Inquiry Project - Professional Development Summary & Reflection
Part A Summary
The questionnaires or check-in’s enabled me to be engaged in the student’s lives and learn more about their school and personal life so that I could spark up conversations and touch base with what is going on in their life in and out of school. Being engaged is important for both students and teachers. Collecting and reflecting on the feedback forms provided me with an avenue to be engaged with my students and also have insight to enable me to create and address course content to increase their engagement.
The Media Arts 10 class website has been a such a huge resource and asset for both myself and the students. For the students that finish a project early, there are resources guiding their learning through sketchbook assignments and self-directed inquiries. For students that are taking longer on a concept or have missed classes, they had access to class resources at all times. Having the information there for students to access on their own, without requiring me to provide it for them upon request, encouraged students to be responsible for their own learning and made it possible for them to have access to important course materials whenever they require access to it.
The Art Foundations 12 class website has functioned more as a reference tool and resource for instructional material rather than an interactive, daily resource. Being a more fine arts class than a digital arts class, the coursework and sketchbook assignments required far less interaction with computers. However, after reflecting on the asset that the weekly check-in’s became in the Media Arts class, I have come to recognize the benefits that could be gained from implementing feedback forms within non-digital based courses.
Future Implementation of Findings
I plan to continue using questionnaires in my future classes and intend to implement them in every class, not only the computer focused classes. I have realized the positive impact that the initial and ongoing questionnaires can have within my classroom to increase both student and teacher engagement, to guide instruction and foster positive student - teacher relationships. I look forward to collecting feedback on the exit questionnaires and will consider student responses toward my teaching methods as I move forward as an educator.
The questionnaires or check-in’s enabled me to be engaged in the student’s lives and learn more about their school and personal life so that I could spark up conversations and touch base with what is going on in their life in and out of school. Being engaged is important for both students and teachers. Collecting and reflecting on the feedback forms provided me with an avenue to be engaged with my students and also have insight to enable me to create and address course content to increase their engagement.
The Media Arts 10 class website has been a such a huge resource and asset for both myself and the students. For the students that finish a project early, there are resources guiding their learning through sketchbook assignments and self-directed inquiries. For students that are taking longer on a concept or have missed classes, they had access to class resources at all times. Having the information there for students to access on their own, without requiring me to provide it for them upon request, encouraged students to be responsible for their own learning and made it possible for them to have access to important course materials whenever they require access to it.
The Art Foundations 12 class website has functioned more as a reference tool and resource for instructional material rather than an interactive, daily resource. Being a more fine arts class than a digital arts class, the coursework and sketchbook assignments required far less interaction with computers. However, after reflecting on the asset that the weekly check-in’s became in the Media Arts class, I have come to recognize the benefits that could be gained from implementing feedback forms within non-digital based courses.
Future Implementation of Findings
I plan to continue using questionnaires in my future classes and intend to implement them in every class, not only the computer focused classes. I have realized the positive impact that the initial and ongoing questionnaires can have within my classroom to increase both student and teacher engagement, to guide instruction and foster positive student - teacher relationships. I look forward to collecting feedback on the exit questionnaires and will consider student responses toward my teaching methods as I move forward as an educator.
- Visual Arts Media 10 Class Site: http://visualarts10.weebly.com/
- Art Foundations 12 Class Site: http://artfoundations12.weebly.com/
Part B Summary
My inquiry into Internet guidelines was successful in that discovering that SD23 has an Internet Agreement form that every student and their parent or guardian sign when they first start at MBSS. Upon reading the section on Internet use for Educational Purpose, I found that while the use of the Internet and it’s educational benefits was addressed, specific tools being used in my classroom were not mentioned.
Future Implementation of Findings
I chose to create a Web 2.0 Tools Notification and Contract for students and their parents or guardians in the hopes to provide specific outlines and guidelines for the use of Web 2.0 Tools in my classroom. I will make this form available for MBSS and SD23 to use if they choose to do so.
My inquiry into Internet guidelines was successful in that discovering that SD23 has an Internet Agreement form that every student and their parent or guardian sign when they first start at MBSS. Upon reading the section on Internet use for Educational Purpose, I found that while the use of the Internet and it’s educational benefits was addressed, specific tools being used in my classroom were not mentioned.
Future Implementation of Findings
I chose to create a Web 2.0 Tools Notification and Contract for students and their parents or guardians in the hopes to provide specific outlines and guidelines for the use of Web 2.0 Tools in my classroom. I will make this form available for MBSS and SD23 to use if they choose to do so.