The SITE model is another tool that helps build the bridge between what I am learning in these classes to my practices and action research. I have never really looked at my students through the lens of a “user profile” The SITE model’s 3 sub-contexts really hone in on the end user. Whether it be my students or my peers that may learn from my learning and research. The piece I have been struggling or leaving out when planning my units was the social cultural sub-context. Who are the learners? What values do the learners hold? What will motivate the learners? Reminded me of when Baggio talks about the trilogy of the mind in Chapter 3. This can get even trickier with adults who may not be looking to change what they are doing or have philosophical difference with the changes in the way students learn.
I think that I sometimes lose sight of motivates my students. It's nice to have the SITE model to remind myself. Another struggle is the different levels of understanding students and peers have with the 3 sub-contexts of the SITE model. I assume all kids are Tech savvy. I have kids that can program robots to those that don’t know how to copy and paste. Same with adults, but kids learning curve seems to be much faster. Same goes motivation. I assume all kids love science, its in our nature to be inquisitive right? Also, I assume all educators would want to get better at what they do. We need to teach both our students and ourselves how to learn "In the age of smart machines we are offered a widening range of learning resources, but are we ready to use them? Are your learners already autodidacts, or do they need to be taught how to be an autodidact?" Middle school kids aren't self learners I guess that is what inspires me, is for all students to have access to leaning science in middle school.
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Social media can be a great tool to develop/collaborate/communicate as a professional. I really think it is more important than ever to keep your personal and professional life separate. I think you should have both professional and personal accounts and not mix them. Even this can’t keep everything private. As he said in the article the quick name search and you can be found. Another concern I have is the unintentional social media post. I personally do not have any social media accounts but friends do and I’ve been in pictures on their social media sites. This also has to be kept in mind. I even mentioned to my kids when they do their Flipgrid at home to pay attention to what’s in the background.
I am not sure how I would address the student. If it was outside of school, in both the physical and digital world, I’m not sure there is much you can do. If it was a personal account and not on something we use in class or at school I really don’t have authority. Depending on the nature of the post, if they posed a risk to them or another student I may get my principal for wellness center involved and the parents involved. If I sent a letter to my principal about a kid posting the F word about the Patriots I would get a major eye roll. I would remind them about their digital footprint and the image of themselves they’re putting out there but it does reiterate the importance of setting expectations and all the kids to them even on the digital platforms. My primary audience is my middle school students, I want to develop curriculum with the new integrated model the right way. Whether it be sharing a learning tool we used in class, like flipgrid or complete overhauls on how I have approached my teaching. My colleagues are also my audience. I have shared and will continue to share both tools and pedagogy I have learned. I have shared tech tools at our content meetings and shared my pre and post test data when trying new methods.
My ultimate goal is for students to have a clear understanding of what they are learning and a purpose of why they are learning it. I also want them to be part of the learning process where they will reflect on what they have learned and still need to learn. My challenge is building this culture in middle school and getting them to be part of the process. Two things that really stuck out from the readings. Baggio-”needs to be relevant to the learner” And Clarke “How will you and the student know what they’ve learned” My initial thoughts in addressing the challenge of sharing what I have learned was with my students. How can I get this into kid terms so they can understand it. I have found they needed to start with something concrete like pre and post test so they had a number to see their learning. I am also going to try and let the kids come up with how they can transfer the knowledge they learned. I also used a google form with the learning intentions for the unit and will be revisiting weekly so they can reflect on how they think they are learning Also, to share the learning with colleagues can be tricky. We meet twice a month for an hour as a content team. I share with the other 7th grade science teacher but not the rest of the department or staff. Well sometimes in passing if another teacher is trying the same strategies. |
AuthorJeff Albertazzi Archives
November 2018
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