Module 7

This course has been an eye opener for me. This is my first exposure to curriculum development. While it is fun, it was also very hard. I think it would have been a bit easier if we had an example on each assignment.
The hardest part for me was the literature review. I am not a very good writer and am still learning all the APA rules. I also have a hard time putting literature into my own words. I am committed to improving my skills in writing and know in time I will feel better about my writing.
While writing the objectives for my course were not hard, it was hard making sure that they were measureable. I think the lesson plans are the most fun. This is where you can show your creativity. I like to think outside the box and be as creative as possible. Given more time, I would probably come up with some really great plans.
I still think I have a long way to go in curriculum development. I look forward to more opportunities to work on these kinds of projects at the university level.
Overall, the project was exciting and fun, the book was easy to read and follow, and I really like this blogging thing. I think Dr. Watkins-Bailey is an excellent online instructor too!

Module 6

I watched the podcast Teaching Race: Engaged Scholarship Beyond the Classroom. I really enjoyed the speaker. She was easy to listen to and follow. She discussed confronting race and teaching race in the classroom. Race creates specific challenges in the classroom. Students get hurt feelings in class when discussing race. Cognitive and emotional feelings come out when deciding between color blind policies vs race conscious policies. Talking leads to a spiral in conversation so she gets the students out of the classroom. She took students on a service learning weekend trip to expose the students to what they discussed in the classroom. Talking sessions after a 8 hour work day opened the students up to deep discussions. The racial identity became less a factor when students were immersed in the scope of the work. They became advocates after all of the work.

Another of my favorite techniques for teaching was bringing back past alumni that have been successful and incorporating them into the curriculum.

It seems that there are so many ways to teach and creative ways outside the classroom. I wonder if the other universities are as open to outside teaching techniques as her university?