Reflective learning Journal # 10: Finally :)

Last Tuesdays (as I always start with last Tuesday) I learned a lot. When I took a tour in my blogs I found myself started with a “Big shock”, mainly from the CBL project and using blogger, which was a start for a series of a technology program. When I read this blog I felt as if I was a kid going to the school for his first time. He doesn't know what he has to do to be a good boy. He is suffering from his first home work and by it he took a bad feeling for the whole school and all the teachers :). When I read the second reflection I laughed a lot and remember myself when my friends talked about their teenagers’ students and I heard them as if I am in the wonder land. By the third reflection I knew that most of us are suffering in this course and not motivated. Actually this encourages me as I am not the only one :) I think Dr. Joy felt it; it was obvious in the 4^th blog how we start to enjoy our sessions.

No comment on the 5^th and 6^th reflections. They were the most suffering time for me in this course, as I struggled to reach the course. I was very disappointed, but our supportive teacher asked me to look to the bright side and always be ready with plan B.

When we discussed the CBL projects in the 7^th session, it was the first clue for the interior motivation :). I didn't think that I will have answers for questions like “What is the Egyptian education system gaining? What is the world gaining? “But the CBL project carried a lot of answers. I felt that a lot of doors and windows opened in front of me. In the CBL project presentation day, we weren't motivated to the course only but the whole diploma. We gain a lot of ideas and learned a lot of experience and techniques for motivations. We finalized our course with abnormal ending (skype) which let me think that I must always prepare plan B

Thanks Dr. Joy for all what we learned from you in motivation or as teachers. Thanks to all my colleagues. They are the best. 

Reflective learning Journal # 9 : Amazing session

Last Tuesday I took a totally different session. It was my first time to use the skype. I was very anger to use it as I never had a chance before. I had account but I never travel abroad also there is no one from my family members or my friends travel abroad. I spend an hour to organize my place and the laptop and I discovered that there was no need for all this worry.  

After the session I discovered two things.

The 1^st on that during this course we used..

1)Bolgger            2)Turnitin             3)Blackboard               4)AUC Library

5)Skybe               6)Dropbox

And all these programs or sites are new to me. Also we used

1) youtube                   2) word doc.                3) Power point             4)google search                   5) mail     …… and may be more

All these programs in 10 sessions only!!! That is with average a program or site each session. I didn't think ever that I will learn all these in one course. The point is I am ready to learn and use more. Really I enjoyed them all.

The 2^nd thing is how cleaver is our instructor. Her plan “B” for the session wasn't less organized or less useful to us. She achieved all her goals for this session by away or another. Some times when we loss a lesson with our student, we become proud of ourselves if we find a way to overcome half its goals. Really this was amazing and very useful to be a sample to our future lesson plans.

Reflective learning Journal # 8 : CBL Presentations

Last Tuesday I went to my session very happy, just because I finished all my tasks by this day. I thought that I have a poor presentation related to the incredible ideas I heard from my colleagues. Put I knew that it is not related to the idea; it is related to the work in the project.

As my friends said in the course, we have a lot of ideas for different projects that we can use for a good period of time. Also we have different ideas for facing different challenges we can face while we do our projects. Dr.’s idea of distributing some tasks among different students, time manager and technician, I didn't face in other courses. It was a very very very useful day.

Notes:

·        I thought I have to restrict with the power point presentations

·        Sorry Assad I didn't attend your presentation.

 

Reflective learning Journal # 7 : Cheer up

Last Tuesday I went to my session 4:35. J This was my 1^st cheer up as I lost half of the last two sessions.

When I was upset in one of our sessions, Dr. Joy asked me a set of questions I have to ask myself. “What are you gaining by being in this course? What are your two children gaining? What are your students gaining? What are your colleagues in class gaining? What are you work colleagues gaining? What is your school gaining? What is the Egyptian education system gaining? What is the world gaining?” I tried to find out the answer for these questions for a long time but I failed till last session and that is 2nd resign for my cheer up J

Last session for more than one hour we were discuses how we can serve our community. Then while I was returning back to home I heard in the radio a whole program about the resigns for most of the problems that we have in Egypt like traffic jam , steeling , harassment …..etc. They relate all the problems that happen to the lake of ethics especially for youth.

Most of us thoughts of how to serve the community is to give out money, food, closes , pay for something to buy or to make …..etc. All are money takes. That led the poor people to feel with this gap. As will we insure it to ourselves. There is a different between the poor and even the middle class. We never see a guy insult or bather any one of his neighbors or from his carrier. We never hear about harassment in poor areas or from middle class youth. That because they know that is wrong and they can’t accept for their family or class. Put they hate the other class and that appear in their way of dealing.

Yes, I can’t accept my son go there especially when he is 8 or 10 years old. Put I can take the other guy to spend a day in different community.

On Friday there was a robot event in Mall of Arabia. It was for free. I thought if I took the son of the door man with me alone for a place he will never thing to go to what will happen? What will happen when he starts to try to make his own robot and see other education he never hears about? Then I developed the idea. What will happen if each building was responsible for their door man family? If they went to a similar event they took them. In the Eid they collect from each other and one of the resident and his wife take the doorman family to buy the eid clothes (not just give them money or even new clothes). When other family goes outside in a park they took them there and left they do whatever they want. They can collect the money to let the doorman children go to an experimental school in state of the public school. I think that will make them feel as if we are the same. We have to let them live the life we live not once but as much as we can. And when I send my son to them they will deal with him in a way I will never be afraid of.

I know that our government is responsible for this gap but we can do a lot. 

Reflective learning Journal # 6 : Depression

Last Tuesday I went to my session after a lot of suffering in the traffic. Then I found the AUC gates closed!!!!!!!!! After more suffering for 45 min I entered to my session finding half of it finished!!! Will, I start to get used for this kind of suffering in this course.

I suffer also in my assignment to meet my Doctor needs, but still I can’t do my work as perfect as she I would.

We pass more than half of the course and still I didn't find my why on it. The only mark I took, I never took like it in any course before, while I make more effort in this course.

All the assignment starts to be a big burden. I hope I finish this course as soon as possible and start a new one.

Reflective learning Journal # 5 : Technology

“Computer-based technology and Motivation” I was waiting for this session since I read the syllabus first time. But last Tuesday was a disaster. I was awake for two consecutive days to finish my reading summary in the way “I thought” it is required. I was fasting as “I thought” it is the 1^st day in thee Alhiga. I went to a trip with the school to the compound of religion near the AUC then I return to the school (at 6-of October) to go back to the AUC ?????? . “Traffic jam” …. No comment.

While I was sitting in the car for 2 hours I called by sweet friend Amal to know what happen in the session. She told me that they have a nice drawing activity. They enjoying their time drawing and I enjoy the traffic jam L I left the car and try my best to catch what I can from the session. I entered the class while they were watching a movie about technology. Before the movie, “I thought” that I know almost most the teenagers interest on net, but I found that I almost know nothing. I have to enter more sites and go deeper to know how I can use technology in class in different ideas.

This topic is very rich and interesting. I think I will make my next reading summary on.

Technology in classroom

Benefits of using technology in classroom

•  We have to get on board
•  Each student knows his needs, how he can use it .Because it is his own devise he will take care for it.
•  Let the computer take of the computable, you take care of the meaningful
• To go where no one go before

• ·         Education is about adapting to a changing world.
• ·         Students’ research and design solutions for community.
• ·         Students being required to give of themselves to their communities in order to graduate.

Reflective learning Journal # 4 : Nice Change

Last Tuesday was different than before. I went so exhausted as usual. I didn't even change my school uniform. When I enter the class, I found it is my turn in presenting my project idea (kemlet). Believe it or not, I was confused and shy, that’s why I was standing and talking very fast. I think Dr.Joyanne recognize this and let me sit down.

Any way after the break there was a nice change in this session. I enjoyed the talks about group working and the challenged activity was amazing. The time passed quickly. I found myself had enough strength to compete my friends on the required task.

 Her I asked myself an important question, this change happen because:

a)   I enjoy talks about group work (as a teacher)

b)   Group work motivate the students

c)   The competition motivate the students

d)   Them all

Till know I didn't reach the answer that fulfill my curiosity, any suggestion??

Anyhow, thanks Dr.Joyanne for this nice change :J)

Reflective learning Journal # 3 : Why am I really doing this?

Tuesday become a very special day in my small family. Even my kids ask about it. This day has a special routine. I have to wake up one hour early to prepare Tuesday bag. After the school hours, I take my kids (6 and 8 years) from their school in 6 of October city and run to Elmanial to live them in my parents’ home. In my way I make food order to be delivered once I rich Elmanial so my kids can find something to eat. I live them alone (with the food and the H.W.) and run to the university to attend my session. After the session I run to them back and hope from Allah that my kids do anything in their Home works. After we finish as much as we can we return to our home in 6 of October city about 12 o’clock. So to take this course I am not the only one who suffers in the family???

When Dr. Joyanne asked us at the beginning of the course “Why we join this course?” I didn’t recognize how deep this question is. It is not easy as it seem to be. Is that because I enjoy learning?? or to be better in my class??? ….. Sometimes I think that this course will also help me in motivate my own kids to do their work and to improve their behaviors. But is this really why I take this course??? Is what I take from this course worth what it takes from me and my kids?? Dr. Joyanne re-asked me this question last Saturday and I still think in an answer that makes my go to the course at ease, but I didn’t find an answer yet. I will think more and more till I find the answer, but since I have to write my blog , I let you share my confusion till I find a solution :0 

Reflective learning Journal # 2 : WOW

Are those who I will meet if I gave grade 6???Rebel, Misfit, Player, Downtrodden, Invisible,......... Each one is a case, not just different. I spend the time we take about the teenagers with an open mouth. I start to understand why there is a gap between me and my sister. The information I took about them is very useful, I am eager to learn more and more about them.

It was amazing to participate in all these projects. Feeling that you share (even by votes) in such wonderful projects make my happy. I am waiting for the presentations of my friends. I think they will be great. I got a lot of ideas that I may use or take about it with my friends who teach other subjects.

I still didn't adapt with this course. I am little bit worry from the readings, summery, reflection and project. But I know that I will find my way. :)

Reflective learning Journal # 1 : BIG SHOCK

Last Tuesday session was a big shock to me by all means. The first shock was when I entered the class at 5:00 o’clock exactly and I found Dr. Joyanne started the session  ( I don’t know when she start it till know) I told myself “ If that happen on the day I left my work early by one hour, what will happen in the next sessions”. After I took my place in the circle, I didn’t feel comfort, I feel that I am always on spot, but after a while I got use to it.I enjoyed the first activity as it break the ice between us quickly.

10 mins. The only break in 3 hours!!! Is that not a shock???

When Dr. Joyanne ask us to bring a teenager to the class, I got shock “walahy” L . It was my first time I recognise that I don’t have teenagers around me (except my sis). I just teach to grade 4. So I asked myself an important question, “Is it better to teach to the teenager first then take this diploma or take the diploma then teach to teenagers.”

All talks about the course project, reflections and PLOOGER were shock, shock and SHOCK …. No comment …. Especially when I returned home and tried hard to understand the plogger and how to invite a friend to it (which I still don’t know).

Put for the records, there were two amazing things. The first one is learning know technology. I know that most of us find difficults in dealing with plooger, put it is a fabulous add to our knowledge. 

 The second thing is reading your reflection for the session. Know I didn’t set with each one in this course 3 hours only, I set more … Also I know everyone thoughts and who he/she thinks which is amazing. (May you just add for your reflections your dears for the 1^st night after the session???).

By the end, thanks to Dr. Joyanne for pushing us to learn and gain more skills and really big thanks for my wonderful helping colleagues.