What do you love to do? Identify something you understand very well. For example, some people love cooking and are great cooks. Other people dance very well, or play a musical instrument. Identify any skill, ability, or interest that you have and that you are good at. You can choose something related to the teaching profession or something that has nothing to do with teaching.
Running
How did you get good at this skill? How did you develop your understanding? Did you have a coach, use trial and error, or did you practice all the time? What were the ways you learned and became good at the skill you have identified?
I hired a personal trainer and started running everyday. I found that by having someone tell me what I am doing wrong and show me the correct way to run was easier then just trying it myself. My trainer has helped me learn the correct ways of breathing, which part of your feet do you land on. He also pushed me past what I thought was my breaking point. He knew that had more in me and I just had to find it.
How do you know that you are good at the skill and that you understand it? Identify the evidence do you have that you are good at it. Your evidence might include any of the following:
teaching someone else
solving a related problem
assessing others' performances
performing in lots of different situations
being able to identify and correct errors
being able to say what makes a performance good
recognizing less than exemplary performances
I just completed a 5k run three weeks ago. Being able to identify and correct errors early in the race helped me finish. I was able to slow my breathing down, change the way I ran when we were going up a hill. I was able to stay up with runners who had been doing this for years. Being able to identify and correct errors early on helped me stay and finish.
What issues with regard to teaching and curriculum design have been raised by considering "understanding" from your own personal experience? In your reflection, consider ways you might develop curriculum that supports the kind of in-depth understanding you have been reflecting upon in this assignment.
I have to be able to see what is being done while I am listening to the instructions. The way I learned to run was by watching and listening. When coming up with curriculum for students I am very aware of the different learning styles for the children. Some kids do better with written instruction, other have to see it done, some have to see written and hands on. In learning how to run I had to see the correct form, hear the explanations and see someone running. My goal would be to have different actions or performances that show if the kids are getting the topic. While some people putting on their running shoes and take off and some kids just get the idea the first time, there are those of us that have to watch and practice more then just once.
