...INVESTIGATING MEANINGFUL TEACHING Amy Hickok Grand Canyon University SPE 529 June 17, 2010 Rosebud Dixon-Green Introduction Student relationships, positive role modeling and effective classroom management are essential for meaningful and worthwhile teaching and learning experiences. Teachers must learn along with their students; get to know them, teach to their interests and abilities also. Relationships among thinking, teaching and learning are similar to a triangle. Likewise, the triangular relationship may flow in any direction and have differentiated sides. Empowering people, changing lives, shaping our future is why I want to be a special educator. It is my lifelong passion for learning that drives me to demonstrate that every student is capable of learning, worthy of respect, and to know that I believe in them. Rewarding teaching experiences are numerous; however, for me, each time a student comes through a school door is meaningful to me. Meaningful and worthwhile teaching and learning experiences are strongly affected by student relationships. It is the observation of their actions, listening to their language, noticing body language and taking the time to get to know them that are contributing factors. Sharing with students that I am not human, I will and do make mistakes is also necessary. I will not pretend to be perfect or different from each of them. I will learn from them just as they will learn from me hopefully. Believe in each...
Words: 846 - Pages: 4
...Word Association What can It Tell Us about Vocabulary Acquisition ? Robin Russ Introduction Vocabulary is central to communicating in a foreign language. Without sufficient words to express a wide variety of meanings, communicating in a foreign language cannot happen in a meaningful way (McCarthy, 1990). As such, vocabulary acquisition is a primary concern for Japanese foreign language learners, and it is a main focus of their interest and attention. A casual survey of what Japanese university students find most difficult about sustaining even short conversations in English often elicits responses such as “I can't express my ideas” and “I don't have the words”, or self admonishments such as “I was stuck for a word many times” or “I should know more English words”. In spite of having acquired a large English lexis for high school examination purposes, when students are “off the page” and speaking extemporaneously, even about familiar everyday topics, they experience firsthand the limitations of their productive vocabulary. Engaged by a class activity yet restricted by insufficient vocabulary, a common expedient is to revert to speaking in Japanese. How is language organized and what are the mechanisms that allow us to retrieve the words we know immediately and correctly? Psycholinguistic studies have shown that words are not stored in the mental lexicon as single independent items but form clusters or webs with other related concepts so that words acquire their...
Words: 3169 - Pages: 13
...strong understanding of this concept. I identified the other categories in the questions more than once, all except locating, the only question I found this was in question 14. The question referred to directions and routes, a journey taken to lead somewhere. The main concept was to identify what happened while following the directions. This question linked to explaining when communicating experiences and playing when using hypothetical reasoning. I have identified that I will need to work on my understanding of the mathematical concept locating. My sense of direction, locations and mapping skills need some improvement and for me to be confident as an educator teaching this mathematical concept will take practice and development of my knowledge. Standard 1.2 of the Standards for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics in Australian Schools refers to how excellent teachers of mathematics have a sound, coherent, knowledge of the mathematics appropriate to the student level they teach, and which is situated in their knowledge and understanding of the broader curriculum (Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers [AAMT] 2006, p.1). With not answering many questions incorrect I am finding it hard to identify areas I need to improve. I know I have them and as an educator, I believe we need to continually improve our knowledge and skills. I have recently completed my Numeracy Test for Initial Teacher Education Students and as I didn’t answer many of the answers incorrect...
Words: 1744 - Pages: 7
...Title: Evolution and Intelligent Design: Which Is True? Introduction: * Controversial subject * Full into beliefs * Very political * Connection between Intelligent Design & Creationism I. Background A. Evolution is the scientific theory that all life forms on Earth today are descended from a single cell organism 1. Charles Darwin & Natural Selection 2. Genes carry the DNA codes for a evolutionary trait to be passed to the next generation B. Creationists feel the need to attack the evolution theory to “free God from its shackles” 1. Evolution provides a meaningful explanation of the relationship of the Creator to man & animals 2. We are formed, by the Creator, from the dust of the Earth C. Evolution is metaphysics 1. Something transforms into other things, but the process is unexplained 2. Breathing air, wings & fins are excellent examples II. First Side- Evolution A. Does not prove there is no God 1. May not be able to prove there is a higher power, can prove that a fish grew leg & walked on land 2. Provides the basis for the Creator’s work, macro to micro B. Historical trials & their outcomes 1. Wesley Roberts-“A Struggle in Tennessee” 2. John Scopes- trial of religion & science III. Second Side- Intelligent Design A. The theory by Mr. Charles Darwin 1. No sufficient evidence to prove that one organism evolves into another 2. Evolution & Alchemy go hand-in-hand;...
Words: 1235 - Pages: 5
...Banni Gorneous’ Study Teachers are assumed to be prepared when they enter already do the pre-service teaching at the same time while being deployed to schools they are honed, critiqued and evaluated by teachers. However, by the time the undergraduate students enrolled there first course in teaching they have already experienced and survived many teachers and these students already achieved wealth of experiences and educational opportunities. This can serve as valuable and credible resources of identifying the attitude and actions that were implemented in classrooms by their former effective teachers. This study recommends the importance of becoming a pre- service teacher. This is due to the fact that, this can offer valuable insight and knowledge that they will apply in their own classrooms. They may learn from their previous teachers but there are guidelines and proper ways of doing things that are far different from the unstructured learning gained by observing and imitating alone. Educational experiences with the blend of principles and practice will create attitudes that make up an effective teacher. Janice Bissell’s Study An in-depth study by practising campus architect Janice Bissell, looked into the deeply rooted images of teaching embedded in most school designs and embodied by cellular classrooms with the teacher’s position (with dais and data ports) securely at the front. She found that for all teachers, the ‘physical classroom’ was the basic component of their...
Words: 2790 - Pages: 12
...are descended from a single cell organism (Source B). Intelligent Design is the belief that a higher power fashioned all the forms life as they are now. Charles Darwin created the idea of Natural Selection (Source B). Within it, a specific species can adapt to a change and pass that gene onto its offspring. The genes carry the DNA codes for the evolutionary trait to be passed on (FAQ). Creationists feel the need to harass the evolution theory to “Free God from its shackles” (Leone). Evolution provides significant justification of the relationship linking the life on Earth and the Creator (Leone). As quoted from Leone, “We are formed, by the Creator, from the dust of the Earth.” Evolution is metaphysics; a branch of philosophy investigating principles of reality transcending those of any particular science (Gerdes). Some subjects transform into other subjects, yet this process in unexplainable. Examples of these transformations include breathing air, sprouting wings, and growing fins and gills. To start off on suitable political foundation; the process of evolution does not prove that there is no God, or a higher power of any sort (FAQ). One may not be able to prove that there is such a entity, but there is substantial evidence that a...
Words: 835 - Pages: 4
... Despite the fact that computer and video games gave the same multimedia capability as CAI programs, Begg et. al. (2005) stressed in their study “Game-Informed Learning: Applying Computer Game Processes to Higher Education” that their potential learning impact is often discounted by parents and educators. Recently, computer-based video games presence and popularity have been ever-growing, and game developers and researchers have started to investigate video games impact on students’ cognitive learning. For, example Pillay (2002) commenced a study entitled “Journal of Research on Technology in Education” investigating the influence of recreational computer games on children’s subsequent performance on instructional tasks. While game-playing is regarded somewhat negative in educational settings, particularly for young children, re-scrutinization of its influence in a teaching and learning context is crucial. This study investigated whether computer-based video games facilitate children’s cognitive learning achievement. In comparison to traditional CAI programs, this study explored the impact of the varied types of instructional delivery strategies on children’s learning achievement. Research results from the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Children’s Digital Media Centers pioneered by Riedeout et. al. (2003) found in their study “Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and preschoolers” that children in the United States are growing up with media and are spending...
Words: 933 - Pages: 4
...College (Obando Campus) INTRODUCTION Rationale It is said that language learning is the product of formal instruction and it comprises a conscious process which results in conscious knowledge ‘about’ the language, for example knowledge of grammar rules. Although ‘language learning’ is considered less important than language acquisition, most of what is learned has been coming from the formal teaching in school. It is also said that the acquisition of grammatical structures follows a ‘natural order’ which is predictable. For a given language, some grammatical structures tend to be acquired early while others late. It can be derived that language learning could also be predictable and that grammatical structures are learned in an orderly manner controlled by the series of language teaching (particularly grammar teaching) courses embedded in a curriculum program. Language learning and language teaching are relatively intertwined and the effectiveness of the latter could be reflected by the other. Moreover, language teaching effectiveness does not solely depend on the teaching-learning process...
Words: 2735 - Pages: 11
...sanitizing techniques (Nuland, 118). Contemporary medicine and science are painfully aware of the dangers of confirmation bias, largely as a result of events like those described in The Doctor’s Plague. Looking back on the actions of Semmelweis’s fellow doctors is frustrating to modern readers, as we are fortunate enough to live in a time where it seems all about the microscopic world of germs has been revealed to us. It is easy to understand doctors’ aversion to investigating the spread of puerperal fever when people like Semmelweis proposed that doctors themselves were infecting their patients with the lethal disease. It would be unfair to say all doctors rejected Semmelweis’s hypothesis solely in an attempt at self-preservation; however, it would also be naïve to suggest that their reservations stemmed purely from scientific sources. In a relatable human way, doctors did not want to lend credence to the possibility that they were hurting the people they were trusted to nurse and protect by investigating Semmelweis’s claims. By promoting miasma theory, doctors shifted blame away from themselves and their medical practices (which we now see as unsanitary and harmful.) Confirmation bias plays a very different role in The Ghost Map. While Whitehead initially disagreed with Snow, he kept an open mind. After carefully analyzing Snow’s proposals and his death map of Soho, Whitehead followed the evidence and rejected miasma theory (Johnson, 149). Before changing his mind...
Words: 1408 - Pages: 6
...For incorporating histories, three overt, practical ways are discussed: role play, writing an Acknowledgement of Country and interpreting a movie which incorporates the perspectives of ATSIs. For incorporating cultures, the eight-way Aboriginal pedagogies outlined by Tyson Yunkaporta (2009a) are discussed along with how the classroom curriculum can be adapted to incorporate such cultural techniques. Indigenous history and culture are addressed separately, though there is cross-over. These are broad topics which would be better served in a more comprehensive paper. History The formal Australian Curriculum: History is organized into Historical Knowledge and Understanding and Historical Skills (Australian Curriculum n.d.). Teachers can use teaching methods to incorporate ATSI histories and cultures into the year 10 classroom history curriculum. Role play is significant to incorporation for short and long term retention of the histories and cultures. It requires the use and development of a range of historical skills and knowledge. Not only do students have to understand what happened and in what order, but assess how characters felt and interacted in the circumstances. It engages students in the material, requires them to critically think about their character’s role and significance in history, and cause them to empathise with their own and other characters. Role play is an uncommon activity in schools. It requires the use of both academic and “soft” skills (interpersonal, communication...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...aware of their environment and provide them a different way to look at their surroundings before they went off to the mountains for hunting elk and deer. I believe the students will be very interested in this unit of study and also it will help them to be more observant as they are hunting this next month. I tried to write a unit of study that students in this area would enjoy doing, one that would fit with their lifestyle and have a meaningful positive outcome upon completion. This is a summary of a culminating unit for science and math. Students will measure off a section of the forest and count quaking aspen trees and lodge pole pine trees within the measured off area. Students will then use the 12 processes of science and math skills to answer questions and complete investigations to solve the science question. The students need to collect data, chart it and analyze it to answer questions using math skills including ratios and percentages. The standards for science included science as an inquiry focusing on identifying a question, investigating and using math in the inquiry. It also looked at the ecosystems and populations in the area of life science. Math standards covered in this unit of study were using mathematics to problem solve focusing on formulating problems from everyday life and...
Words: 1018 - Pages: 5
...gold standards of diagnosis, a great tool for medical audit and probably the best teaching method of medicine – the autopsy. The words ‘autopsy’, ‘necropsy’ and ‘post-mortem examination’ are synonymous with each other and refer to the investigation of the human body involving an external examination followed by the dissections of the head, thorax and the abdomen. The word autopsy literally means ‘to see for oneself’. Autopsy rates in the United Kingdom (UK) currently stand at 21.9%, out of which only 0.4% are not requested by a coroner and the most common request for an autopsy occurs in cases of unexpected deaths where the cause is not apparent. Autopsies are also carried out for determination of manner of death, evaluation of ante-mortem and post-mortem diagnosis, epidemiological purposes, survey outbreaks, medical audit, research, teaching, forensic purposes and to enlighten/reassure families or inform then of hereditary diseases. Despite the well-recognised importance of autopsies in twenty-first century medicine, there has been a huge decline in autopsy rates across the world, causing concern amongst the medical community. Factors that have contributed to the decline include distaste of the procedure in both the physicians and the relatives, lack of financial incentives, increased faith in imaging technologies, fear of litigation, lack of importance of the autopsies in the teaching curriculum and...
Words: 3336 - Pages: 14
...through Games? Table of Contents I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………………..……………1 II. What is Grammar?……………………………………………...………………………………2 III. The place of Grammar in the language teaching……………….…………...2-4 IV. Games and Grammar teaching/learning: A.Background of Grammar Games……………………………………………..…..……4 B.The function of Games………………………………………………………………4-5 C.The roles of teachers and learners………………………………….………5-6 D.Factors affecting Grammar Games: Age……………………………………………………………………..………6-7 Ability in the target language…………………………………..7 Motivation…………………………………………………………………..7-8 Size of group…………………………………………………………..8-9 Time…………………………………………………………………………....9 V. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………...………10 VI. Appendix……………………………………………………………………………….…11-13 Introduction This paper aims at discussing the issue of teaching grammar through game activities, which derives its importance from the pursuit of excellence in language learning and teaching. At this point it is probably a good idea to start with some definitions of grammar, followed by the place of grammar in language teaching. In this context, researchers speak of the grammars of a language rather than of the grammar. Therefore, different methods of teaching a language will be presented and two of them will be discussed individually; that is to say, structural and communicative. What I would like to take into consideration here is that balance between...
Words: 5021 - Pages: 21
...Abstract The purpose of this paper is to discuss and analyze images, anxieties, and attitudes towards mathematics in order to foster meaningful teaching and learning of mathematics. Images of mathematics seem to be profoundly shaped by epistemological, philosophical, and pedagogical perspectives of one who views mathematics either as priori or a posteriori, absolute or relative, and concrete or nominal. These images, as perceived by an individual can play a significant role in the development of attitudes towards mathematics in the long run. Images of mathematics can have possible negative and positive impacts on teaching and learning of mathematics with the subsequent development of attitudes toward mathematics as positive or negative and also associated mathematics anxiety. A theoretical model with different combinations of images, anxieties, and attitudes toward mathematics can be a helpful tool to develop an understanding of the different relationships among them. Some pedagogical implications can be drawn from these relationships. Key Words: Image of mathematics, Mathematics anxiety, Attitude toward mathematics, Affect in mathematics education Introduction How do students perceive mathematics in schools? What are different images of mathematics that students perceive? How these images impact their learning? What is math anxiety? What are the causes of math anxiety? What is the relation of image of mathematics as perceived by students with math anxiety? What...
Words: 5559 - Pages: 23
...Abstract This study aims at investigating the effects of grammatical error correction on EFL learners’ accuracy. Twenty-two males and females senior students were chosen randomly to respond to a questionnaire investigating their beliefs about immediate grammatical error correction. Therefore, this study was conducted in order to answer this question: what is the effect of grammatical error feedback on students’ accuracy? Results related to the questionnaire that was delivered to the participants proved that immediate error correction enhances and has a positive effect on their accuracy. Introduction Accuracy, in its simple view, is the ability to produce grammatical correct sentences (Gower et al. 1995). Since its vital role in acquiring the English language in Palestine, grammar should seize a wide distance in EFL classrooms and should be taught either inductively or deductively. Nevertheless, the process of teaching and learning does not guarantee that all learners are expected to produce grammatical sentences, so the role of the teachers, here, is to respond and give immediate feedback. The erroneous utterances may interfere with the intelligibility of what is said. When the feedback provided during a conversational interaction, the acquisition process is facilitated (Rahimi & Dastjerdi 2012) and the direct treatment of errors helps learners learn better. The feedback and correction of errors are parts of the process of learning and teaching....
Words: 3743 - Pages: 15
