Journal of Classroom Teaching & Learning: 2008-12-21

Monday, December 22, 2008

Greetings from the editor

Dear readers,

Welcome to JOCTL—Journal of Classroom Teaching & Learning! This journal was originally created by Dr. Dengting Boyanton and her students at the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB/TSC) in the spring of 2008. JOCTL is currently contributed by all the students who are taking the undergraduate course of EDI 15A Psychological Perspective: Teaching & Learning and the graduate course EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education at the School of Education, Long Island University, C. W. Post.

JOCTL intends to publish our students’ research discoveries throughout their exploration with these two courses. It strives to provide the best platform for our student researchers and scholars in the LIU as well as the New York community to exchange their latest findings and results on teaching and learning. All of our students spend one whole semester investigating one research topic of their interest under Dr. Boyanton’s guidance and supervision. Most students’ research findings were or will be presented at the Conference of Elementary Secondary Teaching & Learning (CESTL), a completely student-oriented conference organized by Dr. Boyanton and all her students.

The main purposes of JOCTL is for our students 1) to discover principles, relationships, patterns, and theories of classroom learning and teaching; 2) to create a learning community for all students to discuss and exchange ideas about classroom learning and teaching; 3) to improve students’ analytical, critical thinking, problem-solving, and creative skills; 4) to enhance students’ communication skills (e.g., writing, public speaking, presenting); and 5) to help the students develop a deeper understanding on classroom teaching and learning and be better prepared as future teachers.

JOCTL seeks to explore the multitude of issues that impact and influence student learning in the classroom setting. In accord with its broad focus, the journal welcomes contributions that enhance the exchange of diverse theoretical and practical information from other educators, teachers, students, and researchers at LIU or the New York community. It is our hope that our JOCTL can provide a channel for all classroom instructors and professors to better understand students’ needs and characteristics as learners, thus to design their instructions which produce powerful classroom learning.

JOCTL has received much positive feedback and support from its wide range of audiences from from different universities (University of Texas at Brownsville, University of Texas at Austin, University of Virginia, Harvard University, Yale University, City University of New York, Willamette University, Long Island Universty). To read their feedback, click JOCTL Feedback.

We sincerely hope you will enjoy our students’ exploration on teaching and learning. If you have any comments or suggestions to improve JOCTL, please contact me directly at dengting.boyanton@liu.edu. We welcome honest feedback from you.

Thank you very much for your support!

Sincerely,

Dengting Boyanon Ph.D.
Editor, JOCTL
Assistant Professor
Educational Psychology
Curriculum & Instruction
School of Education
Long Island University, C.W.Post
720 Northern Blvd, Brookville, New York
516-299-4117 (Office)
Dengting.Boyanton@liu.edu
http://people.virginia.edu/~db6wq/

02/08 - 02/15 (14)

01/25 - 02/01 (30)

12/21 - 12/28 (6)

11/30 - 12/07 (26)

▼ 11/23 - 11/30 (14)

11/09 - 11/16 (25)

▼ 10/26 - 11/02 (30)

▼ 10/19 - 10/26 (14)

10/05 - 10/12 (22)

09/07 - 09/14 (27)

08/24 - 08/31 (3)

07/13 - 07/20 (4)

07/06 - 07/13 (6)

06/29 - 07/06 (6)

06/22 - 06/29 (9)

06/15 - 06/22 (5)

06/08 - 06/15 (10)

06/01 - 06/08 (11)

05/25 - 06/01 (4)

05/18 - 05/25 (5)

05/11 - 05/18 (4)

05/04 - 05/11 (5)

04/27 - 05/04 (2)

High Stake Test & Learning

04/06 - 04/13 (6)

03/16 - 03/23 (14)

03/09 - 03/16 (10)

03/02 - 03/09 (7)

02/24 - 03/02 (8)

02/17 - 02/24 (13)

02/10 - 02/17 (5)

02/03 - 02/10 (11)

01/27 - 02/03 (9)

01/20 - 01/27 (6)

Thank you & good bye from EDI 15A class

Even though I am very excited that this semester is almost over I am also sad because I won’t be taking this class anymore. I know that I will take everything I learned in this class and use it in my future classes at Post along with my own classroom in the future. Kelly Calder 11/25/08
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This course overall was defiantly a rocky road. There were many times were I was stressed and overwhelmed out of my mind. I really wanted to give up numerous times. However in the end, I gained a whole new insight. I made new friends and learned several things for Denting that I will hope to use in the future. Through out this whole experience I learned a lot about myself as well. I realized the true potential I had. I really am thankful for the comfort level that I found in this class. It really benefited my learning experience. I am so impressed with our research paper and I will probably never forget what this class has taught me. Michelle Kiernan 12/14/08
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I would definitely recommend this course to my other classmates at C.W Post. It’s an excellent and fun class and I think everyone should experience the CESTL. I will also recommend any other class that you will be teaching. I loved this class and hope to be in another class that you will be teaching! Devyn Giannone 12/13/08
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This course experience as a whole has been amazing. I have never been so hands-on or felt so intensely about a class before. I felt that I needed to succeed because I wanted to please the instructor and prove to her and myself that I was capable of doing well. I learned a lot about my own personal skills that I will one day incorporate into my classroom. I also learned a lot about who I am as a person and what it takes to be a loved and respected educator. Thank you so much for such a wonderful class. You were truly an inspiration and I hope to one day do the same for my future classes. Have a Happy Holiday! Margaret Persaud 12/15/08
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I really enjoyed today’s class because it reminded me of what it was like to creatively think like we did in senior, middle, and elementary school. I think a problem with most college classrooms is that they don’t allow students to be creative with posters and projects; they must do a paper or take a test. Even power points aren’t a use of creative medium because it is just typing and copy and pasting pictures and charts. I think one of the reasons I like this class so much is because it actually allows me to express my views. Sunya Bhutta 11/25/08
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I feel that I have come a long way in this class. I am proud to say that I have learned so much from our professor. Not only about my future career but about myself. All the work is tough for me because I have such a jam-packed, busy schedule. I've done my best to stay on top of it. I hit a few speed bumps down the road with being confused and losing my internet for a week, which set me back in not only this class but all of my classes so its been harder getting everything back on track. Ashley Pratt 11/30/08
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This semester was a challenge for me. Going back to school and being older then all the other students made me feel very uncomfortable at first. This class helped me perform well in all my other classes. The class helped me by means of the self management project as well as being able to open up in class. I want to thank Dr. Boyanton for taking such care and concern for all the students in the class. She has a very unique teaching style and I plan to take some of the ways that she taught with me for when I become a teacher. Jaclyn Joyce 12/11/08

I think that I have actually got something more valuable out of this project as a whole. I think I am a better person, because if this project did one thing, it taught me how to reflect and look back on things that have happened and really analyze a situation. I am really appreciative for Dr.Boyanton this semester. I think that she is one of the best professors I have ever had. She has really taught me a lot, and her making us do this project really has helped me. I have enjoyed going to her class everyday and am going to miss not being able to go.
Thank You Dr. Boyanton!! Lydia Dilorenzo 12/9/08
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I am very grateful to Dr. Boyanton for encouraging us to work on our own problems. I would of never even thought to attempt to change this habit of mine if it wasn’t for her. I am extremely pleased with the results of my project. If it wasn’t for my mom and Denting I don’t think I would have been as successful as I was. Motivation played a huge role in my success. I really believe I learned so much. Without realizing, I learned that I will provide the same encouragement to my students when I am a teacher. Michelle Kierman 12/9/08
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This class was a very fun and interesting class that I have taken. The part during this class that I like the most is the debates that we had about the different topics. I enjoyed listening to what everyone has to say about it and why they disagree or agree to it. Another part of the class that I like is the journal sharing because we get to hear what everyone thinks about the class before and what they think we need to improve or what they enjoyed the most. I really enjoyed coming to this class. It was a place where you can be open about yourself and others are there to help you in any way. Christina Cronan 12/9/08
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Although I am very sad that this class is coming to an end I am happy to share my research with the people at the conference. I have learned so much in this class and I know I will use it throughout my college career. Kelly Cader 12/9/08
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I think that everyone in our class proved how hard we all worked, myself included. I liked all of the topics that were picked and thought everything was so interesting. I am sad to realize that this class has ended and I am proud to say that I have accomplished all of the work and actually did it all on time. This class has made me feel like I can do anything if I set my mind to. Nicole Vasheo 12/9/08
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Today was the last class and I feel a sense of sadness. I can remember the first day and Dengting telling us how strict she is and how much work the class was going to be. I remember asking myself if I wanted to drop and I came very close but I changed my mind. I felt that Dengting seemed like a great professor and could teach me a lot. I am so thankful that I decided to stay in the class.

Yes, there was a lot of work, more work than I have ever had in any college class before but it was work that was extremely beneficial. The work consisted of a lot of reflections and it got me to see the type of person I was and teacher that I wanted to be. When it comes to Dengting I think she is very understanding. I felt comfortable coming up to her at the end of class and speaking with her or sending an e-mail if I had a problem or a question. I truly think that with the assignments that were given and Dengting’s encouragement that I have the potential to be a great teacher. The class experience was extremely rewarding.

I was also a bit sad that we did not have class today. Although it was extra time for me to get work done it was bittersweet knowing that we were missing the last class together. I truly enjoyed every minute of this class and I feel that I learned valuable life lessons and information that I will carry throughout my future teaching carrier. Caitlin Bishop 12/9/08
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Today was our last class of the semester. I am so happy that I stuck it out. I learned so much and I gained a new understanding of a classroom community. Denting definitely has a unique way of teaching, but I thank her for teaching me what I now learned and know.

I am really sad that it’s coming to an end. I know I would not have been able to overcome my public speaking fears if it wasn’t for this class and Denting. Denting has been extremely flexible and understanding and in a way never gives up on you. I will take everything I learned and use it throughout my years as a student and a teacher in the future! Michelle Kierman 12/9/08
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I can’t believe it’s finally the end! The class was my favorite class yet at C.W Post! I never missed a class except when I was sick because I just loved the class and loved what we did every day. I was never unmotivated or bored. I always loved the group discussion, the debates, and I especially loved having the experience to observe a third grade class for the first time it was so much fun.

I remember the first day of class and being just in shock about the work loud and wondering if I could handle it. I am so happy I stuck with this class and didn’t drop out because it was a fun experience. You are my favorite teacher I’ve had yet ever! Thanks for everything. Devyn Giannone 12/9/08
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I cannot believe how far this class has come. I can barely remember the first day when I looked at the syllabus and though “this is impossible”. Now when I look at it and see all that I accomplished it makes me very proud. I am so thankful that I stayed in this class. I didn’t switch out because I would be running away without even trying, and I am so glad I stayed because the class has taught me so much. Not only were the lectures inspiring, but the people in the class and their input also helped me realize what it is I need to do to become a great teacher. I will most definitely use all I learned in this class when I become a teacher. I feel it has prepared me better than any other course I have taken. The thing I am most proud of is my paper and poster for the CESTL conference. I cannot believe I am almost done! It feels amazing and I owe that to an amazing professor and a very supportive class. Sunya Bhutta 12/9/08
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I'm very thankful for this course and everything that its taught me. The information and skills that I learned this semester I know I'll use throughout my entire college career and eventually in my future career as a teacher. Margaret Persaud 12/9/08
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It's kind of crazy how fast this semester went. I can't believe its over. This was by far the most challenging class I have ever taken. There was a lot of work and it took a lot of time to get all the work done. I have to say that this class kept me on top of my other classes in some way. I also had to do an assignment for this class so whenever I had something to do for this class after a I was done I would go right into doing an assignment for another class. So it kept me on top of my studies. I am very excited for thew conference I think it's going to be GREAT. I think everyone in the class knows there stuff and everyone did awesome this semester. Especially with class participation this was by far the only class I had where all the students contributed. I found that very refreshing that everyone felt so comfortable with each other. Thanks for a great semester. Jaclyn Joyce 12/11/08
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It is amazing what someone can get accomplished in just an hour and 20 minutes. I have worked very hard this entire semester on my research, observations, paper, and preparing for this conference. It is hard to believe this semester is almost over. It by so fast but at the same time it was one of the hardest semesters I have had at Post so far. This class in particular was a lot of work but I definitely learned a lot as well. Joanna Aiello 12/14/08
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I really enjoyed this class. This is one of my favorite classes that I have ever taken. I have learned so much and have had a lot of fun doing it. I have made a lot of friends in this class and have also learned a lot about myself and what kind of a teacher I want to be. At the beginning of the semester I had just declared my major as education and this was the first education class that I ever took but now I am positive that I want to be a teacher and I am so glad that I took this class and stuck with it and worked hard to do well because it was very worth it in the end. Lauren Volini 12/13/08
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When I found out that our class for Thursday was going to be canceled, I felt a wave of sadness come over me. I honestly would have never thought that I would feel this way about a class ending. In the beginning of this class I never thought that I would actually be able to make it through to all the deadlines and hard work. I am so proud of myself and everyone in this class that we actually conquered the task that was set for us. I want to thank our professor Boyanton for pushing us and I know that a lot of the work that I have done in this class will look amazing in our portfolio.

I loved every second of this class even though at times I got very frustrated with the workload but it was so worth it in the end. Thank you so much for such a fulfilling experience and we couldn't have done this without you. This is truly going to be a class that I will miss and I hope one day to be a teacher that my students love my class the way that I loved this one. Nicole Vasheo 12/10/08

Thank you & good bye from EDI 600-1 class

This semester is coming to an end and I couldn’t be more pleased with my progress in this class as well as my other classes. I was extremely motivated coming into tonight’s class because I felt such a sense of accomplishment after completing my first draft of the final paper. To be quite honest I was very nervous about this class at the beginning of the semester. I recall telling my parents, friends, and co-workers about this class and the amount of work it entailed. I work full time and am taking two other classes and I didn’t know how I would manage it all. I originally debated dropping the class. However, there was a part of me that wanted to stay and complete it and feel that sense of accomplishment. I felt if I could complete this class I could do anything.

Another motivator for me was Dengting. Although she is strict, she puts her heart and soul into her teaching. She is enthusiastic and makes learning in this class so much fun! I don’t think I have ever had a teacher or professor that that has taught me so much using an approach as unique as hers. Ninety percent of the time class is interactive, and most students seem to love this approach. I actually look forward to this class every Monday and the new exciting educational activities Dengting has in store for us.
Brittany Fedus - December 2, 2008
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Reflecting on this class feels like a large task. It has not just been every Monday at 7-8:50, but it has effecting every single day of my life since it began. This has been a new experience for me because I never thought I could be so consumed by one coarse.

At first the work load was so intimidating I considered dropping the class. Then I sat through one class and realized there was something special about this course. It was different, interactive, exciting, and of course challenging.

I learned a lot about myself as a students and a future educator. I learned I have more patience and drive then I thought. I learned my ambition and belief in my craft can get me through anything. I am most thankful that I now know I am a Humanistic teacher and I will carry that style of teaching throughout my career. I also learned that creating an interactive atmosphere in the classroom in a success. We always had an activity to do that made us smile or laugh and most importantly learn. I don’t know how to objectively look back and express how I felt at the most stressful times, but I now feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. I stayed in the class that intimated me and a completed my assignments in a manner that I am very pleased with.

To be completely honest, I stressed, I panicked, I cried, I complained, I laughed, I learned, I succeeded, and I'M RPOUD. I have no regrets and I appreciate what has been accomplished this semester. This class is not just a class; it is an EXPERIENCE, one I will never forget! Best of luck to you Professor Boyanton!
Amy Weisburd December 18, 2008
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I have had a great experience in this course. As I said in previous journals I studied psychology in college and have never taken a class as interesting as this one. Although this class entailed a lot of work this class allowed me to gain a better knowledge of psychology and its application to education. This class also gave me great insight about learning, myself, and my beliefs. We were given a vast amount of opportunities throughout the semester; more than once a week, to self reflect. This made me a better thinker, learner, teacher, and person as a whole.

Having the opportunity every week to read everyone’s journal entries made me think deeper about my feelings. I was able to re-reflect on my beliefs as well, take an open mind, and apply other’s beliefs to my way of thinking. The journals were also a great way to help students feel comfortable with their workload in this class. At the beginning of every journal you always asked us, “How did you feel about tonight’s class, excited…overwhelmed…?” This allowed students to openly express how they were feeling about the class and their work load which in turn allowed the rest of the class to feel as if they were not alone. This helped increase self confidence and build self-esteem. The journal entries every week assisted in helping us to create a community of respect and understanding.

I will take so many valuable lessons with me as I leave this semester. I learned more about respect, culture, student and personal learning and reflection, disability, parents, testing, misbehavior, and much, much more. I am pleased with myself and my work and am happy I decided to stay in the class and tough it out. Writing my last journal gives me a bittersweet feeling and I want to thank you Dengting, one last time for sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge with me. Brittany Fedus - December 16, 2008
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The course experience was great. Before this semester, I have never opened myself up to such depth and degree to any audience before. Through the journals and other assignments, I felt empowered by being able to reveal a lot of my thoughts and ideas to professors. I never did this before, but it was enlightening so I was grateful for the process -- this class allowed us the opportunity and encouragement to express ourselves freely and to learn from it.

My advice/suggestions for future students taking this course is…if you give it 100%, you will succeed. There is a lot of work, but it is interesting and purposeful. You will learn and you will enjoy the classes.
Evdoxia Gounelas 11/24/08
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As I have been throughout the semester, I was excited and motivated to attend tonight’s class, and was looking forward to seeing the professor’s presentation about conferences and techniques on giving good presentations, in hopes that I may be able to adopt some helpful tips for this Saturday’s event.

However, I was sad to find out that tonight was the final class of the course and that, in general, this course has almost come to an end. I felt that I made a certain connection with the professor and my classmates because of the positive feedback I obtained throughout the course which helped me get through the work loads and because of the learning and growth that we all experienced together as a group. I think that from the first day, when we participated in the name game, that exercise we did helped create this certain spirit which helped break the ice between us and helped set the tone for the rest of the semester.

It was very encouraging to have someone I look up to give me that critique along the way; it strengthened my motivation to give this course my best shot. When you know someone is listening and truly rooting for you, it makes you aspire to do more and to strive to be your best. As such -- among other important things within the course -- I learned such a great deal about motivation in this course. I am especially thankful to have had Dr. Boyanton as a professor for the topics covered under Psychological Foundations of Education because of the methods that were used in conveying and instilling the material.

I know I still have a long way to go in obtaining the knowledge that will equip me to do my job well as a future teacher, but I walk away from this course with a good base of that knowledge and, more importantly, the basic attitude and the self-efficacy to get through the remaining semesters in my endeavor to become a teacher.

I have really enjoyed this course while learning a great deal via classroom discussions, lectures, participation and activities within the classroom, via the research project itself and through my observations, as well as all the assignments that we needed to do, including the journals. It was especially beneficial that we have had reflections and extended discussions on what makes a teacher great, because I think this is such an important topic and goal for us all to try and achieve. We don’t strive to be good teachers – we strive to be great teachers!

I am thankful that this course was recommended to me; the professor did an excellent job of keeping the students engaged and learning throughout the semester. Of course, the experience would not have been the same without the timely and thoughtful feedback that the professor always provided to us during the course. Feedback is so critical to a student so that he/she knows how she is doing – it is also a reinforcing mechanism, as well as a way to guide and confirm things that we have learned, or thought that we may have learned.

As prospective teachers, we have also gained a valuable lesson on what great teachers are, by observing a live example. Of course, there are all different types of personalities and styles of great teachers in the world, and Dr. Boyanton provided an excellent example of a great teacher with her own unique style and personality. Passionate, authentic, caring, professional, effective, creative, purposeful, intelligent and humanistic in approach. These are all core qualities of a great teacher.
Evdoxia Gounelas 12/8/08
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I would like to say I was surprised and disappointed with your announcement that that would be our last class!:( I was hoping for one more fun filled, interesting, engaging class after our conference. However, since that will not be, I have to find the motivation to move on:)

I want to thank you for another interesting class, albeit short. I also want you to know, I have really enjoyed your wisdom, knowledge, and lectures. I think you did a great job teaching and I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe a tad less work!:) Thank you Dengting for being a wonderful, supportive teacher!
Elizabeth Scott 12/8/08
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Last night was our final class of the year. Before the semester began, I never thought I ‘d hear myself say these words but I am really going to miss this class. I had an awesome time and really learned an incredible amount of information that I never thought I was capable of. From the beginning, the outline of work that was set up for this class seemed extremely daunting. However, it truly amazes me how when you have a really good teacher who can present the information in a way that keeps you interested, how much smoother and easier the work becomes. It was hard, just like we were told it was going to be, but it was an extremely rewarding experience and I really enjoyed it.

You know, the more and more I observed the teaching techniques you used in this class, the more I realize that keeping things as entertaining as possible is a key element of the learning process. I understand that not every subject can translate into fun, but if I can find some way to make the teaching aspect of each lesson plan a little more entertaining, I know I will be opening the door to improved learning. I am confident I can do it.
Christopher Basil 12/9/08
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I cant believe tonight was our last class. I feel like the semester flew by. I probably feel this way because since September I have been so busy with work, coaching and taking classes. This class has definitely stressed me out throughout the last few months but I have grown from it. I actually feel that I have performed better throughout the last few months mostly because I have been going and going and going and did not really have any time to stop. I guess I work well under pressure.

All in all, I really enjoyed this class. I loved how interactive it was. Most classes are not that way. Most classes are mostly just lectures. I think I personally learn best when I am interacting with my peers and acting out or just over all having engaging conversation about topics we are learning. Although there was definitely a lot of work and a lot more work then I was expecting, I have really learned so many things that I can't wait to use in my future classroom. On that note, I would like to take the time to Thank you for all that you have done for us in class this semester. I had a great time and I am sad that it has already come to an end. Thanks again for everything. Meghan Woodstock 12/8/08
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The first thing I want you to know is that I have never had a teacher that was so passionate about teaching. I could tell how much of yourself you invested in this class from how well planned each class was. I really enjoyed your class and will miss attending it on Monday. The time flew by and I was never bored once. I can’t say that about any other class I attended. Thank you very much for being my teacher. You are a wonderful teacher, Dengting. I am thankful for the privilege of being your student.
Pauline Stein 12/9/08
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Wow! It is hard to believe last night was our last class. It has been a long journey and a completely different experience from any other class I have taken. The work and class activity I have been exposed to has been challenging and has had a way of affecting my life as a whole. I have laughed a lot in class, learned exactly how to keep track of every aspect of webct, and learned I never understood the word “busy” or “stress” until now.

I feel like this class has become a community of sorts, it has rough parts and good parts but most of all, staying power. I know I will never forget the experiences I have had in our classroom walls and I appreciate the strength I have found in myself through this challenging journey. The conference is finally upon us on Saturday. I feel anxiety and curiosity about the CESTL conference but I have faith in my work and my performance. I intend on giving this my all and making myself and you proud. I believe this research to be the most in depth I have ever gone for a presentation. I catch myself studying every gender related move in my classroom at work and at school. I will take my findings with me throughout my career and I know my knowledge has changed me as an educator. My wishes are to conduct myself in a manner that I can take pride in at the conference and in my teaching related life.

I will not miss the tress of this workload :) I will however, miss my classmates and the drive my peers have, along with the knowledge they have generously shared. I will miss the skits and activities and most of all the laughter they have brought us. We are a powerful class and I know we will all have promising futures!
Amy Weisburd December 9, 2008
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This class has helped all of us to become reflective learners. Through our discussions, observations, interviews, and CESTL projects, we have all learned how to collect and analyze information before coming to a conclusion. This is important for us to fully understand the information at hand so we can come up with correct solutions and answers to our questions.

I have learned a lot from this class. Not just about psychology, but about different teaching techniques, teaching different types of students, classroom and behavior management skills, and what to expect from teaching in general.
Allison Green 12/9/08
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I feel that through our many discussions we have gotten to know each other as a class so much better. I have learned from my fellow students and I have learned a lot. I feel that that the class has become cohesive and that we all work together very well. I am sorry to that the semester is almost over. I have enjoyed meeting new people and learning from them. I hope that I meet up with my classmates in future semesters in new classes.
Jennifer Massaro 12/14/08
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One of the most important things I have learned from this class, is that if a lesson is not successful, I need to look in the mirror first and reevaluate my own approach. Reflect and reassess. Lauren Romano 12/14/08
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My journey through this class has been nothing short of a roller coaster. When I look through my journals I see a progression from apprehensive to excited all the way down to exasperated and finally grateful.
Kimberly Maher 12/15/08
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I was saddened to find out that this week was our last class. I was hoping we had class on the 22nd to go over the presentations and give each other feed back. I am looking forward to finishing this class because the workload was tedious but I enjoyed the learning process. I really feel as though I have accomplished something by finishing this course and I was hoping to share that with my fellow classmates.

I really enjoyed the learning experience in this class. Although it was a ton of work I found the work to be fair and what should be expected of graduate students. When I look back on my early journals I see a nervous student by the end of my journals I am proud to see the progress I have made. I noticed my thoughts becoming more complete and my ability to make logical connections between the course material and the outside world grew.
Alexis Trudel 12/14/08
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We do not have class this Monday and that is a shame. I would like to have final skit to perform or fun activity to do as a goodbye. We could have all baked something and threw a little party as a calibration of our completion of class and the conference. Either way I am keeping up with the work on webct and doing my discussions, journals, self evaluation paper, and other assignments.

Although we are not in class I am still glued to webct. I feel like it has become a huge fixture in my life and I always make time to check it frequently. Psychology has always been a fascination of mine and the subject matter in this class was no exception. The class was a great review on information I already knew and information I learned. The most important thing I learned was that I am and I use a humanistic style to teach. I always have but now I have a name to my ways of teaching. This class is coming to an end and it’s been a long powerful journey I will never forget.
Amy Weisburd 12/14/08
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On reflecting what I have learned this semester in your class, I realized that I have accomplished a lot. I learned about all the different aspects, as far as psychology goes when it comes to teaching. Some examples are behavior management in the classroom, the different types of teaching approaches, how to manage a classroom of different kids, and so much more.

What I enjoyed most about this class of all were the lessons each Monday. Looking back, there was no one time I found myself bored in your class. There was always something fun and interactive to do and I find that to be very important. It also helped when it came time to remember concepts. What I realized most looking back is knowing that I have accomplished something great. Not only finishing the CESTL conference but sticking to the class, I am so happy.

This class was very interesting throughout the semester and I enjoyed coming each week because I knew that we were in for a good lesson. Thank you for all of your hard work, professor.
Helen Siaxabanis 12/9/08
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After reading all of the journals I’ve written throughout the semester, the common theme that seemed to permeate each one was excitement with the sheer “rush” of learning something new and flat out enjoyment with the class. Using the word “journey” to describe this course is highly accurate because we’ve all come a long way.

When the semester began, it was painfully obvious that most of the class was worried about the daunting schedule that was laid out before us – at least I know I was. But as the weeks went by, the workload seemed to become less intimidating and more enjoyable. For me, it became a weekly ritual of sorts to try and guess which direction the lesson would go and I always left wanting to learn more. It was a great feeling. I have always considered myself a reflective learner but going through this class just cemented my belief that it is a fantastic way to discover and learn.
Christopher Basil - December 18, 2008
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Overall, I thought this class was very beneficial to me. I did not mind writing the journals because I felt as though I learned from expressing myself. I was able to go back and look over what we had done in class and reflect on my thoughts.

I enjoyed going to class every week knowing we would be doing something different. We participated in so many activities that I feel I can use in my future classrooms. I think the class was more effective for me because I am a more visual learner. I also enjoyed getting to know everyone in class. I thought everyone in the class brought something different to the table. The atmosphere of the classroom was very welcoming and helpful.

Thank you for all your insight and passion for teaching. You provided me with many skills and tools I will be using in the future. I have no doubt I will be using your activities and games in my future classroom.
Sarah Hoenig 12/9/08
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This class was a great experience. Not only did I learn about psychology and education, but I also learned a lot about teaching methods, classroom and behavior management, motivation, and different learning styles that will be helpful to me as a teacher. Each class was a new experience.

My favorite thing about this class was that I was never bored. Every class was different and the lessons were always interesting and very interactive. The whole class was always involved in hands on activities, which was a great way for us to learn. This class had a great approach to learning. Rather than just listening to a lecture, we were able to take part in our learning.

I feel very satisfied with my performance in this course. I feel that I have learned a lot from this class as well as from my classmates. I put a lot of hard work and long hours into getting all of my work done. Although there was a lot of work for this class and was at times a bit overwhelming, I now feel a sense of accomplishment from all the work that I have done. Thank you again for a great semester Dr. Boyanton!
Alison Greene 12/14/08
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I have learned a substantial amount from this course in the field of education. It helped me to discover a multitude of methods, tools, strategies, and approaches to implement as a future educator. The course was also extremely beneficial in assisting me to understanding how students learn, interact, view the world around them, build relationships, and behave.

It helped me realize that in order to be an effective teacher, one has to understand how students learn, are motivated, behave, communicate, listen, and grow developmentally. It also has given be the opportunity to begin to build a foundation for my future teaching and a philosophy that I will continuously try to mold in order to fully develop into the educator that I hope to be in the future.

The one fundamental aspect of this course that I learned about teaching and learning is about motivation. I learned how important motivation and self-efficacy is to the learning process. I began to realize how important it is in controlling our behavior, learning, social skills, and overall education. I learned the importance of not only helping students understand information, but feel confident that they can achieve anything on their own. I began to understand how important it is that students obtain intrinsic motivation within the classroom in order to accomplish the teacher’s expectations, goals, standards, and their own dreams. The reason students are frequently not engaged in their own learning within the classroom is because they are not self-motivated or possess a high level of self-efficacy in themselves in order to accomplish their goals. I realize the necessity of teacher assistance in helping to mold them into their own individuals, as well as giving them the experiences to be vitally active in their own behavior and learning.

One other thing that I learned through this course is the significance of finding alternative ways to communicate and help students comprehend educational information. It is imperative that we not just be narrow-minded and use tests in order to measure student success, achievement, performance, and future endeavors. I learned the necessity of using methods, such as; discussions, reflective learning, cooperative learning, group projects, journal writing, observations, self-management projects, and research. These methods give students alternative ways to take initiative in regards to their own learning experiences and a clearer way to comprehend educational material. It is also beneficial in helping teachers find other instructional tools, as well as strategies in order to communicate and expand the learning process of each individual student.

I learned the importance of not just teaching material based upon the curriculum or on standardized testing. It is also imperative that we incorporate multiculturalism into the classroom and try to build relationships that will last a lifetime with our students. We must understand that every student is their own individual, in which we must be aware of their different personalities, beliefs, cultures, races, ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds.
The most important philosophy that I obtained while taking this class is the dedication we have to possess as future educators. I discovered that we have a huge impact on students in all facets of learning. Our teaching and lessons will have an impact on elementary students, as well as on graduate students at the college level. We have to lay the foundations, standards, and rules down. However, we must assist in molding them, as well as assisting students based upon their individual needs in order to bring their fullest learning potentials to fruition.

I would highly recommend this course to any student who will pursue being a future educator. It assists in giving one the knowledge of students at different grade levels and the multitude of approaches that one must acquire in order to be an effective teacher. Every teacher gets to create their own environment, as well as use their own approaches within the classroom. However, this course gives one the tools, as well as exposes future educator to all of the approaches, methods, philosophies, techniques, strategies, and information that is available within the field of education. This course helps the instructor how to be an open-minded teacher and gives one the awareness of how different children learn, behave, develop, and grow within the classroom. It is a social constructivist way to explore the classroom, as well as teach our students.
Jason Crockett, December 14, 2008
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Overall, this class has taught me many things. It has taught me that one can learn through doing, and through experience; and that it is not necessary to always learn through a textbook, even in graduate school. It has also taught me that this can be applied to the elementary school classroom. As a future educator, I will take this with me, and apply it into my classroom. I will remember that all students learn in a unique way, and therefore as educators, we must incorporate various strategies into the classroom in order to reach all students. I will also remember that hands-on activities allows students to learn in a much more active learning environment, and the information they take away through this approach will result in deeper learning. I feel I have obtained deep learning throughout this semester because I have learned through doing.

This class provided many hands-on and inspiring activities that allowed me to develop deep learning, as well as develop a sense of confidence and self-efficacy. This class has motivated me to keep working hard, and I have realized that nothing is out of reach; and it has validated the saying “anything worth doing, is worth doing well.” My motivation has derived from within my self, as well as through positive feedback and support from my professor. As a future educator, I will apply this to my classroom; I will always provide my students with positive feedback and immense support. Throughout my life I will continue to work hard, and rise to the occasion, despite the obstacles; as an educator, as well as a person. This class has given me proof of that, and has allowed me to recognize that I can succeed in anything I put my heart into.
Cassie Dunn 12/8/08
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This course has made me aware of my responsibilities of a teacher. More specifically, that as a teacher, I am responsible for all facets of the instructional process in my classroom. I learned that to become a good teacher that I will not need only to learn what and how to teach, but to also learn about my students.

This course has made me aware that effective teachers are lifelong learners; they reflect on their own teaching practices and engage in research activities to discover the best strategies that will benefit the students in their classroom. Further, that effective teachers accept responsibility for their teaching, organize their classrooms for effective instruction, adapt the curriculum to meet the individual needs of all students, and, and maintain a pleasant learning environment that is student centered.

During this course, I learned a great deal about how students learn and perform in the classroom. I was especially interested in how to motivate students to learn. Some examples include giving praises, modeling desired behaviors for students and allowing students to talk about and research topics which engage their interests.

In addition I have learned how that I can implement the learning theories of Erikson, Piaget and Vygotsky in my classroom to understand the personality development of my students, how to plan lessons to develop my students’ knowledge, and how I can take advantage of the social interaction among students, to develop formal instructions that will shape students’ learning and thinking.
Sherry Lankford 12/18/08
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I really have learned an incredible amount of information in this course. Since this has been my first semester in graduate school I didn't really have anything else to go on. But I feel that I have learned so much of what it means to become a great teacher. I am so glad that I chose the research topic that I did.

Since confidence was an issue that I have always struggled with, I wanted to know the best ways to bring out the best in my future students. By researching and learning about my topic, it really gave me a greater insight into my past teachers and where they lacked and had strengths. While I can see teaching as a nerve racking thing, ultimately I believe it is an incredibly rewarding profession to go into. I am so pleased at my choice to become a teacher. I just hope that I can be as influential and encouraging as my favorite teachers. Meredith Appelbaum 12/19/08
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In reflecting back on this course, I have to say that I enjoyed the actual time spent in class. I feel the activities were engaging, fun and different. The fact that we established that we would operate in a community of respect right off the bat was encouraging. It meant that people could honestly express their views without having to worry about possible judgment. This also served to promote student participation and stressed that our opinions mattered. The name game was an opening day exercise that I will not soon forget. Although I do have to say I wasn’t all that successful in remembering my classmates’ names!

This course was extremely challenging, and while I think it is a positive thing to be pushed to the limits by teachers, I think the course load was too extreme. Personally, I took four courses this semester, work everyday, and really had to drop attention from my other three courses, and even take off of work to get homework done for this particular class. It’s just an excessive amount to be expected of any student. My advice would be to cut down on some of the course load work for next semester. I feel the teacher was knowledgeable and interesting, but I think this was sometimes overshadowed by the amount of work and the expectations. The shame of the situation is that future students may want to avoid this class, due the excessive nature of the work. However, the in-class sessions were informative and fun, so students would be missing a great opportunity. I think the professor could absolutely find a nice balance though, one that satisfies everybody’s needs and expectations.

As far as my personal performance in this class, I truly believe that I gave it my absolute best effort. I tried to stay on top of the work, and most of the time I was successful at handing all work in earlier than the scheduled deadline. I also believe the quality of my work was extremely high, and I think my efforts are apparent based on my work and grades. I am a little concerned about how the research paper will be graded though. For me, this is my first psychology class and I know nothing about the formal layout and intricacies of official psychology research. I think for next semester it would be helpful to go over the components of the paper and structure during class, ahead of time. Even though the paper was edited and sent back to me for revisions, I am still confused to some of the layouts/formatting. However, I think my research was successful and informative, as well as interesting. I should still do very well in this class and it looks like I will get an A after all my hard work. I am excited about my future as a teacher, and look forward to completing the rest of my courses at Post.
Melissa Hofmann 12/15/08
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Although the workload in this class was very heavy; heavier than anything I have ever experienced in my life, I learned a great deal. There were days when I thought I would not be able to keep up and I spent many late nights doing homework, reading and researching for my paper. The information learned in this class, however, is all essential in becoming a great teacher.

Every class was enjoyable and interesting, and every week I would think, “Hmm, what does Dengting have in store for us this week”? I learned many important lessons from this class but there are three that really resound in my thoughts regarding teaching; A teacher’s job is to make sure to teach in a way that students will be able to learn. In order to do that, self-efficacy is critical as well as believing that the students are capable of learning.

A teacher needs to be aware that there are different types of learning styles. A good teacher will be flexible enough to know when they need to switch gears into a different style that might be more appropriate and effective.

Be passionate. If a teacher is passionate about what they know, students will know that and they will enjoy the class and teacher methods to the fullest; they will learn from a passionate teacher!

As far as suggestions about this class, I wished there was a little more time for the class journals. I understand the importance of writing things down while it is fresh in your memory, but as a working mother, there were many times after class that I wished I could just go home, get some sleep and write my journal entry the next day. I was so tired.

I am very proud of my personal performance in this class, I put in extraordinary effort to keep up and I did it! It can be really intimidating to go back to school after such a long period of time and I was anxious about the quality of the work I would deliver. I think that I managed my time effectively and kept up really well.
Lauren Romano 12/14/08
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I think the ideas of this class are all great and I appreciate all of your work but make sure that future students are aware of just exactly how much time they will be putting into this class. Just as a heads up so, for their sake, they can make a decision based on their lifestyle.

I really enjoyed coming to class, classes were fun and entertaining. You always had us engaged in discussions and you rarely lectured us. You allowed us to teach ourselves in a sense by listening to one another. I appreciate and thank you for that! If I think I’ve been doing a lot of work, I can't imagine how much work you have to do since it’s me plus so many other students! But your hard work is appreciated.

One really important thing that I learned was that I need to lighten up. I shouldn't take things so seriously. I am a hard worker and no matter what, I will always get my work done. I need to continue to do my best and try my hardest and that is all anyone can ask of me (including myself)! Thank you for a very interesting learning experience. Best wishes for the future :) Lauren Sichel 12/16/08
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Taking this course has been a wonderful experience for me. I have benefited from the experience in so many ways. One of the things I liked the best was how each class had an interactive component to it. In addition to the instructor’s lecture, students were given an opportunity to try things out. For example, when teaching styles were discussed, students were given the opportunity to “try out” different teaching styles for themselves. This type of activity, along with many others, reinforced the lecture and made me think about the subject in a personal way. “What is my teaching style?” I thought this was an excellent way to present the material.

Another thing I really liked about the class was the journal writing. I had the opportunity to share my thoughts with my classmates, and they had an opportunity to share their thoughts with me. I have never seen this done before. I thought it was interesting when something that I wrote in one of my journals (my mom letter) became the topic of a class discussion. Even though you couldn’t have “planned” on me writing such a letter, it was incorporated into your lesson plan because you felt that more people could benefit from it. I saw the need for flexibility and taking advantage of educational opportunities when they came up. This was a powerful lesson for me that I will keep in mind when I hopefully will be working in a public school one day with a class of my own.

The thing that I really wasn’t expecting out of this, though, was the true kindness of my classmates. I began the semester feeling kind of relieved on the first day when I saw two of my classmates that I knew from another class the previous semester who are about the same age as me. I was very upset when, for personal reasons, both of them had to drop this course early on. I thought to myself “Great, Pauline. All the people your age just dropped out.” I never would have expected the kindness and caring that my classmates showed to me. One of them offered my daughter her computer so she could play games on it during the CESTL conference. They all cheered me on and encouraged me when I gave my presentation. I would guess I am about 20 years older than them, but that didn’t seem to matter at all. I felt great being there. The support I got was unbelievable. Sometimes, you make friends in unlikely places. That meant a lot to me.

Thank you, Dengting, for being so supportive of me as well. The encouragement means a lot. I don’t think you should change your curriculum and course requirements at all. The workload was heavy, but very do-able. The only suggestion I would make is to find a way to let future students know in advance about the course requirements so they can plan accordingly. I think this information should be available for all the courses that are offered. I don’t know if this is possible, but I think it would help a lot. You are an excellent teacher and I am very glad I had the opportunity to be in your class.
Pauline Stein 12/18/08
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On reflecting my experience in this class, I feel like I have learned a lot. I came to every class looking forward to the lesson because I knew it was going to be fun and interesting. The best part of it all was the interaction between classmates because it broke the ice and it also made it easier for us to speak publicly to one another. I was very satisfied with this class and it was also my favorite class of the semester! Once again each and every class was stimulating and I would not change it. I think the methods you used to teach this class was great and it worked great for me. I would not change the curriculum or the way you have taught it because the way you taught it was what made it fun all semester long. Thank you professor Dengtine!!
Helen Siaxabanis 12/19/08
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Overall, I really enjoyed this class. I thought it was a lot of work but I learned from that work. I was always excited to come to class and see what was planned for us. This was the first class I really got an opportunity to meet everyone in the class. The discussions and panels were always interesting. I really got a good feel for what other people thought and I learned from that. The lectures were kept interesting by adding in activities and stories which I thought was extremely helpful. Lectures can be so boring, however; in this class they were always interactive which kept the class on their toes. I will definitely be using the learning strategies presented throughout this class. Thank you for a great semester! Happy Holidays!
12/19/08
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I just wanted to thank you for everything that you have done for me this semester. I learned so many great things from this class and all that you have done for me. Hopefully we can stay in contact with each other. Thanks for everything and have a great holiday.
Jason Crockett December 20, 2008
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I'm really proud of the work I did at the CESTL and on my research project. I can't wait to continue it further with the head of the art department, Donna Tuman. She's invited me to attend a conference at the Metropolitan Museum of Art about art and the No Child Left Behind Act I can't wait to attend!

I was also proud of my peers who participated in the CESTL conference. I can see all of our excitement to learn and our passion. I was so engaged at the conference, and thank you for scheduling it so smoothly, professor Boyanton. I was very impressed!!

Thanks for an interesting semester, professor, and good luck in semesters to come. Happy Holidays.
Sarah Lefrancois 12/21/08
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...this class was by far is one of the best classes that I have taken in my higher education career. The first day I will admit that the course load scared me and I did not think that I would be able to keep up. However, when getting into the hang of the routine and taking a deeper look into the syllabus I found that the course load was not terrible and the topics that we would be covering were interesting and fun to learn about.

I found myself looking forward to Monday nights every week and the class was always fun and the time flew by. I am defiantly sad to see this semester end. I learned so much from you and from your class.

Thank you so much for everything that you have done and to pushing me to the limits that you have. CESTL was an amazing experience and from that, I gained knowledge about the field I am passionate about as well as myself. I did not think I would be able to get up in front of people and present my research but I did and the feeling that I had once I was over was amazing.

I know I keep saying this but thank you so much for everything. You really are an amazing professor and I will take your lessons with me long past this class. I am very thankful to Dengting for giving us this project and "forcing" me to work on myself. I think it was great how you motivated us all semester and pushed us to the limit. It was something that scared me at first but I see that you were really looking out for our best interest and only wanted us to be the best that we could possibly be.

I am taking so much away from this class other then just the material I learned in the textbook. I have learned more about myself and how to look at situations with different points of view and how to reflect on what has happened. Thank you so much for everything that you have done. You have truly made my first semester in graduate school a pleasure and the lessons you have taught I will carry with me when I have my own class and family.
Vanda Dreyer 12/21/08

Journal of Classroom Teaching & Learning

Monday, December 22, 2008

Greetings from the editor

Table of Contents

Thank you & good bye from EDI 15A class

Thank you & good bye from EDI 600-1 class

4th CESTL

Copyright © Dr. Dengting Boyanton Assistant Professor of Education 2008

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