1. Final Course Reflection ELED 4312-001 Dr. Jiyoon Yoon
By Megan Atkinson

2. Science Autobiography: Differences Between a Good and Bad Teacher
Thoughts Then
Thoughts Now
Good teachers take the time to know each of their students and what they need to be successful.
Bad teachers don’t care about their students and bring a negative connotation to teaching.
Good teachers are well prepared and excited about teaching their students. They invest not only in the material being taught but the students having to receive the material.
Bad teachers are those that are under prepared to teach a specific subject therefore they may not be as excited or able to teach, which can reflect poorly on their students. It may not be that they don’t care about their students, they are just unable to show them support by being unprepared.

3. Science Autobiography: Differences Between a Good and Bad Teacher
My thoughts have changed between then and now because before I did research with the science article I was always under the impression that bad teachers just didn’t like their job or their students. However after having done research and gaining experience, I have found that many teachers that are considered “bad” are just unprepared to teach their students certain content which can reflect negatively on their students and the excitement they may have had towards a specific subject. “Bad” teachers may still show interest in their students, its when they are unable to meet their students needs academically is when they become a “bad” teacher. I still believe good teachers invest in innovative ways to bring material to life, as well as ensuring their students are gaining the knowledge to grow as they further their academic career. Teachers taking 5 minutes out of their day to say “hello” to a student and ask how their weekend was, will be the teachers that have the greatest impact on their students. Taking personal interest in students’ lives plays just as big of a role as teaching content does.

4. Science in Your Classroom: Personal Philosophy
I believe each child deserves the right to feel empowered, encouraged, and loved daily. My goal as a teacher is to be not only a role model for my students, but to be able to provide the empowerment, encouragement, love, and confidence they need to be successful throughout life. Teaching for me goes beyond academics and into character building for my students. I will strive to ensure each student knows that they are capable of reaching their dreams….

5. Science in Your Classroom: Personal Philosophy (Continued)
…As I set the foundation for my students’ academic career, I also want to be setting the foundation for their character and motivation to achieve their goals on and off campus. By helping students respect themselves they will in turn respect the people they are surrounded by. No opinion or idea is stupid, and everyone is respectful of their peers. By creating a safe environment for my students, I will challenge them to voice their opinions with confidence, and allow them to take risks without being afraid of failing….

6. Science in Your Classroom: Personal Philosophy (Continued)
…I want the classroom to be a judgment free place where students have the opportunity to discover themselves and what is meaningful to them. Every person is unique in the way they learn; therefore the activities I create will accommodate the needs of my students in various ways. I will strive for continuous growth with my students by making learning fun, exciting, and memorable, having a lasting impact on their lives…

7. Science in Your Classroom: Incorporating Science
I plan on appealing to as many different learning styles as possible while teaching science in my classroom. I wish to implement hands on activities that are meaningful to the students and that are relatable outside of a science classroom. By using concrete materials and having a meaningful outcome of the lesson, I believe the students will have a more memorable experience and be able to hold onto the concepts taught by remembering the activity they completed over specific content. If several learning styles are accounted for, then all of the students will be able to successfully understand and interpret the lesson. My goal is mastery for each student, and since each student is unique in their learning, I must acknowledge that fact and discover different strategies to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be successful. By bringing fun and excitement into the classroom while teaching science, the students will then become excited about learning about science. Games and hands on activities will influence learning while the students are having fun discovering new material. If the opportunity arises, I would like to attend teacher workshops or conventions to bring new ideas to my classroom based on other teachers’ successes.

8. Science in Your Classroom: Confidence to Teach Science
From The Journal of Educational Research, the science article I reviewed was about appealing to ELLs while also being an efficient science teacher. I am confident in teaching science because I now have more of an understanding of what effort goes into teaching science. Teachers must first learn and understand the content they are teaching. Then they must find different activities or strategies that will be most impactful on their specific group of students. While teaching lessons, I want to encourage students to discover what is meaningful to them, and continue their interest in it. From reading this article, I now know that I must be well prepared to teach science in order for my students and I to get excited and having a positive learning outcome. While also keeping in mind that every student learns differently, and in order to be effective I must appeal to several different learning styles.
Source:

9. Reflection Over the Course
How has this course helped develop my teaching philosophy and/or ability to teach science?
This course has made me more knowledgeable about the extent teachers go to ensuring their students understand each concept being taught. Through group presentations, I was able to understand that there are multiple activities to support several lessons, therefore something will always be appealing to the students, it is just a matter of doing your research and finding it. My belief in hands on activities being more effective has continued to grow throughout this course. By participating in the activities I was able to place myself in my future students’ shoes to understand how effective activities may be. I strive to be a good teacher, therefore I know I must be well prepared to be enthusiastic and confident about teaching science.

10. Reflection Over the Course
Improvements:
To improve this course for future students, my only suggestion is to post the Quizlet reviews of the material covered in previous classes on Blackboard, instead of reviewing it at the beginning of class. I think the review takes away from the time that could be spent with presentations or introducing new material. Aside from that, I think this class was very fun and interactive! The science musical was a creative way to bring a science concept to life, and working in groups allowed for multiple ideas to be voiced and the ability to learn from each other throughout the semester.