DESIGNER
Educators design authentic, learner-driven activities and environments that
recognize and accommodate learner variability.
"Learning is more effective when it is active rather than a passive process.” ~ Kurt Lewin
ARTIFACTS
The following artifacts, with an accompanying rationale, can be found on this page:
- Multimedia Project Rubric because it demonstrates my expectations in the design, creation, and production of a student video project.
- Prezi Capture about 3D Printers in Education since it provides information about the use of a tech tool that creates an innovative digital learning environment.
- Metalheads Announcement Newsletter and the accompanying Welding as Art Lesson Plan because they are examples of how welding students can be encouraged to be designers as well as fabricators.
- A short statement I have prepared about designing lesson plans.
My mother has been an elementary teacher for over 30 years, and I swore I would never ever be a teacher. I didn't like school, mostly because I didn't like to sit down that long in a tiny desk. When I could take welding in 10th grade, I became a superstar student. My welding teacher, Zeb, went on to be welding department chair at Calhoun, and he is who called and offered me the job I have now as a welding lab instructor. Would I have to grade papers? No, just follow industry checklists. Would I have to do lesson plans? No, the syllabi and all Plans of Instruction have been prepared for us. That, along with the great benefits, sold me on my new career. Then Zeb talked me into getting my B.S. degree because of the money and opportunity to be a department chair. Everything was fine there until I had to design lesson plans. What? In CTE, we don't have to do that! I started slowly by looking at every online welding lesson plan that I could find. I have always had people ask me to design welding artwork like benches, archways, and garden art. That's when I thought of the "Metalheads" lesson plan. I wrote every piece all by myself. I didn't even ask Zeb for any help or advice (he would have just laughed at me). I hope one day to actually have an elective that allows my welding students to be "Metalheads" to show off our skills where regular people can see them.
RESOURCES