You may view my final product for Project 1 at:
http://tamiste.googlepages.com/home
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Runnng out of W's..............
Wrapping, Waving, Wishing.........................
As I complete the last phases of my inquiry project, I find myself again thinking of my 5th graders. How would they feel at this phase? Relieved? Accomplished? Encouraged? Ready to do it again? I would hope that they would choose the latter, because that is where I'm finding myself. (No, not this very moment............maybe at the end of the semester, or when I'm completely through all of my courses.) It is a feeling of accomplishment. Once the logistics of the entire model are completed, I do feel that I've learned something new and that I'm still not complete in my watching or wondering in this area. There is more to be discovered.
I've been most impressed with this project in its ability to move into areas of learning that are not typically approached in most learning settings. As Harada and Yoshina (2004) point out, "This type of learning moves away from activities and tasks at the recall level to projects requiring the application of concepts and the synthesis, interpretation, and evaluation of information." My students need this. With state testing, remedial testing, basic curriculum evaluations, etc., they would welcome this sort of learning. The kids are tested out..........
As I planned my project, I wanted to reach an audience that I found, through my webbing, wiggling, and weaving, was a bigger audience than I had anticipated. I was shocked to see the vast array of information available for those who feel overwhelmed and buried. What does that say about our society today? For those who have the answers and can actually deliver the help sought by so many....you should definitely have no concern about job security. You are needed. For those who need help and are so overwhelmed that they don't even think to seek help; I'm concerned.
I had earlier realized and was again convinced at the wishing phase how very valuable a visual tool can be. Though we are all educated and advanced, (we'd like to think anyway....) a child-like picture still says a thousand words. Each time I would return to this process, to blog or to simply plan my next step of attack, I would begin at my Inspiration 8 web plan to find my bearings. I will use this or something similar in the days (and projects) to come. I've finally given myself permission to "think in cartoon!"
In assessing my progress and attempts, if I were to start again on this topic, I would narrow it down a bit. This subject was larger than I first viewed it to be. If you refer to my earlier blogs, you will recall my comments and surprise at the fact household organization is more than eliminating clutter and getting your closets straightened. There is so much more involved from a psychological standpoint. Your home and surroundings are a reflection of your life and its condition. To attack this beast, I think that an optimal place to begin would be time organization. Time must be created to simply be able to look around, think, listen, contemplate, and feel. After this is achieved, I believe that the rest will fall into place.
As I complete the last phases of my inquiry project, I find myself again thinking of my 5th graders. How would they feel at this phase? Relieved? Accomplished? Encouraged? Ready to do it again? I would hope that they would choose the latter, because that is where I'm finding myself. (No, not this very moment............maybe at the end of the semester, or when I'm completely through all of my courses.) It is a feeling of accomplishment. Once the logistics of the entire model are completed, I do feel that I've learned something new and that I'm still not complete in my watching or wondering in this area. There is more to be discovered.
I've been most impressed with this project in its ability to move into areas of learning that are not typically approached in most learning settings. As Harada and Yoshina (2004) point out, "This type of learning moves away from activities and tasks at the recall level to projects requiring the application of concepts and the synthesis, interpretation, and evaluation of information." My students need this. With state testing, remedial testing, basic curriculum evaluations, etc., they would welcome this sort of learning. The kids are tested out..........
As I planned my project, I wanted to reach an audience that I found, through my webbing, wiggling, and weaving, was a bigger audience than I had anticipated. I was shocked to see the vast array of information available for those who feel overwhelmed and buried. What does that say about our society today? For those who have the answers and can actually deliver the help sought by so many....you should definitely have no concern about job security. You are needed. For those who need help and are so overwhelmed that they don't even think to seek help; I'm concerned.
I had earlier realized and was again convinced at the wishing phase how very valuable a visual tool can be. Though we are all educated and advanced, (we'd like to think anyway....) a child-like picture still says a thousand words. Each time I would return to this process, to blog or to simply plan my next step of attack, I would begin at my Inspiration 8 web plan to find my bearings. I will use this or something similar in the days (and projects) to come. I've finally given myself permission to "think in cartoon!"
In assessing my progress and attempts, if I were to start again on this topic, I would narrow it down a bit. This subject was larger than I first viewed it to be. If you refer to my earlier blogs, you will recall my comments and surprise at the fact household organization is more than eliminating clutter and getting your closets straightened. There is so much more involved from a psychological standpoint. Your home and surroundings are a reflection of your life and its condition. To attack this beast, I think that an optimal place to begin would be time organization. Time must be created to simply be able to look around, think, listen, contemplate, and feel. After this is achieved, I believe that the rest will fall into place.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Beginning to Wind Down
As I continue to work on my final product, I decided to pause to look at IN State Standards to see where this all fit in. I teach 5th grade, so I'm fairly familiar with them and thought that might be something to look at since I'm now becoming more and more conviced that this type of a project could easily be accomplished by a fifth grader. I wasn't convinced before this, but now I see how the pieces and parts that are expected within an open inquiry are actually some of the standards that are expected.
Language Arts Stds.
5.2 Structural features of informational and technical materials. (Lots of graphs, illustrations, diagrams, format, and organization)
Comprehension. (Main idea, inferences, conclusions, generalizations, etc.)
Distinguish among facts, supported inferences, opinions
5.4-5.5 Writing Process and Applications. (Take the information and process it into a workable solution)
Language Arts Stds.
5.2 Structural features of informational and technical materials. (Lots of graphs, illustrations, diagrams, format, and organization)
Comprehension. (Main idea, inferences, conclusions, generalizations, etc.)
Distinguish among facts, supported inferences, opinions
5.4-5.5 Writing Process and Applications. (Take the information and process it into a workable solution)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Weaving and Wrapping May Go Hand in Hand
I feel as if I’m beginning to reach the metacognition phase, “thinking about thinking”.(Stripling, 2003) Taking a brief few moments to reflect on those questions that you have created, and determine if they are doing the job that they need to do for you is imperative, and simply, a smart-working timesaver. If you're not on the right track, don't continue, readjust your journey.
Upon re-reviewing the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner, I was amazed at how many of these standards that I am addressing within this project. Using these models seems to pull the entire process together making it seem so much more user friendly and not so intimidating. Each level of the Skills Standards seemed as if they were written precisely for this project. (vice versa?) The Dispositions in Action Standards (The 2.2s) made contact with the thinking process that I’ve had to go through to get to this point in my inquiry.
Just this morning my 19-year-old son who is in his freshman year in college, spoke with me about an assignment in his English class. They are required to draw up a plan for a research project of their own choice. They were given no guidelines, but were expected to come up with a list of keywords to include in their search and an outline of a “plan”. He had never been given this sort of an open inquiry project in high school and didn’t even know where to start. I assured him that he had come to the right place. I introduced him a few of the many models that we’ve been looking at in this course. You could see the relief on his face. Just goes to prove, a guy will always need his mother!
I’ve graduated from the Webbing and Wiggling phase and have found that the internet, and a great book that I found at the local library have been a great help. I’ve also enlisted the help of my sister whom I have mentioned in an earlier blog. The internet offers so much in the way of general tips, to personal coaching via the telephone or web. Most of the coaching options are for a fee, but many of the question and answer sites with online experts are free and ongoing. A trip to Home Depot also offered lots of insight in the organization area. Employees there were very helpful. Overall, I’m taking a sampling of what fits my needs at this time. If I were to re-visit this in a year (and I will) I would probably focus on different areas or some of the same areas in more depth. For example, the financials for our home and family could be better organized, and that is do-able. Our 3,000 acre farm business is a different story. My husband controls most of that and I feel that I need to become better versed in that area. It bothers me that I don’t know that much about the farming operation, especially since my parents farmed and my dad died unexpectedly when I was 8 years old. My mother knew NOTHING about the farm finances and her name wasn't attached to that first document or bank account. Talk about a painful crash course. I really need to know these things. (One of my procrastinations that I need to prioritize!)
I am beginning to synthesize my newly found knowledge into the Weaving phase. I’ll be going back to my Inspiration 8 web and adding to its content. Keeping the information in these categories has helped tremendously. This tool is a great deal of help to me as I’m a visual person and need to see things laid out before me. I went to the Think Tank site, which is a tool that intends to help you to organize topics and subtopics. Not really that impressed, but I’ll go back to it to look further, maybe I’m just not using it to its fullest.
Just so I’m not running too close to my deadline for Project 1, I will begin to create my product. I’ve decided on a PowerPoint, simply because I have had comments from class peers and my own friends that they would like to see the final, so this sort of product would be one that would be accessible and allow me to provide explanations, tips, website links, etc. Household organization, I’ve found, is a need for many. (I thought I was the only one!)
Online Coach (Free and for Fee)
http://cherylmillerville.com
ThinkTank (Organize Topics and Subtopics, etc.)
http://thinktank.4teachers.org
Home Management, Organization
http://home-organization.suite101.com
Upon re-reviewing the AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner, I was amazed at how many of these standards that I am addressing within this project. Using these models seems to pull the entire process together making it seem so much more user friendly and not so intimidating. Each level of the Skills Standards seemed as if they were written precisely for this project. (vice versa?) The Dispositions in Action Standards (The 2.2s) made contact with the thinking process that I’ve had to go through to get to this point in my inquiry.
Just this morning my 19-year-old son who is in his freshman year in college, spoke with me about an assignment in his English class. They are required to draw up a plan for a research project of their own choice. They were given no guidelines, but were expected to come up with a list of keywords to include in their search and an outline of a “plan”. He had never been given this sort of an open inquiry project in high school and didn’t even know where to start. I assured him that he had come to the right place. I introduced him a few of the many models that we’ve been looking at in this course. You could see the relief on his face. Just goes to prove, a guy will always need his mother!
I’ve graduated from the Webbing and Wiggling phase and have found that the internet, and a great book that I found at the local library have been a great help. I’ve also enlisted the help of my sister whom I have mentioned in an earlier blog. The internet offers so much in the way of general tips, to personal coaching via the telephone or web. Most of the coaching options are for a fee, but many of the question and answer sites with online experts are free and ongoing. A trip to Home Depot also offered lots of insight in the organization area. Employees there were very helpful. Overall, I’m taking a sampling of what fits my needs at this time. If I were to re-visit this in a year (and I will) I would probably focus on different areas or some of the same areas in more depth. For example, the financials for our home and family could be better organized, and that is do-able. Our 3,000 acre farm business is a different story. My husband controls most of that and I feel that I need to become better versed in that area. It bothers me that I don’t know that much about the farming operation, especially since my parents farmed and my dad died unexpectedly when I was 8 years old. My mother knew NOTHING about the farm finances and her name wasn't attached to that first document or bank account. Talk about a painful crash course. I really need to know these things. (One of my procrastinations that I need to prioritize!)
I am beginning to synthesize my newly found knowledge into the Weaving phase. I’ll be going back to my Inspiration 8 web and adding to its content. Keeping the information in these categories has helped tremendously. This tool is a great deal of help to me as I’m a visual person and need to see things laid out before me. I went to the Think Tank site, which is a tool that intends to help you to organize topics and subtopics. Not really that impressed, but I’ll go back to it to look further, maybe I’m just not using it to its fullest.
Just so I’m not running too close to my deadline for Project 1, I will begin to create my product. I’ve decided on a PowerPoint, simply because I have had comments from class peers and my own friends that they would like to see the final, so this sort of product would be one that would be accessible and allow me to provide explanations, tips, website links, etc. Household organization, I’ve found, is a need for many. (I thought I was the only one!)
Online Coach (Free and for Fee)
http://cherylmillerville.com
ThinkTank (Organize Topics and Subtopics, etc.)
http://thinktank.4teachers.org
Home Management, Organization
http://home-organization.suite101.com
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