Running Head: Week 2, Observations and Thoughts

Week 2, Observations and Thoughts David Smyth Ivy Tech Community College- Indianapolis

Week 2, Observations and Thoughts

I used to enjoy my quiet times. Now, those are the moments when thoughts bombard my brain. This new dilemma can be traced to exercises and subject matter being discussed on Wednesdays. Last Wednesday, I found that my observation skills were a little lacking; normally, I would say that that would be a strength of mine. I saw the obvious in looking at the cube, but was slow to make connections. I dont think it was as important to me as others to see what was on the bottom panel. I was more interested in the connections and exploring the possibilities of what it could contain. The next task was even more thought provoking. Trying to describe and name various hardware pieces from the bottom of your toolbox proved more difficult than imagined. It was interesting to find that what you feel may be common terminology, may not be easily understood by a different group of people (or students). It highlighted the differences in peoples background and experiences, and trying to communicate through or around those differences is important. Still early in this class, it is hard to make sense of applying this process of questioning and open-endedness to an elementary classroom. I obviously can relate to the constant questioning and getting college students to think; but right now think it would be different presenting such concepts to younger students. As I said before, classroom discussions are creating an internal buzz; add to that the textbook, it just leaves me with more questions than answers right now. Memorizing isnt learning? Arent basic memorized facts and skills providing the framework so understanding and application can build extensions of that frame? Content vs Concepts? My view is right now that a teacher has to have an end goal in mind when presenting a lesson. There has to be a right answer along with probably many wrongs. I think encouraging questions from students

Week 2, Observations and Thoughts

and hands-on exercises bring a different element to the classroom that would excite students and encourage participation; but can it have the opposite effect? Classroom culture has to be developed and enforced. It has been my experience that even in the most non-judgmental environment, students dont ask questions for the fear of asking stupid questions or being humiliated in front of classmates. I look at the example from the text on pages 11-12 on grass/plants/roots (Hand & Hockenberry & Norton-Meier & Wise). Andrea starts a class discussion, gets the teacher and class experimenting- fun stuff. But when her claim is proven incorrect, strong adjectives describing her are sullen and self-admitted speechless. What are the other kids saying to her or about her? How likely is she to make a public claim next class? The final thing that disturbs me is the last paragraph on page 17 from the text (Hand & Hockenberry & Norton-Meier & Wise) to a certain degree I understand the statement, the learner controls learning. But if a teacher was doing the job, the influence he/she provides has to have a major effect. David, 9.5/10 First of all, APA needs some work. 2nd of all, you underestimate the ability of small children. Even kindergartners have the ability to think critically...and ask thought provoking questions...it all lies in whether or not they have been taught to think. Metacognition...or thinking about thinking...is a great skill to instill in small people. If you doubt me on this, you need to take a personal field trip to the Center for Inquiry. There are 3 of them in IPS and they teach like this all day every day...and it works.

Week 2, Observations and Thoughts Memorization is not learning....simply because memorization is fleeting. What really builds your knowledge base is your experiences with items. Case in point...you probably knew

that there were dry wall screws, lock washers, etc...in that baggie of stuff. You didn't set around and memorize the names and matched them to pictures, right? Probably not. It was through various experiences that you learned what a dry wall screw or a lock washer looked like. Same thing for the cork, rubber band, paper clip, etc.. I'm almost 100% positive nobody has ever set you down with pictures and words and had you do flash cards to memorize the items rubber band, paper clip or cork. The same goes for concepts over content. Content will be picked up...and I can get content ANYWHERE..however, in order to do so, I need to be taught CONCEPTS!!!!

Week 2, Observations and Thoughts Bibliography Hand, B. & Hockenberry, L. & Norton-Meier, L. & Wise, K. (2008) Questions, Claims, and Evidence. Portsmouth, NH. Heinemann.