Melanie Kubala

I learned about Gamifying learning as well as Digital Field Trips. I think that the Digital Field Trips will be easier to implement as there are so many websites that offer video experiences/tours/tutorials. Gamifying sounds fascinating to me and I would like to begin with one unit that incorporates that experience for students. Personally, what I remember from high school were the lessons that were fun and engaging. Gamifying will be a good addition to my curriculum.

I learned about the stages of teamwork: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Group work has never been my forte, so this information was helpful. I plan on creating a poster to demonstrate  these stages for students.

I appreciate that the unit expresses the value of teamwork: building rapport, increasing creativity/productivity, and creating trust within the group.

Verbal/Written Communications (I hope I'm posting this comment in the correct place):

I learned ways to teach about verbal and written communication. As a business owner and professional myself, I understand the importance of communicating effectively. 

In my CTE Photography class we create websites. I have students write an "About Me" page. I will take the part about "thinking about your audience" and use it as a prompt when they are writing for this page. For business owners (students), knowing who you are targeting will help guide your writing. If you're desire is to draw in senior portrait clients, the… >>>

I learned new learning techniques to use in class with students to promote critical thinking. Building a Silent Poster, K-W-L, Barometer, and written dialogue. I'm always looking for new ways to present learning opportunities, and I'm grateful for the introduction to the four new techniques.

I also liked that open-mindedness was discussed in this module. Open-mindedness is a great quality to have as an employee, as an employer, as well as in relationships.