"WHITE WATER RAFTING"

So as the rapids begin, let’s start the challenge.  Skillful teaching involves challenges.  The more I experience good, bad and sometimes the ugly parts of teaching, the more inclined I am to take on the challenges of the rapids.  If you have ever been white water rafting, the constant ups and downs in every turn you make creates a sense of adventure that clearly is quite similar to teaching.  Class five rapids are very difficult, while class one are calm and easy to manage.

While no instructor wants to feel constantly in turbulent water, success in each rapid makes a person feel confidence and it is with that confidence comes excitement of the next turn that may either be calm or turbulent waters depending on the day.  Problems I face as an instructor are exactly like white water rafting because some problems that occur during a day are easily resolved, while other issues pose more challenging, thus the raft is in a much more uncontrollable state.

A good example of the calm water is in the class policy of no eating or drinking in class and only water is allowed but it needs to be kept on the floor is constantly challenged by students.  I can think of at least 20 times a week that I have to remind students of this policy.  The student I address may make a snippy remark, but complies, thus the calm waters of rafting is depicted.  On the other hand, turbulent water starts when the same student marches out of class and into the Dean's office crying that because they had stomach cramps they should be allowed to drink their water in class and leave it on the desktop, and when the student returns to class they win, at least that day.  Here the same calm water, became very nasty resulting in a problem that was a proven failure on the student to follow policy, but also a temporary solution that was made.  However, that temporary solution to the problem creates more turbulence in the classroom because others follow the leader and as the saying goes "do for one you must do for all" becomes evident.

Now the question of "what will go to the grave with me without having completely resolving them are students constantly late for class.  I start class exactly when the announcement is made "good morning" and begin my lecture.  Students who trickle in an hour or two late, expect me to go over the materials with them during class and while my policy is I do not repeat lecture materials during class, and make the student accountable for the materials missed, I still have comments on my monthly surveys that state I have not allowed late students opportunity to "get" the necessary lecture material.  While I have tried various techniques to help with the excessive tardy students such as hold off on new lecture materials and do a review of materials discussed from the day before, or allow study time, I still get those students who consistently complain that they are not getting important materials from the instructor.  I have even gone as far as offering after class tutor time with no success.

Another problem that I will take with me to the grave is the excessive talking while I am lecturing.  I have always been an open minded instructor who is willing to listen to other opinions and we have discussion while I lecture so that students can engage actively in the lecture.  What happens when I open discussions up to students is that the discussions turn into chat sessions.  For example, I will be lecturing on cancer and a student will start talking about how cancer affected them.  Other students will engage in the discussion and when we get back onto the lecture students who do not care to listen will take the opportunity to continue talking about anything except what the topic is.  I try very hard to get the entire class back on task so that they will be able to succeed with the materials and pass a test.

Problems such as these I know I will always encounter and will take to my grave without completely solving them.  In Chapter one, "Experiencing Teaching", I have found that by muddling through the ups and downs of reasoning, the "white water rapids", can be calm one minute and turbulent the next.  The solutions to  problems can sometimes be challenging as the class five rapids are, while some solutions can be calm class one rapids.  At any case solutions to either a calm or turbulent issue is what a Experiencing Teaching and becoming a better instructor is about.

Tough Decision 1.1

• Step One:  DEFINING MY DECISION:  I have a tough decision to make in my personal life that some of you may think this is not a hard decision, but to me it is one of the toughest decisions I have to make in the next few weeks.  My friend who I have known for over 30 years is getting married and she has asked me to be a bridesmaid.  Her wedding date is next January giving me plenty of time to do what I have to if I accept.  That is an honor, but this is the tough part:  she lives back in Michigan where I would have to go for the wedding and take time off work and make flight arrangements etc. and the biggest thing at this point is: can I honestly afford it because I would have to buy a bridesmaid dress, shoes, flight, rent a car, motel, spending money, take time off from work, and even though I have known this person for over 30 years and keep in contact with her, I have some wonders if the tables were turned would she do the same for me?

• Step Two:  CONSIDER THE POSSIBLE CHOICES:  I have several choices that I can make at this point:   the first is to accept her offer and start making arrangements now and if I find that later on down the line I can't afford this, I could make up something and call her to say I can't do it.  .  I can graciously decline and explain to her that it would cost me too much to do this.  I also have the choice to accept her and start planning early in stages and purchase plane ticket when it gets really cheap, buy the dress closer to time, arrange hotel and rental car or just go for it and not look at the cost but that this is a friend of mine who wants me to be in her wedding party.

• Step Three:  PROS AND CONS:  There are a lot of pros and cons to this:  PROS:  I will enjoy the trip and see my friend get married and be a part of her day.  The trip is in January up in Michigan, where I can see snow again.  I have plenty of time to maneuver my funds and can purchase items in pieces.  I will be taking a couple of days off that I deserve for me.  My son has offered to pay for his ticket and go with me so I don't have to travel alone.  I will be seeing a lot of old college friends from Michigan, lots of them I have not seen for a long time.   CONS:  the trip will set me back at least a grand or two, I wonder if my friend would do this for me, I would need to let work know now for  coverage, it will be cold up there thus I would need to carry more snow clothes with me, I don't fly well, I am not that much of a party person especially when I have flown so many miles I will be very jet lag and tired out.

• Step Four:  MY BEST CHOICE:  I think at this point my best choice is to accept the offer and make purchases over a period of time so that I don't feel the pinch as much.  I would not be hurting a good friend's feelings, I would enjoy the time off, and basically make this time a great time to go back to Michigan, my home state and drive around the area just for fun.  .

• Step Five:  MY PLAN OF ACTION AND MONITORING MY RESULTS:  At this point my plan of action is to accept my friend and slowly start purchasing the things that I will need for this trip.  I will let my employer know of the days that I need off and get this approved.  Once the approval is official, I will have my son purchase the plane tickets, rental car, and motel as a package to save money.  In time, I will purchase the dress and any other miscellaneous things that I need so that when I fly to Michigan I can enjoy my time with a friend in her moments of glory and happiness knowing that I will be a part of her happiness.  I will be able to make time to drive around the area I used to live in and see the changes in 10 years that have been made.  It will probably make me really appreciate where I am now because the time of year she is getting married is January ... snow and usually lots of it..unpredictable weather conditions but ultimately my plan of action will be step by step until the day I fly out.

Assignment 4.2 Personal Development Journal

Wow, I can't believe that another class has been completed...as the saying goes "time flies when you are having fun...or should I say having fun learning something new".  As I think back to the very first chapter in this course, and the first weeks assignments, I begin to realize that teaching and learning styles are what creates students.  I wanted to thank all my classmates for their support and help with my first blog and in followers of my blog.  Now it is time to take a brief moment and reflect on The Wonderful World of Learning Styles. 

In looking back at all the new learning styles that have come about, I have come to a big conclusion about "The Wonderful World of Learning Styles".  I can honestly say that how I teach in class is really how I learn.  I am what is called a combo learner with traits that use visual, auditory and tactile essence.  When I teach now, I try very hard to combine various learning styles so that no one person is left behind.  By using some of the tools that others have brought to my attention and ones such as Blooms taxonomy and VARK teaching methods, each month I create a better atmosphere so that the students can feel my energy and excitement as I instruct.  My new strengths along with positive reinforcement from student surveys will enable me to be the best teacher that I can be.  I am always willing to take on new challenges, and believe me this Blog was a challenge for me.  I can now incorporate my blog site moving forward to challenge students in my curriculum.
STREGNTH:
As I continue my learning experiences in this wonderful profession of teaching, I find that with every learning experience there is a person behind the scenes who developed a thought or a process that others felt worked.  Bloom's Taxonomy is a good example of of how one person can present information in such a fashion that stuck out to so many people. 

My strongest experience thus far has been that I notice more, and yes, have opened my eyes to using other methods of learning.  I feel that it is important to me as an instructor to be able to understand my students and how they learn because when they succeed in a course, I succeed and in turn become an even better educator.  I am not afraid to say that I am wrong or that OOPS, I made a mistake and move on.
IMPROVEMENT:
Oh my goodness...we all have room for improvement.  After reading and reviewing other people's opinions on various learning styles, I believe that I can improve my learning styles by going outside of my comfort area and try a different style.  I really need to take more time and reach out to other students on the discussion board not just by responding to something I like, but also critique and get more information on a subject that intrigues me.

I have a tendency of doing tasks that are easy and quick and leaving the items that I know will take longer to complete until the last minute.  I need to work on developing a comfortable way to not only complete tasks that are assigned to me at work, but also in life.  I have started to list tasks that I need to complete on a paper and number the order of importance using my auditory skills in such a fashion that makes me stay on task. 
INSIGHT:
I must say that teaching is a wonderful profession.  I love what I do and as I continue in the Adult Education program I will gain even more valuable information to be the greatest instructor that I can be.  I understand  now that everyone has their own learning style and if I can at least incorporate various styles into each of my courses this will allow greater success in students that I instruct.  I know that I must use the white board more  and have students come up to the board to present materials, and I must be more aware when I give assignments.   I understand some students do not care to speak in front of others or some prefer to work alone.  By being able to understand all learning styles I will make sure to present materials in such a way that will go outside of my "box" and into some other area that I am weaker in by creating a user friendly classroom that will fit just about anyone.  I know that this may not always be possible, but at least I will give it my best so that all my students will succeed in their learning style and how I will try to make that possible is by engaging them as I teach.

Assignment 3.3 - Learning Preferences and Learning Styles

Knowing different learning connotations is not always an easy task.  When an instructor starts to assume that most students learn the same way it becomes a problem.  I feel that it is important to explore various learning preferences and also figure out methods that can be utilized within a classroom.  It becomes imperative that instructors provide students ways to interact as well as using motivational tools that will allow the student to assess their own learing style within the environment they are in. 

By varing techniques of a learing process, the instructor can ask questions to challenge various student learning styles and allow the student a chance to strategize objectives that they can organize using the new information and encourage development so that the student can analyze how he or she is learning.  According to Steven Stahl, he states "Different Strokes for Different Folks" (Victor Hugo Blog site posting).  I feel that because there are so many different degrees of learning that affect how people learn, utilizing various learning styles while teaching such as open discussions, games, role playing, and the traditional lecture will help both instructors and students engage together and share understanding of the learning styles.

Exactly how can I identify and relate to students of all learning styles?  Can I develop new styles for students that may fall into more than one category?  These questions can be answered by doing surveys on student learning styles so I will challenge each of you to develop your own instructional style of learning and prepare students as they experiment with a new form of learning that is totally out of the "norm" even for them because by experimenting different connotations in learning a successful student will evolve.  Take time to read my challenge question and answer how you feel, remember there is no one "true" learning style that is correct but it is how an instructor utilizes the method of learning that will ultimately affect student success.  As stated in chapter 3,  Postsecondary Students and Learning Styles,  it is important for instructors to identify a variety of learning objectives and use imagination to allow students to experience different learning situations and allow them to engage in that experience.  (pg 25 Postsecondary students and learning styles)

Various Learning Connotations

It is always fun to learn new things especially if a person has never experienced them before.  This blog is a good example of something I am learning to do and I must say it is rather fun.

I believe that there are so many connotations to learning that my blog The World of Learning Styles will engage the audience and add a different touch to the way we teach and also learn.  My feelings on concepts of learning styles is that an educator needs to be able to engage all learning styles as they teach.  This however becomes difficult but necessary to better assist an adult learner.

In my blog, as I move forward I will have various connotations, tests, games and while one concept may be of interest to you, it may not suit someone else.  I challenge each of you as you continue searching my blog to comment on my challenge questions.  I welcome all comments to better my understanding of learning styles.

One quote I will leave you with:  I BELIEVE THAT EVERY DAY IS A CHANCE TO TOUCH SOMEONE'S LIFE.  

Be that person to touch someone's life and make it better.