PAPER AIRPLANE EXERCISE (A learning styles demonstration)

Here are the photos from our Paper Airplane Exercise! 
http://www.collegesuccess1.com/LearningStyleM.htm
THEY LOVED IT!!!  We complete this exercise after they took the learning styles inventory and got into their groups.  What an icebreaker!!

THE FIRST DAY WAS A SUCCESS!

WOW!  The first day went much better than any other and I feel very excited about this one.

We went over D2l (Was suprised that not one student heard of it but we went through the steps)

Went over Syllbus, MTC Email (everything it offers), My MTC, Journals, Project, Purpose of the class, Grading, etc...

There were 21 students in my class and actually they all seemed to want to be there...was amazing.

I introduced two activities -

1. I had them sit for about 10 minutes as they wrote their full name at the top of a page and then underneath they developed a story about where they name came from. 

2. Then I had them get into groups of 4 and share their stories with each other and then pick a spokeperson for the group to report.

3. I wanted the spokesperson to find a pattern in their group for an exmaple...they were all named after a Rock Star...named after their grandmother...etc...

I got some funny ones - One student was named as girl name because the father was late to the birth and she signed the certificate as a girl name to get back at the father.  Another was named after the two ladies he was dating at that time (oh my) and then others were named after family members, and heritage. I have a class full of names that I can barely pronounce so this will be a challenge. Lots of culture in this one.

The other activity we used was the MTC Website scavenger hunt.  I asked them to pull out their phones and get in groups of two and find the answers using their cell phone internet.  They LOVED IT!  One, they get to use their phones, show off their skills to others, and race to get the prized - which I had collected items over time from conferences and had them stick their arm in and pull a prize out.

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

FIRST DAY OF CLASS

I feel like I have great ideas for the first day of class but I have changed the agenda several times today...but I think I have something great to open with.

Its called TAKING THE FIRST STEP and I found it in our Facilitator's Manual for the  book on page 1-2.

Students will need pens and paper.

1. have them write their full name at the top

2. write a story about where it possibly came from

3. (have a group of 4 whose birthdays are closest go first)  place students in a groups of 4 and have them share their stores with each other.  Once they do, have them choose a spokesperson and report on patterns that they discovered with their names - similarities like they all were named after their grandmother, rockstars, first thing their parents heard on tv. etc...

4. Spokespeople will report on their group to the class about the names of the people in their group.

This activity should take 20-30 minutes.

I will be opening with this and then flow into D2L, how that works, the syllabus, My MTC, MTC EMAIL, JOURNALS, COL Portfolio, Classrom Conduct Contract etc...

If I have time at the end of class, I will have them get our their phones, place them in groups of 2 and hand out an internet scavenger hunt on MTC Website.  The group that wins get to put their hands in a bag of giveaways:))

I am looking forward to the first day and will report on how it went.

Wednesday we will begin Learning Styles, a video and taking the assessment.

Catherine

Decided on the COL 105 Project

As today, I have decided on a COL 105 Capstone Project.  It is one that Eva sent out...I read and read and read over this and really feel like it will be challenging but worth the effort.  I just hope it works!!

There are 4 components:
1. WHO AM I? - cover page showing self awareness etc...
2. LEARNING STYLES - college essay - 700 words minimum...
   - Choose an artifact
   - Reflective essay and address the following: why did you choose the artifact relating to your learning style?, what is your learning style?, how do you (or can you) adapt your learning style to mesh with different instructor teaching styles?, and what study skills help you best relating to your learning style
3. EDUCATIONAL PLAN - 550 words minimum
- copy of schedule for next semester
- copy of a resume (added this)
- A reflective essay in which you address the following questions
   1. what are your short term goals and how do you plan to achieve them
   2. What are your mid range goals and how do you plan to achieve them
   3. What are your long term goals and how do you plan to achieve them
   4. What kind of obstacles might potenially come between you and your goals?  How do/will you deal with obstacles to achieving your goals?
4. WORKING RELATIONSHIPS/CAMPUS ENGAGEMENT - 700 Words - All artifacts must be included and complete
   1. Copies of at least 2 campus engagement activity attendance forms, completed and signed
   2. Reflection essay on each activity
   3. Copies of at least 2 community engagement activities, completed and signed (added)
   4. Reflection essay on each activity

I will be tweeking a lot of this but this is the "shell" I have so far.  What are your thoughts?

Almost time for the students!!!

Hello educators -

Well, as you can see, this past summer, COL 105 Learning Styles was cancelled but we are back at it this Fall and I am very excited!

Donna Lawrence from Continuing Education will be helping me again this semester and you have no idea how ecstatic I am about that!!

If you are interested in veiwing a class with us both teaching, please feel free to attend:
September 14 6:00-7:35 WM 311 - Myers Briggs/Chapter 2 in Downing
October 5 6:00-7:35 WM 311 Personality Assessment Discussion/Chapter 4 in Downing

As soon as class starts on August 22, 2011 at 6:00pm, I will follow up with you all about our lesson and how it went and would  really like some suggestions as the semester moves along.  This will be second time attemping to teach COL 105 according to their learning styles (as I like to descibe it "it is like a 3 ring circus...so many things going on at once...and if you are not exhausted after every class...you just are not doing it right")

I hope you will find this blog helpful, interactive, enjoyable and uplifting!

Have a wonderful semester!

Catherine