Link to my digital project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdVCkCvYg70

http://youtu.be/P-elu3e2KvY

INTROVERTS

ENTRY #2

The Power of Introverts

OBJECTIVE
    I found this video on introverts very interesting and so true.  I have never thought of myself as an introvert until watching this video.  All my life I have been classified as an extrovert and in a lot of ways I am.  I am outgoing, personable, love to go to parties and love being social.  On the other hand I have always loved my quiet time especially when I could sit for hours and read a book without anyone interrupting.  I also prefer an email from a stranger rather than a phone call.  I am outgoing in my own comfort zone but realized I am also an introvert in a place of unfamiliarity.   I work very well in groups but also feel I do my best thinking when I am by myself and able to process all of the information I am reading.  This video really opened my eyes on how successful introverts are and how we don’t always need to work as a group.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

    I have always been a strong believer in group work as I feel it can bring students out of their comfort zone.  Many great things can be accomplished through group work and I have been very successful working as a team.  I have never thought about giving my students time to work on their own until I watched Susan Cain.  I now realize that giving students the opportunity to sit on their own and come up with ideas or solutions on their own can be extremely effective.  I think in a classroom there are more introverts than extroverts and I think many students would love to be able to have the chance to work on their own rather than in a group.  So many influential people in the world were introverts including Bill Gates and Albert Einstein, two of the most influential people in the world.  I really believe introverts are strong and powerful and can make a big difference in the world.

INTERPRETIVE

    I could watch this video over and over because Susan has so many great points in her video.  When I took the esthetics course I was an adult and had a lot of fears about going back into the classroom.  I quickly became a full introvert and feared I would not succeed in my program.  As the weeks went by I became comfortable and did very well.  My instructor never pressured us to work in groups but gave us different options.  After watching this video I will have a different approach to my classroom.  I still want to encourage group work but will also make sure my students have time to themselves to get inside their mind in a way they can’t when working in a group.

DECISIONAL

    I am now really looking forward to teaching my class with a different approach.  Instead of judging people on how quiet or how loud they are I want to challenge each and every personality to explore inside their minds.  I feel that if they are given the chance to do this they will dig deeper and have a greater impact on what they are learning.  I can’t wait to see what different personalities I have in my class and I will aim for a little less group work and more quiet individual work.  Introverts are just as powerful as extroverts and I feel they can have a stronger impact on the world if people wouldn’t judge them solely on their quiet demeanor.  I look forward to seeing what changes in my classroom after using this method.

   

        

DIRECT INSTRUCTION

DIRECT INSTRUCTION:


Direct Instruction is an approach to teaching. It is focused purely on direction from the teacher.

I feel that Robert Slavim and Madeline Hunt’s models of direct instruction are a great explanation of direct instruction.

There are certain steps to follow to have a productive classroom.

STATE THE LEARNING OBJECTIVE
    -You want to tell the students what they will be learning in the course and how it will benefit them.  Students need motivation and this is the time to do it

2.REVIEW PREREQUISITES
    -this is a very important step.  You want to make sure students have previous knowledge of the subject because if they don’t it will be very difficult for them to succeed.

3.PRESENT NEW MATERIALS
   -You want to make sure there are many examples and demonstrations.  While some students learn from a lecture others may find it too fast and will need to refer back to notes.  I think that handouts, diagrams, videos and printed notes will be a great help for a variety of different students.  I also feel that as an instructor I should demonstrate what I am teaching.  If I am giving a lecture on how to perform a facial I will have handouts, videos and I will  personally demonstrate how it is to be done.  I want my students to be engaged.  It isn’t enough for them to listen they need to see it being done.

4.PROVIDE GUIDED PRACTICE
   -After the subject is explained and demonstrated then the students can practice.  As an instructor I will walk around the classroom and check their progress.  I will make then make sure the students understand and then adjust the lesson accordingly

Once this is all completed the lesson will come to a close.  The instructor will do an assessment and ask the students what they learned and took out of this lesson.


PROS AND CONS

There are some pros and cons of direct instruction.

CONS:

Some cons of direct instruction are that there is little room to improvise.  It is a step by step teaching method.  Teachers must be well organized and have excellent communication skills to have a successful classroom.  If they don’t have this the students will struggle and not get a grasp on what they are trying to learn.  For example if I am teaching how to perform a facial I must be very organized.  I need to have tools and products as well as a step by step guide to the lesson.  If I don’t have this the students will not be able to perform the facial properly. 

ADVANTAGES:

Direct Instruction is best for learning a specific skill.  In my field there are so many different services that need to be taught.  Teaching my students using this format is beneficial because it lays out the service step by step.  After the lecture and explanation there is time to demonstrate it and then for the students to practice it.  To be successful in my field you need a lot of understanding and a lot of practice.

ADVANTAGES OF THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM

ENTRY #3

ADVANTAGES OF THE FLIPPED CLASSROOM


OBJECTIVE

    This subject in the forum really caught my attention and I was so happy to see how many people are advocates for the flipped classroom.  Working as a group in the classroom gives strong students the opportunity to help the weaker students do much better but without taking over the entire class.  When different types of students work together they have a much better outcome.  In this classroom setting students can go over the course material as much as they need and for some students this is how they will succeed in the classroom.  It is becoming more popular each day and I think once students get comfortable with this type of learning it will become a favorite among students. 

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

    As a student I have always loved working in a group setting.  I found that sitting and listening to a lecture would lose my attention at times.  When following protocol in the classroom there are many times I had no choice and had to lecture for eight hours of training and then move on to the practical the next day.  I feel that if students are given the chance to learn this material at home and then come to the classroom for hands on work they will be more successful.  I realize that some students need to learn by the traditional method but I feel that if I move them out of their comfort zones they will understand the class so much better.  Giving them time to go over the material as much as they need is so helpful for most students.  In my field of esthetics I feel that the flipped classroom is a huge benefit.  Students need much more hands on training in this field so giving them more time to do this will help them out a great deal.

INTERPRETIVE

    I have read this forum over a few times and find all the comments very interesting.  Most people are very positive about the flipped classroom, but some instructors have not given it a try because they feel that their students need to learn the traditional way.  I am not saying that the traditional way is a negative way to learn because it is needed in certain classroom settings, but I also don’t think that the flipped classroom should be ruled out.  After reading the comments in the forum I hope instructors feel encouraged to try the flipped classroom.  Putting students together as a group has great outcomes and will give the students much more confidence. 


DECISIONAL

    I am really looking forward to teaching esthetics and I think my first step will be to use the flipped classroom.  Looking back at when I was in school as an adult I think I would have loved this.  I will make sure my students are aware that they can come to me if they feel they are struggling and not grasping all of the information on their own.  I will never make them feel like they are learning alone.  I want to encourage my students to work together and teach each other different things.  Trying new things can be scary but learning a new style will never hurt a student it will only benefit them.  I hope my students will like the flipped classroom idea as much as I do and I hope this forum discussion encourages more instructors to attempt this method.   

INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY DIGITAL PROJECT SUMMARY

My instructional strategy project will be on Direct Instruction.  I did a lot of research and found many interesting articles and videos on this topic.  Slavin and Madeline Hunter's models really stood out to me.  Each step of their model explained how to be effective using direct instruction in the classroom.  I now feel more confident about teaching my students in the classroom because I will have these steps to reference back to.

Adult Learning Techniques - Part 1