I hope you are still working on your crochet. I was going to show you a new stitch last Wednesday, and I was also going to tell you about an art-science project I am currently working on that uses crochet (& it's not about coral reefs). That will have to wait until next Wednesday. In the meantime, we cannot let time pass without practicing. It's too easy to forget what you've learned. In case you need a refresher, here is the instructional video we watched in class last week: http://youtu.be/eqca00LdmAc
We started learning the Double Crochet Stitch last week, but I didn't get to tell you everything you needed to know. Here is a video with more complete information: http://youtu.be/875obcDOLgY
Please go ahead and practice your stitches before we meet next week! Thank you.
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This week's blog assignment is to visit one website - Looking/Thinking by Analogy: The Private Eye - and watch one video on the Art-Science Project: Solaris at Ebert Elementary School in Denver. You have already experienced The Private Eye, but I think that as future teachers, you should be familiar with the website, teaching materials available on the website, articles and other media related to this amazingly successful curriculum. Although "Solaris" at Ebert School was not a Private Eye-based project, it set out to accomplish many of the same goals using similar strategies, with some key differences. I thought these two would go together well for this week's blog.
Question #1: Looking/Thinking by Analogy: The Private Eye website
One of the first things you will notice on The Private Eye website (besides the bright colors) are the words "Breaking News" and a link to story that aired last November on National Public Radio. I'l like you to click on that link. Do not click on the arrow in the big red block that says "Listen," (it will take you to whatever is currently playing on the radio station). Instead, scroll down the page. Past the picture of students with loupes, under the heading, "'Private Eye' Makes Connections in World, Brains," finally in small green letters you'll see "Click here to listen to the story." That will take you to the audio file. Click on it and listen, or you may choose just to read the transcript.
(a) The "Private Eye" works by reinforcing the brain's natural capacity for thinking in metaphors and analogies - by making mental connections between things. Do educators believe this helps build critical thinking and high order reasoning skills? If so, how do they explain it?
(b) Go back to the "Private Eye" home page and scroll down a little more. You will find a video titled "The Private Eye Training-the-Trainers." Watch this video. What kind of student learning outcomes have elementary school teachers seen when using "The Private Eye" curriculum?
(c) Go back to the home page and read the text under the "Training the Trainers" video. Who is "training the trainers" in Texas?
Question 2: Art-Science Project: Solaris at Ebert School
Watch the entire video on Youtube and answer the following questions:
(a) How is the Solaris Project different from The Private Eye?
(b) The Solaris Project lasted two years. Did the emphasis of the project change in its second year?
(c) Would you like to teach in a school that tries out new and different ways of learning like Solaris at Ebert School or The Private Eye? How might you get a principal or superintendent to consider trying out a curriculum like The Private Eye?
Those are your questions for this week. Your blog responses have been excellent so far and I am very proud of all of you for the time and attention you have given to this work. Thank you!
carolyn
1.
ReplyDeletea) Yes. Educators do think that this helps critical thinking skills because it requires the children to think differently. They love the creative way of thinking this allows the children to do. Helping them become "bologna" thinkers.
b) The teachers love the way the students learn via "The Private Eye." Compared to students who haven't used them before think more narrow mindly. As one teacher explained, her students whom have worked with the private eye before thought to ask more questions and to be more detailed when looking through the microscopes.
c) Sara Flusche is one of 1000 trainer teachers in Texas.
2.
a) This differs from The Private Eye in that this focuses on teaching every subject through art. The Private Eye is more focused on seeing something in a different light. b)Things were different in the second year.
c) I would love to be apart of a program like this! All children learn differently but I belive every child is more excited to learn in a differnt way. Having children learn such important skills in a new fun way is great.
-Brittany
Brittany - Explain why things were different in the second year of the Solaris Project, not just that they were different.
DeleteQuestion # 1
ReplyDeletea. The Private Eye program can help all educators in helping their students learn to think critically. It enables students to make connections in their brains. Through the program, students can build on what they already know and look at objects and scenarios in innovative ways. The brain learns through observations, utilizing a simple jeweler’s magnifying glass. They make observations and continue to compare and make analogies multiple times. The program is based on creativity and thinking in new ways.
b. Elementary teachers have seen The Private Eye brings out creativity in all students. Students will look closely at objects and think using analogy. A first grade teacher saw an attention to detail and an ability to observe come from using the loupe. The program allows the kids to make connections and integrate all the content subjects. They are able to apply it to their everyday lives as well. Through this program, the children are actively learning and, therefore, making even more connections in the brain. Children think in more complex ways and use the process in ways that the teacher may not even expect.
c. In Texas, Sandy Antalis is “training-the-trainers” in Houston ISD. She is a K-8 Science Supervisor in the district.
Question # 2
a. The Po
laris project is an arts and science curriculum to bring out creativity, ingenuity, and connections. The students complete projects on a more large scale. The experiments are very hands-on and involved. The project gives the students’ many experiences and opportunities to work with artists, sculptors, and scientists themselves. They view demonstrations that can inspire even more projects. The students are given more freedom in incorporating the subjects like with art and poetry. The students are able to move between the subjects they are comfortable with and subjects they may not be as strong in. They can build these connections and utilize their strengths.
b. In the second year, the project seemed to be gaining increased popularity. The students were really enjoying their projects and are able to apply the projects in all areas. The students talked about their Science Experiments and you could see where the creativity and ingenuity had come into play through the Polaris Project. The project showed an increase in the student’s passion for science and experiment. In 2009, “100% of the K-3 students and 75% of the grade 4-5 students reported ‘liking science and investigations.” There was also a great increase in the student’s competency.
c. I think it would be interesting to try out new and different ways of learning. Both programs show a great increase in the student’s enjoyment and creativity. I think it would be beneficial to have students be so creative and eager to learn in the various subjects. I really liked the Polaris project and all the hands-on experiments they completed. It seems like a wonderful way to get students to enjoy and understand science as well as other subjects. First, to get a principal to consider the curriculum, you could show them the website. Allow them to watch videos, view links, and read articles about the curriculum. Then, you could create a mock lesson in your own classroom and show the principal the process and the outcome. Then, the principal could talk to students, parents, and other teachers. It would then be the principal’s decision whether or not to try out the curriculum or not.
1. A) Yes, one teacher described this critical thinking as helping their students become “baloney detectors”. These teachers see this Private Eye program as an opportunity to help their students think on their own and prepare them for the future, rather than just preparing them for some state test at the end of the year, which I think is much more beneficial.
ReplyDeleteB) When using the Private Eye program teachers are seeing, first of all, students making connections. Not just connections with art, but connections across all subjects. This program really helps to connect all the subjects together in a way that what is learned in reading that day can be used in what they are learning in science. Teachers said that they saw the students wanting to know more than just the basic information normally presented to them. They had a stronger eye for detail and wanted to know more about the details in the subject matter they were learning. Language arts teachers said that the student’s writing skills improved because of this program. The students were looking at more detail in the objects, and that in turn gave them more details to write about in their papers.
C) Sara Flusche of North Central Texas College is the one who is training teachers in Texas.
2. A) I think that this program differs from the Private Eye because it focuses more on connecting the arts with a single subject at a time, whereas the Private Eye program not only connected the subject with art but with the other subjects students have. Also, I think that the goal of the Solaris program was to help improve science in schools and again the Private Eye program included all subjects.
B) Yes, I think that the teachers had a year to try it out and now there were much more creative ideas on how to incorporate the arts in their science lessons. I think in the second year teachers realized that the purpose was to help them explain science concepts in a different way than just presenting the information. They used real life examples, and theatrical or artistic ways to present information to their students.
C) Yes, because I think that students need to be taught in many different ways. Students are going to be able to connect with and retain the information better if it is presented in a special way. They will remember it so much more I think, and my goal as a teacher is to teach them for life, not just an end of the year test. So it will be my job to be as creative as possible in my teaching methods. Well I think that the training-the-training is a great way to get principals on board. A teacher training the rest of the teachers in the school is an inexpensive way to start a new program and I think especially now principals are looking for inexpensive.
1.A) yes, the private eye focuses on the process of, "thinking itself". Childrens brains are rewired by observing. When they are told to look at something through the loupes, "cliche is stripped away" and the children are allowed to see things for how they really are, and how they see them from their own point of view. When they have to repeat this several times, it becomes "programmed" in their brains.
ReplyDeleteB)When the teachers used the private eye with their students, they saw the children paying more attention to the details in the subject matter, not only in that object, but in all their other studies as well. There minds were more open to different ideas and different reasonings.
C)Sara Flusche is training the trainers in Texas.
2.A) This project differes from the private eye because it uses more than just pencil and paper. The children are making sculptures and making marks in the sand or connecting concepts. For example, the math teacher made a division monster drawing, that only could eat big numbers and would spit out small numbers in return. This teaches the children how to divide.
B)In the second year of the program it became more popular, the teachers were no longer just trying it out, and the children now really understood and enjoyed how to apply it and expand on even greater ideas.
C)I would love to teach my kids with these kind of concepts. I actually believe that I will do similiar things when I become a teacher. I would probably show the principal those videos and maybe have him come sit in on a project to see how much the kids enjoy it and how much it actually works!
-Mary Harris
1. A. Yes, the Private Eye Program can help children in education think in drastically different ways. Educators can use the program to help the kids think in a more unique and personal way rather than them learning just what “they should”.
ReplyDeleteB. According to the video when teachers used the Private Eye Program they saw differences in the kids learning. More detailed connections were made that could cross into other subjects of learning, and kids took more of an initiative to find answers to questions they had.
C. Sara Flusche is training in Texas.
2. A. This program differs from the Private Eye Program because it has a more science and art background. It draws more focus on how to incorporate art into the subject, rather than drawing connections across all subjects simultaneously.
B. The second year of the program is when the biggest outcomes were seen. It was no longer a trial period, and you could see the program actually having an effect on the kids. They were enjoying it and the teachers were becoming better at incorporating it.
C. I think using a different kind of teaching program when I am a teacher is a good idea. Kids like to learn lots of different ways, and being keen to trying new things only makes me a better teacher. I would try to show my principals the results from other trials of different teaching methods.
1)
ReplyDeleteA. Yes, The Private Eye program can help children in a wonderful way. It helps them to discover themselves and allow them to experience different parts of their creativity, and allow them to see things as they really are.
B. Because teachers used the private eye, they noticed that the students seemed to be more attentive and were able to focus on small details and retain the small details. They also saw that it helped them in other subjects as well.
C. Sara Flusche, from North Central Texas College, is training the teachers in Texas.
2.
A) This program differs from The Private Eye because it brings art to every subject. It allows the student to make connections with the art that surrounds them and that they create instead of just connecting subjects.
B) The second year of the program showed the strongest results. At this point, the trial was over because the students were able to grasp the program and the teachers were able to teach it better. It allows the student to think "outside the box" and grasp bigger ideas.
C) Using different programs as a teacher almost always has a positive outcome. No two students learn exactly the same so having more than one way to explain something could not only make me a stronger, more fluent teacher, but also allow my student to grow in their own knowledge at their own time.
1-A. Yes, this will help children think different and use more critical thinking. They think the connections in the brain will strengthen to more creative and outside the box kind of thinking. It lets kids be what they want to be
ReplyDeleteB. The student has shown many learning outcomes. Such as theorizing, analysis, mathematics, science, reading and much more. It helps the kids think like a scientist, or artist, or writer.
C. Sara Flusche of North Central Texas College is training the trainers in Texas. She has almost trained 1000 teachers.
2-A. It is different than the private eye because it is in every classroom separately. Instead of concept and learning outcome being together it is more science-art integration, or math-art integration.
B. The second year is having the most positive outcome because both the teachers and the students were able to really get the most out of the projects and understood the reasons and methods to doing the projects.
C. Yes, I think it is a good idea to try different ways and integrating art into my lessons. It helps kids of all learning styles and levels connect to the material. I think that a good way to approach a principal or superintendent to let you try the private eye would be to show all the testimonies and results from this program. Also offer to go to the train the trainer program to better explain it.
1)a. Creativity is an extremely important quality to introduce to kids when they are young. So, yes, The Private Eye program is very helpful for kids. It will help expand the way they think and let their minds wander to places that haven't been before.
ReplyDeleteb. After using The Private Eye program, teachers noticed a change in the way their kids learn. They were able to notice to smaller things with intricate detail. This allows them to see things more clearly and have them make more connections. It's a great tool for the expanding brain.
c. Sara Flusche is training in Texas while having trained almost 1,000 teachers.
2)a. The Solaris Project differs from The Private Eye because it introduces art into every other subject the kids are learning. That makes the regular classes like math and science more fun. The kids will be more motivated to learn.
b.Things were definitely different in the second year. Teachers and the students had more experience with the program, so they understood it more. There were stronger results during the second year.
c. I would very much enjoy trying different teaching methods in my classroom. People learn more and more when they try different things. It would be beneficial for my students and also me. I don't think it would be very hard convincing a principle to use one of these programs. I'd simply present the information to them, so they could see how much good it would do for the students.
1.
ReplyDeleteA) The Private Eye program helps children use their minds in a deeper and more critical manner. They can use their minds in a more creative way, giving them a more open thought process when it comes to learning subjects.
B) When the Private Eye program is used, the students are learning more than just the glazed over basic details about subjects. They are more interested and engaged so they pay more attention to the details they are being taught and are able to remember them.
C) Sara Flusche from North Texas Central College.
2.
A) The Difference from the Private Eye program and the Solaris Project is that the Solaris Project relates everything back to art. The students can learn hands on by sculpting and doing other projects instead of just the basic way of learning.
B) The program showed its strongest popularity the second year the program was in effect. By this time teachers had understood how to teach the program better and students were now used to how it worked, so things were definitely different the second year.
C) They always say that teachers are always learning. So yes, I would 100% want to try different ways of teaching in my classroom just so students can get a new and effective way of learning instead of the same old thing. I would probably show the principal the results of the two programs that I have just talked about and tell him of the success to hopefully get him or her to let me try something new.
#1.
ReplyDeleteA: The Private Eye program can help teachers show their kids how to think more critically about things. This is a great program that lets children explore their minds. The children can think about things in a way that they have never thought before. The program lets children observe and compare things, or even observe in a way that is new to them.
B: The Private eye program really opens children’s eyes to the little details about things. One example of this would be; a teacher said that one of her students who had worked with the private eye before asked more questions. I believe this is because by using the private eye children experience the little things we do not normally notice.
C: A woman named Sara Flusche of North Central College trains teachers in Texas.
#2
A: The Polaris project is different than The Private Eye in many ways. The Private Eye is more about seeing things in a different way and experiencing them in a different way. The Polaris Project is more about art and teaching through art. But I believe both are important to a child’s learning.
B: The second year of the program I think is when the teachers started to understand and incorporate the program more. The project was about the different ways there are when presenting information to the students and this project seemed to be paying off. The project showed a increase in the student’s passion for science. So by presenting the information in a real life example or in more artistic ways really paid off.
C: I definitely think that I will use these types of teaching programs when I am a teacher. I think that kids learn in all different ways and that teaching in all different ways will make me a better teacher. I think kids also get bored easily so I will have to teach in different ways to keep them focused!
Madison Holley
A. Yes, reinforcing the brain’s natural capacity for thinking in metaphors and analogies and making mental connections is very important. It is crucial for students to learn these types of things at a young age in order for them to build higher order reasoning skills. The fact that the “Private Eye” is having students use their minds and be creative at a young age helps this process tremendously.
ReplyDeleteB. Teachers that used the “Private Eye” were able to notice a difference in their students learning out comes. These students were able to see things differently and were able to notice and pick up on much more detail than before.
C. Sara Flusche, of North Central Texas College, is doing the training in Texas.
A. The Solaris project has a different way of teaching then The Private Eye. In the Solaris Project art is used as a foundation for learning many different things about science. The kids use art and theatre to better understand science. In the Private Eye the students use the loupes as a foundation to creatively learn in all different subjects.
B. The second year of the program was more successful than the first. I think both the teachers and the students began to understand the program better. The teachers were able to put it on better, while the students were able to enjoy it more the second year.
C. Yes, I think it would be a great experience to teach at a school that tried programs like the two of these. I think by showing a principal or superintended results from projects like the two we studied would be a great start to convincing them to consider these programs.
1.) a.) Educators do believe that this helps build critical thinking and high order reasoning skills. They explain it by saying that this activity and way of seeing things allows our brain to rewire itself to see things in a different way than before. It allows people to change the way they see ordinary things and think about them on a more artistic and creative level. Also one teacher said it makes the students “baloney detectors” allowing their reasoning skills to excel.
ReplyDeleteb.) The teachers who used “The Private Eye” said that their students were becoming more aware of details in the things they observe. The teachers compared the students who had used the private eye curriculum to the ones who hadn’t by saying that those students were much more detailed and creative, They also stated that they noticed them using this more and more in their every day life. It taught them to really see things on a different level.
c.) Sara Flusche of North Central Texas College is training the trainers in Texas.
2.) a.)The Solaris Project is different from the Private Eye because it is more of a curriculum that intertwines science and art. It is more of a hands on kind of learning experience because the kids get to meet scientists, sculptors, and many other professionals. It allows them to steer their own education and gives them freedom to really explore their creativity.
b.) The emphasis on the project did change the second year because it incorporated theater into the curriculum and aimed at improving confidence.
c.) I would love to teach in a school that allows me to try out new and different things. I would maybe show the principal or superintendant the video I just watched and the private eye website. I would explain to them all the benefits of these curriculums and allow them to try them out for themselves.
1. A) Yes, because this helps each child think in a different perspective and more critical-like. Its very important that children learn like this so that they will be leaders in this world and will be able to explore and compare the different things this world has to offer. This program will also help in different subjects at school because it will open their curiosity on learning things about science all the way to history or math.
ReplyDeleteB.)The "Private Eye" has been known to bring out creativiy in difference in each student according to teachers who've seen students after the "Private Eye." Teachers who've used this program have noted that their students were more eye-opened and making an attempt to ask questions and learn more. The results of this program are accurate because its something making an attempt to teach children to think different, which nobody really takes time to do.
C.)Sara Flusche from North Texas Central College.
2. A) It is different because in every subject, art has been used. Another thing that differs is theatre, which could be put into the category of art, is brought out so that the kids can express themselves and learn more through whichever one they choose. In the Private Eye, "loupes" are used.
B) The second year was much more successful and popular for the program. It seems like the students and also the teachers got more out of the program and were able to use art and theatre in every subject the second year.
C) Yes, I would actually prefer a school that used a different program such as one of these. It would be rather difficult to convince a principal or superintendent to adopt this program because a rare part of our world holds a need to find difference. Although if I really wanted to do this I guess I would sit down with whoever could make this decision possible and tell them of my dreams with this program and the amazing changes I believe it could make.
Question 1
ReplyDeleteA. Yes, educators do believe that it expands on students critical thinking skills and helps allow them to approach a problem or situation from many different angles, rather than just one. As is previously mentioned in other comments, I really enjoyed how one teacher said "cliche gets stripped away" and it teaches students to be "baloney detectors". Teaching students to make connections and to train their brains to be high level thinkers gives them the tools to succeed later in their educations.
B. The teachers recognized that the students became more meticulous and paid more attention to details, as well as the overall picture. The students who participated in "The Private Eye" showed greater attention to detail than those who did not, and demonstrated that using "The Private Eye" in the classroom is extremely beneficial for students.
C. Sarah Flusche is training in North Texas.
Question 2
A. The Private Eye project and the Solaris Project are different in a few ways; mainly in that the Solaris Project focuses on several different mediums and transcends over several different subject areas, unlike the Private Eye project which is more specific and draws on using details and a different outlook to establish connections.
B. In it's second year the Solaris Project adopted changes that would benefit the students and teachers involved. By incorporating more artistic and creative ways for students to experiment and create, such as performing arts, and a stronger emphasis on using arts and science collaboratively, the program not only encouraged intellectual development, but emotional and social development as well.
1-A. Yes, children will be able to think in a different way and promote different ideas. They think the connections in the brain will strengthen to more creative and outside the box kind of thinking. Children can then be who they want to be.
ReplyDeleteB. The student has shown many learning outcomes. Analysis, mathematics, science and reading are few of many learning outcomes. Thinking like a scientist or writer will help children actually excel.
C. Sara Flusche of NCT College is training the trainers in Texas. She has almost trained 1000 teachers.
2-A. It is different than the ‘private eye’ because every classroom has them. Instead of concept and learning outcome being together it is more science-art based, or math-art based.
B. In the second year having a positive outcome because both students and teachers were able to succeed with the projects and understood the reasons and methods to doing them.
C. Yes, I believe it is a good idea to try different ways to add art into my lessons. It helps children of all learning styles and levels connect to the art material. I believe a good way to approach a principal is to let you try the private eye would be to explain the details of a program.
a.) Yes, it helps kids look at all subjects and any information they come across from a different perspective. It promotes creativity and deeper thinking. It helps kids to connect information between subjects and to think abstractly. It is like strengthening the “hardware” program of their brain so that it is better prepared and better able to handle the “software” information that they will acquire through subjects in school.
ReplyDeleteb.) Detail in drawing and analogy’s, learning how to communicate between all subjects. Making connections. Paying attention to detail. Excited to move beyond where you’re at. Cross curricular approach. Teaching the kids to think and make connections. They are doing it faster and more in-depth and applying subjects to everyday life. Writing improves and active learning.
c.) Sara Flusch
a.) The Polaris project is on a larger scale where the Private Eye looks at a small scale and detail.
b.) Yes, the students were better equipped from the previous year to go deeper into relating art and science.
c.) Yes, I would present these videos and information from the Private Eye website as well as my own personal experiences with the Private Eye curriculum and how fusing art and science helped me to better understand science and enjoy it more.