Why CAPS |
|
I think participating in the CAPS program will be a much more effective use of my time over sitting in a class post AP exams watching movies or wasting time until school gets out. I think that this experience will be positive as it will provide me with a project closer to life outside of Newton North. The majority of school work I have done thus far in my educational career has been very structured. Hopefully when I enter into the professional world I will have more freedom in my work (Like having a job that is interesting to me). This program would provide some insight into how to be successful in a less structured project.
Why My project
Both of my parents in some form work in education. My dad works more with school districts and marketing for educational companies while my mom works on professional development. I won’t even get into my extended family. As you can imagine many family dinner conversation topics have revolved around the one big thing that connects us all — education. I hear about things like struggling school districts and new innovative educational philosophies. Due to the constant reappearance of education in my life, I have found that I tend to look at life and problems through an educational lens. Whenever I am asked to theoretically solve a large scale problem, I tent to blurt out something about education.
Over the years I have developed a love hate relationship with school. I appreciate and critique my public education. This has inspired me to do a little bit of extra research that has helped me pinpoint one of my main critiques of the current way students are taught. In my preliminary research, I came across a book that seemed to sum me up as an introvert and a student. The book is called, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I have yet to finish the book but the parts I read seemed to put words to many of my sentiments. Cain’s book only introduced me to a topic I am fascinated by and eager to research further.
I also have a bit of background as a type of a teacher. In the winter I am a ski instructor for little kids (ages three to six)! Even though this is worlds away from teaching an academic subject. The basics are very similar. This job allows me to see how kids react to different teaching styles. The kids I work with are so young and sometimes can’t recognize when they are learning something new let alone advocate for themselves, therefore it is important to be able to be flexible and have good group awareness. These skills translate over into academic teaching although a bit more subtly.
Over the years I have developed a love hate relationship with school. I appreciate and critique my public education. This has inspired me to do a little bit of extra research that has helped me pinpoint one of my main critiques of the current way students are taught. In my preliminary research, I came across a book that seemed to sum me up as an introvert and a student. The book is called, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain. I have yet to finish the book but the parts I read seemed to put words to many of my sentiments. Cain’s book only introduced me to a topic I am fascinated by and eager to research further.
I also have a bit of background as a type of a teacher. In the winter I am a ski instructor for little kids (ages three to six)! Even though this is worlds away from teaching an academic subject. The basics are very similar. This job allows me to see how kids react to different teaching styles. The kids I work with are so young and sometimes can’t recognize when they are learning something new let alone advocate for themselves, therefore it is important to be able to be flexible and have good group awareness. These skills translate over into academic teaching although a bit more subtly.
Plan For The Future
I plan on researching the learning environments which personality types thrive. I want to look into how some personalities are at an advantage or disadvantage given the current education philosophy of collaboration. For my project, I want to look at how two separate groups of people (or maybe kids) perform on a test after being taught how to do the same thing in two separate ways.
I imagine I will first turn to the internet to look at similar research. Then I plan on using some of my parents past and current colleagues who specialize in different approaches to learning styles. While I am at it, I might give it a shot and reach out to the author of the book I previously mentioned, Susan Cain. Finally, I will probably use the numerous teachers and students at newton north to get insight into real experiences beyond my own.
I am hoping that I will be able to do enough research/ talk to enough people to get a good understanding of alternative teaching styles that could benefit different personalities. And then look into designing lessons to test out the methods I researched. I think the primary challenges will be narrowing down teaching styles. From a scientific perspective (meaning changing one variable at a time kind of thing) it might be hard to focus only two broad personality descriptors. As one introverted person can be wildly different from the next. Also I can imagine boiling down my research into a simple lesson could be challenging.
I am hoping my success will come in the form of two distinct lesson plans (for the same end concept or skill) that will reflect my research on learning styles that will be taught to two groups of people. And I can then compare and contrast to look and see how different styles in reality effect different personalities.
As I stated above, I have a bit of a bias when it comes to this topic. I am hoping to challenge it completely (if that is possible.) Who knows maybe my research or end product will prove all of my preconceived judgements wrong. Also, this project will put me on a side of education I have never seen in a classroom... the teacher. As of now creating two intentional lesson plans sounds like a very confusing and difficult task.
I imagine I will first turn to the internet to look at similar research. Then I plan on using some of my parents past and current colleagues who specialize in different approaches to learning styles. While I am at it, I might give it a shot and reach out to the author of the book I previously mentioned, Susan Cain. Finally, I will probably use the numerous teachers and students at newton north to get insight into real experiences beyond my own.
I am hoping that I will be able to do enough research/ talk to enough people to get a good understanding of alternative teaching styles that could benefit different personalities. And then look into designing lessons to test out the methods I researched. I think the primary challenges will be narrowing down teaching styles. From a scientific perspective (meaning changing one variable at a time kind of thing) it might be hard to focus only two broad personality descriptors. As one introverted person can be wildly different from the next. Also I can imagine boiling down my research into a simple lesson could be challenging.
I am hoping my success will come in the form of two distinct lesson plans (for the same end concept or skill) that will reflect my research on learning styles that will be taught to two groups of people. And I can then compare and contrast to look and see how different styles in reality effect different personalities.
As I stated above, I have a bit of a bias when it comes to this topic. I am hoping to challenge it completely (if that is possible.) Who knows maybe my research or end product will prove all of my preconceived judgements wrong. Also, this project will put me on a side of education I have never seen in a classroom... the teacher. As of now creating two intentional lesson plans sounds like a very confusing and difficult task.