I can definitely confirm this answer, since reflecting upon my own experiences, the "good" teachers were always the ones that cared about students the most. I could see the effort they put into our learning and this extracted effort from me. I learned best when I knew someone cared, not when someone knew how to teach me the subjects I hated anyway. Rita exemplifies this caring with her statement of confidence building: "I am somebody. I was somebody when I came. I will be a better somebody when I leave." This must transfer into how I teach. I should design lessons around both sound educational theory and opportunities to create memories and confidence for my students in a nurturing environment. It also must transfer into my policies in the classroom. If a student is late on an assignment because that student had to help their family pack up their home and move (a situation that had just happened in my classroom), I should not only give the extension they need but also offer my compassion and support.
While the video does not explicitly state technology use in the classroom, I feel it does relate to the construction of a positive learning environment. To create a community that is inviting of all students, I am going to "commandeer" the PowerPoint "Introduce Yourself" activity used in the EDSS 521 course. I will have students contribute to a classroom PowerPoint presentation that will help capture the identity of the classroom and allow for students to express themselves as equals. This is the "I am somebody. I was somebody when I came" portion to Rita's quote. I will then utilize more opportunities for sharing student creations with technology to achieve the "I will be a better somebody when I leave." portion that students can be proud about.
Pierson, Rita. TED. "Every kid needs a champion". Online video clip. YouTube. May 3, 2013. Web. Accessed on October 17, 2016.
1 Comment
Elaine Alluin
11/21/2016 08:25:35 pm
I absolutely loved this video, it's my favorite one so far. I love how uplifting and positive Pierson is. There is so much importance in creating "human connection" and relationships with our students. Like Pierson states, "students don't learn from people they don't like." We need to create a bond with our students in where we see them as human beings and not another face in the crowd. I love how you want to implement the "Introduce Yourself" in your classroom because it really helps build a positive and caring community.
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