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Less Physics Mo Problems

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Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs.  In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year.  Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home.  I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms...
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The Simple WHY of Personalized Learning

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Everyone needs motivation to push a little further. There needs to be a reason to make that effort. There needs to be a “why”.
At the completion of an instructional unit, I ask my students 3 questions:
  1. What helped you learn
  2. What didn't help you learn
  3. What's one thing I should try to improve your learning
At the end of the current term, I asked those questions again. The results were clear. My students have diametrically opposed needs which is the WHY of personalized learning.  Based on these results, I need to personalize even more.

Helped Me Learn Didn’t Help Me Learn

  • Canvas problems
  • The canvas problems.

  • Flexibility of the class, as well as interactive presentations. 
  • I didn't like the somewhat flexible due dates because they make it difficult for me to be motivated to finish my work.

  • The canvas quizzes allowed me to learn on my own
  • I did not learn as well when we had to learn individually.

  • The group projects helped me the most.  Not only was it more engaging, but it also helped teach me more about the application of physics in the real world.
  • Group projects.

  • The notes in class (with a printed copy) really helped me. I liked how you went through everything in the notes and explained it in a way that was easy to understand.
  • Lecture Style Notes

  • The different test options so I could choose the best way for me to show my learning.

  • the multiple different methods of learning and the multiple opportunities to obtain the material

The other big takeaways were that students loved both Pear Deck and Kahoot.  They are both large group interactive pieces of web based software.  They allow students to process knowledge in real time with peers.  I will continue to find more ways to incorporate these into my classroom.  As for the things they recommended I should try, that will need to be a part of my action plan for next term.  Also, no one liked the course hardcover AP textbook.  I will continue to find and incorporate more online learning resources into Canvas to help.


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  1. David JefferyJune 14, 2019 at 12:43 AM

    Good post in Learning Software.Its really helpful for me, awaiting for more new post. Keep Blogging!..

    Adaptive Personalized Learning

    ReplyDelete

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