Melinda Smith-Woods
Journals

Week 6

I am so glad it is all over!! I thought I was ahead, until I saw everythign that had to be done this week. I've gotten it all done, and hopefully it was done well.

This has been a huge learning experience. I am having to stretch myself to develop my listenign skills,and to quelch my desire to blurt out what I am thinking. I have develope a whole new respect for the english language. It is so hard to find the correct words to put in all these projects. I hope that I am phrasing everythign so that a non-techie will be able to understand it.

I am working on a plan for the next session, and hoping that I can get a few things done over the break.

Week 5

How am I developing in my ability to clearly express my values, personal goals, goals for others and for my school?
How can I further enhance my sense of precision and craftsmanship?

I think just by taking this class, and trying to become better at what I do, I am living my values. I really think that being a life long is important for everybody. I love to learn from other teachers, my students and people in general. I can only hope that all my hard work will be reflected next year in the teachers and students that I get to work with.

I hate to admit it, but having to set up this lesson with all the specific and detailed information that I've included is making me better. Now, I can not say that I will go this in depth on every lesson I work on, but I've learned a great deal. I am looking more at the content and how the technology can be used to enhance the content or encourage the students to dig deeper. I know that it has made me look at how I will assist lesson development differently.

Week 4

I think that focusing on all this detail is really helping me. The thing that has amazed me the most is how much my mentee and I have been on the same page through this whole process. I was SO stressed out when we started, and it has been much easier than I thought. WE have the same goals for the lesson, and both feel that the students will be able to take off and go with this porject. We are also hoping that after seeing all our work the other US History teachers will want to do this as well. My mentee and I are also talking about developing lessons that teach the optional programs: movie maker, Activstudio and photostory previous to this lesson. We are hoping that if the studnets know what the programs do it will help them to make better choices.

I can not remember ever doing so much planning for ANY lesson! But once I got the phraseing worked out, everythign has gone well. This is forcing me to look more at what is beign taught more than the technology that is involved. I think it will make it easier for me to show my other teachers how to infuse technology into their current lessons. I have to admit, this is REALLY helping! Thanks!!

Week 3

I think I do a pretty good job of maintaining trust with my colleagues. I thank my mother for that. She taught me a long time ago how to be trustworthy and reliable. I have worked with people that liked knowing and sharing all the gossip. I just don't like gossip. SO I try not only to keep from gossiping and telling storied, but I try not to be the topic of gossip either. I think it all goes back to your ethics. I think I have set a pretty high standards for myself, and I try to meet it every day.

I know that my colleagues trust me because they feel comfortable talking to me, and sharing concerns. I do my best to listen to them and help them if can. I also will admit defeat if I am beat technology wise. I think that makes my teachers trust me a little more. Knowing that will all my knowledge, I am not a guru by any means.

Week 2

Week 1