Introduction to the MBTI

Introduction to STU110

Apple Tarte

Tarte 1,
originally uploaded by gioia g.

This tarte is an example of a yummy dish we made in cooking class.

Links to sites I like

Career related:

http://ewucareerguide.wikispaces.com/  a very cool wiki created by Eastern Washington University Career Services Department.

http://monster.typepad.com/monsterblog Monster.com, the premier career and job search website's blog.

http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/ This site has a variety of great career information for people seeking inspiration for a career change.

http://workblogging.blogspot.com/ Links to work related blogs.

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_blog/ Career and job search information for job seekers.

http://www.todaysworkplace.org/ Legal and political information as they relate to careers.

http://www.yc.edu/content/careerservices/what-can-i-do-with-a-major.htm most college career departments offer a list of career options by college major.

http://stu110careerdiscovery.wikispaces.com/ This is the wiki I created for STU110, Career Discovery. Students will populate the information as they learn about careers of interest.

Cooking related:

http://www.gioiacooking.blogspot.com/ this is my very own food blog

http://www.foodnetwork.com/ great recipes and videos...it's all about the food.

http://www.onehungrychef.com/ This was the first food blog I ever found and enjoy his take on food.

Just for fun:

http://throwgrammarfromthetrain.blogspot.com/2010/10/definition-of-insanity.html Jan Freeman writes for the Boston Globe about writing and I just love to read what she has to say. She's so 'smaht'.

http://travelingforthesole.blogspot.com/ This is my neice's blog. She's been travelling the world on Semester at Sea.

Final Thoughts on EDU255

Over the last eight weeks in this class I have been stretched beyond my expectations, and sometimes felt overwhelmed. What comes so easy to many of my students really challenged me. I often found myself reading over and over again the instructions for assignments to make sure I understood the requirements so that I could complete the work as instructed. There were moments when I wanted to cry. Although I consider myself as having some good technical skills, this class really gave me a look at how technologically behind I really am. On the up side, I learned a lot about the tools available to me as an instructor, a career counselor and academic advisor.

I teach an online career discovery course and for the most part was happy with how it was presented, until I took this class, where I realized that I was really shorting my students by not utilizing the tools we experienced in this class.

For this class, I created a wiki where students will add research they are doing on careers as a resource for other students. I created a Ning page, learned to post pictures on Flikr, and made a YouTube recording. All things that I had never imagined I would be able to do. In fact, it was scary. I know now what it is like for our older students that are new to college and the technologies used these days in the classroom, it is overwhelming.

Because of this class, I do feel as though I can improve my class so that student learning is improved. Additionally, there are web2.0 tools that not only would work in the classroom, but also in the counseling and advising arena, for example, degree planning podcasts.

my teaching philosophy - revisited

Upon reading over my teaching philosophy written just about eight weeks ago, I wouldn't change any of it, except to add that since I like to be a learner along with my students, I would try to add more ways for all of us to learn together. Here is what I wrote oh so long ago...

Definition of TEACH

                transitive verb

1a : to cause to know something  b : to cause to know how c : to accustom to some action or attitude d : to cause to know the disagreeable consequences of some action

2: to guide the studies of

3: to impart the knowledge of

4a : to instruct by precept, example, or experience b : to make known and accepted

5: to conduct instruction regularly in

intransitive verb

: to provide instruction : act as a teacher

(www.m-w.com, 2010)

As for the definition above, my philosophy applies more to number four: to instruct by example. For me, teaching is not just about providing information, it’s about learning, for me and for my students. I want to be engaged along with my students. I don’t want to be the expert, but the person helping the students become the experts. To me, to learn is to grow, to step out of what’s comfortable into the unknown. Encouragement, determination, skill development and humor are tenets of my teaching philosophy. A student should be guided by the instructor, providing information but also encouragement to find the answers on their own. Students will stay engaged in topics that are relevant to their life. If the instructor can bring those things to the class, the students can then make a direct connection between the learning and their life. I like to use humor to stimulate and engage the class. Secretly, I wanted to be an actress, and teaching provides a stage where I can perform.

From the time I was a child, I enjoyed teaching. As the oldest of three, it fell to me to show my siblings the way. As a career counselor and academic advisor, my job includes teaching students the ‘ropes’ of college, navigating the website, locating transfer information, and determining a college major, among other things. I also teach cooking classes where I encourage my students to go beyond what they know and try something new. In my online Career Discovery class, I want my students to engage in their own self discovery, giving them a chance to see how they can push through the limiting thoughts and barriers they have created for themselves. Looking back on my life, I have always been teaching, using the knowledge I have, to help someone.