What? What is this individual currently researching?
Marilee Sprenger is an international educational neuroscience consultant. She has worked with kids from all ages, from kindergarten to college graduate students. She teaches brain-compatibility and memory courses at Aurora University. She works at developing brain-based teaching strategies, differentiation, and memory research. Marilee has written many books about these topics. She travels to lecture and teach her strategies to others. She seems to be best known for her research on memory.
So What? What does this person research have to do with education?
Marilee's research has tons to do with education. One very important thing that Marilee says is that students have a limited amount of focus time. She says that a student's focus time is equal to his/her age in minutes. For example I am 22 years old and therefore my focus time is 22 minutes. This is a very important thing to know and understand as a teacher. If you are teacher a group of 14-15 year old you cannot expect to lecture the whole period and your students to stay focused. Instead Marilee says to break up these lecture and focused times with students thinking and sharing the information with a partner. Another thing that Marilee says is that re-teaching the information to others helps you to memorize it. Graphic organizers and mnemonics are also great helps in memorizing information. When it comes to textbook reading Marilee says that if the students don't have something they are suppose to be looking for they will be less likely to remember what they are reading. The more active a student is in the learning the more they are likely to remember the information.
Now What? How might you use this research in your future classroom?
Knowing this information will be a huge help to me in my classroom. Knowing that my students are only able to focus for a certain number of minutes will help me to make lesson plans that are not just full of lecture but incorporate a lot of interaction. I really like graphic organizers and knowing that they are helpful in memory retention makes me like them even more. I definitely plan on using them a lot in my classes. I will also make sure that I give opportunities for my students to teach each other the material because Marilee says this is the best way to remember information. When I assign my students readings I will have them do a literature circle with it or other activities so they know what they need to get out of the reading. Marilee's research is extremely useful information that will really help me in my future classroom.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Course Contract Review #1
What am I doing well?
I am doing well at preparing for test and study time. I make sure that I am not tired, I am not hungry and am in an environment that will not distract me from the assignment. I also am doing a good job of making sure I understand the material before it becomes test time and clarifying any questions that I have.
What am I doing not well?
I am not doing well at writing down the assignments down in my planner each week. I also am not doing a good job on doing my blogs on Mondays. I am going to do them on Wednesday afternoons instead now because that works better with my schedule and other classes.
Am I making sufficient progress on my goals?
I feel like I am making progress on my goals. I feel that I really understood the material covered in the first test and that is a really good feeling. I also understand how knowing that information can help me become a better teacher. I also am doing well at not procrastinating. I have been able to complete all my assignments and readings ahead of time and have not felt overwhelmed at all.
What do I need to change in order to meet my goals?
To meet my goals I need to start writing down the assignments each day after class and scheduling them into my planner. In my planner I need to specify when I will work on them and complete them. When things get a little more busy this will help me out a lot.
Another thing I need to do is when the test comes back I need to go over my answers and figure out why I missed certain questions. I also want to make sure that I understand the essay questions I did not choose to write about because that information is important too and will help me in becoming a better teacher.
How is my motivation? Am I focusing on mastery or performance goals? Is there anything I need to change?
I feel very motivated to understand the content and to do well in this class. I am motivated to enjoy it and to have fun while I am learning the material and so far I am. At this point I feel that I am focused on mastery goals but at the same time I feel that if I meet my mastery goals then I will aslo perform well so I feel that they kind of work together. Right now I don't feel that there is much I need to change besides being better as using my planner.
I am doing well at preparing for test and study time. I make sure that I am not tired, I am not hungry and am in an environment that will not distract me from the assignment. I also am doing a good job of making sure I understand the material before it becomes test time and clarifying any questions that I have.
What am I doing not well?
I am not doing well at writing down the assignments down in my planner each week. I also am not doing a good job on doing my blogs on Mondays. I am going to do them on Wednesday afternoons instead now because that works better with my schedule and other classes.
Am I making sufficient progress on my goals?
I feel like I am making progress on my goals. I feel that I really understood the material covered in the first test and that is a really good feeling. I also understand how knowing that information can help me become a better teacher. I also am doing well at not procrastinating. I have been able to complete all my assignments and readings ahead of time and have not felt overwhelmed at all.
What do I need to change in order to meet my goals?
To meet my goals I need to start writing down the assignments each day after class and scheduling them into my planner. In my planner I need to specify when I will work on them and complete them. When things get a little more busy this will help me out a lot.
Another thing I need to do is when the test comes back I need to go over my answers and figure out why I missed certain questions. I also want to make sure that I understand the essay questions I did not choose to write about because that information is important too and will help me in becoming a better teacher.
How is my motivation? Am I focusing on mastery or performance goals? Is there anything I need to change?
I feel very motivated to understand the content and to do well in this class. I am motivated to enjoy it and to have fun while I am learning the material and so far I am. At this point I feel that I am focused on mastery goals but at the same time I feel that if I meet my mastery goals then I will aslo perform well so I feel that they kind of work together. Right now I don't feel that there is much I need to change besides being better as using my planner.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Motivation
Why am I here?
I am here at UVU because three of my siblings attended this school and really enjoyed it. They suggested that I come here and I took them up on their advice. I am here in in the education program because I want to be a teacher. When I was in middle school and high school I saw the positive influence that teachers can be in the lives of their students. I realized that I want to do that and impact my student's lives. I also have a love for history and want to teach something that I am passionate about. I am here in this program to learn the tools necessary to become a great teacher and how to teach. I am here in this class because it is a requirement for my major. I also am in this class because I have heard from friends that although this class is a lot of work, I will learn a lot of important information that will help me as I prepare and become a teacher. I am in this class because I want to learn all that I can to be a good teacher before I enter the field.
What motivates me?
The feeling I have when I succeed and do well motivates me to continue to do well. I am also very much motivated by positive feedback and compliments. When I am told that I am doing a good job it makes me happy and motivates me to work even harder. This is especially true in my job as a nanny. When my boss tells me how much they appreciate all I do for their family and how much they appreciate me it makes me want to be better, to clean the house more, to take the kids out, to do more fun activities. It even makes me more excited to come to work and gives me a better attitude. I am also motivated by competition. I am a very competitive person and enjoy winning and competing.
Why do I succeed?
I succeed because I put in the necessary effort. I work to do well in my classes and in other areas of my life. I am happier when I am successful therefore I try to succeed at all times. Failure is something anyone enjoys and so I work to succeed so I do not fail. I also believe that I succeed because of the example of my parents. They are both successful, confident people and through observing them throughout my life I have become a successful and confident person as well.
Why do I fail?
I fail because I can be a procrastinator. I also can be a little lazy. Another problem I have is not prioritizing well.
Do my goals in my course contract reflect mastery goals or performance goals? What does this say about me?
I believe that my goals in my course contract reflect mastery goals. My goal to not procrastinate will be something I carry on with me throughout my life. It is not about getting good grades, it is about making life easier for me and being able to put forth better work because I am not doing it in a hurry. If I can master this goal I will reduce so much stress. Assignments and test will not make me nervous or anxious. My other goal, to really learn and understand the material so I can be a great teacher is definitely a mastery goal. I want to learn this information so I can be better for my students, not so I can get an A in this class. My mastery goals tell me that I display self-regulation and that I am more likely to undergo conceptual change.
How do I need to change my mindset and motivations for this class in order to become a great teacher?
I need to work on not being so motivated by positive feedback. Other than that I feel my motivations and mindset for this class or good to help me become a great teacher. As times goes on though I may realize that I need to do some reevaluating and make some changes to my mindset and motivations.
I am here at UVU because three of my siblings attended this school and really enjoyed it. They suggested that I come here and I took them up on their advice. I am here in in the education program because I want to be a teacher. When I was in middle school and high school I saw the positive influence that teachers can be in the lives of their students. I realized that I want to do that and impact my student's lives. I also have a love for history and want to teach something that I am passionate about. I am here in this program to learn the tools necessary to become a great teacher and how to teach. I am here in this class because it is a requirement for my major. I also am in this class because I have heard from friends that although this class is a lot of work, I will learn a lot of important information that will help me as I prepare and become a teacher. I am in this class because I want to learn all that I can to be a good teacher before I enter the field.
What motivates me?
The feeling I have when I succeed and do well motivates me to continue to do well. I am also very much motivated by positive feedback and compliments. When I am told that I am doing a good job it makes me happy and motivates me to work even harder. This is especially true in my job as a nanny. When my boss tells me how much they appreciate all I do for their family and how much they appreciate me it makes me want to be better, to clean the house more, to take the kids out, to do more fun activities. It even makes me more excited to come to work and gives me a better attitude. I am also motivated by competition. I am a very competitive person and enjoy winning and competing.
Why do I succeed?
I succeed because I put in the necessary effort. I work to do well in my classes and in other areas of my life. I am happier when I am successful therefore I try to succeed at all times. Failure is something anyone enjoys and so I work to succeed so I do not fail. I also believe that I succeed because of the example of my parents. They are both successful, confident people and through observing them throughout my life I have become a successful and confident person as well.
Why do I fail?
I fail because I can be a procrastinator. I also can be a little lazy. Another problem I have is not prioritizing well.
Do my goals in my course contract reflect mastery goals or performance goals? What does this say about me?
I believe that my goals in my course contract reflect mastery goals. My goal to not procrastinate will be something I carry on with me throughout my life. It is not about getting good grades, it is about making life easier for me and being able to put forth better work because I am not doing it in a hurry. If I can master this goal I will reduce so much stress. Assignments and test will not make me nervous or anxious. My other goal, to really learn and understand the material so I can be a great teacher is definitely a mastery goal. I want to learn this information so I can be better for my students, not so I can get an A in this class. My mastery goals tell me that I display self-regulation and that I am more likely to undergo conceptual change.
How do I need to change my mindset and motivations for this class in order to become a great teacher?
I need to work on not being so motivated by positive feedback. Other than that I feel my motivations and mindset for this class or good to help me become a great teacher. As times goes on though I may realize that I need to do some reevaluating and make some changes to my mindset and motivations.
Course Contract
I have a couple goals for myself while taking this course. My first goal is to not procrastinate my assignments and to complete them all ahead of time. Another one of my goals is to learn the content so that I can become a better teacher and not just so I can get a good grade. I want to really know the material that we will be covering.
I will reach my goals in this course by making a weekly preparation plan. I will keep my weekly plan organized in my day planner. After class each Thursday I will write down the assignments given. I will then make a plan for the week about how and when I am going to complete each assignment. In doing this it will help me to not procrastinate. I will dedicate my Monday afternoons to completing the case study/blog assignment for that week. M-F evenings I will dedicate at least a half hour to the weeks reading assignment and study guide. If more time is necessary then I will work on the study guide on Saturday mornings. I will give myself plenty of time to complete each assignment.
I will also reach my goals in this course by preparing and having good study strategies. I have never been the best at studying but this semester I am determined to learn how to study the right way. First of all I will remove myself from all distractions and make sure that I have eaten a healthy meal or snack before I begin studying. I will study at a table instead of on the comfy couch so I won't be tempted to fall asleep. I also will attend class each week and take notes. If I have any questions I will make sure to ask my classmates and professor so I do not leave class confused. I will also make sure that I get 8 hours of sleep each night. I will make sure that I go to bed before 11pm. I will also attend any study groups. I will not cram the night before! I will study each day so that my brain is not fried when the time for the test comes along. After I take a test I will review the questions I missed and figure out why I missed the question and learn what is the correct answer and why.
I will reach my goals in this course by making sure I understand each topic before it comes time to take closed-book examinations. If I do not understand a topic in class I will ask my neighbor. If I am still confused I will speak with the professor. I will also research online if needed. If I am confused while working on a reading assignment I will re-read the material. If I am still confused I will research online. If that does not work I will call a friend from class. If I am still confused after all these steps I will email the professor and ask for more clarification. If needs be I will make an appointment to speak with the professor.
I believe that if I stick to these plans I will be able to reach each of my goals for this course.
I will reach my goals in this course by making a weekly preparation plan. I will keep my weekly plan organized in my day planner. After class each Thursday I will write down the assignments given. I will then make a plan for the week about how and when I am going to complete each assignment. In doing this it will help me to not procrastinate. I will dedicate my Monday afternoons to completing the case study/blog assignment for that week. M-F evenings I will dedicate at least a half hour to the weeks reading assignment and study guide. If more time is necessary then I will work on the study guide on Saturday mornings. I will give myself plenty of time to complete each assignment.
I will also reach my goals in this course by preparing and having good study strategies. I have never been the best at studying but this semester I am determined to learn how to study the right way. First of all I will remove myself from all distractions and make sure that I have eaten a healthy meal or snack before I begin studying. I will study at a table instead of on the comfy couch so I won't be tempted to fall asleep. I also will attend class each week and take notes. If I have any questions I will make sure to ask my classmates and professor so I do not leave class confused. I will also make sure that I get 8 hours of sleep each night. I will make sure that I go to bed before 11pm. I will also attend any study groups. I will not cram the night before! I will study each day so that my brain is not fried when the time for the test comes along. After I take a test I will review the questions I missed and figure out why I missed the question and learn what is the correct answer and why.
I will reach my goals in this course by making sure I understand each topic before it comes time to take closed-book examinations. If I do not understand a topic in class I will ask my neighbor. If I am still confused I will speak with the professor. I will also research online if needed. If I am confused while working on a reading assignment I will re-read the material. If I am still confused I will research online. If that does not work I will call a friend from class. If I am still confused after all these steps I will email the professor and ask for more clarification. If needs be I will make an appointment to speak with the professor.
I believe that if I stick to these plans I will be able to reach each of my goals for this course.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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