tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40894552231850929242024-03-13T07:03:00.533-07:00Danna DramaA blog for my class and a description of my current nervous breakdown. Think of it as the German village idiot version of Woody Allen's neurosis.Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-26830678913894237482009-07-26T15:30:00.000-07:002009-07-26T15:31:36.463-07:00New Teaching PhilosophyMy Teaching Philosophy<br />I have had a new experience which will have an impact on my teaching philosophy, if I ever get a chance to teach again. I just finished a four day SEI (Structured English Immersion) class and I learned a great deal. Although most students in the class treated it like a joke, I really benefited from it. I haven’t had much formal education on teaching so any new resource is very valuable. <br />The course helped me to better understand how to word learning objectives and tie them to state standards. This is a practice I was doing before but I learned new information to make this practice more meaningful. I also learned about adding language objectives which really can help focus a lesson. We have a tendency to treat vocabulary as a separate part of the lesson rather than an integral part of the learning. I feel, after taking this class, that we are all English language learners, and are simply in different places on a continuum. If you are not learning new vocabulary, then your vocabulary is static or worse, atrophying.<br />We also screened a film which I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about learning disabilities, teachers and anyone else alike. The film was made by Richard Lavoie for PBS and is titled F. A. T. City. (http://www.ricklavoie.com). The film helps you understand what it is like to be learning disabled. After seeing the film I realized that I had always thought of a learning disability as something that only affects a person in the classroom. This film helped me to understand that a learning disability is with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I highly recommend this movie and I know my approach as a teacher would be greatly affected by it. I feel that we are all learning disabled, again at a different point on the continuum.<br />I have only been a teacher for two years and it was not an intended career change. I was at a crossroads in my life and looking for a break from Los Angeles. I came to Chino Valley to stay with friends for six months and write. Shortly thereafter I found out that the school needed a Drama teacher and if they didn’t find one the kids would have a substitute all year. This was a week before school started. I interviewed on Wednesday and was a teacher on Monday with an emergency certificate. At that point I had never taken an education class or been in a class room except as a student. It was a very steep learning curve.<br />I think my teaching philosophy changes constantly. At first I didn’t have one. It was getting through the day, one thing at a time, hardly a philosophy. Then I took a few education courses and found out there was such a thing as a teaching philosophy.<br />I found that other people were quick to tell me what my philosophy should be and it was always a copy of their own. Plenty of “get tough” and “high standards” and “class room management”. It felt like us vs. them. I tried to do some of these things and I always failed miserably. Mostly it turned my students away and I lost ground rather than gained it.<br />About a month ago I participated in a group learning experience called “Challenge Day”. It changed what I thought about teaching completely. I now see my role as a teacher is one of compassion and love. Yes, I have subject matter to teach but I also have human being training to do. My students need to be listened to, validated, and trusted to be a partner in learning. Without these things I am simply trying to push them through a curriculum that they either came in interested in or not and not much of what I do will change that. They can tell when a teacher is present with them or trying to get through the class. They can tell when a teacher feels superior or doesn’t respect them. They can tell when a teacher sees them as unique human beings and when they don’t. Without that human to human contact and care, the facts go in the short term memory and right out again.Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-37577106393067433122009-07-19T23:55:00.001-07:002009-07-19T23:55:46.184-07:00jing lesson on the computer<object width="1280" height="766"> <param name="movie" value="http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/jingswfplayer.swf"></param> <param name="quality" value="high"></param> <param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"></param> <param name="flashVars" value="thumb=http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/FirstFrame.jpg&containerwidth=1280&containerheight=766&loaderstyle=jing&content=http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/2009-07-19_2341.swf"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param> <param name="scale" value="showall"></param> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param> <param name="base" value="http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/"></param> <embed src="http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/jingswfplayer.swf" quality="high" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="1280" height="766" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="always" flashVars="thumb=http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/FirstFrame.jpg&containerwidth=1280&containerheight=766&loaderstyle=jing&content=http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/2009-07-19_2341.swf" allowFullScreen="true" base="http://content.screencast.com/users/dannadoyle/folders/Jing/media/bf07d9b5-5a86-4197-8ad9-8a6703f8116b/" scale="showall"></embed> </object>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-62514242407465575182009-07-19T21:49:00.001-07:002009-07-19T21:49:54.521-07:00Audio Clip - New Terms<object width="250" height="66"><param name="movie" value="http://www.teachertube.com/player.swf?configXmlPath=http://www.teachertube.com/musicConfigXmlCode.php?pg=music_376&playListXmlPath=http://www.teachertube.com/musicPlaylistXmlCode.php?pg=music_376"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.teachertube.com/player.swf?configXmlPath=http://www.teachertube.com/musicConfigXmlCode.php?pg=music_376&playListXmlPath=http://www.teachertube.com/musicPlaylistXmlCode.php?pg=music_376" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="250" height="66"></embed></object>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-38602822316640192422009-07-07T15:18:00.001-07:002009-07-07T15:18:45.672-07:00<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JmHEo2McvKE&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JmHEo2McvKE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-23939606062275568572009-07-05T19:46:00.001-07:002009-07-05T19:46:17.638-07:00<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="288" height="192" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fdannadoyle%2Falbumid%2F5355167830584098961%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-4764512129853609112009-07-05T18:46:00.000-07:002009-07-05T18:48:51.379-07:00Photos in the Classroom<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDANNAD%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Garamond; panose-1:2 2 4 4 3 3 1 1 8 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:16.0pt; font-family:Garamond; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026"/> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout v:ext="edit"> <o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1"/> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I could effectively use photo sharing in my classroom as a version of who’s who in theatre, film and television.<span style=""> </span>I find that I make reference to many people that my students are unfamiliar with.<span style=""> </span>I could add to my class wiki visual images of all of these individuals.<span style=""> </span>I could also project pictures of them during class lectures and discussions.<span style=""> </span>I think it would help us build a lexicon of familiar artists to refer to when discussing plays, television shows or films.<span style=""> </span>One of the learning paths in theatre is learning who has done what with whom and when.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I also think that visual images could be very powerful to illustrate metaphors in poetry.<span style=""> </span>Some times the levels of comparison can be hard to absorb with just language, but a series of images might be more memorable.<span style=""> </span>We are always using the cliché “a picture is worth a thousand words”.<span style=""> </span>Now perhaps it is time to show those pictures as compared to the words.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I could also see assigning students to create a slide show of photos to go along with a Shakespeare scene or speech.<span style=""> </span>Again this would be a way to bring the arcane language to light.<span style=""> </span>And it would also reveal different interpretations of the same material.<span style=""> </span>As the students worked on finding the images the words would become more familiar and personal.<span style=""> </span>It would also be a way to show parents what students are studying in an interesting, visual method.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-29145951277748226572009-07-05T11:45:00.000-07:002009-07-05T11:45:04.882-07:00Ancient Greek Color Vision | Serendip's Exchange<a href="http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/61">Ancient Greek Color Vision | Serendip's Exchange</a>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-3948461635766427152009-07-04T12:35:00.000-07:002009-07-04T12:35:19.394-07:00the-cobbe-portrait-of-william-shakespeare.jpg (JPEG Image, 1667x2368 pixels) - Scaled (22%)<a href="http://www.doobybrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/the-cobbe-portrait-of-william-shakespeare.jpg">the-cobbe-portrait-of-william-shakespeare.jpg (JPEG Image, 1667x2368 pixels) - Scaled (22%)</a>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-90536737586008265542009-07-02T20:48:00.000-07:002009-07-02T20:49:59.303-07:00Steve Hargadon's Six Points<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; 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mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; line-height: 200%;" align="center"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Steve Hargadon’s Six Points<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I loved this blog post (?) because it so clearly outlines the process of collaboration which is essential to theatre.<span style=""> </span>Without collaboration there is no spark, no learning and no growth.<span style=""> </span>This process of collaboration looks very foreign to most educators.<span style=""> </span>There is a great deal of time given to exploration and waiting for discovery.<span style=""> </span>This can be mistaken for “doing nothing” or not having “a plan”.<span style=""> </span>But the plan is always clear to the collaborator.<span style=""> </span>Bring your companions to your understanding and beyond, create something that goes beyond your ideas, find synergy, create beyond your own capacity.<span style=""> </span>This kind of learning fills your soul and allows you to dream beyond yourself.<span style=""> </span>It’s the core of my being and it is a great privilege to create with others.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I agree with Mr. Hargadon that facilitating this kind of learning takes being authentic.<span style=""> </span>I often have to admit to my students that I don’t know where we are going, I just know there is a journey to be had.<span style=""> </span>And the journey is completely made up of the individuals involved: change the participants and you change the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I also agree with his point that engagement is essential.<span style=""> </span>Without engagement there is no genuine sharing.<span style=""> </span>It means allowing the students to take the lead and trust their instincts and sense of pride to create a result.<span style=""> </span>The result is a direct product of their engagement.<span style=""> </span>But this process is tricky.<span style=""> </span>Some learn very quickly and sometimes you have to keep them busy while the other members of the group catch up.<span style=""> </span>But once several people have found their voice the process becomes contagious and has a life of its own.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>My future as a teacher is very unsure right now.<span style=""> </span>But one thing I can guarantee is that those who have collaborated with me in this way will continue to seek this collaboration.<span style=""> </span>If they don’t find it in their classes they will look for it until they do.<span style=""> </span>Once you are hooked you are hooked.<o:p></o:p></span></p> Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-57473497942667752092009-07-02T10:06:00.001-07:002009-07-02T10:09:10.233-07:00Six Degrees<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; 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mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I decided to choose the social network site “Six Degrees” because it was the first recognized site of this type.<span style=""> </span>It began in 1997 as a means for users to connect with each other and send messages.<span style=""> </span>The initial concept was for each user to convince ten friends to join the site.<span style=""> </span>These ten friends would be your “first degree”.<span style=""> </span>The bulletin board of the site would only list messages from your first degree.<span style=""> </span>The entire site was the “sixth degree”.<span style=""> </span>The general concept was to create a site that would eventually link all the people in the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I have been aware of and intrigued by the concept of “six degrees of separation” since I first read the John Guare play.<span style=""> </span>It was later made into a movie with Stockard Channing and Will Smith.<span style=""> </span>The concept was first proposed in a short story in 1929 by Frigyes Karinthy.<span style=""> </span>A character in the story believed that any person could be found to have a connection to any other person through five to other people.<span style=""> </span>In 1967 a scientist at MIT tested this theory.<span style=""> </span>He asked random people in the Mid-West to send a package through their network of friends, who they knew on a first name basis. to a person they did not know in the Massachusets area.<span style=""> </span>All the senders knew was the package receiver’s name, occupation and general location.<span style=""> </span>The results were that it took five to seven people to get the package delivered.<span style=""> </span>In 2001, a Columbia University Professor, Duncan Watts, tried the experiment on the internet.<span style=""> </span>His results showed that an e-mail message to a person that he was not acquainted with took six senders to reach the desired receiver.<span style=""> </span>This was the “six degrees of separation”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>The Six Degrees web site lasted until 2000.<span style=""> </span>It was speculated that its demise resulted from the smaller number of users on the web at that time.<span style=""> </span>There has been speculation that the site was ahead of its time and might have thrived had their been a larger number of internet users.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>Its users were not interested in meeting strangers, but instead using and communicating with their existing contacts.<span style=""> </span>The site was set up so that an e-mail confirmation was needed to add members to your list of contacts.<span style=""> </span>The site supported itself with ads and asked members to sample one of several services advertised on the site.<span style=""> </span>The site also offered some premium savings to users of the site shopping online with some vendors.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I would have been interested in using this site because of my fascination with the inter-linking of people.<span style=""> </span>I have had many experiences with “knowing someone who knew someone”, etc.<span style=""> </span>I found this type of networking very helpful in finding jobs in many cities in the creative fields I was pursuing.<span style=""> </span>After all there is the old <st1:place w:st="on">Hollywood</st1:place> adage: it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.<o:p></o:p></span></p> Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-79397061609385546722009-06-21T17:21:00.000-07:002009-06-21T17:23:31.437-07:00Wild, Wonderful, Wacky and Wuseful Wikis<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDANNAD%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Garamond; 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mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";">WIKIS are an inspiration. I would use my wiki to help me gather all kinds of information to create a curriculum for teaching a filmmaking class to high school students.<span style=""> </span>I would use the wiki to help me plan the class and to gather as many web sources for material as I could find.<span style=""> </span>Since we don’t have a textbook, it would be as if we were creating our own textbook as we learned.<span style=""> </span>The wiki would be an interactive tool for my students and I to figure out what we wanted to learn and where the sources of that information are.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I would use my students as a co-creator of the site.<span style=""> </span>We would start with the AFI list of the 100 greatest films of all time (AFI.com) and have my students pick one film from each category.<span style=""> </span>As my students did their work on this project, I would have them add that content to the wiki, as well as links to where they got their information.<span style=""> </span>I think this would be an active lesson not only in filmmaking but how to use sources without plagiarizing.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I would also have the students use websites and other internet sources to learn about the camera and editing software we have.<span style=""> </span>One of the first projects would be to film an instructional video about our equipment.<span style=""> </span>When another member of the faculty or other students wanted to use the equipment we’d be able to give them the video to learn from.<span style=""> </span>I think this would be a great example of learning by teaching others.<span style=""> </span>Also in creating this film everyone would learn the camera and the software backwards and forwards.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I would also try to draw from existing lesson plans online and be open with my students where those ideas came from.<span style=""> </span>The great hope would be that they would continue to draw from these websites to learn from lesson plans we would not be using.<span style=""> </span>Perhaps I could even use their input on what they learned form other lesson plans to start to create an advanced filmmaking course.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>We would continue to add the films we made to the wiki and the site could serve as a showplace for students work.<span style=""> </span>We could also create a blog that would have the same films.<span style=""> </span>But the films on the wiki become an ever increasing library for future students of the class to draw from.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>We could also use the wiki to pull together and update information about film contests and film festivals that we could enter our work in.<span style=""> </span>I think all of these uses would increase student interest in the wiki and create an incentive to create great content.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-13851026085639262722009-06-14T19:54:00.000-07:002009-06-14T20:02:25.875-07:00<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CDANNAD%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Garamond; 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mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><font style=""> </font>In teaching Drama, I can see two Instructional models that seem to be useful.<font style=""> </font>The first is the Constructivist theory by J. Bruner.<font style=""> </font>This theory makes use of learning by discovery which is the very basis of learning to act.<font style=""> </font>You must discover what characteristics of your own personality. emotional history, relationships and experiences are similar to the character and where do you differ.<font style=""> </font>Bruner’s method is described as: “inquiry-based, constructivist learning theory that takes place in problem solving situations where the learner draws on his or her own past experience and existing knowledge to discover facts and relationships and new truths to be learned”.<font style=""> </font>The problem to be solved is how do I create this character into a living person?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><font style=""> </font>The second method of<font style=""> </font>Instructional Design that seems appropriate to me is <font style="">John B. Black and Robert O. McClintock, with their methodology of Observation, Contextualization, Cognitive Apprenticeship, Collaboration, Interpretive Construction, Multiple Interpretations, and Multiple Manifestations.<font style=""> </font>The very essence of Drama is Collaboration and Interpretation.<font style=""> </font><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><font style=""><font style=""> </font>Both of these models center on the use of experience as a component of the learning.<font style=""> </font>That is in essence what a rehearsal is.<font style=""> </font>You continuously re-experience the material adding layers of interpretation.<font style=""> </font>The teacher is the facilitator to the student’s learning by asking questions, pointing out results and encouraging discovery and exploration.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><font style=""><font style=""> </font>Some parts of the Black and McClintock model would be most useful for studying text of plays that are not going to be produced as a public performance.<font style=""> </font>It is very important to not encourage young actors to imitate the performances of other actors.<font style=""> </font>Whereas the Bruner model, would be more helpful in studying acting in terms of forming an interpretation that is solely personal., which is the goal of an actor creating a role in a production.<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><font style=""><font style=""> </font>The learners I often deal with are a diverse group.<font style=""> </font>They range from the extremely interested and motivated to the captured non-student.<font style=""> </font>What is remarkable about their diversity is they all have creative skills which can be tapped into.<font style=""> </font>Many of my students come from stressed financial situations and have had few opportunities to see or be in plays.<font style=""> </font>The great common denominator is that they have all seen movies and television.<font style=""> </font>Many of my students are motivated to pass the class, some are motivated to learn the craft and still others are in the class because they have to be.<font style=""> </font>The last group needs to be motivated through their innate creativity and desire for play.<font style=""> </font>One of the most difficult societal factors to overcome is the perception that drama is “gay”.<font style=""> </font>This label inhibits many learners and limits enthusiasm to within the classroom walls.<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-75323520226993462562009-06-12T23:34:00.000-07:002009-06-14T20:02:25.875-07:00drama in education blog<a href="http://www.dramaineducationblog.com/">drama in education blog</a>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-88155930031258267302009-06-07T18:37:00.001-07:002009-06-07T18:37:58.032-07:00<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">My Teaching Philosophy<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I have only been a teacher for two years and it was not an intended career change.<span style=""> </span>I was at a crossroads in my life and looking for a break from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:City>.<span style=""> </span>I came to <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Chino</st1:PlaceName> <st1:placetype st="on">Valley</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> to stay with friends for six months and write.<span style=""> </span>Shortly thereafter I found out that the school needed a Drama teacher and if they didn’t find one the kids would have a substitute all year.<span style=""> </span>This was a week before school started.<span style=""> </span>I interviewed on Wednesday and was a teacher on Monday with an emergency certificate.<span style=""> </span>At that point I had never taken an education class or been in a class room except as a student.<span style=""> </span>It was a very steep learning curve.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I think my teaching philosophy changes constantly.<span style=""> </span>At first I didn’t have one.<span style=""> </span>It was get through the day, one thing at a time, hardly a philosophy.<span style=""> </span>Then I took a few education courses and found out there was such a thing as a teaching philosophy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>I found that other people were quick to tell me what my philosophy should be and it was always a copy of their own.<span style=""> </span>Plenty of “get tough” and “high standards” and “class room management”.<span style=""> </span>It felt like us vs. them.<span style=""> </span>I tried to do some of these things and I always failed miserably.<span style=""> </span>Mostly it turned my students away and I lost ground rather than gained it.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style=""> </span>About a month ago I participated in a group learning experience called “Challenge Day”.<span style=""> </span>It changed what I thought about teaching completely.<span style=""> </span>I now see my role as a teacher is one of compassion and love.<span style=""> </span>Yes, I have subject matter to teach but I also have human being training to do.<span style=""> </span>My students need to be listened to, validated, and trusted to be a partner in learning.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>Without these things I am simply trying to push them through a curriculum that they either came in interested in or not and not much of what I do will change that.<span style=""> </span>They can tell when a teacher is present with them or trying to get through the class.<span style=""> </span>They can tell when a teacher feels superior or doesn’t respect them.<span style=""> </span>They can tell when a teacher sees them as unique human beings and when they don’t.<span style=""> </span>Without that human to human contact and care, the facts go in the short term memory and right out again.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-43888881797860076452009-06-06T07:42:00.001-07:002009-06-06T07:43:54.812-07:00When I'm hooked, I'm hooked.Thanks for the new addiction. Went to bed at 1:00am (after 7 hours on the computer) and back at it at 7:00 am. This stuff is incredible!Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-48934188521061183912009-06-05T22:15:00.001-07:002009-06-05T22:19:14.538-07:00All right, when I'm wrong I am wrong. <em> I really do need to learn to type!</em> Who knew it was going to be this important when I was staring out the window day dreaming?<br />Does anyone know how to add the missing people's names on the blog list? I have one name twice and not 24 names. Yikes!<br /><br />Has anyone checked out my video. It was made by my students and won Honorable mention in a international video contest about character traits. I think they did a great job (and in only a week ).Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4089455223185092924.post-65108442678455710252009-06-03T18:28:00.000-07:002009-06-03T18:36:17.772-07:00I need a blog like a hole in the head<span style="font-family:lucida grande;">I really don't like to type that much, so the last thing I need is to be typing a blog. Besides, who in their right mind would read this crap.</span>Dannahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13924408440333617880noreply@blogger.com4