BSIE 2010: Session 27

Today four conductors/explorers accompanied our group on four separate scientific journeys.  Susan's was "Changing the Story", Jessica's was "Learning from Babies", Jack's was "Moisture and Decomposition", and Kate's was "Doodling and Daydreaming."  Common threads ran through each lesson:  1) All participants were actively engaged ;   2) Each lesson was interesting/thought provoking;  3)participants were encouraged to share  stories and  observations;  4)  There were no preset 'right  answers' ;  5)  No one arrived at a "one right answer";  and 6) at the end of each presentation, there remained the potential to extend each  lesson,  increase observations through the  process  of looping.   None of the stories were finite.   BRAVO!!!  to each conductor.

Who threw the baby out with the diapers?!

Who knew that babies are born with morality and mathematical abilities already pre-wired inside?

Great job Jessica in digging up the dirt on new facts about innate behaviors and newborns. Why do we have to tread lightly when we suggest that babies may now have certain talents that they may not of had in previous generations, all because of changes to our genetic makeup? Jessica really got our juices flowing about babies and their behavior. I think it was one of the most interesting discussions that we had in the institute. I think that we influence our children while they are still in the womb. I know that there is a lot of documented research into this phenomenon. But I just wanted everyone to know that I believe that too! Let's keep this one going through our blogs.

The 4 presenters did a great job.

Susan – Your love for Biology came shining through.  Your enthusiasm with your lesson was contagious.  The mega question of when to change a particular story is extremely important.  As teachers we need to be vigilant about presenting the least-wrong information.  Very good job!!

Jack- I love your willingness to try different approaches to teaching.  Your sense of humor helped to keep the lesson moving.  You have an abundance of ideas and you are eager to share them with your students.  Trust in yourself! Wonderful presentation.

Jessica- You were very well prepared for your mini-conversation.  I have to give you a lot of credit for being brave.  It could not have been easy to stand up in front of this group and lead us into a very stimulating discussion.  Molto Buono!!

Kate – Congratulations for incorporating your passion of doodling into an engrossing presentation.  Another avenue that you could explore is why some children need to doodle on their body.  Thank you for giving us a chance to unwind and be creative.  Fantastic lesson!!

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I found the compost interesting. I thought that I was going to be taught what it was and how to use it. I hope that Jack will gain the confidence that he needs to teach what it is that he knows. He knows science and he has a lot to offer. He has been given great advice just believe in what we talked about and go for what you know.
 

Jessica,

I think you have really struck on a very controvercial topic that is related very closely to what goes on in educational planning.  I think the idea of morals depends on the intitutions who are defining what morals are on the macro level, and the individuals implementing them pick and choose what they want to bring to the classroom on the micro level.  If you are interested, there is some research out there on the actual physical structures of the buildings and how they show what moarls were surrounding education during the period they were built (e.g. inner city schools that look like prisons, 1970's schools that look like hospitals, and at present schools that look like office buildings).  Can you guess the message being sent or I should say, create your own stories about them?  Sorry I can't remember any specific articles or research papers, but I am sure you could find them on ERIC or Pro Quest...

Jack, I saw some great possibilities in this lesson.  I did get from this what I thought you wanted which was to see how water influences the rate of change in decomposition.  I also understand that you would have taught this with prior learning experiences.  I love the hands on and the topic you chose.  Very interesting.

Pros:

Love the sense of humor

I like the hands on

You often pointed out how this will relate to things later on down the road (future lessons)

I thought the vocabulary was very applicable to the lesson

Suggestions:

Be careful how much humor you use, may diminish the value students place on subject matter

Try not to answer your own questions.  Let students think first and give thier perspectives

Focus on what you are doing, to many of your own personal asides may confuse people.

Well done, and thanks for being brave and going on the first day.

I think Keith's inquiry is incredibly salient in everyday life.  What is the goal of education?  I've been fed many answers to this through middle-school, high school and college.  Some answers revolved around "bench marks" set by administration, some around "learning all you can know" and some around "exploring possibilities."  My favorite, of course, is exploring possibilities.  I always felt that learning all you can know" and the concept of teaching to a test put inhibitions on me.  I felt as if I was meant to 'only' learn certain things, as if there was a concrete barrier that I must eventually stop at once I approach it.  "Exploring possibilities," while vague, is the concept that sends me striving for greater aspirations, pushing myself and those around me.  While it is vague (and can be difficult to accept, given the fact that most institutions give a firm goal and 'brick wall'), it is worth really driving that message home to students at a younger age.  I think this was something that my parents always did, and it really helped me to explore outside of my boundaries throughout my education.  I was always given an option of doing something more than what I was asked and never penalized for this, which really helped my personality grow into an exploratory one.  I think this "exploration" is overlooked in most educational settings, and I think that this is a sore disappointment for the population who deserves to have nothing except vast space to explore.  No more brick walls.