An Overview

1. Describe what concepts, strategies, and pedagogies you have learned from the two speakers this week? Were there any ideas you would have liked to explore further? A strategy Dr. Jones taught us is to use technology to connect with students because technology is so prevalent in today's society. She also used other fun ways that would connect the students and help them remember what they learned such as singing and dancing. Dr. Franklin used strategy of making college more affordable by giving free textbooks to students so that they can be successful. I would have liked to further explore using dancing and singing to teach concepts because dancing is one of my passions and it would be easy for me to incorporate this.
2. Provide a specific example from both a) Dr. Jones’ presentation  b) Professor Franklin’s presentation explaining how you would create a mini-lesson using one or more of their strategies.

In Dr. Jones presentation she showed us two examples of the students singing songs and dance. They made a song to A Beauty and Beat to explain concepts in geometry. I would create a mini lesson by giving the students an outline of how a process goes. That way the song would challenge them to explain each concept in the outline so that their song will be long enough and flow.

I would use Dr. Franklin's method of having to measure things and and use a formula that is not a shortcut so that the students will have to think critically and understand why they are using the formulas.

3. Pick one course (preferably one that you observed both days) and answer the following:

1. Explain how the instructor taught the class (i.e., what pedagogies or strategies were used). In the math course the professor had random students to come up to the board and explain the problems. She also called on other students to explain someone else’s work to make sure that everyone is paying attention and participating.
2. Referring to the instruction, what, if anything would you have done differently?I would have had everyone answer the questions first before going to the board.

4. Describe your role in the SMASH afternoon activity today? Explain how you can apply today’s experience to answer one or more of your research goals and/or questions.

I can apply today’s experience to answer my research question of  what are african american children's attitude toward STEM and how does it affect their success in the course. I found that the students who did not participate in the games thought they were boring and therefore they did poorly in the game.

5. Overall, how has your SURE Experience been this week? State at least one thing you have enjoyed and state what you may like to see from the program.

My SURE experience this week has not been very eventful. I spent most of my time observing the classes and did have a chance to work as closely with the students. I enjoy the english class because we are able to help the students with their activities and help guide them on the right track of answering their homework and classwork. I would like to see us be able to move around the classroom and help with problems instead of sitting in the back of the classrooom.