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I play with code to understand comprehension as I have no way to comprehend code.

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EDU 106 Module One-Week One Checklist

1 min read

Ask yourself the following questions:

-Did I complete the readings?

-Did I trace the shape of a common story?

-Did I trace the shape of a common communitcation text like email?

-Did I do a free choice writing or respond to the optional prompt?

 

You may have already worked on your unselfie but that was our maker challenge this week. Maker challenges are introduced each week but not due until the end of the month.

Learning update #1

1 min read

The topic I choose for the learn something module was to learn how to better manage my money. I have had a job for 2 years now at a restaurant which has been my main mode of income. I am not terrible at handling my money but I knew I could improve because I was spending too much. The first week I started to research, COVID-19 hit and we were told to quarentine. The first few weeks during quarentine I was still working more hours and was making more than before because school was closed. Places began to close so I wasn't spending my money or wasting gas. I began putting more money in my savings which helped me a lot because then I wasn't spending so much money. After this I used the advice I read from one of my sources, which was to look at your spending history. I gathered that I was spending more than I was making. To improve this I set limits on my spending and started writing down essential payments so I could keep track. 

Latin Update 1

2 min read

I started by watching a few Youtube videos to get some sort of foundation going. Some of them gave me a bird's eye view of sorts into the language as well as why it was important to learn Latin. Since, it's a dead language, I'm not going to put a huge emphasis on learning how to listen to or speak it. Mostly reading/writing. However, if I still like it by the end, I might continue learning it outside of this class. 

I'm using a beginner's Latin textbook I found a free pdf of online. It's so helpful and I'm getting a fairly good grasp on the verbs and sentence structure so far since I'm familiar with Spanish as well. Also, English has some Latin roots which also helps. I anticipate a little more trouble with the noun declensions since neither English nor Spanish does this. The changing of a noun depending on what part of the sentence it is is a lot to think about along with how to conjugate the verbs. I can see why many Romance languages have moved away from noun declesions. 

By the weekend, I want to be able to know about half of the noun cases so we'll see what happens there! 

Below is a full list of noun declensions. Tough stuff (for me at least), but language fascinates me so this will be a fun challenge. 

Please remember what we talked about how good writers organize their writing. Take advantage of parapgraphs and headings.

Large blocks of text make it harder on the reader

Learning Update

1 min read

I've conitued reading my sources and thinking of more and more backstories, histories, heros, villians, etc for my world to make it very action packed and exciting to be in. But sometimes I think I'm over doing it and should maybe calm down. Making charcther sheets for alot of the NPCs is a pain since the majority will never show up again after a 20 minute exchange. So all the writing and creation go not to total waste, but left behind. I've learned a lot from the books about certain monsters and possible origins on how they would come to be in this wolrd. Humaniod spider monsters, moaning flying manta rays that rip your will apart, a normal looking door that when touched reveal rows of sharp teeth that rip you apart and melt you with acid. There are many terrifying monsters in this world, and those three are nothing compared to the "big bads" that sit dormant throughout the land.

Notes on Approaching our Next Module in #edu106 a Tech fluency class @scsu a study in digital #literacies

1 min read

We began class with a check-in. Every class begins with an entrance slip where students blog about their writing. I use this technique to take advantage of instructional minutesd but also allow students who have back to back classes across campus make it before we start new material.

We then went over expectations of our second module "Learn Something"

We first connected back to the larger picture in class. It is always better to connect objectives back to course goals and even better if you can connect to personal learning goals.

In this class students get exposure to web development, photography, audio, and video editing. They then specialize when they choose a "Do Something" project to better themselves or the world.

Next we reviewed the principles of connected learning. I went over the history and values included in the perspective.

II then reviewed with students how I scaffold their case study writing. Today I provided direct instruction on Connected Learning. Then this week we are looking at mentor text written by the connected leqrning alliance.

Also on Quick Thoughts

What do I want to learn?

1 min read

I want to learn more about the lore, races, monsters and all materials in Dungeons&Dragons so that I can host my own home brew campaign. There's a lot of writing and planning involved so I want to learn what material I'll be using and how to be a good Dungeon Master. That way, I might improve my storytelling capabilities and my players will have fun and we'll all have a good time.

Creating Expectations for Learning and Growth as A Community

2 min read

This week we began clas by firsyt examining patterns we found in our first three weeks of blog posts:

You folks were highly critical of each other and yourself! Please understand that when these patterns emerge it is not the fault of the students but of the isntructor not laying out clear expectiations.

 

Next I rolled played with you showing two different ways of delivering feedback. I could say, "You folks are giving me single parapgraphs like a 6th grader"

 

or I could base my feedback on growth and say, "While you took a postion your writing would be improved with greater organization and eloboration. You can begin by trying to organize your writing in mutltiple paragraphs. As an elaboration technioque make sure to use evidence from the readings."

Which approach do you think research supports in helping students grow as learners and writers.

Next in small groups you did a turn and talk and a s atable developed a list of criteria for good blogging. We then combined this list as a class

list of topics suggested by students

So here are the final criteria

  • Strong organization as evidenced by a central idea, concept, or argument supported by multiple paragraphs, each organized around a central idea. Use of signal worrds and headings.
  • Analysis of the readings that uses evidence from the text, combined with personal observations to support your positiomn.
  • Voice and Expressions emerge over time to create a clear stule for the writer
  • Affordances of Multimedia used such as images, links, and movies to enhance your message.

I left the word length requirement off. The 250 words is a suggestion. The correct answer is the exact number you need. Not one more. Not one less.

4 Blog Posts: Week 2

3 min read

1. Project

This week, I'm going to start my Ignite Talk! It seems a litle anxiety inducing because the slides change, but I'm excited to start it. I'm going to go into the history of my family, the history of the recipe, the history of the foods I'm writing about, hopefully all will go well! I also sent out my survey over break and got 9 responses!

2. Project

I've been thinking more about the video pathway a little bit more and do not think an interview is feasible anymore because my nonna splits her time at my house and my aunt's house, where she is this week. So, I think I'm going to make little recipe zines instead. Part of my survey asked if my family would like a book of my nonna's recipes, and 100% said yes. For the video, I will now film myself making the zines :)

3. Reading: When Learning and Assessment Diverge

 - " A student is not just a data point" - so important

- The author categorizes tests: "Many standardized tests are what I will call “target assessments”. Target assessments tell us how many people out of a designated population have hit a certain target, for example how many can compute fractions at a certain level of correctness." Some target assessments just tell us how many people can hit the target and leave it at that. Let’s call these “cognitively superficial target assessments”. Other target assessments tell us how many people not only can hit the target, but understand what the target (e.g., fractions) means and why it works as it does. Let’s call these sorts of assessments “cognitively deep target assessments”.

- "Too often in schools, we take reading as the main form of experience necessary for learning"

This is so for good Darwinian reasons: we survive by using the past to move to the future, not by lingering in the past. It is time, I think, for assessment and testing to move into the future, as well.

4. Anything Post - Southern Celebrates Student Leaders

  - I was invited to a student leadership appreciation day at Southern! Since I'm the treasurer of Italianissimi, I got to go. There were free t shirts (always a must) and they had donuts and hot chocolate, and a snack bar to show appreciation for the hard work their student leaders like myself do. It was really fun!