Gagne's 9 Events of Instruction

Write a reflection on your thoughts of how using Gagne's design model and the importance of each of the 3 interaction types help create an active learning environment. Why might you use one type of interaction vs another?

Gagne's 9 Events of Instruction are important in creating an active learning environment because it is a model designed to help students learn new material. By gaining the students attention, it mentally prepares the students to focus on what is about to be discussed. When going through the objectives and looking at prior knowledge of the content, it helps the students and the teacher prepare for the new information and give more insight to everyone in the classroom. When presenting the new material, the students are able to learn about the material and do guided practice to ensure them that what they are doing is correct. By providing feedback, the instructor is able to assess how well the students are doing on the content. When this is successfully shown, the most important step is implemented when they are encouraged to relate what they have learned to practical circumstances in life. All of this contributes to an active learning environment because the students are taking in and using this information in many different ways to not only help them to remember the content, but to apply it to their own life experiences.

The three interactions that were discussed in the class also help to create an active learning environment. Student to student interaction is important because it allows the students to use the content that they are trying to learn by relating it to each other and creating their own way of learning through discussion with their peers. Instructor to student interaction is important when transferring the new content to the students. When a concept is completely new, it is only sensible for a student to get that information from their teacher. When getting individual help from a teacher, this allows the teacher to give the students feedback about what they are doing correctly or incorrectly. Student to content interaction is the only way that the student is going to learn something new. By exposing a student to material, even simply through a lesson, they are experiencing student to content interaction. If a student is going to learn anything new about a content they need to be able to transfer the knowledge into real life situations. This is the key for successful teaching, which is what I would like to provide for my students as I begin teaching.

Prezi and the ISTE NETS Standards

Prezi is such a great tool for incorporating technology into the classroom. A prezi would fit into many of the ISTE NETS standards. The first standard is "Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity". By using Prezi in a lesson plan, a teacher would be able to use the content that is neccesary to teach the students and present it in a new way. By doing this, the students may be more engaged in the lesson, which can lead to a more successful learning environment. A prezi is creative in itself, but by using it in the classroom, or having the students use a Prezi, it exposes them to a whole different way of looking at information. If a student is working with Prezi for their own assignment, they are able to create their own work. This helps the students plug into new technology while still having an educational experience. Working on a Prezi reveals the thinking, planning, and creative process of everyone in the classroom; not only the students. By using a Prezi in the classroom, it would fit the first Standard and many others in the ISTE NETS standards.

TPACK

This is my personal introduction presentation on TPACK.

Teaching Philosophy

I became a teacher because I have always enjoyed my time with children and watching them learn both educationally and emotionally. I have had many opportunities of watching children learn and grow over the past few years and recognized the many different ways children are capable of learning and how to foster positive learning experiences. As I have watched children of all ages and backgrounds learn new information truly believe that all students have the capacity to learn and that is the responsibility of the teacher to ensure the children understand the material being taught.

I believe that the main role/objective of a teacher in the classroom is to provide a nurturing and positive learning environment for all the students. I also believe that the teacher is there to "facilitate" a safe and helpful educational environment by providing the necessary tools to help the students reach their full potential. Teachers are more than just role models for their students but also have more influence on children than other people in the community besides caregivers. Teachers are responsible for guiding students in a positive direction in hopes they can be a successful members of society. An effective teacher should be able to relate the topics being taught should be approachable and caring to all his/her students to ensure that the classroom environment feels safe and welcoming.

I believe students learn the best through hands-on, personal experience. Allowing students to explore and make a connection with the material being taught helps students think about more practical and daily uses for what is being taught. I believe fostering an educational environment where the students feel comfortable asking questions is key, because asking questions allow students to explore their own creativity and thoughts. Overall, my goal for students is to learn the educational material being taught throughout the year, but more importantly teaching them studying skills and life skills that they can carry with them throughout their life.

Stacy

I am a full time student at National Louis University and a teacher at a preschool. I also have a three year old daughter, Anastacia. She is my life.