week 4

After reading "Mapping Student Minds" I liked seeing the use of outdoors to educate students on the varying environment. I thought it was important that they went at least twice a year because it did provide some substantial data on how the ecosystem of the river does vary depending on the time of year. I think going twice and having to input data keeps the learning hands on and very interactive. The extension of using causal maps to link data helps students expand their learning into writing and placing ideas in a more cohesive way. I like how the project transitioned into groups for the causal maps as well as generating debate and discussions about how these maps should be laid out. This kind of discussion helps to facilitate ideas and make kids more confident in themselves. Also, the fact that these causal maps are used to present ideas to people outside the classroom is a great experience in public speaking which again can boost confidence. Using this tool of causal mapping seems to allow a variety of different learners to feel involved and challenged.
On a side note, I learned some good things about powerpoint this week in lecture. I learned to create slides that are simple and colors that contrast but are not hard on the eyes. Chargers colors do not work!. Moreover, to have an effective powerpoint, keeping things simple in terms of the bullet points I want to make. More than 8 words in a sentence and I have said too much. Keeping animation and sounds to a very very low roar is appropriate.
I also learned this week in class about the different kidns of learners. I realized that I fit in a couple categories very well such as Naturalistic and Intrapersonal. I already knew I was intrapersonal because the idea of having to work in a group at the end of the semester for a group video project kills me.