For the remaining two semesters I will attempt to influence both my students and my colleagues through my learning and research.
For my student audience I hope to improve the content of all lessons, but will narrow my focus for now to how my learning and research affects my mindfulness research topic as it is further studied and developed over the next two semesters. I would like my kindergarten students to continue to practice the mindfulness activities and for them to begin to see the benefits of the activities for themselves. Through the meditation practices I would hope that they may come to the work of learning with a calm and open mind. I would like this practice to influence their ability to understand and express their cognitive processes' as they make meaning and problem solve. The challenge I face is making sure that the students have 'buy in' and see/feel the benefits for themselves. Given their young age, the benefits produced over time may not have the immediate gratification that they usually seek through their activities. A way that I can address this challenge may be to think about Baggio's teaching and making the lessons or practices more visual. I have begun looking for videos of students practicing mindfulness and there are quite a few, not to mention some animated videos that may enhance the experience. I will continue to look for those that add to the experience and that are deemed to be truly meaningful. Additionally, in keeping with the reading of Clark and Dervin, I may want to consider a needs analysis to make sure that I am using the best methods for the learning outcomes that I am pursuing. Perhaps I should begin finding ways to teach focus and attention through movement (yoga, tai chi, jogging) as a way to meet the various mindfulness needs of all my students (some find it boring). As for my colleague audience, I would like a way in which to share the information that I am learning and researching through some type of visual media. The challenge I face is learning and feeling proficient in a new tech tool and one that fully conveys the information in a meaningful way. I will continue to explore new tools that best fit the instructional media method for the job. I hope that this learning will guide me to a multi media capstone that I can share with my school staff and district as a learning process guide.
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AuthorJennifer Wade ArchivesCategories |