WebLog Query I

Personal information
1. Name, hometown, primary email.
     Name: Emily Koesters
     Hometown: Richfield
     Email: ekoesters@hotmail.com
2. What name do you prefer to be called?
     Emily
3. Undergraduate and graduate degree(s), education license(s), current employment: grade level, subject(s) if applicable, district.
     Undergraduate Degree: Adolescent/Young Adult Education
                           Mathematics
                           University of Toledo 2009
     Graduate Degree:  Masters of Education in School Administration
                       John Carroll University expected May 2012
     License: Professional 5 Year Teaching License Mathematics(7-12)
              Administration License expected for May 2013
     Employment: I teach Freshman Algebra 1, College Algebra for
                 seniors and AP Statistics for seniors at Walsh
                 Jesuit High School.  I also coach Men's Volleyball
                 and run Intramural Softball at Walsh Jesuit.
4. What are a few of your more interesting hobbies, travel experiences, somewhat “unique” aspects about yourself that would help our classroom community get to know you a bit better.

Some of my more interesting hobbies would be that I currently play on two sand volleyball teams.  One is on Sundays and the other is on Tuesdays.  The one on Tuesday is a doubles league, and my partner is my husband.  We also play in a mud volleyball tournament every year, and we have a blast!

Another hobby I enjoy to do over the weekend is to go camping and fishing with my husband.  We go fishing at least every other weekend, and I love it.  It is so relaxing for me, which is the opposite of how I feel during the week. 

Finally, some traveling that I recently did this summer was a service trip to El Salvador.  I went with a group of alumni students from Walsh Jesuit, and I had a life changing experience.  We were building an older man's home, a day care, and we played with the children during the day when they were not at school.  The way the El Salvadorians live is amazing, and it made me realize how thankful I should be for what I have each day.

Learning Style and more:
5. Being as specific as you can, what must be in place for you to feel comfortable taking intellectual risks in a classroom?

For me to take intellectual risks in class, I must know that I will not be ridiculed or adversely effected for an incorrect answer or an answer that is not with the majority of the class.  Other than that, I am a pretty open book.

6. I am interested in your perception of yourself as a student. Please describe it. Consider such criteria as a) active oral class participation; b) responsible, timely class preparation (of readings, projects, etc.); c) honest, candid self-assessment; d) awareness of your own preferred learning styles/approaches; e) first thing that you do when you cannot or do not understand something; f)other dimensions you believe to be relevant and informative.

Since I am a teacher, I expect myself to be the type of student I enjoy having in class.  Therefore, I turn in homework complete and on time, I do all of the readings necessary for class, I come to class on time and prepared, and I participate in class.  If I did not do all of these things, I would be a hypocrite to my students, since I expect the same from them.  Furthermore, if I need help, I will speak with the professor of the class, which is similar to what I want my own students to do with me.  Finally, especially with a technology class, I enjoy and learn from hands-on activities.  If I do something myself rather than simply watch someone else do it for me, I will learn it much faster.

Technology Section
7. What do you believe was the most important technological invention in history? Why?

I believe hat the most important technological invention in history was the invention of electricity.  Without this discovery, we would intellectually not be where we are today.  Without electricity, many of the things we have today would not be possible.

9. In relation to technology, please describe what life is like for you after a typical school day?

After a typical day of school, I return to the math office and answer any e-mails I missed through out the day.  I then begin grading any student work I collected during the day.  After I finish grading, I enter the grades in the online grade book.  Once all the grades are updated, I create my lessons for the next day using the Smart Notebook software.  Sometimes I use the graphing calculator, the clickers, or other fun technology aspects found online or in Smart Notebook.  Once I am finished with the lesson, I create a worksheet on Infinite Algebra and make copies.  Once all of my copies are made, I can go home and relax for the remainder of the evening.

10. Indicate any uses of technology that you believe tend to be inappropriate or used excessively (by children in or out of school, by teachers in or out of school ) or promoted excessively (by the media, the computer industry, schools), i.e. ones that should be restricted or regulated in key ways.

I believe that the technology that tends to be used inappropriately by students and sometimes teachers would be technology paired with the social media.  Many students cannot last a day without looking at their cell phone or texting a friend during class.  Furthermore, social networks like facebook, my space, or twitter are used far too much by students.  I believe these networks encourage bullying and inappropriate behavior for young adults. 
Finally, I believe that the instantaneous response young adults receive from the Internet is detrimental.  Many will not work on math problems if they cannot work out the answer within seconds.  They want the answer as soon as they look at the problem.  Also, many students cannot just sit and wait without having something to do or keep them occupied.  For example, most college students walking through campus either have their i pods on for music, talking to someone on the phone, texting a friend, or playing games on their i phone as they walk to class.  Young adults do not know how to interact with others face to face.  I believe that this behavior is becoming worse each day.


About Dr. Shutkin:
11. Write down one or two questions you would like to ask me about myself or the class.

Dr. Shutkin, what do you think the best and worst part of technology is for students in classrooms today?

For the class:  What do you think is the best way to stop the cyber bullying we see each day?