Reflection
on Week #2 Video
I
went into this lesson without my students having previously read any of the
information about the material for the lecture that day. I am doing this on
purpose because they have a project where they are going to research certain
parts of the Exodus story and teach the class via videos; therefore, each day,
we have a mini-lesson about the tale of the Exodus from Egypt and its
consequences. I am both regretting this decision and enjoying it at the same
time because some of the students are well informed from previous teachers and
some of the students have never had this subject. It’s a mish-mash of high and
low level of theology. Regardless, they are enthusiastic, and they are always
interested in what we are doing, and I think my rapport with them is the “culprit”
behind keeping their attention.
From
this observation, I can fully acknowledge that while theology may not be the
ultimate subject, I can make it as such by my relationship with my students. They
are open to what I have to say because I try to make it as entertaining and fun
as possible. I know that teaching isn’t supposed to be fully about putting on a
show for the students, but I don’t think that having a good relationship with
them is putting on a show. I know what they like and what they don’t like. I
understand their wants and needs, and I am confident that they would be able to
ask any question or raise any concern without being judged. Some days they come
and chat with me after class about whatever, and it makes me feel that even
though I am not teaching a core subject for their “life skills”, I am still
making an impact by taking the time to get to know them.
From
this observation, I can also fully understand that I probably should have had
my students read a little bit of information about the material before the
lesson. It would have given all of them an equal footing when it came discussing
the information in class. I also believe that this lesson was fairly rushed,
but that is also my purpose because the students will be the ones doing the in
depth explanations of certain Exodus events to the class, and as a result, in
depth wasn’t my goal with this particular lesson. However, I do believe that in
the future, I should have them at least scan the material beforehand, if only
for the purpose of class participation. Once we got rolling, they were ready to
take measured guesses, but I think they were a little bit self conscious due to
the filming. I would also, perhaps, tell them the objective from the offset.
They knew via their online learning portal that we were going to be discussing Moses
and the Exodus (and also they knew from their previous notes), but I think that
I should have directly stated the objective. I did have the topics on the board,
which was difficult to see, but I didn’t actively tell them what was going to
transpire from the day’s lesson.
All
in all, I think that this lesson went well. The students were participating,
even if they were just guessing, and they weren’t ashamed to get the answer
incorrect because they know that is how they learn. I believe that due my good
relationship with my students, I am keeping their attention fairly well, but I
also think I could have done more to have them better prepared for the lesson.
I also think I could have told them what we were going to be doing, so that
they would understand the direction in which we were going.
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