EDUC 8401 – Innovation
I have been teaching college
composition as an adjunct for seven years and would very much like to be a full
time instructor. I have finished all my core classes for Walden and this is my
first specialization course. I recently submitted my premise and I am anxiously
waiting to hear a response. I am very interested in the role of education
(college) in the lives of students who have had to overcome major life
challenges. I am also extremely
interested in brain research that serves to improve teaching and learning
skills. Recent brain research also revealed fascinating information about the
effects of prayer
and meditation on learning.
I have three brothers and a younger
sister and I have three sons and two daughters so I am familiar with “the battle
of the sexes.” While I am not a militant women’s libber at all, I believe we’ve
created unnecessary divisions at times. I recently read this
blog and found it very insightful. I like to use blog topics to
encourage/provoke classroom discussions that help students understand the
argumentation process and develop their own critical thinking skills.
When I went to set up this blog, I discovered old blogs from four years ago, plus blogs I had set up for my students. There was a big push in the English department at that time to get students to blog. It may have been too soon for me. I look forward to implementing blogs next semester as part of my experimental/innovative plan to teach composition to student groups instead of individuals. I recently discovered Turnitin's Peer Mark program, and although it is flawed, I believe that active peer reviews, support, and encouragement may improve student learning. Group blogs would be a fun way to get all the groups to interact. We'll see…!
Hello, Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog. Your areas of study are interesting. So, what is your dissertation topic? I think writing your dissertation will help put you on the path of your goal/dream of writing a book.
What do you enjoy most about teaching at the higher education level? My goal/dream is to teach at the higher education level and I am slowly approaching that goal/dream. Is there any advice you can share with me? Thank you, Luther
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Luther,
ReplyDeleteCurrently, my dissertation topic is the role of education as it pertains to post traumatic growth in student overcomers. I really want to explore the multiple ways working on one's education can help students in the healing process. That is one of the things I love about teaching college students. I have them write journals and many of them share harrowing experiences that have seriously affected who they are. I appreciate their candor and trust and do my best to be an encouragement.
I wish you well in your desire to teach at the higher ed level. I didn't even know it was something I wanted to do. I taught childbirth classes for many years and one of my students told me the college was hiring. She actually brought the application to my house. Six weeks later I stood in front of my first class and knew it was my dream job.
Being hired as an adjunct is fairly easy - it's the full time positions that remain elusive. However, with our hard-earned PhDs we should be more desirable hires and have better options. Fingers crossed!
Thank you for your lovely comments!
~Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting that you found some old blogs you'd set up in the past. I hope that through your studies this quarter, you find out how you might best use blogs with your students. If you have them journal about very personal topics, you'll need to consider whether public blogs are a good idea. If you decide they aren't, there are more private options, that only members of your course read. I've used Nings, and 21classes.
Here are links to my examples (used with college-level students) I'm not sure how much you'll be able to see, because of the privacy settings. https://isu306-1f08.21classes.com/ and http://www.ning.com/ (Nings work more like facebook...but can be closed or open.)
Dr. Darci
Thank you, Dr. Darci. I will check out those sights. My classroom idea is to use blogs as a means of communication between student groups. Personal information will remain in journals.
DeleteThank you for the resources.
Hi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteAs a science teacher, I like the fact that you are fascinated by the brain. This semester I am teaching a high school class on Human Body System and we just finished the unit on the human brain. Do you believe that students facing major life challenges deals with short-term or long-term memory or emotions? There are various regions of the brain that controls our actions and reactions. This will be interesting as you may want to pursue this further for your dissertation topic. I wish you the best of luck on your path to becoming a full time instructor. Surely, your experience as an adjunct is a stepping stone for you.
Hi Thai,
DeleteThank you for your kind encouragement! Some information we have already gleaned in class leads me to believe that the connection between an emotionally challenging experience and other environmental factors relates to how the memory is stored. I'm excited about learning more - and getting your input as a science teacher!
Elizabeth
Hello Elizabeth:
ReplyDeleteFirst, I love that cartoon - so true!
Second, I lack self discipline too - when it comes to sweets.
Third, in response to your first area of interest, I can say that as someone who has had to overcome various challenges in life (socio-economic and health), post-secondary education has empowered me to live life to the fullest, be able to provide for myself, and build positive relationships people who share the same values and wish to give back to society in some way. Simply put, school (and some very special teachers in particular) saved me.
Hi Eve,
DeleteThank you for sharing - I would love to put together a study that gives solid credibility to the very things you said. We tout the improvement of the mind and earnings potential, but little is said on the positive emotional benefits. I especially agree with your comment about teachers.
And now, back to my paper (with a timeout for half a candy bar in my immediate future!)
Hello Elizabeth! I was impressed by your profile info: mother of five kids and grandma of three boys!!!!! Bravo!!!! I think it is a biggest accomplishment a women reach. I am new to blogging at all. I hope this class and you guys, my classmates, will teach me how to use blogs in a more productive way.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Olga. We are definitely in this learning process together!
ReplyDeleteHi Elizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of a group blog in your classroom. Let us know how it turns out!!
Mary