Science Fair Reflection

We learn by doing, if we reflect on what we have done.

–John Dewey

In a comment on this blog post: Respond to 1 question from each of the 4 categories of Reflection Questions: Resilience, Pride, Reflection on Learning, and Goal Setting.

A. Resilience

What did you learn from your mistakes?

What risks did you take?

What got in the way of your learning?
What problems did you encounter while you were working on this piece? How did you solve them?

What did/do you find frustrating about it?

B. Pride

How does this work reflect your success?

What helped your learning?

What was especially satisfying to you about either the process or the finished product?

What part of the project did you do your best work on?
If you were the teacher, what comments would you make about this piece? What grade would you give it? Why?

What the one thing you particularly want people to notice when they look at your work?

What do your classmates particularly notice about your piece when they look at it?

What were your standards for this piece of work? Did you meet your standards?

How do you feel about this piece of work? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why?

C. Reflection on Learning

If on in a group of 2: How did you participate as a team player? How did you partner participate?

Did you enjoy this? Why/why not?

What process did you go through to produce this piece?
What resources did you use while working on this piece? Which ones were especially helpful? Which ones would you use again?

What did you learn about yourself as you worked on this piece?

Have you changed any ideas you used to have on this subject?

Did you do your work the way other people did theirs? In what ways did you do it differently? In what ways was your work or process similar?

What's the one thing that you have seen in your classmates' work or process that you would like to try in your next piece?

What is the most important thing you learned in this project?
What did you learn? How do you know you learned it?

D. Goal Setting

What do you wish you had spent more time on or done differently?
How could I change the project to make it better next time?
What skills do you feel you have improved on during the course of the year?

What skills/strategies do you hope to continue to practice next school year?
How might you want to extend this research?

In what ways have you gotten better at this kind of work?

In what ways do you think you need to improve?

What were your goals for meeting this piece of work? Did your goals change as you worked on it? Did you meet your goals?

What's one goal you would like to set for yourself for next time?

What would you change if you had a chance to do this piece over again?

What will you change in the next revision of this piece? 

The Fog Lifts: The Way to Blended Learning

The Fog Lifts: The Way to Blended Learning

Saturday was the 8th coldest day on record in Syracuse. At 20 below zero, I could see my breath turn into snow. Conveniently, this weather lands on the beginning of midwinter break for the Syracuse City School District. So, naturally come Monday morning rather than begin working, I finished a Netflix movie I fell asleep to the night before. The Way, written and directed by Emilio Estevez, is about a man who finds himself travelling the Camino de Santiago. Also known as the way of St. James, the Camino is a pilgrimage across France and Spain. The main character, played by Martin Sheen, doesn't fully identify his purpose for travelling the Camino until he arrives at his destination. While I don't claim to be on a sacred journey, I find his spiritual discernment resonates with my own recent professional reflection.

The last week has been overwhelming. For 2 days, I attended the SyraFuse (amalgamation of Syracuse + Fuse Fellowship) Blended Learning (BL) bootcamp, facilitated by the Highlander Institute. It really felt just like that: Bootcamp. The first cohort of "Lighthouse" teachers were recruited to become 'blended learning experts' and examples to other teachers in the Syracuse City School District district. The first part of our training was an immersion into the BL world with the unlimited expanse of the digital world at out fingertips. While I anticipated to attend this training, I felt like Martin Sheen's character as he arrives at the beginning of his 500+ mile journey not having opened the guidebook once.

Inundated with instructional resources, new apps, and innovative pedagogy, I felt excited at the challenge to grow professionally. However I also felt overwhelmed, just like our students when faced with an authentic open-ended task. A week later, I am still navigating a maze of ideas and reflections from the Bootcamp! And, while we were thankfully provided a roadmap (actually a Bingo Board & Blendspace playlist), we were not given a fixed destination. Each teacher's students, resources and classroom looks different, so were given the freedom and CHOICE to create a PERSONALIZED plan. This past week, I have gathered and curated digital resources and apps, evaluated instructional tool for their effectiveness and utility in the classroom. I have mulled over different iterations for what blended learning could look like and how students should experience it in my classroom.

I  feel only slightly closer to defining this vision with certainty, but as I reflect on the immersive approach of the Bootcamp I am reminded of the quote, "the journey is the destination." I may not have a clear focus of the end goal, but I can begin to work towards professional learning goals. Along the way things may change and I may have to redirect my efforts as I clarify my vision. It is still overwhelming to envision the end-goal, but I can begin with small actions. Like this blog posting; while this blog many not be the best and ultimate platform for my own personal reflections, but it is a beginning on the way.

The symbol of the Camino is a yellow scallop shell. Signs and pilgrim hostels (also called albergues) are marked with the scallop to guide the pilgrim on their way. The shell also acts as a metaphor for the journey. The many grooves in the shell represent the various routes pilgrims travel on their way to Santiago. While my exact journey may be unknown, my goals for a blended learning classroom and the landmarks on the way:

1) My goal is to develop authentic real world learning experiences that allow students choice and freedom to personalize their learning. In order to do this, I plan to fully embed EDpuzzle, Padlet, and TBD peer communication & collaboration tools. Student-centered projects will require students to communicate, think critically & problem solve, demonstrate proficiency of performance skills, and practice digital literacy.*

*This is the meat of students' work. I expect students to develop, master and demonstrate NGSS-defined Scientific Practices, Common Core reading and writing skills, and Career Ready Practices

2) In order to achieve this goal: I will regularly incorporate TBD digital assessment tools to provide students with immediate feedback and collect student data to inform lesson planning. This will allow me to differentiate instruction to meet individual students at their zone of proximal development (I know I need help here). I will encourage self-reflection (TBD format) and peer coaching.

3) On this journey, I will chronicle my professional and personal growth. I will write regularly (at least once a month) about my teaching practice, challenges and successes. I will work to build a professional learning network, locally and digitally. I will curate a digital portfolio of my classroom (to include Twitter and a 'blogging' presence on a TBD platform, along with student work and curriculum.)