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