Reflection 1

   The most positive thing about having written my teaching philosophy down is that now due to the time and effort I have put into it, organizing and researching, I have a better feel for my values and beliefs. I also have goals, and a better understanding of what kind of teacher I can and want to be. There is now a public record of my personal expectations and that’s something I Have to live up to. I’ve always felt that writing down your thoughts allows you to look at them more objectively, and when you can see you own ideas from afar you can more effectively pursue them, or change them.

   Downe’s article on educational blogging points out the practice as a way to rapidly share opinions and ideas around the world, but I would challenge that notion. I believe that the most important part of blogging is the variety and speed of feedback. Through feedback and conflict a person can ask questions they didn’t know existed and go deeper into their own education, as well as get conflicting opinions, that grant you an opportunity to prove or disprove theories. At the end of the day I don’t think there is a concrete limit on the effects blogging can have on education. I think that we can push our system to use this as a tool and get out at least as much as we put in. The only thing I see getting in the way of blogging as a tool is rules and restrictions that may stifle creativity and make blogging a dry, boring media, like many others (i.e. textbooks….)

  

   In November’s article, the point is brought up that school districts are more willing to spend money on new tech that they are to train educators on how to use what they have, or what they are getting.  Using lingo from this class, they are simply automating, not infomating. They are throwing technology at a problem hoping it will go away. This doesn’t work, often.  All problem need to be approached critically and solved with our brains not our checkbooks, after you have a solution you employ tech to make it easier, or more effective, not to solve a problem on its own.

   My hopes for this class are for it to push me into a better theoretical and practical understanding of technology.  Now I know this sounds obvious, but for me personally technology is weakness, no smart phone, or tablet for me, I’ve never even taken a typing class. While twenty years ago that wouldn’t get in the way of me being a teacher, nowadays it would get in the way of me working at a fast food place.  Hopefully based on the assignments in this class and the feedback and challenges I get from my instructor and classmates, I can get the ball rolling on developing all the skills I’ll need as a teacher both technical and non-technical.

My "All In" Philosophy

                The basis of my teaching philosophy is founded in my 20 years as a student, and tutor.  There is a heavy influence of sociological theory, as well as analytical methods.  These attributes can be based on my degree in Criminal Justice as well as the raising I had by a research assistant.  More than that is my insistence that a good teacher is available for any problems a student might have as well as the position of being possibly the only positive role model my students may have.  It’s important for me to be 100% vested in my students and to put forth 100% effort into making better students and better people.  Put simply, my teaching philosophy is to be “all in”. 

                I believe an education that only covers tests and course material is hopelessly incomplete.  Academically we must help students develop the tools they cannot be directly tested on.  I must teach them how to learn, how to study, and how to be a positive addition to society.

                My approach to teaching is to be “all in” like I mentioned before.  What I mean by this is to be as available to the students as much as possible. The basis of an education in the sciences to me starts with the scientific method.  When students have mastered the ability to apply the method to their problems and walk through the steps, they can then begin to teach and learn by themselves.  Biblically speaking it is teaching a man to fish as opposed to giving a man a fish. 

                I expect myself to adhere to the charge of being “all in” regardless of how tiring, futile, or idealistic it may seem.  I expect myself to help both students and colleagues succeed in whatever their goals are.

                From my students I will expect discipline, hard work, and a willingness to learn.  While not all of them will show these attributes, I will push them towards these characteristics because I believe that these things help make people successful.  I expect my students to respect my position as a teacher, and I expect myself to in turn earn that respect.

                From my colleagues I expect two things effort and good will, exhibiting these things towards the students, teachers, and administration.  
              
               I think my philosophy strongly coincides with the theory of realism, I want to focus on students as a whole person, not as chemistry student number 1. I strongly support the scientific method as a basis for critical thinking, at least for students who haven't developed these skills on their own. Finally accountability is important to me, both for myself, my co-workers and my students. I believe you can never deal with an issue if you don't take charge of it.

               Technology is a weakness for me, and I'm learning how to harness it as we speak, but I do believe it has great value. I am an auditory learner, so the lecture style has always been good for me, but not all people are like that, many need to see,feel, and manipulate things to get a concrete understanding. Technology provides us with the ability to teach students in these ways, all at the same time while sitting at their desks. We can low at the pyramids of Egypt from different angles, or built carbon chains.I'm sure I am barely scratching the surface of what it is capable of doing, and that gets me excited to learn about it, and further to implement it in a classroom of my own some day.
                Critical thinking is a skill that seems to be dying out faster than common sense.  So as listed before my main directive is to use the scientific method to teach students how to think and problem solve.  Show kids that discipline, hard work, and willingness to learn can lead you to a successful life.  As well as being “all in” so that every one of my students understand I care about their successes and failures.  Through these things I hope to be a good teacher and a great role model for my students.