EDU 498 Education Studies Capstone

Guided Response:  Respond to at least two classmates’ postings. Ask your peers probing questions to determine why they enjoyed the assignments they listed and more importantly how they will apply what they have learned to their future classroom.

1.Leanne

What assignment was most engaging? Why?

The discussion case studies and the assignment case studies were the most engaging.  The challenged me to think of new strategies to engage the class whatever the age group was.  It gave me new ideas, strategies, and activities to use with my special education students. 

At what moment in this course were you most distant from the class? Why?

At the beginning of the class mainly because I was learning the new classroom in this last class of my degree program and also because there were many challenges for me because several examples would not work within the new classroom and it was frustrating, however Instructor Erez was excellent at sending me PDF copies of the examples I needed.

Were you confused about any assignment or learning activity?

No, I was not confused about any assignment or learning activity.  The directions were very clear, and the examples once Instructor Erez got them to me were very clear and helpful.  I was not able to access the examples in the classroom, the links would not work for me.

What will you remember most in this course?

That it is up to us as teachers to put forth the effort to develop relationships with our students, educate ourselves as to how each of our students learns best, differentiate our instruction, engage our students, and assess our students through the entire learning process.  Once we assess we must study how we need to reteach and adjust our curriculum and instruction to make sure learning is occurring.  We as teachers can make the difference in whether our students are successful.

Evaluate your work this course. What assignments and activities did you excel in? What could you have improved on?

I can always improve on the case studies and find new approaches to ensure the students are engaged and learning.  I do think I did well on the assignments and the approaches and strategies that I presented.

2. Michael 

What assignment was most engaging? Why?

Each week’s assignments were engaging.  They made you reflect on the weeks’ chapter and put the information to use in a probable scenario.  I had to look at causes and effects and use critical thinking. 

At what moment in this course were you most distant from the class? Why?

Week three saw reduced attention and reduced scores.  I would like to say it was because of more pertinent things that were ongoing, but I simply focused on other things more than the course.

Were you confused about any assignment or learning activity?

Not so much confused as not having the actual classroom experience that so many of my peers have.  No amount of schooling can replace the hands on “been there, done that”.

What will you remember most in this course?

The vast experiences shared by my peers.  Tomorrows students are in good hands.

Evaluate your work this course. What assignments and/or activities did you excel in? What could you have improved on?

I think that I exceled in the weekly journals.  I like being able to paraphrase what I have read.  I could have improved on everything else; assignments, peer responses and so on.  I am not one to put on airs.  I have no concrete plans to become an educator.  I do admire those with the passion.  America needs you