I also realized while working on our unit plan, that creativity can be used in new and exciting ways. The technology available to us now leaves no excuse for students to be able to take what they learning and make something with it. For our cooperative learning lesson, students used research that they did in the previous lesson to create a Glog. I will sing the praises of Glog and how easy and fun it is to use for years to come. I look forward to using software like this in my classroom to give students a chance to learn while expressing themselves!
On a personal level, this class really made me hunker down and become more organized. Taking this class, along with two others, meant I needed to plan and manage my time to make sure projects were getting completed in order. The constant need to blog made sure I was giving this class attention every week, even if I didn't have an assignment due. I will fully admit, I am still a terrible procrastinator, and probably will be for the rest of my life, but at least my planner is in better shape than it used to be.
Taking a class with Dr. Smirnova is always a wild ride. But the most important thing to remember is that the way the class is run is truly preparing you for the future. The demands of being a teacher go far beyond what people conceive it be. Learning to balance your time, make lessons exciting, and constantly grow and adapt are important skills every teacher needs. So thank you for putting em through the ringer!