Comments on: Help me help them http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/ with your host, Scott Elias Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:20:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Do I Dare Disturb the Universe? - » Back to the classroom, Part 2 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Do I Dare Disturb the Universe? - » Back to the classroom, Part 2 Fri, 07 Dec 2007 07:51:20 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-243 <p>[...] As I have mentioned before, undergraduate students in CSU’s School of Education take a “capstone” course in the semester before they student teach. The course is structured so that the college students meet two days a week on the campus of one of five area high schools. Our school happens to be one of the five - a “Professional Development School” or “PDS.” [...]</p> [...] As I have mentioned before, undergraduate students in CSU’s School of Education take a “capstone” course in the semester before they student teach. The course is structured so that the college students meet two days a week on the campus of one of five area high schools. Our school happens to be one of the five – a “Professional Development School” or “PDS.” [...]

]]> By: Do I Dare Disturb the Universe? - » Theater class improves presentation skills http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Do I Dare Disturb the Universe? - » Theater class improves presentation skills Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:34:54 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-244 <p>[...] doing it again, but this time for our staff. My last presentation was given to a group of pre-service teachers about the value of lecturing in today’s [...]</p> [...] doing it again, but this time for our staff. My last presentation was given to a group of pre-service teachers about the value of lecturing in today’s [...]

]]> By: Jeff Williams http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-251 Jeff Williams Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:40:31 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-251 <p>What always seems to work for me is to mix up whatever I am lecturing on with something relevant to the audience; then bring in something completely random (or seemingly random) and tie it all together. I like to see the "A-HA" in the faces of my students when I have gotten finished speaking about my fish pond and waterfall growing a vegetable garden food safety Feng Shui Shinto and Buddhism Angels and Demons Eric Van Lustbader and James Clavell what I was originally lecturing on... The Closing of China and Japan in the early 1600's. Of course, all of this is through questioning. Keeping the students (or audience members) involved in the conversation is crucial and is a very effective way of keeping them "tuned in". Scott, listen to the most important resource you have... your GUT. You're a good speaker who has a good sense of your audience...and something else you have, which always works.... a sense of humor.</p> What always seems to work for me is to mix up whatever I am lecturing on with something relevant to the audience; then bring in something completely random (or seemingly random) and tie it all together. I like to see the “A-HA” in the faces of my students when I have gotten finished speaking about my fish pond and waterfall growing a vegetable garden food safety Feng Shui Shinto and Buddhism Angels and Demons Eric Van Lustbader and James Clavell what I was originally lecturing on… The Closing of China and Japan in the early 1600′s. Of course, all of this is through questioning. Keeping the students (or audience members) involved in the conversation is crucial and is a very effective way of keeping them “tuned in”. Scott, listen to the most important resource you have… your GUT. You’re a good speaker who has a good sense of your audience…and something else you have, which always works…. a sense of humor.

]]> By: Mike Waiksnis http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-250 Mike Waiksnis Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:56:33 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-250 <p>I almost always use the guiding question--Would I want that done for my child?This fits so many educational situations--lessons, activities, discipline, etc...</p> <p>As far as the undergrad question goes--I do not remember a single lesson on presentations either.</p> I almost always use the guiding question–Would I want that done for my child?This fits so many educational situations–lessons, activities, discipline, etc…

As far as the undergrad question goes–I do not remember a single lesson on presentations either.

]]> By: Scott Elias http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Scott Elias Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:09:44 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-252 <p>That's a great test, Angie. I've got a long list of ideas started in a Google Doc and right before reading your comment I typed, "Would <em>you</em> want to watch you?"</p> <p>Dan's series on "How to Present Well" should be mandatory reading.</p> That’s a great test, Angie. I’ve got a long list of ideas started in a Google Doc and right before reading your comment I typed, “Would you want to watch you?”

Dan’s series on “How to Present Well” should be mandatory reading.

]]> By: Angie http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Angie Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:11:39 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-245 <p>One of my master's classes was about dealing with parents and suggested using the "your own child" method: if this were your child, would you want the teacher to contact you? When I construct presentations, I try to use the same philisophy in this way: "What would I want to see in a presentation? What would I take away from this presentation? It's made me realize that I wouldn't want to sit through some of the presentations I had originally designed. Think about it from the audience's perspective, not your own. That's what I think new teachers should know.</p> One of my master’s classes was about dealing with parents and suggested using the “your own child” method: if this were your child, would you want the teacher to contact you? When I construct presentations, I try to use the same philisophy in this way: “What would I want to see in a presentation? What would I take away from this presentation? It’s made me realize that I wouldn’t want to sit through some of the presentations I had originally designed. Think about it from the audience’s perspective, not your own. That’s what I think new teachers should know.

]]> By: Scott Elias http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-248 Scott Elias Wed, 10 Oct 2007 13:12:39 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-248 <p>And since it's still a skill most of us need a lot of work on, the odds of them being paired with a Dan Meyer for their practicum is decidedly low.</p> <p>I'm working hard to sell them the fact that the extra work required to put together a GREAT lesson, complete with visual accompaniment, will pay dividends in terms of student engagement and interest in the content. And of course - by extension - behavior.</p> And since it’s still a skill most of us need a lot of work on, the odds of them being paired with a Dan Meyer for their practicum is decidedly low.

I’m working hard to sell them the fact that the extra work required to put together a GREAT lesson, complete with visual accompaniment, will pay dividends in terms of student engagement and interest in the content. And of course – by extension – behavior.

]]> By: Rick http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-246 Rick Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:23:58 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-246 <p>Presentation is one of those elements that--for better or worse--is left to the teacher to learn in their practicum experience. I say we clone Dan and turn him lose on our university system.</p> Presentation is one of those elements that–for better or worse–is left to the teacher to learn in their practicum experience. I say we clone Dan and turn him lose on our university system.

]]> By: Scott Elias http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Scott Elias Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:38:25 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-247 <p>Thanks, Dan. I'll take you up on that.</p> <p>Not sure about your experiences prepping for the classroom as an undergrad, but I'm sitting here trying to remember a single course I took -- or even a single class session -- that even made mention of how to present effectively.</p> <p>So you've walked across the stage and accepted your bachelor's degree, you've got a solid education, a teaching job, you're idealistic and have a lot to share, but you lack the tools to do it effectively.</p> Thanks, Dan. I’ll take you up on that.

Not sure about your experiences prepping for the classroom as an undergrad, but I’m sitting here trying to remember a single course I took — or even a single class session — that even made mention of how to present effectively.

So you’ve walked across the stage and accepted your bachelor’s degree, you’ve got a solid education, a teaching job, you’re idealistic and have a lot to share, but you lack the tools to do it effectively.

]]> By: Dan Meyer http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Dan Meyer Wed, 10 Oct 2007 01:32:00 +0000 http://blog.scottjelias.net/2007/10/help_me_help_them.html#comment-249 <p>Fun. Good luck. You ever want eyes on anything you're putting together, let me know.</p> Fun. Good luck. You ever want eyes on anything you’re putting together, let me know.

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