Live a Little, Learn a Lot
Created Spring 2012 for CEP 416
I am currently placed in a 5th grade classroom in an International Baccalaureate school in Lansing where the curriculum is focused on preparing students to become active members in society. I admire my Mentor Teacher's desire to help her students become risk takers to help them build self-confidence and promote their desire to learn. After each big project the students complete, my Mentor Teachers offers one point toward extra credit for students who would like to present their work to the class. She describes this extra credit opportunity as a way for students to show that they are proud of their work and believe in the effort they put into their assignments.
The following digital story, Live a Little, Learn a Lot shows pictures from my study abroad trip to Ireland in the summer of 2011. It was a great learning experience for me and the rest of the students on the trip because we got so much more out of the trip than we ever could have imagined. Looking back at the trip, I've done a lot of thinking of all the events that led up to studying abroad and realized that without taking a few risks and stepping out of my comfort zone, I never would have had this experience. This story is not meant to show students that they need to travel to another country in order to learn and have an unforgettable experience, but it is meant to trigger the idea of acting on opportunities we desire for ourselves. This could be anything from planning an exercise routine or taking the first steps to finding a job. Giving students the opportunity to internalize this idea at an early age can be a great way to help build self-confidence early on, which is critical for any individual. Creating a digital story was easy and hopefully an effective way to project ideas to an audience. Implementing this learning tool will be beneficial as a teacher to cater to the needs of students who desire a different means of presentation.
The following digital story, Live a Little, Learn a Lot shows pictures from my study abroad trip to Ireland in the summer of 2011. It was a great learning experience for me and the rest of the students on the trip because we got so much more out of the trip than we ever could have imagined. Looking back at the trip, I've done a lot of thinking of all the events that led up to studying abroad and realized that without taking a few risks and stepping out of my comfort zone, I never would have had this experience. This story is not meant to show students that they need to travel to another country in order to learn and have an unforgettable experience, but it is meant to trigger the idea of acting on opportunities we desire for ourselves. This could be anything from planning an exercise routine or taking the first steps to finding a job. Giving students the opportunity to internalize this idea at an early age can be a great way to help build self-confidence early on, which is critical for any individual. Creating a digital story was easy and hopefully an effective way to project ideas to an audience. Implementing this learning tool will be beneficial as a teacher to cater to the needs of students who desire a different means of presentation.