When I taught the Computer Concepts class this week on databases to the eighth graders, I gave the students a homework assignment. Two out of the three classes didn't have any problems with the assignment, but the one class sure did. You thought that I was asking them to pull out all their teeth and remarked that Mrs. (co-op's name) never has given us homework. My reply was "I am not Mrs. ____, and I am giving you homework. I know that it will be something that you will like." The homework assignment was on gathering specific information from 15 of their own CD collection, such as the title of the CD and the artist. If the student did not own any CD's, or if the student did not have enough CD's, they could use the Internet and look for CD's that they may want to have and bring that to class.
After the students had created their CD collection database and I had asked them at the end of the class specific questions regarding databases and the lesson, one of the students remarked that they had never thought that a computer class would have had homework, but that they enjoyed doing the assignment.
With the other class that I teach, Computer Projects to sophomores, this week I have taken a different approach to the subject. I have incorporated more personal finance into the subject and relating it more to the needs of the students. The students are taking this new aspect very seriously, which I am very happy to see.
As I reflect on this past week, and could change any aspect if I had the chance to start the week over, I would have wanted to approach the concept of spreadsheets to the Computer Projects class differently. I am still learning what their learning skills are since this is the class that I just picked up and a quarter of the class is learning support. I knew that they have had the concept of spreadsheets in eighth and ninth grade. Also, I had them do some review activities, but the lesson I gave them I feel was to advance for them. The next lesson from the text book, which builds on the previous lesson, I will approach differently. Getting to know the skill level of your students is difficult, but at the same time a challenge.
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I am glad you received positive feedback on your homework assignment. Sometimes if they are conditioned to not have homework, the first reaction is to balk. I'm glad you went with it anyway with an open mind.
ReplyDeleteI'm also glad you are trying new things for your students. I am sure they are appreciating it! I am interested in seeing more of your personal finance content in your computer projects class.:)