Friday, June 29, 2012

Outside School Experiences


Blog Post #1
June 29, 2012
1.     Since I graduated from elementary school, junior high school, high school and college long ago combined with working in a non-science industry for many years, my life (since returning to education) has been nothing but exploring means of improving my content knowledge.  The vehicles have been numerous, sometimes horribly boring, sometimes absolutely thrilling but always deepening my understanding. This was all a necessity to not only improve my content knowledge and understanding for the classroom but to pass the damn series of CSETs.  I have re-learned and learned an incredible amount over the past 2 years between my own exploration, my St. Mary’s education and work with my 2 Master Teachers, most particularly Sandra Johnson-Shaw at Mount Diablo High School.  I have always been a life long learner. I am passionate about the outdoors, flora and fauna, ecology and preservation. Returning to education has taught and required me to look far beyond the surface of these areas of interest.  I have had to “peel the onion” rather than be simply an observer.

When I decided to pursue my credential and became aware of having to take the CSET, I went into study mode.  I researched and found tons of sources for readying myself for the pursuit. One of the things I began to do was take online courses through iTunes U.  To refresh my content knowledge, I took Biology 1A and 1B, Integrative Biology, and currently, Earth Science and Planetary Science.  So far, I have taken classes only through Cal but found iTunes U offers classes from a plethora of Universities and in a number of subjects. It has been a great resource as I reteach myself the basics.

Just another aside, I am a strong believer in experiential learning. As Ball and McDiarmid point out in their article and eloquently express in their conclusion “people construct understanding of phenomena from their everyday experience --- f rom their activities in their environment, from what they see adults around them doing, from messages they receive from others in the community (Cohen)”.  We must be doers to construct understanding for both our students and ourselves.  And just because I want to include pictures, I am including a recent trip trekking for Mountain Gorillas in Uganda. What an absolute thrill this was. I learned that preservation and conservation doesn’t require wealth but rather a unified population believing in the cause. Uganda, despite being a third world country, in many ways is far beyond our level of commitment to the world’s ecology and preservation of that ecology.





2.    








      The spirited conversation in class only reinforced my feelings about the article. While many of us focused on different aspects of the article, most of the conversation was in line with my feelings about my pedagogy and continued learning.  My opinion has not waivered since I decided to read the description of this MAT program and entered it. I am here to increase my content knowledge in order to become the best teacher I can be. This article and our class conversation supported that desire to erase misconceptions and eliminate as many gaps in my content knowledge and understanding as possible.

3.      My desire to explore the content standards and increase my content knowledge in the area of Earth Science has only increased since the initial 401-class exploration of a line of inquiry.  Initially, I thought I wanted to explore the area of the Krebs Cycle, photosynthesis and glycolysis but after the first class (exploring on line researches and reflecting), I have become fixated on Earth Science. I might be biting off more than I should in my line of inquiry but I am in no rush to complete the Masters program. I want to explore in depth an area I don’t have the content knowledge I desire. I down to move beyond keeping one week ahead in the textbook.  I do not want to teach that way. That style of teaching feels very uncomfortable and rings true of the concerns expressed in the Shulman article Knowledge and Teaching: Foundations of the New Reform.

4 comments:

  1. Hi Marcy!

    I completely agree with you in regards to experiential learning, and I think it is fantastic that you have turned your passion for ecology into a career- without having much of a scholastic background in science. What an incredible experience to have traveled to Uganda! I am sure your unit on ecosystems comes alive due to your first-hand observations in the field. If only it were possible immerse oneself in the Krebs cycle... :)

    Do you know what pedagogical content knowledge you would like to explore as well? Possible experiential learning within earth science that can apply in and out of the classroom with students? I am looking forward to hearing what you decide to focus on!

    Ashley

    PS: Great pictures within your post!

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  2. I think your response to the first question shows that it is often our "hands-on" school experiences that stick with us the longest and really touch our hearts and minds. It is so important, especially in an area like science, to give students the opportunity to experience things first hand. Not only will it make the material easier to learn and more interesting, it also help to personally connect the students to the subject matter (which is great for an area such as conservation)!

    On a side note I also used the CEST as an opportunity to learn and re-learn material. I have never heard of iTunes U so I did most of my studying with historic books and documentaries form the library. Since I am a supporter of continuing education through out life, iTunes U seems like something I would like to try at some point. Do you pay a flat fee for each course you take?

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  3. Marcy, (I loved the steps you took to immerse yourself in CSET mode!)

    I think that experiential learning is an excellent way to get/keep students engaged. Put something in their hands. Let them feel or otherwise experience the situation, conditions for themselves. it gives them so much more than any book, lecture or PowerPoint ever can.

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  4. Marcy--
    I think that you are the Science teacher I wish I had! And, I agree with Tammy and Jerry about the vital importance of hands on experiences. I am excited about your exploration into Earth Science, and I think that your research sounds really interesting.

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