Weekly Blog
Week 23: A Quiet Week4/8/2022 This week was relatively quiet, and I missed a portion of class for a zoom call, so I do not have much to update on. I developed an introduction to use when reaching out to other schools with the questions I shared in last week's blog post. I also began to plan out my slideshow—a portion of my final project that is due in less than a month. As I really only sent emails and planned out this portion of my project, I do not have any images to share for this week.
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Week 22: Question Planning4/1/2022 For the final portion of my inquiry, I want to investigate the impact COVID has had on schools in my area. I am hoping to visit a few schools to speak with students and faculty about their experience in school during the pandemic. This week, I decided on a few key questions I felt would guide these discussions. I purposefully left them open-ended and broad so that they could be answered by both students and faculty in the same conversation. I have reached out to a few people regarding this plan, and hope to hear back next week so I can begin to plan the actual visits.
Week 21: Applying What I've Learned3/25/2022 Due to a couple interruptions, I shifted my focus this week from the impact of COVID in schools to designing a lesson plan. I have spent the past year as a TA for AP Language and Composition, and it was interesting to apply what I've learned both during my time in Legacy and in AP Lang to develop and execute a few lessons. Below I have included the formal lesson plans, as well as a couple pages of notes I took throughout the process. Although next week I will be returning back to my original research, I plan to produce some sort of reflection regarding this experience in the next couple of weeks.
Additionally, my Friday class time was taken up by a zoom call, in which I spoke to a few students from around the world about what student agency looks like in our schools. This was an inspiring conversation, and I am looking forward to bringing what I learn from this group into the second half of my inquiry. Week 20: Reflecting on CLT3/18/2022 This week I finalized and uploaded my CLT podcast episode. This took a bit longer than anticipated, as I ended up re-recording the episode a few times, but I really like how it turned out. I also began the initial planning for the next section of my inquiry: What has the COVID-19 pandemic taught us about the current function of our education system? I plan to use the remainder of my time in Legacy exploring this question. Next week, I want to develop a few key questions about school during the pandemic. I am then hoping to visit a few schools nearby to meet with students and staff, gathering input from not only my own school but also those around me. All of my takeaways from these conversations will be presented in my final podcast episode!
Week 19: CLT Podcast3/10/2022 This week I focused on planning and recording a podcast episode on cognitive load theory. In this episode, I review what cognitive load is, the origin of cognitive load theory, and its connections to classroom practices. I also mention the effect my learning in this class has had on my life as a student. I haven't finished editing the episode, but I plan to post it early next week. While preparing for this episode, I updated a section of my website to focus specifically on cognitive load. I have linked this page below. This episode concludes the cognitive load section of my final product, and I plan to start next week on the second part of my inquiry: What has the COVID-19 Pandemic taught us about the current function of our education system?
Week 18: CLT Updates3/4/2022 This week I learned a bit more about cognitive load theory, and compiled my research on my website. I have created a new "Cognitive Load Theory" page, which is linked below. Here, I introduce the scientific publication that first mentioned cognitive load, as well as schemas, which are both important as I begin planning my next podcast episode. Although I have mentioned it in one of my earlier episodes, I plan to spend next week planning, recording, and posting an episode specifically focused on cognitive load. I have included photos of my notes from the past couple weeks below.
Week 17: CLT Research2/18/2022 With a short week due to vacation, I spent most of my time in class researching cognitive load theory. I learned that John Sweller developed this theory, and have been reading through his 1988 publication, "Cognitive Load During Problem Solving: Effects on Learning." I have linked this report below, and plan to compile all of my learning under a new "Cognitive Load Theory" section of my website next week. I was also able to complete the rest of my Inquiry Project Planner, and below I have included my plans for the next month.
Week 16: Project Planning2/11/2022 I spent this week updating my website and planning my final project. My homepage now includes an introduction to Legacy and I have added an additional page dedicated to my inquiry. This portion of my website includes my initial inquiry proposal, a brief overview of the work I've completed so far, and an introduction to my final project. After finalizing my website, I began working on my inquiry timeline. Using the outline in my notes from last week, I have completed this calendar through March. This timeline is due next week, so I need to complete it by next Friday. Below I have included my plan for the next couple weeks.
Week 15: Inquiry Reset2/3/2022 I started off this week by continuing my investigation of cognitive load theory. I reviewed various sources and videos, but my research felt scattered without really knowing what its true intent was. I knew I was moving away from my original focus on the alignment of educational standards with the cognitive development of students, but I didn't know where I was moving to.
In response to this, I spent a good amount of time brainstorming how I'd like to use the rest of my time in Legacy (included in the picture below). I decided that I wanted my focus to be on CLT as it relates to the classroom. I plan to spend some time learning specifically about the origin and application of the theory, and then plan to use it to explore the impact COVID-19 has had on student success. All of this will be compiled both on my website and through my podcast series, ultimately ending with a final reflective episode capturing everything I've learned. I realized that this shift in my inquiry will also require me to change my guiding question. I have written two focused questions on my brainstorm paper, but am planning on defining a more specific, all-encompassing question as my product develops. Once I have done this, I can update areas of my website (like my homepage) that still reflect my old focus. Week 14: The Cost of COVID1/28/2022 After having many interesting conversations outside of school this past week, I felt inspired to shift my research focus from international education to the impact COVID has had on the cognitive development of students. I spent the week looking into various aspects of this inquiry and have included my notes below; I explored the Fight/Flight/Freeze response in the context of the pandemic and the impact quarantine has had on early childhood development. Cognitive load theory (in terms of COVID) was the most interesting thing I came across, and I am thinking about expanding upon this interest in the coming weeks.
Below I have also attached a link to a TED Talk I believe encompasses my learning this week. My friend and I have been talking about doing a podcast episode together and I believe this is a great opportunity to have a more collaborative conversation regarding the impact COVID has had on students' abilities to learn. AuthorWelcome to my Legacy journey. Here you will find weekly updates as I progress through my Cognitive Science inquiry. Archives
March 2022
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