Teaching Leadership

Teaching leadership development is adapting for the student. According to Joshua Blocks Edutopia article Teaching is adapting, he discusses a few of  the Center for Teaching Quality campaign outcomes. The most significant thoughts on teachers responses are focusing on having a thoughtful voice in drawing in the student to the learning. The student is given equal power in the learning relationship. This development of the student voice creates critical thinking instead of rote learning.  Facilitating in the classroom discussion by encouraging the students to discuss their belief with the class instead of the instructor to student discussion. This creates the multilevel learning where the students use resources and quotes to refer to their deeper inquiry. Resolving conflicts is not a teaching tool but a needed leadership skill.  As in any area, conflicts occur. Resolving them  properly requires patience and understanding. Taking time to hear what the conflict is, set a step for resolution and require the interaction of the students in conflict will ease the classroom tension teaching the students how to deal with conflicts in the future.  Mentoring and modeling is student centered learning with the teacher guiding the inquiry. This approach is more time consuming than a quick answer or opinion but  results in critical thinking. The modeling gives the student with an example or start. Consulting develops learning by  peer/instructor evaluating the students teaching plan and developing a plan for instruction can be applied to the dental hygiene student.
 There are more possibilities of adaptive teaching sources which the author of the original article Teaching is adapting  encourages you to add is his review.  You may add to his review by linking to
http://www.edutopia.org/blogs/teaching-is-adapting-joshua-block.
References
Block, J. (2014).Teaching is adapting. Retrieved from:
        http://www.edutopia.org/blogs/teaching-is-adapting-joshua-block

Learning the social web

The social web is the newest way to connect to new people and develop friendships. I recently submitted a photograph to National Geographic and was connected to three people around the world that showed appreciation. It made be think about sharing more photographs instead of keeping them to myself. While doing this I created a social web with these new people.  Richardson's book of "Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts" brought to my visualization that "...this network of individual nodes of people connected by ideas and passions, constantly shifting and changing as new connections are found and old ones are reconsidered."( Richardson, p.85) It was through the passion of photography that we were connected. I continued to peer into the lives of those that appreciated my submission and realized I would have never met them since one was from Turkey, second from Kazakhstan and the third from Minnesota.
 This is an example of the effect of the social web. I have used Facebook, email, text and blogging but it took putting a photo out there in cyberspace to really realize the power of social media. All other venues brought old connections. According to Richardson " Because of these tools, we can build complex networks of resources to tap into allowing us to find more information, more teachers, and more learning."(Richardson, p.86)

Reference

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis and podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. 
Corwin: Thousand Oaks, CA

Edutopia: "Teachers need to follow their own rules" by Dr. Curwin

   

     The Edutopia article by Dr. Richard Curwin states that "Teachers need to follow their own rules." He didn't imply that the teachers need to set their own rules he meant that the rules for the students should apply to the teacher as well, otherwise don't have that rule. We all teach others by example even when we are not teachers. Or are we all teachers? The answer is yes, we are all teachers in everything we do. Society is constantly watching and treats us according to the rules we follow. So, should we follow the rules we give our children to demonstrate the importance? Absolutely, children need to know that the rule is followed by all. Especially by the adult so the children can distinguish the importance of the rule. Dr. Curwin also states that  the choices of behavior follows values and they are the best indicators of your values.
     Dr. Curwin suggests that for those teachers that need to follow their own rules should start with two easy ones at first.
Be professional. Be on time for meetings and classroom work.
Be a good role model.  Don't do it if it's not what you want them to do.
I find that it is important to remind ourselves that we are the professional not the student. In order for them to achieve professionalism they need to know what it is. How it had been modeled is up to us.


 References     
Curwin. R. (2014). Teachers should follow own rules. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/teachers-should-follow-own-rules-richard-curwin

Edutopia Reflection: Let it marinate

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/let-it-marinate-reflection-closing-joshua-block

       How many times have we sat back and thought about something we had read.  What is being said? What does this really mean? In the article let it marinate: the importance of reflection and closing by Joshua Block, the author is emphasizing using the technique of Kolb's method of experiential learning in his religion course. The answers are not as clear when first looked at.  It takes reflecting back on the situation to determine what would be done differently, what worked, what did not. Block states "the strategic integration of meaningful closings and reflection into classroom practice gives students multiple avenues for engaging with complex ideas and allows more students to find broader meaning in their work."
      Working with the dental hygiene students is a cause for reflection in their performance, and evaluation of client outcomes.  Many times we reassess in post clinic after reflecting on the data presented. Did we miss material indicating a different diagnosis? What outcomes are changed from this reflection?  Should we offer additional treatment? These questions often spur on more change with the treatment plan. The reflection develops the critical thinking skill changing the way we process thought.


References

Block, J (2014) Edutopia: Let it marinate, reflection,closing. Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/let-it-marinate-reflection-closing-joshua-block

 McLeod, S (2013) Simply psychology learning kolb. Retrieved from:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html

Classroom uses of weblogs in college setting

Applying any new technology requires patience and understanding. First it must be developed into the curriculum with a lesson plan and rubric. Using a weblog in the college coursework is no different. The weblog shows the growth of the student and understanding of the material. In Richardson's book  Blogs, Wikis and Podcasts he states "... that Weblogs are already making an impact on our curricula whether we are employing them as research tools or as publishing tools."(2010 p.38)  This discussion will focus on the use of weblog in the dental hygiene curriculum.

The reflective journal type blog for the dental hygiene student allows for the Kolb's method of experiential learning to reflect on the learning, what happened and what work or could be done differently. This develops the critical thinking.  The article from Simply Psychology emphasizes
http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html  
that learning to reflect is possibly the most important part of the learning process. This fits the adult learner. The dental hygiene student could use an e Portfolio weblog for a two year experience documenting  challenging case studies, diagnosis, intervention, outcomes and treatment planning. Entering in the weblog and sharing with fellow hygiene students documented case studies gives dimensional learning.  The student also becomes the instructor.

References

McLeod S. (2013). Simply psychology learning kolb. Retrieved from: http://www.simplypsychology.org/learning-kolb.html  

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs,wikis,podcasts and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Corwin: Thousand Oaks,CA

Read Write Web

Hello and welcome to my blog on read write web. I look forward to your comments and suggestions.
  Thank you, Jody

  photo credit: Jody Williams

Read, Write, Web Course

Welcome to my blog on the read write web course. I'm looking forward to your input and suggestions. Please leave comments.  Thank You, Jody   photo credit: Jody Williams