Backwards Design in SL

I am very excited to be working in a new LC in Melissa's class. They are Dervin, Samiya and Israel. I have not worked with any of them so it will be fun to get to know them better through this process.

We have started with the idea of technology and learning in a virtual world (SL) to teach a lesson. We have thought about going through a museum, possibly a hospital or a place where there are crimes against humanity. So we will see where it goes when we start to brain storm.

Brent

Learning

I had a learning experience the other day with one of my friends. We were talking about learning and how we learn. He teaches classes on saddle making and drawing. We were talking about learning and distractions and how that effects if you are able to learn. Each of us has a different level of distractions, and some people can get to a point that they can't be distracted, that has been called in the zone (Flow) by some. In either case they are capable to focus all of their energy into a specific project, thought or idea. The conversations then went back to distractions and my friend talked about music and that it is made to make you want to move which is a distraction. He suggested that you listen to classical music, because it is designed to undistract a person and allows you to focus and get into the flow and be creative. Interesting conversation while building saddles, huh.


Brent

Results

I think my results were what they brought to the table at the end of the class, their welds for the day. The results I wanted was to see progression for them as an individual. I chose this because the purpose of the project to for them to become more proficient at welding as an individual. They do that through practice and reflection while working with other students and myself cycle after cycle.

I think the best part of welding is that you have an actual piece or artifact that they can hold and you can look at to compare to previous days work.

Brent

Successful learning experience

I think one of my successful learning experiences was giving my arp students the opportunity to figure out how to start-run-operate a metal lathe without any help except for safety aspects.

It was the first experience that many of them had had ever trying to figure out how to do something without a parent or teacher giving instruction or answers along the way. They really had a hard time at first, but as the process went along it go easier for a few of them.

What made it successful, was they had a relevant experience dealing with a tool that they would directly be involved in using with their projects.

My role was to make it a safe, relevant, reflective and skill development activity.


It was a moment of change for me in my learning, and the possibilities that are out there.

665 LD

Well I thought I would get started and write my first post for Melissa's class 665. I have started reading UbD and it has been very enlightening so far, what an idea to design backwards. I try to design me classes in this manner, but I have never really thought in depth about why so deep. It has already opened my mind to new ideas of how I should approach designing my curriculum for my classes. I am looking forward to this class and what I can learn and get out of it.

Brent