Bonita Johnson

When I applied for this class I commented that I had wanted to take this class before but had been afraid of it. Little did I know! My two main goals in taking this class were to be able to understand computer terminology and just generally increase my knowledge of computers. I now know what WMV, HTML, CSS, and JS stand for and what they actually are. Not only do I know what download and upload mean, I can actually do them. I know the difference between Mp3 and MP4. At one point Friday afternoon I sat back and watched the class at work. I couldn’t help but smile. But, I actually understood the conversations. (Well, maybe except for Matthew and Juliet-ha) It really has been quite an adventure. Seriously,  I have surpassed my  goals.  It would really be hard to list everything I have learned.  I have a feeling down the road I will come across more and more that I have learned. PowerPoint and Microsoft Publisher were enjoyable, possibly because they were very similar to Word. I don’t know. They just didn’t intimidate me like EXCEL. EXCEL was intimidating, and I didn’t think I would ever be able to get through those formulas. I did and have actually been using the form I created. But, then came Web Design. THAT was stressful. I am not quite sure why I got so frustrated and stressed out in this class. Actually, I do. I knew what I wanted to create, but didn’t seem to have the ability to make it happen. I compared myself to others. Many times I felt I was in over my head.  But, just when it seemed I was getting too stressed to learn-the soft skills portion would give us a breather. I enjoyed every one of those session. I found them all interesting. Plus, those skills will be valuable in helping my students, and fellow teachers, get along.  Though I did not enjoy being frustrated and stressed it was good for me to be a student again. I’m sure my students experience those same feelings at some point during the year. The presentation skills and pointers for PowerPoint will be passed down to my students. My students will be creating brochures with Publisher. So, the skills learned here will be put to use in my classroom. And -get this-I created a web page! I know everyone else did too, and some of them look alot more professional than mine. But, I am proud of what I have learned and accomplished. A lot of the fear factor is gone, though I am not quite where I want to be. I hope I have broken my mind set of “what if I mess up” and do not slip back into my old mind set. Because after all if I do mess up there is always Control Z. I have learned so much. I think every teacher should take the class. It will make them a more effective teacher.

Two more working days, wow! Will I be able to finish everything? This has been a new experience for me. I don’t quite know why I get so stressed. I still have not been able to break the “fear thing.” But, I have gotten somewhat better. I really enjoyed Microsoft Publisher-though I had not used it, I found it familiar enough to be comfortable. Nice change! Plus, I will be using the brochure as a product with my fifth graders. I just wish I was a little more comfortable with the web site construction. Plus, I have to quit measuring myself against others. I have learned alot and I have grown. It was a good, though frustrating, experience to be a student again. And now it’s back to the web construction again. Remember the song I’ve Been Working on the Railroad? I have a new version, I’ve been working on my web page, all the live long day……….ha-I’ve enjoyed having lab time in class. Very useful.

www.mindtools.com is a good site. I couldn’t help but laugh as I started reading. I so resembled those first remarks. The article said there were three types of approaches to managing stress; action-oriented, perception oriented, and survival oriented. Last night as I unsuccessfully tried to complete my homework I ran through all three approaches. As my frustration level grew I tried to deal with my attitude. After my second pep talk left me still feeling inadequate, I tried the ”action” method; the dog and I took a walk around the neighborhood. I finally had to admit the situation could not be resolved, my homework, at least for that night, would stay undone. Then, to come to class the very next morning and start the day with a lesson on stress managment-what timing.

Mind Tools really is an interesting site. It defines stress as the feeling we have when we think the demand put on us is larger than our individual resources to meet this demand. After identifying the sources of stress recommendations on coping with both the source of stress and the symptoms of the stress are given. I especially liked the section on performance anxiety. Performance anxiety is not unusual, and, may even be helpful. But, have you ever wondered why you experience this? Exploring why was helpful and thought provoking. There are tips throughout and there are also interactive quizes that are interesting. 

I’m thinking I’d better put this site in my favorites-at least until after the website is finished.

An inservice that I found useful…….aren’t those rare! One that I did find useful was presented long ago by Diane Rynders. It was on Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences. I think I enjoyed the in-service because it had alot of hands on involvement. She presened a quick lecture to present a basic overview of his theory.  Then we broke into small groups, read an article about the different types of intelligences  and later explained that intelligence to the group.  After everyone was through explaining the different intelligences we drew slips of paper that had a subject and an intelligence. Each group planned and present a mini lesson on what their group had drawn. One group had drawn the subject weather with musical intelligence so they presented a mini lesson on weather using their musical intelligence. Another group had to teach the reproductive system in a kinestic way. That was a hoot! They used a hulahoop as an egg and a basketball as a sperm cell. We all had a good laugh. But, seeing the different presentations was helpful.  Knowing your student’s  intelligence could help you plan your  lesson so more students would “get” what you are teaching.

One of my favorite URLs is Free Rice.com. In this site you are given a vocabulary word and four meanings to choose from. If  you guess the correct answer 10 grains of rice are donated to the needy. There is actually an empty bowl and you can watch it fill as you play. When you miss a word it will be repeated.  The kids like the visual of the bowl of rice and the site does have color. But I like this site because it is entertaining and while you help your vocabulary develop you are also helping others.  The actual URL is: http://www.freerice.com  so check it out sometime.

Wow! What a week this has been! I remember leaving Monday thinking I just may be able to do this. Then came Tuesday.  Frustrated and ovewhelmed I had to think things through. Learning is fun, so why was I so frustrated? I decided believe it or not it was my listening. I was trying to write down step-by-step directions for myself. Meanwhile instruction was still going on and I was getting lost. I realized I had to monitor and adjust. I decided I needed to think digitally; meaningI needed to refer to the notes on the web site instead of writing it down.  So, after  I changed my  mindset,  Wednesday was great! I felt proud of myself. Then Thursday morning I was lost within minutes.  But, I went home, read through the web site ,and practiced and practiced . I may not be where I should be and I may have a long way to go, but, I’m getting better.

Why don’t I listen any better than I do? The main reason is probably that I simply lose my concentration. Sometimes I lose my concentration because I get distracted. Something pops up in my mind, I hear something else, or the person speaking seems to be saying the same thing over and over and my mind wanders. Sometimes when people are explaining something technical I am still thinking about their first sentence and they are still going on. Also, if I don’t agree with what someone is saying I have a bad habit of planning what I am going to say (even if I don’t say it) instead of continuing to listen. This habit started as a child. I knew better than to talk back or interrupt my parents, but I could talk back in my mind while they were griping. I guess I got into a habit of bad listening.

How to change my listening habits? Eye contact helps. I can simply practice “mental discipline” by putting aside any distracting thoughts. Deliberately try to break the habit of fading away and stay focused. Basically I guess I just need to practice paying  attention.

To me self initated learning occurs when a person has an interest in a particular subject or has a reason to learn something. The learner has more control of what is learned. A person learning how to cook will be much more interested in reading cookbooks than a person learning car mechanics. This type of learning is fun, easier, and learning does occur. As a teacher of elementary gifted students I try to guide my students into self-initiated learning. For example, one of the things I tell my students is they need to know how to research, take notes, and summarize information. That is my objective. But, what they research and how they prove to me they have done this research and actually learned something from it is up to them. They choose the subject and the product. They also choose the criteria that will be used to evaluate this product. I am more of a guide or facilitator than a teacher in this situation. There are still skills that need to be taught, but they are so “hooked” they enjoy it. It makes my job much easier. However, I will say it takes a certain amount of maturity.  The learner has to be willing to take risks and try new things. When a learner gets good at something they may want to use this over and over. I have one student who always wanted their product to be a poster. Eventually she had to be told to choose a different product.   It is always a little difficult to step out of our comfort zone but if we are to be self-initiated learners we must be willing to. This is how we learn and how we grow as individuals.

Wow! Yesterday I chose a picture of a goose because I felt like a silly goose. Christine told me geese were mean not silly. I think I chose the right animal because today I  was so confused and irritated at myself I felt mean!  I am feeling overwhelmed, but as a teacher that it probably a good experience for me. I can do just what I tell my students-take a deep breath and start all over. Learning is fun!

Fireworks was fun. I need practice but can already see it’s usefulness. For whatever reason changing the appearance of this blog really threw me. Then just when I thought I had it mastered I opened it back up to add my post and …..   no new theme. So, I am now taking a deep breath and starting over.

Whew! My first thought . . . . these people are way smarter than me! In fact, that is why I chose the picture I did-I felt a little like a goose. Actually, I did ok until I reached my saturation point. But here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• SOME of the vocab, because I did want to be able to “talk” computer.
• I liked putting your web page on favorite so I don’t have to pull it up all the time.
• I set up my own blog page!! Or did you? Could I do this again, without assistance?
• I’ve got to overcome my fear of messing up and just jump in.

My other thought is this may be more fun than I thought. That said, we sure do go fast!

As far as my expectations, I’m not  sure I know enough to have any. This is going to be a challenge, but I look forward to being able to do something other than e mail or create word documents. Today, I feel good but I wonder what I will feel like this time tomorrow.