One thing about teaching is that it's always full of surprises. This week, I was unpleasantly surprised that my third year students don't share the same enthusiasm as I do for a particular project.
Here's the background that builds up to this week: This summer was when I received my pleasant surprise. A group of my 2nd year students had made a commercial for our school store's very popular product, the Breeze Freeze, 100% frozen fruit juice. These ads were a hit on our daily news broadcast. I uploaded these videos to YouTube so everyone could continue to enjoy them. Lo and behold, the Breeze Freeze company found the videos, and they were so impressed by them that they instituted a national YouTube competition. The school of the winning video will win two free cases of Breeze Freeze product - enough for 320 cups of frozen delight. The school store will decide on how to reward the winners.
Now, you would think that my students would try to exceed in this project, but it has been rather lack luster. They just don't share my enthusiasm, and I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I set the deadline for this project on Wednesday. I still have two groups that haven't finished. Granted, the quality of this year's videos don't compare the those of last year. Perhaps that shouldn't surprise me, but it does. Maybe I'm just disappointed.
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
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2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
1 comment:
Hi Amy. I am not sure why the students are not motivated ? You think that they would be especially since they received some recognition for a large company promoting their original idea of doing a commercial. I would figure out WHAT motivates this group of students. Maybe they feel that it is too much work for the risk of not winning the freeze pops. If they like recognition, you could film them filming the commercial. Show their hard work on the news. I did this once, and the broadcasting students liked displaying their hard work of filming and editing. If its individual gain they desire, maybe you could get them a nice certificate or prize out of your broadcasting budget. You could also motivate them for participating by taking them on a special field trip. These are a few ideas. However, they may never be motivated and may be "on" to the next project. In this case, I think you should pat yourself on the back for having a company adopt your idea, and see what else your creative geniuses can explore. Good Luck. Lori
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