4-1 Activity 1: Assessment Review

Wow! This was a real revelation to us as teachers. We had to look seriously at our assessment practices and        determine to make the necessary changes to our present way of assessment. It was reinforced that our students know more about us than we may be aware of.

It is up to us as educators to improve our present practices so that our students are never disadvantaged during their assessments. Authenticity, accuracy and efficiency are keys to the success of assessment.

Activity 4: “Behaviourism-new_strategy”- Reflection

Attention seekers are individuals who constantly try to get the attention at all times. As educators, the onus is ours to stop such behaviour patterns since other learners are disrupted and their required attention times are limited or taken away. Be consistent in our method of dealing with the issues and positive results would be gained.

I am impressed with the responses given by my colleagues and will try some of their approaches should I be faced with similar occurrences.

The ways in which we as educators deal with problems in the classroom can help to turn negative  behaviours into positive ones or they can help to make them worst.

Reading 2: Activity 3: Social Cognitive Theory - Reflection

Learners model what they see, so educators are to model what they expect their learners to do. There are times when we become intimidated with the set of learners that we are given but we can encourage learning if we eradicate the barriers that are in the teaching/learning process. 

The teacher in the excerpt made a bad first impression on the minds of the students that some of them were a bit apprehensive with their approach to her. We should always put ourselves in the shoes of our learners and remember how would feel if we were in their situation.

This was an enjoyable discussion and a great deal was learnt.

1-1 Activity 2: Information Processing Approaches - Reflection

I simple don't understand how quickly time flies. While doing this activity, I started some reflection on how do my teaching/learning experience affect my learners. I question myself: when I give them assignments etc and attach a deadline, are they rushed or forced to accomplish them without understanding what to do? Have I taken into consideration that they have other events going on in their lives? Were my instructions clear enough so that the average or below average learner can understand?

As educators, we need to take note of the processes outlined by Piaget are of great importance in our teaching/learning experiences. It is my pledge to ensure that I teach so that all these steps are followed so that my learners can store the information in their long term memory.

1-1 Activity1 Reflection

The most powerful lessons that I learnt during this activity are: 

• Many new teachers had the notion that students were sponges so they had to feed them with all the knowledge.

• Some teachers started teaching since that was the only thing available or they were fed up with other jobs.

• With training, teachers were exposed to their weaknesses in the classroom and changed their approaches for the better.

• As teachers, we need to see each learner as important and ensure that our classroom environments are conducive to learning.

• No matter what level we are asked to teach, we should be able to transfer our teaching/learning experience to suit it.

• As teachers we can learn from others if we are open-minded.

• Educators should keep abreast with new teaching/learning styles by reading educational publications and, attending workshops etc. This will help to prevent us using the “traditional” view as posited by Whitaker.

• There is satisfaction when a teacher sees positive results of their efforts with learners.

• Teachers should encourage collaborative learning.

P.S. This was posted in the group blog by mistake.