Webquest Reflection

What..So What...Now What..?

This web quest assignment has opened my eyes to different approaches to analyze or handle a classroom. Descriptive research helped me realize there is always a goal of describing what, how, or why something is happening in my classroom or with students. Correlational research taught me about comparing two or more variables to find a relationship or cause. Experimental Research is seeing things as a cause and effect. Action Research can be used when comparing your own techniques and developing strategies to improve your own.
Learning these different research strategies will help me a lot in the future because when we begin teaching we thing we don't need help or critiquing. Although we think we know everything, we need to analyze ourselves and see how we can improve different situations so they don't happen again. This has helped me critically analyze myself and see things in all different perspectives. It is important to realize what you are doing wrong so that you can learn and fix your problems. Each of these research techniques are different in their own ways, they all will benefit us as teachers when we are comparing things or trying to make our teaching more effective.
Although I have learned an enormous amount about educational research, there is still a very large portion that I am still very unsure about. I can read books and books about it but the point to where I fully understand the concepts wont be until I have my own class and use the research for myself. In the future, I will use educational research in many different situations. For example, If i am wondering if my students are understanding what I am teaching, I can use Action research to figure out new ways to help my students if my own are not working. Also, I can use Correlational research to compare different classes or students to see what each needs to improve on. Overall, i think these research techniques will be beneficial to not only me but my future students.

Course Contract

Course Contract

I need to set goals in my life in order to keep pushing myself and grow. My three goals for this course include:

1. Never settle, always do my best work.

2. Stay on top of things, don’t get behind.

3. Be organized

I chose these goals because in my general classes I always took the easy way to get good grades. After the last discussion we had in class it changed my whole perspective. These classes we are taking will benefit us in the future, it is essential we understand and grasp each concept.

My weekly preparation plan to complete these goals will include creating a planner to keep me on track. Having a planner will make sure I know what assignments and discussions in class ahead of time that I need to know about. Each day I will break down the chapter piece by piece to read a small portion at a time. That way, I will not feel overwhelmed or become bored from the reading. Also, I will complete each assignment at least 2 days after it was given, that way I can stay on top with the rest of my classes and perfect them if needed.

My study strategies will be simple but effective. From the textbook I will highlight important information and also create an outline of the chapter, that way I can go back and review without re-reading the chapter. Also, I will collaborate with my classmates to study together for important exams or assignments.

If I do not understand a topic, again I will collaborate with classmates to figure out what I do not understand. At the first of class I got 4 classmates phone numbers in case I have a problem or do not understand.

Because I am determined to complete my goals, I will do whatever it takes to understand and grasp what I need to know!

Motivation

When I think of motivation, I think about being driven and determined. I am most motivated when there is a reward or the feeling of success is involved. For example, when I was starting high school I wanted to become a cheerleader. I had NO dancing abilities or coordination whatsoever! I was determined to make the squad so 2 months before tryouts I practiced and practiced day and night. When it came time for tryouts I was extremely nervous but was confident at the same time. To make a long story short I made the squad and it was the best experience of my high school years. What motivated me was my older sister, she was a cheerleader in high school and I looked up to her a lot. I saw how involved with the school she was and how much fun she had. It was an extreme amount of work but that determination helped me succeed. When I think about failing, I think about giving up. As much as I hate failing, I have to admit there have been times where I have failed mainly because I was just lazy and didn't push myself to succeed. I am at UVU because I am determined to become an awesome teacher and role model for students. I want to be involved and help children have the same love for learning as I have. I do have a lot of learning to do and I want to soak up every drop of it as I can! In my classroom, I need to be motivated with my students and teach them to be motivated as well. It is really important to be driven because it is up to me to teach and help my students grow.