Standard 6: Professionalism
Physical education teacher candidates demonstrate dispositions essential to becoming effective professionals.
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6.2 Participate in activities that enhance collaboration and lead to professional growth and development.
Artifact: Applied Behavior Analysis Conference
Date: November 2011
Reflection: In November of 2011 I went to an Applied Behavior Analysis Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. I did this as a way to broaden my knowledge of behavior management and teaching techniques. Applied Behavior Analysis is an approach that was taken from the learning theory. In behavior analysis, the goal is to find out what is exactly causing or maintaining the behavior through the environment. The "behavior" could be anything from throwing a football, talking out in class, or even eye contact. The "environment" is all the physical or social events that might have an affect on the behavior. In Applied Behavior Analysis, a behavior is targeted to be changed and is done so through different techniques. Attending this conference helped me gain valuable knowledge that I will use in my career. In one picture, I am standing with Brian Iwata. He is the professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Florida and received his Ph.D in Psychology at the State University of Florida. At the conference he was described as the "Father of Applied Behavior Analysis."
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6.4 Communicate in ways that convey respect and sensitivity.
Artifact: Raquette Lake Reflection
Date: Summer 2012
The first session to Raquette Lake
was a very interesting experience. I wasn’t completely sure what to expect
because we only had a few days out there compared to other classes that had a
two-week session. I tried to go into the experience with an open mind but I
struggled with that due to a recent trip out in California. I hiked one of the
most famous, beautiful trails in the world and my head was still stuck on the
most incredible experience of my life. As the days rolled on at Raquette Lake I
realized this was something completely different and when the overnight trip
was over, I had great experiences to talk about.
As
the groups were split into two, one to Blue Mountain, and one to West Mountain,
I looked around at the people in my group. I was definitely happy with everyone
in my group although I would’ve been happy with anyone in the class. The class
had meshed very well thus far but the overnight trip might have tested a few
people’s limits, although it was only for one night. We set up the canoes, had
smiles on our faces and took off. When we came back, the smiles were still
there. There was a certain moment on the overnight trip that I need everything
we had done was a success.
On
the overnight trip, there was a certain moment that really stuck out to me. On
the first day, we had paddled a few hours to West Mountain. When we were making
our itinerary we opted to paddle, hike the mountain, than paddle to a lean-to
all in one day. As we hiked up the Mountain, we had one student in our group
who was really struggling. Everyone in the group had different fitness levels
and that was very evident. One person was struggling so much that we had to
stop every minute or so when we started to climb. Because I just got back from
the Sierra’s and was hiking at elevations higher than 10,000 feet every day for
over two weeks, I felt in the best shape of my life. But that’s not the point;
it was a great experience for everyone that there was such a wide range of
abilities. Reason being, although it wasn’t challenging for me, I stuck in the
back with the person who was struggling and provided encouragement. When the
group realized that certain people needed a break, the group would all stop
together. Although some people wanted to continue, everyone stuck together and
hiked the mountain together. The moment that really struck me was when we were
on the summit of the mountain. Everyone was sitting around together and looking
very happy. For some people it was the first mountain they have ever climbed.
Although it wasn’t technical or a major climb, it was an accomplishment
nonetheless and as I sat there I was happy for every single person there. I was
proud that we accomplished the feat as a team.
What
this experience meant to me was that although people had a wide range of
abilities, the task still had to be completed and it did. This can easily be
translated to my life. The reason being, you cannot simply go through this
world without working with others. Working with others is very important
regardless of what field you are in. If you are working in the physical
education field, you need to be able to work with your principal, guidance
counselors, other teachers, and many others if you really want to be able to make
an impact. Since I am a physical education major, I realize that working with
people is an incredibly important skill that everyone should be able to develop
and be good at. If you are a teacher in a school and do not have the ability to
work with your colleagues than you will struggle to find yourself being liked
and people buying in to what your attempting to teach the students. When I took
EDU 256 and had to do my field experience in schools, I talked to many
different teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, and even the
principal. I know how important it is to establish relationships with people
all throughout the workplace. You need to be able to form a team with the
people you work with. When I was sitting on top of West Mountain I was thinking
that we really became a team that day. We started by canoeing many miles, than
finishing by hiking to the top of a mountain. Some people struggled, some
didn’t, but the point was that we stuck together, encouraged each other, and
because of that, we found ourselves sitting on top of the summit.
Not
only does this experience extend into my professional life, but my personal
life as well. What I took away from this was that although an experience might
not seem like one that will be very important, it very well could be. One week
fresh out of one of the tallest and most beautiful mountain ranges in the
United States, I had to go to the Adirondacks for a few days. Being an avid
hiker and climber, up to that point I had spent close to a month in the mountains
so I was over it. I tried to go into Raquette Lake with positivity and an open
mind but it was very hard. I struggled with the idea that I was going to see
anything that would come close to anything I saw in California. I have spent
much time in the Adirondacks so I knew nothing could compare. But the
experience was one that was completely different. What I really took away from
this experience that I can apply to my personal life and professional as well
is go into every situation with an open mind. You never know what you can
expect from a situation and that is exactly what happened to me on this trip.
As I still grow older and develop professionally, I am going to be introduced
to many different scenarios and teaching styles and I need to have an open mind
about it. You cannot think that your way is the best. You need to realize that
there are so many different ideas and styles all around the world that you can
adopt any of those things and bring them to your own collection. Having an open
mind can be extremely beneficial to your personal and professional life. I
learned from my overnight experience that I need to continue to have an open
mind in all things.
From this trip I
took away some new friends. This is relevant to my personal life because having
friendships is a very important thing to me. Since the trip has been over, I
have hung out with many of these people many times. Having friendships is one
of the most important things you can have in your life. There are numerous
benefits to have friendships and I am glad this experience has given me a bunch
of new friends.
In conclusion, the
overnight trip at Raquette Lake was a very beneficial experience. Going into
it, I was skeptical about what I would achieve, learn, and take away. It is
clear now that I have learned a great deal about working with others and coming
into situations with an open mind. Raquette Lake was a great experience and the
winter should be even better.
