School of Education Portfolio

University of Wisconsin Platteville

Environmental Health Mini-Unit Reflection
Title of Experience/Artifact:

EH team teaching

Date Experience Completed:

4/15/14

Describe your educational experience/artifact:

Our group chose to do an environmental health team teaching unit on the true dangers and health
risks that the sun and UV radiation can impose on them. We felt that most people are unaware of
the dangers. We decided to do a three day unit plan. We taught Day 1, which was an introduction
to the topic using various instructional strategies including a web quest and clickers. On day 2
we would cover a PowerPoint, lab, and spend time working on our group PSA projects. On day 3
the students would have the opportunity to present their PSAs. As we began to research and
prepare a health unit plan on the topic, I was blown away by what little I knew. First I always
thought that having a tan was fine, and that no harm was done to my skin since I hadnt burned. I
also didnt realize that most of the damage done to your skin is done prior to age 25. As I was
completing this project I thought back to a day about 5 years ago when I was in Wisconsin Dells.
I spent the entire day at Noahs Ark with no sunscreen and no shirt. The following day I was
covered in blisters. It took 2 weeks for my skin to peel and heal from the sunburn. I chalked this
experience up to a life lesson and nothing more. About a year ago I developed a spot on my leg.
It was little at first, and then it grew. It was a funny shade and shape. I knew that it was not
normal, but I pushed it aside. Then one day I noticed that I had another spot. Recently I
developed a third spot. This story brings me to this project. Having done all of the research and
gone through the ABCDE skin exam on myself, I decided it was time to see a dermatologist. This
project truly was an eye opener for me. After completing this project my hope is that we opened
the eyes of everyone in our class about the dangers and importance of UV protection and regular
skin exams. I thoroughly enjoyed working with my team members, and I hope that they feel the
same.

Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment

The standard that I would align this artifact to would be standard 4, Instructional Strategies:
teachers know how to teach. This was the first time that I have planned a health unit and specific
health lesson to teach to a class. I feel good about the information that we were able to provide.
We used several techniques to keep the students engaged throughout the lesson. I thought that the
opening video helped the students to realize the true risk, because it showed the tragic story of
Mollie Biggane. Her story was easy to relate to, because she was a college student not an elderly
person. Most young people feel like they are indestructible, and nothing they do now can have
lasting consequences. The students were able to take a skin quiz to help identify their individual
skin type. We showed them the ABCDEs of the skin exam and used the clickers to encourage
critical thinking and quiz them on UV exposure and skin protection.

UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skills, Dispositions Alignment

The domain that I would align this artifact to would be domain 3 Instruction, KS3.b. Uses
Questioning and Discussion Techniques. Before we taught our lesson, we sent out a survey to the
students to gauge their current level of knowledge on the subject. The students were given
groups for the project and allowed to discuss a topic and direction for their UV/ skin protection
PSA. During our lesson we gave the students an opportunity to identify their skin type based on
the skin quiz. After finding out the results of the skin quiz, we asked them to share what they had
learned. We also gave the students the opportunity to ask us questions on areas that they were
unsure. At the end of the lesson we used clickers to check their understanding and make them
think critically.

Explain what you learned about teaching/learning from this experience:

I learned that a teacher should always be prepared. If you are going to teach a topic or a subject
to the students, then you better know what you are talking about. If you dont know what you are
talking about the students will recognize it, and you will lose their focus. I also learned that on
important issues such as this topic, you can make a valuable impact on whether the students
protect themselves. It is important to understand technology and know how to apply it to your
lessons. Technology can be an appealing strategy to foster student interest. Every student learns
differently, and it is important to vary instruction to keep things exciting and challenging. I am a
big fan of student lead learning, so I will give the students the opportunity to impact the direction
of learning.

Explain what you learned about yourself as a prospective educator as a result of this
experience/artifact:

Going into this project I have always liked physical education and had an interest in becoming a
physical education teacher, but I was not excited about teaching health education as a part of that
job description. After completing this project, I have a new appreciation for the health aspect and
I really enjoyed myself with this project. My future students are going to get a teacher that puts
them in a position to be successful. I will do whatever it takes to help my students. If that means
late nights, early mornings or extra attention they will have it. The school that gives me an
opportunity will get a physical education and health teacher that will not be outworked or show
more passion for his school or program.