Blog Post #6

What Did We Learn from Anthony Capps

    For this blog assignment we were told to watch seven different videos of conversations between Anthony Capps, and Dr. Strange. Mr. Capps was a former EDM310 student of Dr. Strange's and is now a current third grade teacher at Gulf Shores Elementary School. Throughout these conversation videos, I learned quite a few things but most noticeably, the fact that elementary students are clearly ahead of me when it comes to technology. 

     For instance, Mr. Capps's 8 and 9 year old third graders know how to use iMovie on their macbooks at school, while I am a 21 year old Junior in college, learning how to use it for the first time. iMovie is a very interesting application tool that allows for students to make and edit videos and trailers straight from their computers, phones or ipads. One interesting thing I found in the video Don't Teach Tech- Use it was that teachers are not showing their students how to use these apps, they are learning how to further their use in education. Mr. Capps and Dr. Strange discuss the difference in using technology and teaching it by saying that "it is not our goal to teach them technologies, it is to use it like a scaffolding tool". 

    I made note of the list that was being referred to throughout the videos in ways to be an effective teacher. From what I gathered it went something like this: 

1) BE A LEARNER.

• Being a teacher is also about learning throughout. We want to be teaching our students how to be lifelong learners and there is no better way than correcting ourselves as we find new information. Students are learning so rapidly now that they may find something we thought we were correct about but they have proof on how to change our minds.

2) BE FLEXIBLE

• "Not everything is going to go the way you plan". Being teachers that are focusing on how to use project based learning not everything will go to plan, as many of us know. The fact that the servers were down one day but Mr. Capps was able to still effectively teach his students through PBL and have them understand, was a great idea.

3) ITS HARDWORK BUT ITS EXCITING

•  Working as a teacher is hard work, and almost every single person knows that. But, what they don't know is how rewarding it can be. Becoming a teacher means long hours even when you leave the school and a lot of extra teaching, be it to yourself or your students. One of the things I took away from this is that its okay to be excited about things outside of work, that have to do with work. You allow yourself to research things more and more outside of the classroom to bring into your lesson plans. It's hard work and dedication but it's exciting when everything is falling into place.

4) REFLECTION

• Reflection is very important in becoming a teacher, because you have to be able to look at what you are doing and understand where to go from there. Revise things and make them better. If a lesson plan does not work very well the first time, move forward with a better idea. 

There were so many important things I learned from watching the videos posted but I think the most memorable thing to me was the fact that a lesson plan needs to be used like a scaffolding tool.
Starting with the year and working through that all the way down to the daily plan was such a great idea. Looking at lesson planning as more of a ladder it shows that you are looking ahead with consideration to the daily things as well.

Overall, I think the videos were very insightful and I know I will be looking into using iCurio in my classroom. I believe my favorite videos were the ones:  Don't Teach Tech- Use it! and Additional Thoughts About Lessons.