User:Mmann019

Michael Mann

Hello. My name is Michael Mann. I live in Williamsburg, Virginia. I am currently a Cisco Academy Networking Instructor at the Aviation Academy. Thw Aviation Academy is the magnet school that is a part of Denbigh High School. We are located in the former airport terminal for Williamsburg/Newport Airport.

In addition to core curriculum classes such as math, english, and geography, we teach electronics, aviation maintenance, pilot ground school, A+ computer technology and my favorite, computer networking.

Philosophy of Education

I am a constructivist. One definition of the constructivist point of view is as follows: "learners are active participants in knowledge acquisition, and engage in restructuring, manipulating, reinventing, and experimenting with knowledge to make it meaningful, organized and permanent. Learning is an internal process and influenced by the learner's personality, prior knowledge and learning goals" (Davidson, 1995). In my opinion, students only learn when they are challenged to do difficult tasks with the appropriate level of teacher scaffolding. My goal is to always have my students working in what Vygotsky calls the "zone of proximal development".

My views on Diversity, Instructional Strategies, Classroom Environment, Technology, and Assessment.

Diversity:

At the secondary school level (ie: students are teenagers), I do not believe that students should be grouped by sex, ability, or any other "categories" that may cause anxiety over and above what teenage people are already experiencing due to biological changes. I believe this type of "grouping" will inhibit learning to some degree.

Instructional Strategies:

I believe in using short lecture cycles (typically <= 20 minutes). I like to break the material down to short lecture cycles followed immediately by some type of hands-on activities to help solidify the learning experience. Strategies and techniques I have used include: cooperative learning through "think-pair-share" and a modified type of "jigsaw" strategy.

Classroom Environment:

My classroom environment contains a lot of inspirational posters along with technical information posters to help reinforce the technical vocabulary and graphical representations that make up a "computer networking grammar". Additionally, I try to make the environment as "user friendly" and "technically non-threatening" as possible. I rely on my ability to create a rapport with my students. In my opinion, this is the most important thing. If you cannot create a rapport with students, you will have a very difficult time getting them to cooperate. I believe learning is a "two way street" and without mutual respect (one aspect of rapport), it will be next to impossible to achieve meaningful learning for your students. "To get respect, you must give respect" (Mann, 1974).

Technology:

Being a technology teacher, I use many different types of technology including: network simulator programs (a favorite of students), real network appliances (switches, routers, etc.), projection systems, and one I am dying to use but don't have yet is the smartboard. This is without a doubt, one of the best technological innovations to come along. I hope to have one in my classroom next school year (2008-2009).

Assessment:

I believe that assessment must be reflective of the lesson that has been taught. It is too easy to try to "push them a little" especially if you make your own assessments (as opposed to using pre-created ones). If you are going to assess problem solving as it relates to content or in general, then that is what you should have already modeled. To do other than this becomes an exercise in futility and frustration for your students.