Silicon Valley Musings

I am currently pursuing a multiple subject teaching credential at Santa Clara University. The first course, EDUC 306, is entitled Immersion Experience: Human Service in Diverse Settings.

Over the last week, we reflected on several questions. I have captured my responses to them here.

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What does it mean to learn something?

Learning is discovery. There are a great many mysteries, some of which have been explored and explained, and many more have yet to be understood. With sufficient knowledge, technique, and passion, learning becomes the process of exploring unsolved mysteries.

Learning is fun. To learn something feels just like solving a puzzle. It may take a great deal of hard work, but is very satisfying to solve it.

Learning is the process of leveraging the observations and ideas of our predecessors. “Those who can not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” (Full disclosure: I Googled “history doomed and repeat” to find the correct wording of the quote).

Learning is acquiring a new skill or vocation. We all wish to support families and ourselves. Learning helps us achieve this goal.

What is teaching?

Teaching is the transfer of the knowledge, the techniques, and the enthusiasm necessary to carry on the work of discovery. Teaching is both an art and science.
Teaching is the magic show that makes learning fun.

Teaching is the efficient distillation, summarization, and presentation of eons of observation and thought.

Teaching is one of the best ways to learn something well. You must really understand something to teach it to someone else.

Teaching is the demonstration of skills and judgments necessary for a skill or vocation.

What is the role of a teacher?

Teachers must mix knowledge, techniques, and enthusiasm necessary for discovery and present them to their students so that they learn them to the student?s fullest potential.

A teacher is a showman. A teacher is a magician.

A teacher is the expert or mentor.

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I believe ?

All children are curious.
All children want to belong and fit in.
All children are growing up very fast.
All children are exposed to a great deal of multi-media content. It is changing the way they process information, concentrate, and learn.
All children could exercise more.

I believe?

All students can learn.
Students need a safe place to learn.
Students are under a great deal of pressure to succeed.
Students are given very few chances to take risks or fail.

I believe?

All parents want the best for their children
All parents are concerned about the state of our educational system and level or education resources.
All parents need to be their child?s advocate.

I believe?

All teachers would like more one-on-one time with their students.
All teachers want their students to learn.

I believe?

Colleagues can provide different views or techniques for handing difficult teaching situations.
Colleagues can sympathize with your current difficulties and frustrations.

I believe?

Administrators are under a great deal of economic and budgetary pressures.
All administrators want their students to leave well educated.
Administrators would like to hire more teachers.

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In my classroom, the most important thing is for students, parents, and teachers to conduct themselves with decorum and treat each other with respect and common courtesy.

In my classroom, the second most important thing is to set clear, realistic rules, expectations, and goals, which are agreed upon by all stakeholders including the school, the teachers, the students, and parents.

In my classroom, the third most important thing is to provide the students with the information, tools, techniques, and resources they need to meet and exceed expectations and achieve their personal goals and aspirations.

In my classroom, the fourth most important thing is to provide the time and freedom to explore and create.

In my classroom, the fifth most important thing is to make the whole learning experience as easy, comfortable, enjoyable, and fun for the students, parents, and teachers as possible.

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What is the role of colleagues in education?
Colleagues can help you review and refine your classroom management plan and lesson plans.
Colleagues can suggest solutions for current problems and issues in the classroom?
Colleagues can provide a sympathetic ear.
Colleagues can cover for you during emergencies.

What is the role of parents in education?
Parents should provide student?s with the safe and loving home environment
Parents should ensure students come to school every day equipped and prepared to learn
Parents and teachers should work as a team to set and then help a student achieve their academic goals.
Parents should be their child?s advocates within the school system.
Parents should be their child?s teacher?s advocates within the school system.
Parents should reinforce the lesson learned in the classroom.

What is the role of administrators I education?
Administrators should provide their students the quality teachers, facilities, and educational resource they need to succeed.
Administrators should work with teachers and parents to set each students long-term educational goals.
Administrators should monitor the long-term educational progress of each student.
Administrators should work with each teacher to set their long-term career goals.
Administrators should work with each teacher to set measurable, annual performance goals.

What is the role of the teacher in the community?

Teachers should inspire civic pride and endeavors.
Teachers should embody a set of shared community values.
Teachers provide communities wisdom and the long view.
Teachers provide continuity and bridges across generations within the community.
Teachers should be leaders in educational reform.