Lumosity---Don't lose your BRAIN!

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Cool website for games that help you build your brain and improve your cognitive abilities.

Teach and Learn Post #3

Learning Experience #3

I learned how to make Pork roast with potatoes, onions, and carrots in my crockpot! I have never used a crockpot in my life and so I asked my dad how to use it. He gave me general directions over the phone so I had to really listen and pay attention. While he was explaining to me the ingredients I would need and the directions, I tried to visualize the process. The pot I have is my grandmothers so I did not have instructions to read on how to use it. There were basically only 4 settings: Off, Low, High, and Automatic. I put the setting to low, as my father instructed, and let it cook about 6-7 hours. The only seasoning mix I had was brown gravy mix, which I would not usually put with pork but it tasted good to me! I have had past experience cutting vegetables so having some knowledge of that aspect of cooking gave me confidence. It was nice to know that I could call my dad if I had any questions. This experience showed me that when learning new things it is good to build on already previously gained funds of knowledge, and that having a good guide or instructor who is more than happy to help is reassuring.

Teaching Experience #3

I introduced Siri to the game of golf. I first asked about her experience with golf and why she would like to learn how to play golf. She said that some of her family members play, and she has played a couple times with them, but has never taken lessons. Building on this information I knew that she already has some experience but would like to improve her skills so she can enjoy playing with her family and friends more. I told her a little bit about the golf course that we were at and how its facilities differed from other courses. We walked around the practice areas and through a few of the golf holes while I explained to her that I like to play golf because it is complex, outside, variable, and good exercise. I also gave her a history of my experience playing and teaching golf, and also how I learned to play. She asked what the terms Par and Handicap.meant. And I answered her explaining that par is the average score a person is expected to get on a hole (either 3, 4, or 5). Handicap is how many strokes a player shoots over par, and is taken into account when competeting to give a more equal playing field. I also went over the different clubs (Woods, irons, wedges, putter) and their general uses. I also touched on the five basic steps to putting: 1) read the green, 2) line up the ball and putter, 3) stance and posture in line with ball and putter, 4) grip, 5) pendelum even smooth stroke or swing.

Overall I think the lesson went well and I think that Siri is an analytical and visual learner. She definitly likes to think things through and asks questions but also likes to watch and see how something is done. I gave her a brief chance to be more hands on and then we talked about how putting is finding a balance between speed and direction. Next time I will give her more practice drills to get the basics down.

Teach and Learn Journal Post #2

Learning Experience #2

When I was at home I learned how to make marshmellow brownies with my sisters. They have always done it a certain way but I found a new recipe with Rice Krispies that I wanted to try out. Here is the recipe:

Marshamallow Krispie Brownies 1 9x13 inch pan of brownies- box mix or my favorite recipe
1 bag mini marshmallows
2 cups chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups peanut butter
5 tablespoons butter
3 cups Rice Krispies

Prepare your brownies. When they have about 8 minutes of baking left, pour the marshmallows over the top and finish cooking until they're golden brown. Let cool while you prepare the topping.
For the topping, combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter, and butter in a microwave safe dish. Microwave thirty seconds at a time, stirring at each interval, until smooth and melted. Fold in the Rice Krispies and then pour over the brownies. The end.

I found out that I like to read a recipe first and then see or visualize the process happening. I very much enjoyed these brownies. Maybe I will make them for class one day :)

Teaching Experience # 2

I taught my roommate how to go back and forth on a single chain to make a dish rag. She struggled at first because it is very easy to twist the chain when it is small and thin. If you don't twist it that much it is not noticable, but you want to keep it as straight and even as possible. She was frustrated and felt like her hands just could not do it. I told her to be patient with herself and that she would improve with more practice. I told her that she can crochet while she watches TV or a movie. She seems to be a very analytical and cognitive learner. She has to think about it in her mind, and often repeats it to me to make sure she understands it. She also is a visual learner. She liked to see how I did it, how I held my hands and kept the tension in the string, and they way I lookped the stiches. I found that she and I have very similiar learning styles.

Teach and Learn Journal Post #1

Learning Experience #1

My father bought me a rice cooker that apparently can function like a crockpot. I found myself reading through the manual, looking for pictures, and step by step instructions. I found that the directions were quite simple and that pictures and step by step instructions were provided. Perhaps these are included to cater to various learning styles?--a good decision. I decided to start out with just making rice and then later on that week in addition to making rice I used the steam tray feature to cook chicken and vegetables. The chicken was plain because I didn't know how to season it when I was steam cooking it. I have only cooked chicken in a pan with seasoning. I bet I could have put seasoning on the chicken and the vegetables to add more flavor to the meal. Instead I added teriyaki sauce later and mixed it all together. I was surprised at how efficient and easy it is to prepare such a healthy meal. I will for sure use my rice cooker more often. Through this learning experience I discovered that I like to read and see things linearly as in step by step instructions first. After this initial learning preference I like to see pictures and/or really engage in the activity to make it feel more real to me.

Teaching Experience #1

I taught my roommate the basics to crochet. I showed her some pictures of the few beanies and other items I have crocheted in the past to give her a bigger picture of the possibilities of what she could make. We talked about how it is an art form and that everyone's style is a little different. I also warned her that learning to crochet is frustrating at first just like learning anything new, but reassured her that it is a life-long rewarding hobby/skill. The most challenging part is learning how to hold the string and hook while still retaining just enough tension to create even balanced stitches. This skill is similar to the art of braiding hair---it takes good finger and hand-eye coordination. She had some back ground in knitting so she could understand some of the basic concepts. I got her a crochet hook and some yarn and showed her with my own crochet hook and yarn how to first make a loop and slip knot to go around the hook. Then I showed her how to make single stitches two different ways. I told her to practice both and see what way she preferred. We practiced for a while and I showed her how to go back on a stitch, which continued into our next lesson, how to make a cloth or dish rag.

Learn and Teach Basic Plan

Learn Something and Teach Something Plan

Dates                                      Learn                                     Teach

September 9th	How to use Rice Cooker, cook rice, chicken, & Veg	Roommate how to single crochet
September 16th	Learned how to bake marsh-mellow brownies	How to make a square dish rag
September 23rd	Crockpot recipe #1	How to make a beanie
September 30th	Crockpot recipe #2, Learn what is needed to make jewelry	Teach Siri basics to putting
October 7th	Crockpot recipe #3 Learn how to make earings	Siri basics to chipping
October 14th	Crockpot recipe #4 Learn how to make earings	Siri basics to irons
October 21st	Crockpot recipe #5 Learn how to make earings	Siri basics to woods/driver
October 28th	Crockpot recipe #6 Learn how to make bracelets	Golf games for practice
November 4th	Crockpot recipe #7 Learn how to make bracelets	Golf ethics and rules
November 11th	Crockpot recipe #8 Learn how to make necklace	Play a golf round

Comparing Learning Interviews

I interviewed myself, my dad, and my sister Brittney to find out more about how we learn and what experiences with learning, school, and teachers we felt were significant. It was interesting to hear how my fathers learning experiences back in the old days compared to mine and my sisters. He learned from his father that it was better to repair things than buy new, an attitude my grandfather probably acquired from living through the great depression. I always thought that my dad and I were very similar but I didn't realize how alike my sister and I are. I want to compare our interviews about how we learn.

All three of us remember enjoying school musicals or singing programs. My sisters and I participated in our fathers choir and high school programs. My dad learned from his father to have an appreciation for nature and God's creations, which he has passed down to his daughters. Our family enjoys being outside golfing, hiking, camping among several other activities. My sister Brittney and my dad like to grow vegetables or berries in the summer. My sister enjoyed taking a random college class called SOIL 4000 because she learned about soil/plants/etc and was outside for labs.

My dad and I share a similar perspective on teaching and that is that "watching young people utilize and develop talents is a wonderful thing to do with one's life." We both believe that you can learn something from every experience and that we are all students and teachers in some way. I would guess that my sister would agree to having a similar outlook on life because of her psychology/sociology degree and background---she loves to learn and study about people and what influences humans to be who they are biologically and socially.

One crutch that we all seemed to have in common is a struggle with  memorization-- but I am sure everyone would say that. Each of us also shared a disinterest in math and statistics. Crunching numbers and making sense of data must not be our thing. We all agreed that a subject must be interesting in order for us to learn best or as Brittney pointed out, it should be presented in an INTERESTING way.

When it comes to advice for teachers, we all agreed that some consistency and routine is necessary but variety, creativity, and cross curricular learning are essential in the classroom as well. My sister pointed out that a teacher should always be POSITIVE, believe that every child CAN LEARN, and never ever be responsible for putting down or holding back a child from reaching their full potential, especially because of bias or stereotypes.

Some of our learning preferences included having time to study something on our own and then have time to discuss and/or practice within a group, or participate in small activities. When it comes to learning something difficult or challenging we felt that persistence, time, hard work, and realistic attainable goals were helpful.