Journal Reflection: Appendix B
I ended my last reflection entry talking about how this has been a tough school year for me, and that I was really looking forward to the upcoming week off to relax and recharge. Well, the week is just about over and I have to say I am definitely recharged. I worked all week at Fox in New York City and started a new insane exercise routine so I may not be so relaxed, but I am definitely recharged.
It’s probably evident from my writing in previous journal entries and just from hearing me talk in class, but I usually try to relate everything that I’ve been presented with over the course of time thus far at Seton Hall to my TV Production classes at Columbia High School. Seeing how my class is primarily a project based driven class, I was really able to relate to a lot of the information presented in the text by Moursund.
The one theme that I think continued to keep coming up, even though it was presented in different ways, was equating education to real life. In this section of the text, Moursund provides an overview of problem solving. Right away he talks about how the goal of education is changing to put more emphasis on higher order thinking skills, or problem solving, is more important. Well I don’t think you can get more real life than problem solving. And I think this is starting at a young age. My kids are age 9 and 7. They are in grades 4th and 1st respectively. One of the concepts or strategies that they are beginning to teach in the elementary school is called “New Math.” It essentially tries to teach the students better ways of thinking about how to solve a problem. At the younger ages, it’s not as important to always GET the correct answer, but to understand the concepts of HOW to get the correct answer. I can only speak for my kids, but they seem to be doing very well at math, so I guess it’s never too early to start teaching basic problem solving skills.
Back in chapter four, and again here, Moursund offers a connection between Project Based Learning and Process Writing. He talks about the steps a group will take to solve a problem and accomplish a goal, starting with brainstorming, moving through developing a draft and revising it, and concluding with publishing … or in the case of TV Production class … producing. Moursund also provides a general strategy for problem solving. In it he provides six steps that one would take to solve a problem. These include:
1. Understanding the problem.
2. Determining a plan of action.
3. Thinking about possible consequences of carrying out your plan of plan.
4. Carrying out your plan of action.
5. Checking to see if the desired goal has been achieved.
6. Reflecting on the overall result (this includes seeing if new problems developed).
I’m sure I’ve mentioned previously that I’m still relatively new to the education field. Coming from the private sector, I think these six steps reflect exactly what goes on in the business or corporate world … or for that matter, real life. And this is what I want to teach my students. Sure they will learn how to use the video camera, operate the control room equipment, and learn some other basic TV skills … but if there is one thing I want them to come away from my class with is the ability to think and make good decisions.
There are a lot of reasons that I enjoy teaching a class like TV Production as opposed to a core subject like English, math or science. Of course, I’ve never taught anything but TV Production so I guess I can’t really be 100% sure about making that last statement, but for the sake of argument let’s take it for face value. One of the main reasons I enjoy it is because it does offer the opportunity for some down time when I can really talk to the students. Now I don’t want to make it sound as if I’m getting invested in their personal lives. In fact, I’ve told them that I really don’t want to know too much about their personal lives. I think the less I know the better actually. But, just to be able to talk to them about real life stuff and things that I’ve been through whether it be in college or working in the television business, I think offers them much more than just another lesson on something like, “The 7 Deadly Camera Sins.”
No comments:
Post a Comment