Summer Reflection Paper
Looking Back
I remember the first day we met as a cohort – I was excited, almost refreshed to be learning something new. Let me tell you, by the end of the first day, I was scared. The pace was so fast that the minute I was figuring out how to do something, the MSU team was moving on to something new. I can remember sitting with Tracy and Linda, both from my school, and being like, “What just happened?” I remember going home and telling my wife that I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. When I explained that I had a Twitter account, she chuckled. Facebook was nothing new as I had an account way back when in 2010. After reviewing my reflection entries, it really wasn’t until day 3 or 4 where I start to acknowledge that my confidence is growing. There is no doubt that I was lost – a lot of the time. I will say that those reflections kept me on track. I would write what I needed to do at home to catch up and I would actually do it.
If you told me 6 months ago that I would have my own website, I would laugh. I literally had minimal interest in anything technology based. I would say that the greatest thing I learned this summer, aside from the World of Wonder, Tech Tips, Quickfires, etc., would be that I was limiting myself as a teacher by not embracing technology. I was a decade behind where my students needed me to be. Sure, content wise, I am on point in my class. The problem was that I wasn’t getting through because kids today learn by not only doing, but doing using a screen. My comfort level has increased exponentially with regards to technology.
This experience was definitely new for me. I have sat in on countless hours of Professional Development. I have run countless hours of SEPUP IAPS Professional Development both for the Office of Science and also for Loyola University. The common theme is that technology is seldom addressed. Here we are, as professionals in our content area, missing the most practical way to connect with our students. Grant it, I can’t blame us – it’s not as if CPS is at the forefront of a technological revolution but seriously, after attending the 11 day summer institute, my eyes now see that there are so many little things we can do to pique our students interest.
This learning experience matters to me because I honestly felt like I was getting stale as an educator. I know the IAPS textbook I use inside and out. I know what I going to work and what is not. I know where to find what and what size to copy it at. Frankly, I was somewhat bored. I would see the kids at school doing this and that with their phones and I always knew that the day would come when I would need to change. I’m sure someone great once said this but my recollection is from the movie Moneyball where Billy Beane says that he needs to “adapt or die.” When the opportunity came across for this fellowship, I couldn’t have been more excited. It is my opportunity to adapt because as an educator, I was dying.
Looking Forward
There is no doubt in my mind that this opportunity will make me not only a better teacher but a better person. Anytime we change, we become better and wiser. This experience has taught me to keep my eyes and ears open because I can stand to learn a few things. I see myself more willing to take chances with technology. For years I steered away from it because I was afraid I would screw something up or it wouldn’t come out right. Figuring this stuff out is not easy for me but what is the worst that can happen? I hit delete and start over again.
This experience has made me realize that teaching isn’t just about knowing your content or developing a respectful rapport with the students. You have to be able to get through to them. As you previously read in other writings, I struggled with having the kids retain information and apply it is a real world context. I was fighting a losing battle because it didn’t matter to them. It wasn’t presented in a format they could understand. With technology, I am betting you are hard pressed to find a kid that doesn’t want to participate because it is something they are comfortable with.
I am taking everything back with me to my classroom. This seriously was the best experience I have had as an educator. At most Professional Developments I would find myself looking at the clock saying to myself that I only have ___ minutes left until I am out of there. This summer, there was so much to do and learn I honestly did not do that once. It was non-stop information presented in a way that was fun and amusing. The thing I feel best about taking back with me, aside from all that has been previously mentioned, is a sense of being refreshed. Working for CPS is not an easy thing nowadays and as a now veteran teacher (I woke up one day and someone called me a veteran at work…….), it is really difficult to get that sense that you can make it through. I haven’t been this excited to enter the classroom since I got my ID badge with CPS some many years ago. To the MSU Urbanstem team, thank you for that!
Looking Back
I remember the first day we met as a cohort – I was excited, almost refreshed to be learning something new. Let me tell you, by the end of the first day, I was scared. The pace was so fast that the minute I was figuring out how to do something, the MSU team was moving on to something new. I can remember sitting with Tracy and Linda, both from my school, and being like, “What just happened?” I remember going home and telling my wife that I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. When I explained that I had a Twitter account, she chuckled. Facebook was nothing new as I had an account way back when in 2010. After reviewing my reflection entries, it really wasn’t until day 3 or 4 where I start to acknowledge that my confidence is growing. There is no doubt that I was lost – a lot of the time. I will say that those reflections kept me on track. I would write what I needed to do at home to catch up and I would actually do it.
If you told me 6 months ago that I would have my own website, I would laugh. I literally had minimal interest in anything technology based. I would say that the greatest thing I learned this summer, aside from the World of Wonder, Tech Tips, Quickfires, etc., would be that I was limiting myself as a teacher by not embracing technology. I was a decade behind where my students needed me to be. Sure, content wise, I am on point in my class. The problem was that I wasn’t getting through because kids today learn by not only doing, but doing using a screen. My comfort level has increased exponentially with regards to technology.
This experience was definitely new for me. I have sat in on countless hours of Professional Development. I have run countless hours of SEPUP IAPS Professional Development both for the Office of Science and also for Loyola University. The common theme is that technology is seldom addressed. Here we are, as professionals in our content area, missing the most practical way to connect with our students. Grant it, I can’t blame us – it’s not as if CPS is at the forefront of a technological revolution but seriously, after attending the 11 day summer institute, my eyes now see that there are so many little things we can do to pique our students interest.
This learning experience matters to me because I honestly felt like I was getting stale as an educator. I know the IAPS textbook I use inside and out. I know what I going to work and what is not. I know where to find what and what size to copy it at. Frankly, I was somewhat bored. I would see the kids at school doing this and that with their phones and I always knew that the day would come when I would need to change. I’m sure someone great once said this but my recollection is from the movie Moneyball where Billy Beane says that he needs to “adapt or die.” When the opportunity came across for this fellowship, I couldn’t have been more excited. It is my opportunity to adapt because as an educator, I was dying.
Looking Forward
There is no doubt in my mind that this opportunity will make me not only a better teacher but a better person. Anytime we change, we become better and wiser. This experience has taught me to keep my eyes and ears open because I can stand to learn a few things. I see myself more willing to take chances with technology. For years I steered away from it because I was afraid I would screw something up or it wouldn’t come out right. Figuring this stuff out is not easy for me but what is the worst that can happen? I hit delete and start over again.
This experience has made me realize that teaching isn’t just about knowing your content or developing a respectful rapport with the students. You have to be able to get through to them. As you previously read in other writings, I struggled with having the kids retain information and apply it is a real world context. I was fighting a losing battle because it didn’t matter to them. It wasn’t presented in a format they could understand. With technology, I am betting you are hard pressed to find a kid that doesn’t want to participate because it is something they are comfortable with.
I am taking everything back with me to my classroom. This seriously was the best experience I have had as an educator. At most Professional Developments I would find myself looking at the clock saying to myself that I only have ___ minutes left until I am out of there. This summer, there was so much to do and learn I honestly did not do that once. It was non-stop information presented in a way that was fun and amusing. The thing I feel best about taking back with me, aside from all that has been previously mentioned, is a sense of being refreshed. Working for CPS is not an easy thing nowadays and as a now veteran teacher (I woke up one day and someone called me a veteran at work…….), it is really difficult to get that sense that you can make it through. I haven’t been this excited to enter the classroom since I got my ID badge with CPS some many years ago. To the MSU Urbanstem team, thank you for that!