As the title says I would like to say Thank you for this program and to Dr.Lou, I didn’t expect that it will be short because it was fun learning so the time passes by quick. I enjoyed the e-learning and discussion is like real time knowing the views of others students as well. The topics were impressive guiding us from basics to broader topics and theories. Dr.Lou approach is motivating and the eds 103 was organized were we can see and monitor our progress through tick marks as we finished each subject.

In this subject I get to know theories and how they relate to learning process and realized that how important it is to progress the teaching method to be more effective as a educator. I realized more that I want to be constructivist educator as I’m concern on quality of student’s learning more than the quantity, I will continue to be a model and advocate not just to rely on the fix curriculum but is open to the wide aspect of learning by collaborating with the students.

Finally, as this terms comes to end, and what I observe here in the portal, may all educators and future educators to be humbled whether you are in high grounds or just started, continues to be open minded reach out each other and learn together.

Being in a IB school were constructivist approach is dominant I literally observe the effectiveness that it will make to the students specially on how they construct their learning and the confidence that incremented innerly in them because they know what they know and what they are doing in times that they are presenting their work. Having seen its effect I personally decide to be a constructivist teacher because what matters most is the quality of learning more than the quantity of learning in some cases that students might take time to process new information. I am so thankful to God that I am in a good school were I am surrounded with great leaders and teachers and I am free to practice constructivism and be better at it through repeated practice.

Education approach should be constructivism, and how I wish I studied in a constructivist school when I was young but, I can’t turn back the time so what I can do is to start were I am to teach my kids and my class that this is the way to learn have fun, take your time and enjoy your learning.

As I go through the principles one thing that I see and experience is that Constructivism is learner centered and is an active construction of knowledge by the learners, while teachers “merely” facilitate and guide learning. In most situation teacher’s side is to teach / facilitate and student’s side is the learning, as we teacher we are more knowledgeable to guide them in their learning including at times the students might misinterpret the information we are there to correct them.

During my elementary days were I studied in a public school I experience that education is mostly instructional and less of group activities were we might be able to learn with others so, from that experience I like to incorporate group, partners and scaffolding in my teaching style because I want my students to learn from others while they are growing as well in the knowledge that they have through scaffolding.

Going through this topic of cognitive theories was one of the best that I appreciate here in OU, I would like to capitalized that in my point of view a minimum strategy should be dual coding, in my experience when i have no screen/tv/projector in the class its kinda bit of boring even though I’m writing and drawing in the board (it takes time) as the students are attention are maintained with sounds, music, colors and animation that they can see and hear from the screen. It helps as well if they can manipulate what they see in the board, one example is the use of ipad in this time were they can go back to the slides that they need to see again or rewind a video that they need to watch again. Other way of inputs then can be added after this is done.

Models and Mentors in My Life

Santrock. Online Learning Center.
http://www.mhhe.com/socscience/education/edpsych/santrocked02/ch07a_sa.html 

Having positive role models and mentors can make an important difference in whether individuals develop optimally and reach their full potential. First, evaluate the role models and mentors who have played an important part in your life. Second, think about the type of role model you want to be for your students. Third, give some thought to how you will incorporate other models and mentors in your students’ lives. Fourth, explore who your education mentor might be.

My Models and Mentors
List the most important role models and mentors in your life. Then describe what their positive modeling and mentoring have meant to your development.

Role Models and Mentors	Their Contributions
Parents	My Attitude toward to learn, be serious, fear God
Kuya Paul	Improve a lot my music knowledge and playing
Ms.Maria	Classroom management
Ms.Sankari	The hunger for deep studies and passion to learning
Ms.Davis	Putting heart in the teaching

The type of role model I want to be for others (other learners)
Describe which characteristics and behaviors you believe are the most important for you to model for your students.

Optimism – to look on the positive

Persistence – to keep working even little by little

Kindness – being meek in the words and actions of humility

Musicality – to encourage them love music

Open mindedness – taking time to give time understand and listen to people

How I will incorporate models and mentors in my profession (as an educator)
Describe a systematic plan for bringing models and mentors into your students’ lives in one or more domain(s) you plan to teach, such as math, English, science, music, and so on.

 I give opportunity to well performing students once they are done with the assigned task to help those who are still working or practicing in return, they will get more stars or additional recognition to keep them motivated caring for other’s learning. Example student who play well in xylophone helps the other student or by buddy system pairing them to those who need help as we teachers sometimes don’t have enough time to go one by one to all students. 

Who will be my education mentor? What would my ideal education mentor be like?
Do you have someone in mind who might serve as an education mentor when you become a teacher? If so, describe the person.

What would your ideal education mentor be like?

In our school our mentors are our coordinator she is well experienced in IB program, she help to meet every teacher and help them make the lesson plan and student engagement as we are new in the IB program. My ideal education mentor would be someone who is approachable, a role model and hard working.

Learning about behavior theories was a great tool for my e-learning, I got to know the terms for the strategies that we are using already at the classroom setting like what is positive and negative punishment. It was helpful as I understand more the use of behavior management and have to know which one to choose in different situation.

Behavior theories though seems complete, I guess it would be nice to add the specifics of progression as some may perceive it to apply the punishment right away after the child’s behavior. It will always be nice to start gradual like verbally or gestures like when you put eye contact to a child, they know what you want them to do.

One dimensional is a classical approach, today we live in high-tech revolutionize society that even social media get to know our thoughts via our public post so, it means there should be a way to test internal influences.

How did reviewing the ideas of others and engaging in subsequent discussion made me rethink and reshape my original ideas (or not)?

Reviewing the idea of others helps a lot for my learning it expands the limit of self reflection in which we gain ideas aside from our own thoughts. Engaging in discussion improves my social aspects as I get to know people who are in the same page as I am, who wants to learn and improve themselves in result, I was able to reflect, rethink and improve my ideas. My ideas came a lot better by learning through my classmates, I’m not just able to enumerate them all here, I just want to choose one which says ““Every student can learn. Just not on the same day. Or the same way.” – George Evans

It was very true in my experience people learn by their own time and own way.

When i was a kid I’m not very good at academics, well we can say average not failing subjects nor don’t have medals compare to my siblings who always on top list. I took it slowly to work with intellect as we all have our own pace of learning. I excelled well in math during my high school and my degree in my 4th year. Imagine I think it was quite late but as we accept that we need to learn and endure it is worth it.

I begun to be involved in music during my high school and love to play the guitar. My mom taught me the basics, and after that I practice everyday even though my family does not like my horrible playing and off course learn from others, youtube is not present yet at that time and my classmates are not generous to share ideas, they call it stealing when you watch them. Later on during college time there I found people who are willing to train me in Music and involve me to play in the church which helps me improve a lot.

To cut the story short, I can say that I have the best Job in our family and I play well far more than my friends and teach music in which becomes my gateway in the educational career. To be willing to take experience will result to built intelligence.

Hi I’m Benjamin, I want to start by telling my story, I applied to work as a music teacher, tried to apply online and got a call, so I went for my interview, prepared my lesson plan and did my teaching demo in front of the school heads, and after all they say they will email me in me two days, but i didn’t get an email, so didn’t expect for it anymore, but on the third day call me to start. I was very happy that I was hired, teach grades 1 to 6, so I started my career in education as music teacher in a small school in Dubai.

It was pretty enjoyable but in the other side I know I need to adjust in some areas a classroom teacher must have. I did my best to learn and grow more, but i feel it was still short of the requirement, so there’s the point when the colleges share me their strategies and as well as behavior management, I really appreciate what they do and I kept the attitude to learn from them.

My point it that don’t be afraid to start, it doesn’t matter if you start big or small. Start in the area where you are most interested in, and take the risk. In my opinion school is the best place to work with, were most of people even educators are open to learning, because when you are in place where you should be there you will have motivation, growth and learn.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton