CSLE

What is your End Game?

/ Anna Diemecke / 3 Comments

“Connect dots or collect dots, Grades are illusions, Passion and Insight are reality” – Seth Godin. As an educator, this statement has had a powerful impact on me. It is indeed true that creating a meaningful connection matters, it matters to have a relationship with my student, and it matters that a student has a relationship with their classmates. I got lucky that as a Technology teacher most of my activities are done with groups (group research, group presentation, and pair programming). In my class, I am practicing collaboration. If it is individual work, I am pushing my students to help one another, in my grading system I put a grade for participation and collaboration. Based on my observation, students tend to give more productive output whenever they work with groups and if they are working solo, students give more effort in project-based learning, but I also encourage peer feedback. So for me, the structure of the learning really depends on the situation and on what is needed in the lecture. I would like my students to do more hands-on so they can practice their analytical and algorithm teaching.

The only thing that will hinder me from bringing my student to pushing forward is a walkthrough from the admin, some of my admin in the school is still looking for the same teaching style where the teacher teaching, students are quiet and listening. I wish that we can go out from that norm since student-led classrooms are the end goal.

Harapnuik, D. (2021, January 18). Collecting dots vs connecting dots. YouTube. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7o3Jh1KZLw&t=26s

Learning Revolution

/ Anna Diemecke / 2 Comments

I love watching these two videos; they resonated with me and reminded me that what I am doing right now has an essential purpose. As stated by Sir Ken Robinson, we can revolutionize education with technology and the combination of teacher talent, and each school will flourish tomorrow. However, in order to achieve it, we must have the right people taking the job; Robinson mentioned that you need to have the passion, and excitement, to feel free and get lost in that moment because you love that job so much that this is the only thing you want to do. I love helping my student, but sometimes I get frustrated and tired; I have those moments that I want to quit, but I stay simply because I know in my heart that I can help my students; more than the academic aspect. Moreover, I tried my best to make them comfortable in my class, that it is okay to make mistakes and that we are all learning. I have previous students who inspired and made me believe I am in the right place.

Pinks’ video is so on point; just like Robinson’s ideas, the power of motivation makes people do their best and maximize their potential. Starts treating people as people, and they will be better; applying this notion to students is true; they work more if you have shown them that you care. Based on my experience, they are building a relationship with our student’s matters. It is one of the keys to a thriving learning environment.

Robinson, K. (2010, May 24). Bring on the Learning Revolution! | Sir Ken Robinson. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I&t=65s

Pink. (2010). RSA Animate: Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. Youtube. https://youtu.be/u6XAPnuFjJc?list=PLOs0lcCMEHfKWAfRRmVNhb0jEMBz2i2a_

New Culture of Learning

/ Anna Diemecke / Leave a comment

As a computer science teacher, when I teach coding to my students, it is important to me that I would be able to incorporate play while learning the codes. It was terrific how Douglas Thomas mentioned using scratch in his book on learning to code, which I can attest is true; students tend to understand coding using blocks, shapes, and colors, and my students play and understand the concept. I am amazed how my students were imaginative enough to be able to resolve coding exercises. I also agree that a person who wants to learn something new will be successful as the learner is passionate enough, willing to do hard work, and is already claiming success in that learner’s mind. As a learner, I am the same thing. I put my all in once I decided I wanted to learn, and I will ensure that I will put my 100% effort. I believe I am proactive as a teacher; I give freedom to my students to learn something new, discover the world, and remind them to be careful with their choices. I believe that having a relationship with my students makes them calm and feel welcome. I always tell them that I am here to teach them, make them grow, and hopefully succeed as learners.

My only regret is that sometimes due to school grading requirements, I have to create quizzes or tests that do not really showcase their individual learning as it falls on the numerical grading. However, I am not losing hope; I know one day, I will be able to showcase all my learning plans and styles and to be able to create a significant learning environment for all of my students. I acknowledge that I am working on progress too. I want to grow, as I know that it will help my students to grow and be better versions of themselves.

I agree with Dr. H that technology is a tool that helps us solve a problem, but the most significant role is a teacher. As a teacher, I have many roles to fulfill, but the most important is to coach and evaluate my students. I believe my part is to groom my students. Like plants, as Dr. Tony Bates mentioned, I can provide them with a significant learning environment, taking account of their differences, and give a more profound understanding for them to grow as learners.

Bates, T. (Dec. 14, 2015). Building Effective Learning Environments. https://youtu.be/3xD_sLNGurA

Harapnuik, D. (2015, May 9). Creating significant learning environments (CSLE).

TEDx Talks. (2012, September 13). A New Culture of Learning, Douglas Thomas at TEDxUFM [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM80GXlyX0U