Teaching and Learning During Critical Life Changes

Assignments and Course Instructional Activities

Presenter: Sharron Williams M.S. J.D.

swdeltaeducation@gmail.com

All materials are copyright pending and may not be distributed or copied without the written permission of the author.

Course number: ED 595 T

Office Hours: By Appointment via e-mail

Course Objectives: 

Basic Cognitive Background:

•         Trace the history of digitalc.org and its impact as a result of the COVID 19

Pandemic, on students and families in the Greater Cleveland area.

•         Explore the connections between brain health and students’ ability to successful receive the information presented by their teachers.  

•         Review research to access information about “Culturally Responsive Pedagogy”.

•         Research “The Science of Learning” and how to promote engagement through

the use of metacognition and motivation practices.

•         Develop knowledge of specific project-based instructional units

Application of Learning:

•         Determine how students who are “digitally invisible” or without internet service can benefit from increased broadband availability.

•         Identify applicable elements of “The Science of Learning” and provide

exemplars.

•         Review to use images and successes of minority architects, engineers and

Mathematicians, for improvement of students’ self-efficacy.

•         Projects not Pandemic: Project Based Learning- Apply knowledge of the best way a student

learns, linking instruction to an appropriately aligned real-life STEAM project.

Intellectual Development:

•         Think logically, analytically, and creatively about curriculum planning and

curriculum issues.           

•         Communicate effectively in speech and writing.

This study is organized into modules with specific readings, Ted Talks and research assignments. Each module includes a website, Ted Talk, and a chapter from professional literature or a research article.

Each also includes at least 2 questions reflecting on the content of the information presented in the Module and how this information could be applied to their teaching practice. 

Module # 1: Urban Education and Technology Deserts

•         Urban school districts are severely impacted by remote learning. Some of the problems related to remote learning are the results of social-economic determinants and ethnicity.  This module reviews the effects of the pandemic on urban schooling and the resulting denied learning opportunities.

Website:

Digitalc.org   Read: Empowering Greater Cleveland to achieve success through technology, innovation, and connected community; the History of Digital C, the Mission of Digital C., Achieving the Mission of Digital C and Cleveland: America’s worst connected city.

  

Read: Mitigating Summer Learning Loss in Philadelphia during COVID-19: Humble Attempts from the Field. Elaine W. Leigh, Augusta Atinuke Irele, Kimberly A. Bowers.

https://urbanedjournal.gse.upenn.edu/archive/volume-18-issue-1-fall-2020/mitigating-summerlearning-loss-philadelphia-during-covid-19

Ted Talk and Video:

       

• The State of the Schools Address, Eric Gordon, Superintendent. Cleveland City Club

(May 8,2020).  Listen to and reflect.

https://www.cityclub.org/forums/2012/09/27/eric-gordon-state-of-cleveland-schools

• Oscar Lopez, The Digital Divide Ted Talk (October 5,2020)

https://www.ted.com/talks/oscar_a_lopez_iii_the_digital_divide

Professional Reading: The Art and Science of Teaching. Robert Marzano (2007) (General Reference Chapter 2).

Academic Questions: Please answer with a minimum of 1 typed page (150 words) APA style double spaced.

 Question 1- In his State of the Schools address Eric Gordon presents a compelling argument against the digital divide in the Cleveland Municipal School District. As an advocate for children and families in districts which are predominately populated by minority students or low-income students such as The Cleveland Municipal School District, what is your most compelling argument FOR a citywide wi-fi network?  How does the data from digitalc.com support the need for a city-wide wireless internet provider?

 Question 2- In his talk Oscar Lopez identified issues of access and some solutions.  Discuss these issues and some of the solutions he proposed.

Question 3- What adjustments to presenting instruction are required of teachers working with students who do not have access to the internet as opposed to students who do have access?

Module # 2: Healthy Brains Help Each Other

• “Healthy Brains Help Each Other” is the theme of this module.  How I see myself impacts how I learn.  How you see me also impacts how you teach me.  Relationships determine how I receive information and my executive functioning. This module explores the connections between brain health, brain functioning and students’ ability to successful receive the information presented by their teachers.

Website:

Ted Talks:

• The Mindset of a Champion Carson Byblow Tedx Youth (September 5, 2018)

 https://www.ted.com/talks/carson_byblow_the_mindset_of_a_champion?language=en

 

• Anita Collins The Benefits of Music Education (Jan 18,2018).

                               https://www.ted.com/talks/anita_collins_the_benefits_of_music_education

Professional Reading:

Kids may face mental health issues as school begins amid the pandemic. September 11, 2020.

–Archana Basu, research scientist in the Department of Epidemiology at Harvard Chan School https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/kids-may-face-mental-health-issues-as-school-begins-

amid-pandemic/

Strategies for teachers during remote or hybrid learning, Grace Berman, LCSW, and Allison Dubinski, LMSW.

https://childmind.org/article/supporting-students-mental-health/

Building Positive Relationships with Students: What Brain Science Say., Trynia Kaufman. Understood.org

https://childmind.org/article/building-positive-relationships-with-students-what-brain-science-says/

Center for the Developing Child, Frontiers of Innovation (2011). The Intergenerational Mobility Project MOMS Partnership. Harvard University.             https://developingchild.harvard.edu/innovation-application/frontiers-of-innovation/

Academic Questions: Please answer with a minimum of 1 typed page (150 words) APA style double spaced.

Question 1-After reading about the Harvard Moms Partnership, do you think a similar project would be successful in your school district? Why? Why not?

Question 2- Carson Byblow speaks in his Ted Talk about “mindset and how it changed his “metaperceptions”.  Describe a scenario where a student you are familiar with (fictitious names only) could benefit from a brain shift to a growth mindset. How could you use this Ted talk to improve instruction?

Question 3- Identify some strategies (minimum 2) to help students’ mental health and engagement during the Pandemic.

Module # 3: Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy uses these principles: “Positive perspectives on parents and families, communication of high expectations, learning within the context of culture, student-centered instruction, culturally mediated instruction, reshaping the curriculum and teacher as facilitator.”

(Ladson-Billings) (1994).

 

 Highlighting the advice and successes of minority engineers and mathematicians, this module provides real-life experiences for pedagogical reflection. A new approach to STEAM focusing on making learning contextual is also presented.

This module provides specific strategies to support learning while recognizing and incorporating the students’ cultural backgrounds.

Website: Culturally Responsive Teaching: Brown University, Gloria Ladson-Billings “Dreamkeepers”

https://www.brown.edu/academics/education-alliance/teaching-diverse-learners/strategies-0/culturallyresponsive-teaching-0

Ted Talks:

•       We must change the culture of Science and Teaching TedxAtlantic

Dr. Freeman A. Harbowski III. President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore

County.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLYMLt4MQ0Y (Jan.9,2013)

•       The Future of Education: A Student's Perspective | Anna Nixon | TEDxSalem https://www.ted.com/talks/anna_nixon_the_future_of_education_a_student_s_perspective April5,2018.

 

•       The Superpowers of STEM | Stephanie Hill | TEDxMidAtlantic. Stephanie Hill, Vice

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUAQNCEXxAcPresident and General Manager of Lockheed Martin's Ship & Aviation Systems business

Professional Reading:

Culturally Teaching and the Brain, Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students.

Zaretta Hammond Corwin Publications (2015) Building Awareness and Knowledge. Climbing out of the Gap. Part I-I

 

5 Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies. Kristin Burnham July 31, 2020

 https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/culturally-responsive-teaching-strategies/

 

Academic Questions: Please answer with a minimum of 1 typed page (150 words) APA style double spaced.

Question 1-What are some culturally responsive teaching strategies (minimum 2) given by Kristin Burnham, in her article, which could be beneficial to your class?

Question 2-After listening to Dr. Freeman Harbowski’s Ted Talk, what changes could be implemented for student success?

Question 3-Stephanie Hill, in her Ted Talk, speaks about the journey to becoming an engineer.  How could you use this talk to motivate students with potential?

Module # 4: The Science of Learning

•       The Science of Learning, promoting engagement through the use of metacognition and motivation practices. Each student represents a unique opportunity to align your knowledge of how that student learns best, with research-based successful teaching and learning strategies. Are students aware of how they learn best? A student’s reflection on how cognition and comprehension are integral parts of learning. Website: Harvard University BOK Center

Read:

https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/comprehending-and-communicating-knowledge https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/promoting-engagement https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/how-memory-works https://bokcenter.harvard.edu/motivation-and-metacognition

Ted Talk:

•       Christopher Emdin, How teachers create magic. (April 8, 2014)

•       Dr. Christopher Emdin is an Associate Professor of Science Education at the Teachers

College, Columbia University.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3ddtbeduoo

                

Professional Reading: How memory works, comprehending, communication, knowledge, motivation and metacognition and promoting engagement. Harvard University BOK Center, bokcenter.harvard.edu/promoting engagement.

Academic Questions: Please answer with a minimum of 1 typed page (150 words) APA style double spaced.

Question 1- How does Christopher Emdin, in his Ted Talk, suggest creating magic in your instruction?

Question 2-The article, “Promoting engagement” presents the premises of both intentional and unintentional “mind wandering”.  How would you address both premises as a positive when teaching your students?

Module # 5: Pandemic Paralysis or Purposeful Options

 

 

•       Pandemic Practices or Purposeful Options presents project-based learning initiatives created by leaders in Aeronautics, Architecture, Engineering and Mathematics. Project-Based Learning Topics: Entrepreneurship, Architecture for Girls, Things that Fly.

•       Encouraging students to find their passion and become entrepreneurs

Website:  Listed within the context of each topic below.

Ted Talk:

Young Entrepreneurs:

• Ryan Kelly is the youngest Shark Tank entrepreneur to appear in Shark Tank season 4. The eleven-year-old entrepreneur from Stamford, CT (along with his mom Daniela) pitches his wholesome, home-made, dog treats in Shark Tank episode 424. ... Dogs and their people LOVED them and Ryan’s Barkery was born. (May 5,2020).

https://sharktanktales.com/ryans-barkery-shark-tank-update/

 

 

• Joshua and Jordan Liburd inventors of crayons which are free from allergens, nuts and safe for children with allergies (Feb 2019).  jlfuncolorz.com
• Brandon Sebastian Martinez Sock Makers and Donators

 https://areyoukiddingsocks.com/pages/our-story

• Moziah Bridges Mo’s Bows Creator of Mo’s Bows

  https://youtu.be/PFt4tCRUEiU (2017).

 

• Mikaila Ulmer Meandthebees   Lemonade Entrepreneur

https://www.blackenterprise.com/teen-entrepreneur-mikaila-ulmer/

See also Ted Talk Dr. Stephanie Hill (Module 3).

Aeronautics is the study of flying.  We began flying in planes, rockets, jets, and now flying cars.  How could students who are interested in flying, learn about aeronautics and use that knowledge to make decisions about their studies in the future.

Things that fly (Aeronautics) https://buggyandbuddy.com/things-that-fly/

Johnny’s Airport Adventure - NASA

https://www.nasa.gov/stem-ed-resources/johnny-airport-adventure.html

NASA Internships and Fellowships

https://www.nasa.gov/stem-ed-resources/nasa-internships-and-fellowships.html

https://science.nasa.gov/get-involved/nasaathome

Architecture for Girls: Build a geodesic dome. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_geodesic_ei.html

Have you noticed? Geodesic domes are used by restauranteurs during this pandemic to provide isolated individualized eating areas!

https://kansasdiscovery.org/discovery-diy-steam-fun-with-paper-towel-tubes/

Create a cell phone speaker, (I purchased a wood-crafted version of this model at an Arts fair Mentees for the cost of $40.00! an herb planter, a kaleidoscope or a paper towel tube scale.  This Kansas discovery website includes instructions.

Even on Pinterest!

https://www.pinterest.com/krussellaia/architecture-for-kids/

Professional Reading:

Gurianm Michael and Stevens, Kathy (2004) With Boys and Girls in Mind. Educational

LeadershipVol.62 No.3,21-26 Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

 

 

 

 

Notables in STEAM:

Astronomy/Math: Gladys Mae West, worked with the development of the satellite geodesy which became the present-day GPS directional navigation systems used in many venues especially in our cars. Global Positioning Systems.

Aviation: Captain Sarah Kociuba. She was the pilot leading the bomber jets over Raymond James Stadium for Super Bowl LV 2021.Graduate of the University of Dayton.

Mathematician: Katherine Johnson Mathematician for the Apollo 13 launch. Lead mathematician highlighted in the movie “Hidden Figures”.

Architecture: Maya Lin, she is best known for a project she conceived while still a student: the Vietnam, Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C

Chemistry: Olga Gonzales Sanabria, Highest ranking Hispanic at NASA GLENN in Cleveland, Ohio.  Inductee into the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame as a chemist. Credited with working her team to create the life battery used to power electricity on the International Space Station. Master’s Degree from University of Toledo.

                              Coding: Kimberly Bryant, Creator of Black Girls Code. An initiative to teach coding to girls.

Robotics: Melonee Wise, Creator of Robots for Fetch Robots 2014

Academic Questions: Please answer with a minimum of 1 typed page (150 words) APA style double spaced.

 

Question 1- Select one of the project-based learning topics listed above.  Describe how that topic could be used as a purposeful learning option irrespective of the limitations caused by the Pandemic. What limitations does the COVID Pandemic present?

Rubric listed in the syllabus will be used for evaluation of each module question and answers provided:

 

 

Analytic Assessment Evaluation Rubric for Questions Modules I-V

Please use this rubric to guide answering each question in Modules I-V.

When a list is required (L) is indicated. When a short answer is required (SA) is indicated.

MODULE I

State how data from digital C supports the need for a city-wide wireless internet   provider (L).

Discuss the issues and possible solutions to access as identified in the Ted Talk by Oscar Lopez. (SA)

MODULE II

   Evaluate the Harvard Moms Partnership to determine and list how a similar

    project would or would not be successful in your school district. (L)

   Describe a scenario where a student could benefit from a growth mindset. (A)

Identify at least two strategies to help students’ mental health and engagement.       (L)

 

MODULE III

 List at least two culturally responsive teaching strategies presented by Kristin      Burnham. (L)

Assess Dr. Harbowski’s Ted Talk to explain a minimum of two changes which could be implemented for student success. (SA)

         How could you use Stephanie Hill’s Ted Talk to motivate students? (SA)

 

 MODULE IV

“Creating magic” in instruction can benefit students’ learning.  Review Christopher Emdin’s Ted Talk to answer your agreement or disagreement, and state why for your position. (SA)

After reading the article Promoting Engagement, list positive benefits of “mind wandering” by students. (L)

 

MODULE V

Evaluate the information presented about Aeronautics, Architecture, Engineering, and Mathematics. What information did you learn form this information which could be used to encourage students’ self efficacy and career pursuits in these areas? (SA)

 

EVALUATION REQUIREMENTS:

Number of assignments due:

MODULE I       3

MODULE II      3

MODULE III     4

MODULE IV     2

MODULE V      1

 Total assignments due – 13

An analytic rubric for the requirements to answer each question in Modules I-V will be provided.