Educational Issues Lesson Individual Reflection

Groger

Gina

How prominent was your groups inquiry question when you were
engaging in your planning? How did you ensure all teaching and learning
activities were tightly aligned to your inquiry question for the lesson?
I think that our groups question was fairly prominent. Our general question
was, essentially made up from multitude of smaller interrelated inquiries: when is it
necessary to use the multi-graded teaching technique, how is it used, and what are
the benefits and disadvantages of choosing to implement this in a classroom? Sara,
Tyson and I all made an effort to really highlight the differences between the three
settings we were investigating multi-graded, split, and single-graded teaching. We
wanted to address and explore all facets of multi-graded teaching, and why or why
not it was effective as a teaching strategy. Throughout our planning we kept trying
to observe many perspectives so as to stay as neutral as possible while presenting
this idea, regardless of our personal experiences and opinions. In order to ensure
this we structured our presentation around a series of smaller questions. We utilized
these questions as guidelines for what we believed were important characteristics
that we wanted to address, and did our best to highlight our findings and our own
opinions to the class.
The activity that we used as an in-class demonstration of multi-graded, singlegraded and split classes was well-suited to our chosen topic. Tyson, Sara and I were
acting as teachers for three separate classes, and we were able to give each
student a brief experience of being in a single-graded, multi-graded, and split
classroom. In addition, we were able to demonstrate an experience to each group
about what made that particular strategy (i.e. Split for my class) effective or
ineffective. I think that perhaps our classroom management could have been more
effective for the duration of the activity. However, the extra talking was useful as it

served as a period for students to brainstorm and discuss their personal opinions on
whether or not a particular implementation was better. Also, it gave us the
opportunity to experience what a real classroom setting would feel like. This opened
up chances for us individually to work on our personal skills of keeping our students
on task, prompting questions and participation from them, as well as guiding them
through a group activity. Another way that we tried to keep our activity tightly in line
with our inquiry question was to have each student complete a work book. This book
addressed other questions that enabled students to write and form their own
opinions. It also gave them a chance to see differences in potential curriculum
theologies based on the three main perspectives and ideologies that Sara, Tyson
and I explored.
I believe that overall the students were responsive and attentive to our
presentation. As with all real-life situations, our lesson was not perfectly executed.
However, students asked and answered questions, gave opinions and participated
attentively, for the most part. This group project has really opened my eyes to the
wide variety of opinions that can be present when discussing a hot topic. Some
students voiced that they really disagreed with the multi-graded method, whereas
others thought the idea was a great strategy. It forced us to think on our feet, and
cast our own views aside in order to see the lesson from the students perspectives.
This really, at least for me, helped to solidify my confidence in front of a room, and
let me bounce off of my partners. I can really appreciate aiding, and receiving aid
from my partners during class discussion. I appreciated how this presentation
introduced us to team-teaching, and the benefits and difficulties that can arise when
trying to balance work, preparation, schedules, and of course, students.
When were your students most
engaged?

When were your students least

engaged?

Our students seemed to be the most

The students appeared the least

engaged during our activity, and also

interested and engaged when Tyson, Sara

during our class discussion focusing on

and I were simply speaking to the class.

personal views of our topic multi-grade

Just simply hearing others speak without

teaching. I think that the activity really

something to keep it interesting can be

helped our students get a feel for

dry, and I believe that is when attentions

different classroom settings, and got their

began to wander. Once we involved the

minds going!

students and asked for their feedback

and opinions things turned around.

Reflecting on the lessons of your classmates, what did they do that was
most effective for your learning (be specific)?
In reflecting on the lessons of my classmates I believe that overall, including
us (the students) in the process of our own learning was the most beneficial to me. I
liked that the varying groups had activities that required our own thoughts and
opinions, and were encouraged to share our ideas. I think that through engaging me
with different scenarios that had to be thought out, or doing group/partner activities
my peers best grabbed my attention. I am a poor auditory learner, and so having
class discussions and videos and other visuals really kept me interested. I think that
for a number of students in the audience this was likely also the case.
What are two lessons this assignment has taught you about teaching?
Two lessons that the Issues in Education assignment has taught me are how to
plan and prepare team-teaching activities, as well as how diverse and controversial
the field of education can truly be at times. In my degree, extra-curricular activities,
and life in general I am very much an independent person, and I like to work by
myself. This opportunity enabled me to try and embrace my personal weakness and
strengthen this area of my skills. It is much more difficult to organize a group rather
than an individual; I appreciated the extra time everything took because of clashing

schedules and trying to incorporate aspects of every group members ideas. I think
that having the three of us, Sara, Tyson and myself, all take control over a particular
area was a good idea, as it gave us each opportunity to pull our weight, yet realize
that dependence on the others also has an important part in education. One other
significant aspect that this assignment has taught me is that, like most things, not
every area in education is cut-and-dry, black-and-white. There are lots of grey areas
that must be addressed in a professional and unbiased manner. While it is perfectly
normal and healthy to have a personal opinion, this lesson has demonstrated that
as a teacher, you are to remain neutral and encourage students of all mindsets to
share and participate fully.