Exploration and Emergence Institute, 2003

Exploration and Emergence Institute 2003

Forum 11 - K-12 Teachers Thinking About Colleges/Universities

Name:  Paul Grobstein
Username:  pgrobste@brynmawr.edu
Subject:  emergent K-16 collaborations
Date:  2003-07-30 17:13:12
Message Id:  6239
Comments:
Morning, friends. I hope we can use this morning to lay the groundwork for future working together (see minisymposium program). To get us started, how about you write briefly about the kinds of experiences with colleges/universities (as a student and afterwards) that have most helped/hindered you as a teacher, and what experiences you wished you had/hope to have in the future?

Name:
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:  preparation
Date:  2003-07-31 08:56:09
Message Id:  6240
Comments:
although i lived and taught in an urban setting, i trained in a suburban setting. when i actually went to work for the new york city school system was i rudely awkened. scarsdale,ny was a far cry from spanish harlem,nyc. although we might not teach exactly where we want to or at least think we want to, we should train and be prepared for the location that we have in mind. in additon we should have a good foundation in terms of culture, dos and dont's for the general student population that we'll encounter. colleges and the trainee should insist upon setting appropriate training.

Name:  Randal Holly
Username:  kr092389@aol.com
Subject:  K-16 Symposium
Date:  2003-07-31 09:20:58
Message Id:  6241
Comments:
What experiences with college/university/graduate educators were most valuable to you as a teacher? Think both about experiences you had as a student and experiences (like outreach programs) since you became a professional teacher.

One experience immediately comes to mind. I was enrolled in a writing course at a community college in 1984. The section of the course was added so as to reduce the number of students who were overloading another section offered at the same time. As a result, this section consisted of only eight students. The instructor who arranged for this section addition was the English department head. Having an exemplary teacher and such a small class size allowed for greater attention to be given to those who were having difficulties organizing their thoughts when writing. Reflecting upon this convinces me that I probably would not have had as much success in my other coursework had it not been for this early experience.

What would you like college/university/graduate educators to be doing that would improve education for all students? to help you with your own teaching?

I always felt that at the college/university/graduate level, instructors are greatly concerned with the acquisition of knowledge in a particular subject area. Obviously, this is a mandate. However, only minimal pressure exists that requires one to make improvements as an educator.

In light of this, I have noticed that a great many instuctors tend to exhibit a single-mindedness with respects to how best one can impart this knowledge to others. I believe both teaching assistants and professors would benefit immensely from the exposure gained in teaching methodology courses.

Name:  Dawn
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:  College life
Date:  2003-07-31 09:28:22
Message Id:  6242
Comments:
I went to Millersville University. The things that most helped was the time spent in actual classrooms. They put you in the classroom freshman year because they felt that teaching wasn't for everybody andd you needed to be sure that this was what you wanted from the door. Also, my sophomore year they piloted an urban education program to prepare teachers for many of the differences faced by an urban teacher versus a suburban or rural teacher. The only thing that I feel I was not prepared with was realistic classroom management techniques. I had student taught in a rural setting, a suburban setting and an urban setting and faced the same behavioral problems across the board, but felt that I had not adequately dealt with these problems at the time(and my supervisor agreed). However, no one seemed to have any real advice to give except that it will get easier to manage a class as yoou gain more classroom experience. Not true! I gained more experience by working as an assistant in a behavior modification type of school. Classroom management should be taught as a class during college--then district's won't have to spend so much time training their teachers on proper classroom management techniques after the fact.

Name:  JudithOdom
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:  Educational Experiences
Date:  2003-07-31 09:28:29
Message Id:  6243
Comments:
My educational experiences were varied. As a double minority, attending a white male dominant school, I felt that I had to always prove myself not only to the the professor but also to the students. I was the only black female in the Chemistry department during the 70's and that was an experience I wouldn't want anyone of any color to experience. My graduate school experience was 100% better. I enjoyed my professors and found that we had something in common. I am hoping that my future experiences will be
just as great!

Name:  Mitch
Username:  tintindeo@aol.com
Subject:  Goodbye, July
Date:  2003-07-31 09:33:25
Message Id:  6244
Comments:
As an undergrad, I majored in Broadcasting and Film and got into teaching as a substitute, so my experinces at Penn State did not prepare me for a career in education. Fortunately, I was mentored by experienced teachers and principals until I finally decided to go back to school, Antioch Graduate, for a teaching certificate and masters. By this time I'd had several long-term positions and knew my way around the classroom. The Antioch program was designed to have the participant use their class and teaching experience as a foundation for the coursework. In other words, collaboration with other teachers and field-testing lots of free ideas.
I've participated in many other graduate-level programs over the years from PhilWp to Bryn Mawr to on-line courses and the most rewarding experiences have followed the Antioch pattern.
When I am working with other professionals, using the resources of a college or university, most importantly the staff of those institutions, when I feel valued as a teacher and as a human being, I am motivated to try a little harder. And the results-- those free ideas-- are priceless.

Name:  Geraldine brown
Username:  brownthankyou@aol.com
Subject:  EXPERIENCES
Date:  2003-07-31 09:35:15
Message Id:  6245
Comments:
MY EXPERIENCES in College was very interesting. I did'nt really matriculate into Drexel University until i was married with grown children. MY PEERS in undergrad, and grad school with also had families, with the exception of a few. We had a lot in common which made me feel more comfortable, which helped me IN MY STUDIES. Whenever we were able to meet up as a group to tackle a problem or project, we were always a help to one another. The hinderence for me, for a while was working 2 jobs and trying to have a schedule for studying and maintaining things at home. I have a very supportive husband, so that helped a lot as time went on.(Thank GOD my 2 sons were old enough to do some things for themselves!) I hope to in the very near future to enroll in a Principal Certification Program and become a Principal in the Philadelphia School System. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE! IDID'NT RECEIVE MY MASTERS DEGREE UNTIL 1999.

Name:  Geraldine brown
Username:  brownthankyou@aol.com
Subject:  EXPERIENCES
Date:  2003-07-31 09:36:07
Message Id:  6246
Comments:
MY EXPERIENCES in College was very interesting. I did'nt really matriculate into Drexel University until i was married with grown children. MY PEERS in undergrad, and grad school with also had families, with the exception of a few. We had a lot in common which made me feel more comfortable, which helped me IN MY STUDIES. Whenever we were able to meet up as a group to tackle a problem or project, we were always a help to one another. The hinderence for me, for a while was working 2 jobs and trying to have a schedule for studying and maintaining things at home. I have a very supportive husband, so that helped a lot as time went on.(Thank GOD my 2 sons were old enough to do some things for themselves!) I hope to in the very near future to enroll in a Principal Certification Program and become a Principal in the Philadelphia School System. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE! IDID'NT RECEIVE MY MASTERS DEGREE UNTIL 1999.

Name:  Antoinette
Username:  tonisisco@aol.com
Subject:  K-16 experiences
Date:  2003-07-31 09:46:33
Message Id:  6247
Comments:
My formal school experiences began when I was two years old, in a Head Start program. It was a positive experience for me, especially my first day, when I realized I would be safe because of the smell of home cooked food. In my family, the expectation was to go to college, the only option I had was which one I would select. During high school and college, I became close friends with some of my teachers and professors, because they had no problems dealing with my lofty ideas. In retrospect, I probalbybecam friends with them because they encouraged me to develop critical thinking skills. I was on the debate team in high school, and studied foreign polocy of the US government beginning in the 9th grade. School was difficult for me at times beacuuse of my spelling difficulties, yet, I never gave up.
My never quit attitude has carreid me through college, grad school, two certification programs and 3/8 th the way through another certification program. Somewhere along the way, I started to see learning as a fun challenge....the more I know, the more I want to know, and so on. As long as I keep this perspective, I'll keep plugging on!

Name:  Marita
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:  college experiences
Date:  2003-07-31 09:48:51
Message Id:  6248
Comments:
Most of my teaching (speech/language therapy)practices were of my own devising following typical classroom lectures about the principles of learning and speech disorders. In graduate school we had a small amount of opportunity to observe others doing therapy. However it was mainly just our peers who didn't really know much more than we did. We never got to see our instructors in action although we were occasionally observed by them. Basically we were just thrown into the therapy room. I remember my first "client", a teenage stutterer who had been in therapy for years and who I presumed knew more about speech therapy than I did at that point. I remember thinking "Would you send a medical student in to do surgery with similar instruction?" God knows, maybe they do!
I really value most my instruction in college working hands on with operant conditioning performing experiments on animals.

Name:  bkm
Username:  malinb1@yahoo.com
Subject:  experiences
Date:  2003-07-31 09:48:58
Message Id:  6249
Comments:
My varied experiences in college were useful but my best experiences came when I went for my masters degree. I learned by doing on hands-on activities in a relaxed atmosphere(l like we do at Bryn Mawr). There was a lot of interaction between staff and students that let you feel you could experiment with new things and ideas.

Name:  marlene
Username:  marlene3k@aol.com
Subject:  My Thoughts
Date:  2003-07-31 09:58:12
Message Id:  6250
Comments:
"It gets you up in the morning", thats the first thing Ito come to mind when I think of my experience last two weeks. Why, because thats what it took for me to even call on any physical reserve to respond to yet another WORKSHOP !

Reflecting on my experiences here at Bryn Mawr, I realized that at the end of each session I found to be refreshing and thought provoking.I also began to realize the valuable resource as an educator. To expose students ways inwhich explore their thought and ideas in such a way that would allow them to free to express their ideas and emerge them into concrete models is simply

Name:  JK Johnston-Malin
Username:  malinb.@yahoo.com
Subject:  University as Partner
Date:  2003-07-31 10:19:33
Message Id:  6251
Comments:
:To get us started, how about you write briefly about the kinds of experiences with colleges/universities (as a student and afterwards) that have most helped/hindered you as a teacher, and what experiences you wished you had/hope to have in the future?

Morning to you!
As a result of my college experiences I entered teaching with an excellent background in Biology. What I found out was that an excellent background in your subject area goes far in working successfully with students - who want to learn the subject matter. There are a cascade of problems in Philadelphia public schools that were never addressed in my college career. In these areas, success with students depends greatly upon a teacher's ability to address what the particulars are that need to be addressed and getting help in doing your best to address them.
In my experience, outreaching to colleges and universities has made a tremendous difference in my ability to organize and maintain successful programs for my students. The impact of this help can not be understated. I have interacted successfully with local colleges, universities, hospitals, government agencies, local businesses,etc. People from these areas have helped me via: Ideas, supplies, programs, visiting personnel, integrating technology, etc.

Name:  Wendy
Username:  simplyMarrvelous@yahoo.com
Subject:  Prepatation
Date:  2003-07-31 10:21:12
Message Id:  6252
Comments:
My college preparation was more than adequate as far as the foundations of education were concerned.

I think that the employment of a workshop approach to management techniques
would better prepare future teachers.

I think that constant conversations with a professor are neccessary. I feel that the outcome from these conversations can assist many students in finding their way.

I think that at least 6-9 credit hours of motivation techniques should be mandatory. Don't forget the fine arts (drama, music, etc.)

I think that future teachers need to work on cooperative techniques within the instruction of children.

Name:  Miss Geneva E. Tolliferreo, M.
Username:  Anonymous
Subject:  How universities can help at the grade school level...
Date:  2003-07-31 10:38:04
Message Id:  6253
Comments:
Good Morning!
Formerly a Special Education Teacher and currently an administrator, Science remains an overwhelming topic for many students and teachers. Science needs to be taught at the college level in a manner that is relevant to what Education majors will be teaching in a K~12 settings.

Many Science teachers are at a lost when they must utilize Scope and Sequence, as it relates to the Benchmarks, and thus as it must be taught in a proactive manner to our students. Thus, negative behaviors become prevelant because the teacher is not equipped to present a Science lesson in an engaging manner. The fact that they are in a novice status, their behavior management techniques have yet to be developed. Chaos ensues!

Universities need to be aware, early in their students' matriculation, of the type of district they are interested in, as well as in all probablity the one they will be teaching in, at least to start. I recommend that universities engage their students in realistic practicums that couple appropriate Science experiences with actual classroom settings; that classroom management skills are taught based on experiences. I further recommend that these experiences begin in the second semester of the Freshman year and continue until the second semester of the Junior year.

College classrooms cannot provide the education that an actual setting affords. One of the many reasons new teachers don't remain, is because they are frustrated with the lessons and students that are set before them. Therefore, Teacher recruitment and retention is at and all time low.

All of the aforementioned comments are laced with an additional layer of urgency for Teachers that are career changers, and see Teaching as an option for many of the underlying aspects this vocation lends {time off, for example}.

Name:  Mitch
Username:  tintindeo@aol.com
Subject:  Goodbye, July
Date:  2003-07-31 11:04:33
Message Id:  6254
Comments:
As an undergrad, I majored in Broadcasting and Film and got into teaching as a substitute, so my experinces at Penn State did not prepare me for a career in education. Fortunately, I was mentored by experienced teachers and principals until I finally decided to go back to school, Antioch Graduate, for a teaching certificate and masters. By this time I'd had several long-term positions and knew my way around the classroom. The Antioch program was designed to have the participant use their class and teaching experience as a foundation for the coursework. In other words, collaboration with other teachers and field-testing lots of free ideas.
I've participated in many other graduate-level programs over the years from PhilWp to Bryn Mawr to on-line courses and the most rewarding experiences have followed the Antioch pattern.
When I am working with other professionals, using the resources of a college or university, most importantly the staff of those institutions, when I feel valued as a teacher and as a human being, I am motivated to try a little harder. And the results-- those free ideas-- are priceless.

Name:  marlene
Username:  marlene3k@aol.com
Subject:  My Thoughts
Date:  2003-07-31 13:16:47
Message Id:  6255
Comments:
"It gets you up in the morning", thats the first thing Ito come to mind when I think of my experience last two weeks. Why, because thats what it took for me to even call on any physical reserve to respond to yet another WORKSHOP !

Name:  Sheila Michael
Username:  smichael@phila.k12.pa.us
Subject:  College Courses
Date:  2003-07-31 15:36:23
Message Id:  6258
Comments:
As an undergraduate--all college classes are "new" and interesting also the road to employment and $$$$. As graduate students classes and professional development are necessary elements to maintain a professional skill level and move up in your chosen profession. A number of professors have increased my thirst for knowledge; Dr. Paul Grobestein at Bryn Mawr, Dr. Catherine Hill and Dr. Richard Jacobs, both at Villanova. I can now better relate to my students and make sure the lessons are engaging, exploratory and interactive to create a thirst for knowlege.

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