name: · web view2013-07-25 · becoming aware that learning is a complex multi-dimensional...

EDUC 224Ivy Tech Community College – Central Indiana

STEP 1 – Download this document to your hard drive or portable storage device. You will revise this SAME document TWO additional times during the course. For the first assignment, you will only complete the areas labeled as “beginning”. For the second assignment, you will only complete the areas labeled as “middle”. For the final assignment, you will only complete the areas labeled as “end”.

STEP 2 – Rate each bullet point as to how you are feeling at this point in the course. The rating will either be Confident, Somewhat Confident, or Not Confident/Don’t Understand.

STEP 3 –Explain the thinking behind your ranking at this time.

STEP 4 – Submit your assignment. Please make sure that you save this document as you will revise this SAME document two additional times during the course.

EDUC 224 What I am Thinking Now – Curriculum Vision

Vision for Curriculum Together we will work toward: Type your answer in the text box.1. Richness

Developing an awareness that there are layers of meaning to an idea/concept; openness to finding patterns and connections and exploring the multiple possibilities and interpretations

Tapping into natural curiosity and questions about the world to drive the curriculum Asking questions throughout an investigative process to continually deepen our understanding Being comfortable with “not knowing” or not having the “correct answer”

EXAMPLE:


I am confident in finding patterns and making connections with scientific concepts. I enjoy working with the unknown and trying to create my own understanding by linking it to things I have already experienced or learned in the classroom.

Tapping into natural curiosity and questions about the world to drive the curriculumI am not confident about allowing natural curiosity and questions to drive the curriculum. I’m the type of person who likes to have specific assignments with specific answers. It is difficult for me to trust that all things will get covered by allowing the students to drive the curriculum.

Assignment developed by IU School of Education at Indianapolis (IUPUI) faculty.


EDUC 224 What I am Thinking Now – Curriculum Vision

Vision for Curriculum Together we will work toward: Type your answer in the text box.1. Richness


Tapping into natural curiosity and questions about the world to drive the curriculum Asking questions throughout an investigative process to continually deepen our understanding Being comfortable with “not knowing” or not having the “correct answer”

Beginning: Explain the thinking behind your ranking at this time.


I am somewhat confident in developing awareness that there are layers of meaning. I am good at finding the meaning to an idea but not so good at explaining exactly each step it took to get there until I have mastered the concept.

Tapping into natural curiosity and questions about the world to drive the curriculum

I am confident that I can tap into natural curiosity. I am naturally curious about my surroundings.

Asking questions throughout an investigative process to continually deepen our understanding

I am confident about asking questions throughout an investigation. I sometimes think I may ask too many questions.

Being comfortable with “not knowing” or not having the “correct answer”

I am somewhat confident with being comfortable not knowing or having a correct answer. The older I get the more I realize that it is ok to not always know the answers, honestly, this is an area I have worked hard to improve over the years.

Middle: Explain things that are confirmed or changed or confusing.


I have changed some in this area. I think I had a much smaller view of things, which made my awareness very tunneled. I think I was too confident about this at the beginning of the semester. I am glad that my confidence did not cloud my ability to determine that I had a lot to learn. I am more confident now in my ability to see that there are layers of meaning to an idea. I am also



much more open to finding patterns. At the beginning of the semester I did not see the whole picture. I am beginning to see things in a broader way. This is making it much easier to explore the multiple possibilities in our experiments.


I am still confident in my ability to tap into natural curiosity. I do not always go the direction I need to go, but I am definitely curious about the content.


I am still confident about asking questions throughout the investigation process. I am less confident that I am asking the correct questions.


I am not quite as confident in not knowing or having the correct answer. I have become quite frustrated this semester when I cannot uncover the correct answer quickly. I am use to finding quick answers, and the way we have been doing experiments, there is not a quick answer.

End: Explain why your ideas changed or didn’t change as a result of this class


My thoughts about the layers of meaning have changed a great deal as a result from this class. This class had made me see that my ideas are not the only ideas. It also showed me that many different directions can be taken with one idea. I am confident in my ability to be open to finding the patterns and connections. I am also confident in my ability to explore multiple possibilities.


I am naturally curious but, this class made me see that my curiosity can be put to good use. I am confident in my ability to tap into natural curiosity but only somewhat confident in my ability to incorporate it into driving curriculum.


I am very confident in my ability to ask questions throughout an investigative process in order to deepen understanding. I like to ask questions and this class showed me that asking questions is a good thing and not something to be reluctant about.


I still do not like “not knowing” the answer. This class did not change that about me. It is in my nature to always find a solution so not having an answer will always be difficult for me.



2. Recursion Re-examine “scientific words and phrases” that you remember, read, or hear from others. What

meaning do these words really have to you? Recording your learning experiences for the purpose of reflection and further understanding Referring to those reflections and examining what you understood at that time while looking for

connections to newly constructed knowledge and applying this new understanding to questions and problems


Re-examine “scientific words and phrases” that you remember, read, or hear from others. What meaning do these words really have to you?

I am not confident in re-examining words or phrases that I remember because I have a difficult time with memorization. I will have to go back and look at words and their meaning over and over again before I can remember them. I am confident that I will be re-examining; I will have to in order to fully understand.

Recording your learning experiences for the purpose of reflection and further understanding

I am confident in my ability to record my learning experiences. I often read through my notes in order to gain a better understanding of what I am learning.

Referring to those reflections and examining what you understood at that time while looking for connections to newly constructed knowledge and applying this new understanding to questions and problems

I am somewhat confident in my ability to make a connection to newly constructed knowledge and applying it. It sometimes takes me a bit of time to work through and examine a situation before I can make a connection.



I am a little more confident in my ability to re-examine scientific words and phrases that I remember. This is mostly due to the fact that Barb has used our individual schema in order to build our knowledge. We have also used to words and concepts many different times, in many different ways. This has shown me that I can remember them much easier than I had originally anticipated. The words have a deeper meaning to me know because I have seen how they are used, and I have had the opportunity to use them myself.




I am very confident in my ability to record my learning experiences for the purpose of reflection and further understanding. I love my science journal, and I have also enjoyed writing the weekly response journals. They have allowed me the opportunity to reflect on what I have learned, which has given me the opportunity to better understand what I have learned.


I am a bit more confident about referring to my reflections, and examining what I understood at the time I wrote them, and being able to make a connection to newly constructed knowledge, and applying that new understanding to questions and problems. The Weekly Journal Response has helped a great deal in building my confidence with this. I like having the time to reflect on what I have learned before responding. It has given me time to really think about a concept before responding.

End: Explain why your ideas changed or didn’t change as a result of this class.


I am more confident in my ability to re-examine words or phrases that I remember, read, or hear from others. This class made me realize that if I do not know what something means, I need to look it up. I have a tendency to blow off things that I do not understand. After taking this class, I want to spend more time learning about the unknown, then ignoring it.


I am very confident in my ability to record what I have learned in order to reflect back on it. I enjoyed keeping a scientific journal and often referred back to it.


Not everything I wrote down made sense at the time I wrote it. As time passed, and we learned more, I was able to make connections to each piece of the puzzle. I still prefer to learn in a way that I understand where I am going in my learning.



3. Relations Engaging in dialogue with others as we work together to deepen understanding – learning

involves the community of learners Reflecting on how you are making sense of your learning process and science content both

individually and as group Sharing your ideas (i.e. questions, thoughts, concerns, confusion, etc.) openly with others in

group and class discussions so group thinking can occur


Engaging in dialogue with others as we work together to deepen understanding – learning involves the community of learners

I am confident in my ability to engage in dialogue with others in order to learn. I love talking through any issue or experiment. Most of what I have learned in my life has been from talking and listening to other people.

Reflecting on how you are making sense of your learning process and science content both individually and as group

I am somewhat confident in making sense of my learning process. Sometimes I have too many ideas and it is hard to make sense of them all.

Sharing your ideas (i.e. questions, thoughts, concerns, confusion, etc.) openly with others in group and class discussions so group thinking can occur

I am somewhat confident in sharing my ideas openly with others. I have been told that I sometimes share too much information. This is a character trait that I am very aware of and work hard to improve on a daily basis.



I am still confident in my ability to engage in dialogue with others as we work together to deepen our understanding. While in groups, I have been able to work through questions that we have, in order to better understand the overall concept of the experiment. There have been things that others in the group have brought up that I didn’t consider and vice versa. This has really helped with understanding the full picture.


I am somewhat confident in my ability to reflect on how I am making sense of my learning process and science content as a group. Sometimes I do not fully understand what a member of my group is trying to explain, so I have to ask many questions. I am confident in this as an individual because I can reflect on my own understanding much better than I can reflect on what



someone else understands.


I am still somewhat confident in my ability to share openly with others in a group and class discussion. I have seen others in my groups become frustrated when they do not understand what I am saying, or get frustrated what they disagree with what I am saying. This tends to make me feel uncomfortable and more reluctant to share. I like to have time to think before I speak, and others do seem not need as much time. Taking time to stop and think, before jumping into things, is not how everyone does things.



I am very confident in my ability to engage in dialogue with others to deepen our understanding. Throughout this class, I worked with several different students. Some had very poor communication skills, while others had very good communication skills. Although I find it frustrating trying to work with those that cannot communicate, I find it enlightening to work with those that can. I see myself as a good communicator.


I am somewhat confident in my ability to make sense of the learning process and science content. Science is not my best subject. I have to read some things several times before it makes sense to me. This class did not change that.


I am very confident in my ability to share ideas openly with others so that thinking can occur. Sometimes it takes me a little time to gather my thoughts and figure out what I want to say but, when I figure it out I have no problem sharing. I have always had this characteristic, so I do not feel this class changed that.



4. Rigor Becoming aware that learning is a complex multi-dimensional process and that we will have

more questions than we can answer completely at this Finding some resolution to an “I-need-to-know” question while aware that there is always more

to be learned about the concept Making inferences based on multiple observations and checking their viability in accordance with

your understanding at that time. Developing ‘working explanations’ that synthesize what you are thinking, evidence from your

investigations, and ideas from others


Becoming aware that learning is a complex multi-dimensional process and that we will have more questions than we can answer completely at this

I am somewhat confident that I can except that learning is a complex multi-dimensional process and that we will have more questions than we can answer. I like to always have an answer and it is difficult at times to not have one.

Finding some resolution to an “I-need-to-know” question while aware that there is always more to be learned about the concept

I am confident that I will learn an answer and be willing to keep searching for more information to gain a better understanding of a concept. With most things, there is always more to learn.

Making inferences based on multiple observations and checking their viability in accordance with your understanding at that time.

I am not confident at making inferences because honestly, I am not sure what that means and I will have to look it up.

Developing ‘working explanations’ that synthesize what you are thinking, evidence from your investigations, and ideas from others

I am somewhat confident in my ability to explain what I am thinking and explaining the evidence. I am a detailed explainer by nature.



I am much more confident with my ability to be aware that learning is a complex multi-dimensional process, and that I will have more questions than can be answered completely. This is why I like working in groups. With many different views we are able to see how complex the process is, and we can ask each other questions which may lead to more answers.

Finding some resolution to an “I-need-to-know” question while aware that there is always more



to be learned about the concept

I am confident that I can find an answer to an I-need-to-know question while being aware that there is always more to be learned about the concept. When we worked with the radiometer, we discovered that heat made it move, but I wanted to know more. I know I can use many resources at home in order to broaden my understanding of why heat makes it move.


I am now somewhat confident in my ability to make inferences based on multiple observations and checking their viability in accordance with my understanding at the time. With the radiometer, we inferred that it was heat and light together that made it move. After observing the effects of heat and light alone, we were able to determine that it was only the heat that made it move.


I am somewhat confident in my ability to develop working explanations that synthesize what I am thinking, evidence from my investigations, and ideas from others. Sometimes I have a hard time putting into words what I am thinking. In the groups, some members tend to want to move really fast, simply wanting to get an answer. My brain needs time to observe and think in order to come up with an explanation, or to understand what another person’s idea means.



I am confident that I am becoming aware that learning is a complex multi-dimensional process and that I will have more questions that can be answered. I prefer to have answers to questions. I understand fully that learning is complex, and that it is different for every learner. This class improved my understanding that it is not always important to have the answer but the focus is more on how to get the answer and the path taken. Finding some resolution to an “I-need-to-know” question while aware that there is always more to be learned about the concept

I am confident in my ability to continue to learn even after I have found a resolution to an “I-need-to-know” question. I sometimes find myself learning about something then never revisiting it. I know that if I revisit my data then I can build on my prior knowledge. This class has changed my thought process on this a great deal.


I am somewhat confident in my ability to make inferences based on multiple observations and to check their viability in accordance with my understanding. This was difficult this semester because I often found myself working with people that wanted to jump into the experiment without being fully prepared to make full observations. Then jump from one inquiry to another



without taking time to completely write down what has been observed. This was somewhat frustrating to me because I am very detailed and like to take very detailed notes. How this class changed me in this area was that it forced me to be understanding about the way others like to work.


I am confident in my ability to develop working explanations that show what I am thinking, evidence from my investigations, and ideas from others. This class gave me a complete understanding of how an accurate inquiry is done.

Make sure you save your document often…



EDUC 224What I am Thinking Now - Expectations

Class Expectations:

1. Attend all class sessions. Notify instructor of absence by email and take responsibility to learn about missed experiences from your group. In class credit cannot be made up. Absences may lower your final grade because class activities require participation to earn points. See syllabus.

Beginning: If you don’t think you will be able to attend class on time and/or regularly, explain the difficult you foresee so we can discuss it.

If you don’t think you will be able to attend class on time and/or regularly, explain the difficult you foresee so we can discuss it.

I do not foresee any issues with arriving on time or coming to class. I will not be able to be in class on March 26th, due to my daughter performing in the orchestra at Disney World. I will make every effort to be sure to have assignments, which are due on that day, turned in prior to leaving for Florida.

Middle: Explain your attendance pattern to date and whether you need to modify it for the rest of the class.

Explain your attendance pattern to date and whether you need to modify it for the rest of the class.

I have not missed a class. I did have to leave 20 minutes early last week. I contacted a fellow student to find out what I missed in that 20 minutes.

End: If you had problems with attendance this semester, explain your situation here.

If you had problems with attendance this semester, explain your situation here.

I did not have any problems with attendance this semester. I missed one day because of my daughter’s performance in Disney World. Other than that day, I was in attendance every time the class met.



2. Participate fully in all class sessions by working collaboratively with peers, asking questions and taking responsibility for developing your "scientific self".


Explain the thinking behind your ranking at this time.

I love collaborating with my peers. I feel I learn best through hands on experiences while working with other people. I sometimes have a tendency to do all the work if I see that others are not willing or cannot fully participate. I do need to work on stepping back allowing others to step up.

Middle: How are you doing in this regard? Look at the Participation Sheet.

How are you doing in this regard? Look at the Participation Sheet.

I feel I have done well with working with my peers. I have taken full responsibility for developing my scientific self. I ask questions when I do not know an answer, and I ask my peers for their opinion on work done in class.

End: If you had problems with participation this semester, explain your situation here.

If you had problems with participation this semester, explain your situation here.

I did not have any problems with participation this semester. I wish I could have made more connections in class for extra credit points. I kept forgetting about it.



3. Type or word process all major assignments (double space,12 pt font, see guidelines in syllabus) and submit documents as instructed.

Beginning: Explain if this is a problem.

Explain if this is a problemI just finished English 111 and am currently taking English 112. My English teachers have been very

particular about format and have taught me well. Writing documents in a particular format will not be an issue for me.

Middle: How are you doing?

How are you doing?

I have turned in papers that are in the proper format. I have not been marked down points for format, so I believe that I am doing very well in this area.

End: If you had problems with requirement this semester, explain your situation here.

If you had problems with requirement this semester, explain your situation here.

I did not have any problems with the requirements this semester.



4. Give each assignment enough time to apply your best thinking and writing skills. I assume that what you submit is your best work and grade it accordingly.

Beginning: If you think there will be a problem, let me know here and talk with me.

If you think there will be a problem, let me know here and talk with me.

I try very hard to put my best effort into all of my work. I take pride in the work I turn in.


How are you doing?

I feel I have turned in my best work. I devote a lot of time to this class, and give it my best effort.

End: If you had problems with doing your best this semester, explain your situation here.

If you had problems with doing your best this semester, explain your situation here.

I do not feel that I had a problem with working to my full potential this semester.



5. Submit all work on due date. See the syllabus for the late policy and assignment submission instructions.

Beginning: Explain if this is a problem.

Explain if this is a problem.

I will not have any issues with turning work in on time.


How are you doing?

I have turned every assignment in on time.

End: If you had problems with getting assignments in on time this semester, explain your situation here.

If you had problems with getting assignments in on time this semester, explain your situation here.

I did not have any problem with turning in assignments on time this semester.

Make sure you save your document often…



Name: EDUC 224

What I am Thinking Now – Preferences in Ways of Learning

Preferences in Ways of Learning

Rate each statement below with 4 (most preferred) 3, 2, 1 (least preferred)

1. I like to learn by:

Beg Mid End

1 1 1 having the information presented by an instructor and/or a book and my job is to learn what is presented.

3 4 4 reading and listening to explanations but also by asking questions during class and working to make sense of the material.

2 2 2 figuring out answers on my own by doing my own investigations and research.

4 3 3 working with a group to do investigations, discuss what we are doing, and work together to understand new or different ideas or results.

other (type statement here)

Beginning: Explain the thinking behind your ranking

Explain the thinking behind your ranking

I prefer to learn by discussion. I learn and retain information better through personal interaction and hands on experiences. Simply reading and being on my own to learn is boring and dull to me. This is why I have never taken an online class.

Middle: Explain why your preferences have or have not changed at this time.

Explain why your preferences have or have not changed at this time.

I changed my answers to two of these because I have had an experience in working with groups in class that did not have a positive outcome. A group member got mad at another group member for disagreeing with her. One member continued on with the investigation, while the other leaned against the wall and refused to participate. I feel I spent more time trying to mend fences than I did investigating the experiment. That is why I changed that one to a 3. I am definitely strong at reading, listening, and asking question during class in order to make sense of the material. That is why I changed this one to a 4.



End: Summarize your thinking about this section related to this course. How might this experience influence you in the future?

Summarize your thinking about this section related to this course. How might this experience influence you in the future?

I really enjoyed working in groups for the Mid Term and the Final. I think that our group worked well together and understood the goal. I enjoyed reading the text book because it was a really great book. Most textbooks I do not enjoy reading. I preferred doing hands on things in class and class discussion vs. just being lectured to. This experience has influenced me to be more open to the ideas of others. It has also influenced me to be more objective in my thinking.

2. Rate each statement below with 4 (most preferred) 3, 2, 1 (least preferred). Each statement must have a rating.

I like to be graded by:

Beg Mid End

2 3 3 individual work (papers, lab reports, or assignments) that I do by myself.

3 2 2 group projects where we get a group grade.

4 4 4 group projects where we learn together but we get graded on our own work.

1 1 1 taking quizzes and tests.

4 4 4 writing about what I’m doing, thinking, questioning, and/or feeling and why.

other (type statement here)



I am not a good test taker. The stress of memorizing material, then sitting in a quiet room with only a paper and a pencil causes me slight anxiety. I enjoy the interactions of group work. I believe all group work should have a group grade and an individual grade.





I changed two of my answers. After working in a group the first part of the semester, I have realized that not everyone likes to participate in the same way I do. Some people get their feelings hurt very easily when the group disagrees with them. This has created a situation where the person who gets their feelings hurt withdraws from the group, and refuses to participate. I do not want to be graded alongside an individual that refuses to do any of the work because they cannot handle a group discussion. I work hard as an individual, and would like to be graded as such. I must add that not every group that I have been paired with has had this issue. Unfortunately, the most recent, and freshly in my mind group, was the one that did.



In the future I will have a better understanding of the importance of reflective writing. I was a little annoyed with all the journals in this class at times, but I respect them now and understand their importance. I like being graded on my own performance and work. Although I enjoy working with a group, I think that it is important to be graded as an individual. I feel the way the Mid Term was graded was a perfect example of this.



3. Rate each statement below with 4 (most preferred) 3, 2, 1 (least preferred). Each statement must have a rating.

I like to take part in class by:

Beg Mid End

1 1 1 mainly listening to others; I don’t like to talk in class

2 2 2 occasionally talking with one person or in a small group

4 4 4 asking questions, sharing ideas, and working in a small group.

4 4 4 asking questions, sharing ideas, and providing leadership in a small group

4 4 4 asking questions and sharing ideas in large group discussions

3 3 3 presenting my ideas to the whole class



I am not a quiet person. I get restless sitting in a class without interaction for three hours. I enjoy classes where we can move around and have discussions. I love bringing up heated topics and listening to other people’s views. My favorite class last semester was public speaking. I was very nervous giving my speeches, but on non-speech days, we were engaged in class discussions. We all spoke our mind in a good, non-offensive manner. It was great fun.



I have not changed any of my answers because I feel I have not changed in any of these areas. I will always like to talk, and participate. I love sharing ideas, and feel I learn better when ideas are being discussed within a group.





It is very important to have good communication skills in this class. The more information that can be shared, the more you learn. I enjoy talking with people and sharing ideas. This class provided the perfect environment for me to exercise those skills. In the future, I will continue to share my ideas. This class has taught me to make sure that I am also listening to others ideas. Everyone has information to share and by listening to that information, a lot can be learned.



4. If there is anything about how you learn or something that might impact your work in this class, add it here.

Make sure you save a WORD document with your name in the document name – for instance Mechelle what am I thinking beginning.doc (or docx) .

When complete, submit in Blackboard Assignment button for the correct time in the course - “What I am Thinking Now” as a Word document.


name: · web view2013-07-25 · becoming aware that learning is a complex multi-dimensional...

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