talk with! I thought it would be great if she dressed in survival gear! I guess I will find out how it went tomorrow.

Labels, Book Purchasing, and Students

Yesterday at the Media Center we received a very large shipment of books. Sometimes you must order accordingly! This was mentioned once before during a budget lecture done by Professor Horrigan as he explained the budget at his middle school to shine light on to the differences across the spectrum. Of course there was a teacher in the class that did some research to find that his schools budget for the entire year was very small. In those cases, you must make do with what you have and look for ways to increase funds--probably by increasing traffic and demand!

So, as I was sticking "Date Due" labels on books and tearing them out of boxes with my almost white pants on, I realized this job can get physical. Of course it shines light on the value of media assistants and paraprofessionals. I even had a student helping us out yesterday and was only because he inquired about doing so and said he had no other work to do. I felt that the more one gets involved in books, the more likely one may be to pick one up!

Speaking of influences, I know that there was a boyscout at the Y who was doing his Eagle Project by making bookshelves for the kids at the Y. What a great idea! Reading encourages so much! And what a great way for one person to help so many! Making things look pretty encourages interest.

I got to see the control a media specialist has over the entire population of the school and those to follow just by his or her selection of books. This can be seen from a morality perspective.

I also saw how the assembly line works. Boxes come in, get unpacked, labels stuck, throwaway cards out, label verification, and then check into the system.

I was working with two media assistants on the project.