Workshops To Develop My Strengths

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

I would like to teach in a way that will inspire my students. Teachers can inspire students while still teaching to the assessment. Creativity came to great interest, as I wanted to know how teachers come up with creative ideas, how did they implement this into their planning and what activities and techniques do their use with students. To keep students motivated I wanted to know various activities as changes in activity "restore attention and concentration "Biggs 2007:102

How could I adapt creative techniques in the classroom?

Encourage new learning with relevant activities that motivates and helps students make connections

To promote active learning and engage learners

Display enthusiasm for student ideas

Consider a range of resource ideas

From the creative workshop there were various methods to embrace such as the use of video in the classroom can offer visual stimulus. The uses of games produce intense involvement, and a quality of concentration no other teaching method can match. Petty (2008:182)

Using television game shows is a good starting point to get learners to think of ideas and encourage group participation. By using the game show techniques, I can design educational questions by adopting the ideas that will meet the learning objective. This will encourage group member involvement also facilitating meaningful and fun learning. "Games will help to develop a range of skills in learners, including team-building, problem-solving and communication skills" Scales 2009:139

Music and images were promoted highly in the skill shop. "Images and metaphors shape our understanding" Caviglioli et al 2002:15. These approaches allow students to develop life skills by them taking part in games simulation situations. As these techniques will introduce students to experience difficult concepts that will be meaningful and understandable when experienced. Activities such as explained above can also allow students to use they Problem-solving skills, self-motivation, and self-confidence through these experiences.

Questioning workshop

From my micro teach I asked question yet failed to expand on the answer given by my fellow peers. Whilst asking the question I was thinking of another question to ask a student and didn’t take much notice of the answer. I found questioning a difficult task and was delighted when I got the options to attend a workshop in regards to questioning. I had no idea what type of questions to ask and how to get a discussion going by asking the group questions. What I wanted to gain a strategy that allowed me to get students to think more about what exactly they were thinking and the concepts behind their argument

Petty states questioning is of "paramount importance". The questioning method is to develop genuine understanding. It allows me the teacher to create an environment where taking risks are encouraged and being right doesn’t always matter. The questioning process I will use is Socrates method. Whatever line of questioning I will use I will be prepared what to ask and how to ask it. I will then reflect on my questioning strategy and make judgements on what’s working and what isn’t.

How could I adapt questioning techniques in the classroom?

When asking students a question phrase it clearly

Allow wait time after asking a question

Expand on students responses and extend their thinking

Elect students but also encourage non volunteering students

Give assistant to incorrect responses

When correct responses are given use praise

In order to enhance these skills in everyday teaching I will maintain the approaches learnt and adapt my teaching styles to these techniques. Also when I did an introduction activity with my new group I asked students what they expected and majority said they wanted lessons to be fun and hands on. Especially on the entry level and level one student like to learn by doing something rather than traditional teaching methods. I find this a positive approach to encourage different types of learning. This done by allowing learners the opportunity to choose an activity that they want to participate in; this way I am treating my learner’s as adults and giving them the opportunity to taking control of their own learning.

My next step is to encourage inclusive learning and aim to inspire students. I want all learners to enjoy my lesson and find them useful and fun that will want them to attend my sessions. I mentioned this in my PowerPoint that I will allow students to use they own initiative when on task which allows them to use they imagination and explore context and make they own meaning from it. This will promote students confidence and future thinking in the topics they are studying rather than the teacher facilitating. Teaching should not be thought of as transmission but as an engagement. Light and Cox (2009:103)

What I have learned from the workshop is to modify and make changes where necessary which will promote a range of teaching and learning styles that will demonstrate my creativity and questioning skills.

Also to:

Encourage open-ended questioning

Increase use of role-play

Experiment

Problem solving

To stand back and let students take the lead

The opportunity to attend the workshop was a privilege as I have learnt techniques and strategies to overcome my weakness in areas of improvement. I intend to work on these skills and continue researching ways of embracing creativity and questioning in the classroom. I have interoperated this into my learning contract for further development whilst on placement. I have a range of resource ideas and methods of questioning that has given me confidence to be equipped in my lessons. I have a resource bank where I have ideas of materials, activities and variety techniques that involves students to be creative. All resources used should meet the differing need of learners, promote equality, support diversity and contribute to effective learning. Also use pre-prepared questions. I will use Socratic questioning method to question as it is at the heart of critical thinking. I feel confident to an extent to use these approaches by modelling the characteristics of a ‘creative spirit’ in my day to day practice