2001 Constructivist Design Conference on Teaching and Learning Participant Assessment Results

As an overall assessment, was the conference worth the time you invested?

Yes: 147 No: 1 Somewhat: 3

How do you feel about this week as a whole?

· I think it was very productive, and I got a lot more done than I thought.

· I felt this week was very productive. I am extremely pleased with the work we accomplished.

· Relevant and beneficial.

· I thought the conference was worthwhile. We were given plenty of time to develop much needed curriculum.

· Satisfied and exhausted.

· I learned a great deal.

· Very successful.

· It was exciting!

· It was a very constructive process. It was like the birth of a child. 1. You are having a baby. 2. You go through labor. 3. You have the baby. YES!

· Good! We accomplished everything we set out to do.

· Very productive great facilitator; long but productive days.

· Great!

· Informative, teamwork, express ideas, learn from other people’s experiences, prepare yourself for next year.

· Informative, chaos, excitement.

· I feel okay. I think that once I go back home and meet with my cooperating/roll-out teacher, I will have a better idea of my timeline and activities.

· As a whole this was very helpful and amazing to talk with all of you. At the start of the week, I was so overwhelmed since it was my first time here, but I think I now have a good idea of what I need to create a LCE.

· Very good conference!

· Great!

· Very good- was productive, but exhausting.

· Great! Productive! Inspiring!

· Great!

· Great!

· Complex.

· Very Intense.

· Good, but tired.

· Great! Pooped…lots of work and more to do.

· This week has been productive, enjoyable, and gratifying.

· Solid work done. Feel good about it.

· Overall I had a great week. I saw and heard ideas about education that I thought would never be implemented. I feel education actually can be everything I’ve envisioned it to be, and much, much more!

· I thought it was very aspiring as well as knowledge filled with exciting new ideas and amazing contacts.

· I feel that we worked really hard and we are very satisfied with our final project. I met so many great people. I’m glad I came.

· We had 100% success with the completion of our project.

· It was beneficial.

· It was very intense, but such a worthwhile task for us professionally. Great getting together with so many other teachers.

· Fully fragmented.

· Positive dynamic as usual.

· It is a positive experience.

· Good- we got a lot done, we think we have a workable plan and we are working on administrative support.

· Great.

· I feel that this week evolved from doubt to understanding- very productive.

· Good- more encouraged about cooperative method.

· It was great! We got so much accomplished as a 7^th grade team. We’re very motivated right now.

· I enjoyed it!

· I feel it was beneficial- but too much to do and not enough time.

· I feel it was very worthwhile. We may not have gotten a lot down on paper, but the communication process that occurred was great. (Friday- should be finished by 12:00- by Friday people have had enough!)

· Good, but hot and sticky.

· Very pleased I came.

· I believe a lot was accomplished and will significantly add to the overall success of our project.

· The week improved each day, as our task became more coherent.

· Very positive and inspired.

· Good, better time use. We are glad to have Ron all year- he’s great! Glad to have more unstructured time- we got more done.

· It was a multi-faceted experience- I will be walking away from this conference feeling very positive- although somedays frustrating- I walk away with the feeling of accomplishment and “appreciation”.

· Mixed- learned a lot I will use- didn’t always feel comfortable as participant in main groups.

· The week has been an enriching week- full of mind-provoking activities.

· Good.

· Good and a little anxious about upcoming stuff.

· Stressful and tiring, but we’ve accomplished a lot. Excellent venue for work.

· Far more organized than previous year.

· Very profitable.

· It was well organized, but long. I wish there was a way to shorten the conference.

· Constructive.

· I learned a lot.

· Very positive experience! Three days would have been plenty long enough.

· Very gratifying as a professional. Great opportunities for growth, terrific resources.

· I thought the week was productive. We were able to define our task better and accomplish our goals.

· Exhausted.

· Worth while.

· Very good.

· Much better than last year. Less interruptions.

· Excellent- educators need to spend time reflecting on their profession.

· It was a good week- very warm!

· Our group accomplished a lot and we were able to get a lot of input from others at the conference.

· This was my first constructivist conference. I found it very informative. I have met many people who will be great resources throughout my career.

· This week has been successful for the most part- most of the students worked incredibly hard and really worked to their potential. Overall, wiped out!

· I think this week has gone by really good. I think the papers were also really good.

· Very disappointed with my own ability to complete a task as well with team and resources.

· It was a success.

· I feel that we accomplished what we needed to accomplish.

· It’s fun and very helpful.

· I thought it was a blast!

· This week has been beneficial for my school district and me. Our task was accomplished and we received meaningful constructivist ideas to send back with us.

· Worthwhile.

· Very worthwhile. We had a great facilitator.

· Great! Very productive.

· Our team got a lot accomplished and we are well on our way towards our final goal.

· Great! It has been a perfect opportunity to work on something that will make a difference.

· Extremely beneficial.

· We accomplished a lot but there was way too much unnecessary stuff (rules, explanations, tours, etc.)

· We have gone further with our designated task then we first anticipated.

· I feel this week has been productive.

· It was well worth attending. I learned a lot.

· A very positive learning and growing experience.

· Good things and some really bad things.

· It was good.

· I think it was productive and went well.

· I wasn’t here most of time, but it was very fun and fast-paced.

· I thought it was a fun week and we worked hard.

· Challenging- consciousness awareness raising experience.

· Very good.

· Absolutely fantastic- this is my “rejuvenation” time where I recharge batteries and focus (again) on kids and teachers.

· Inspirational- motivated, the people were wonderful, and I certainly have more self-esteem and confidence in myself. It will allow me to interact with students and staff at a higher level.

· It was a wonderful renewal and pep up for the fall- as a first time facilitator I am aware I am a member- for this brief time- in an elite group. Wow!

· Great! Tim and I accomplished so much! Very productive!!

· Very positive week. Good chance to focus on a task. Although we did not complete it, we made very good progress with and will continue in small groups.

· It was a great opportunity to work with others. We got a lot accomplished.

· I thought it was a beneficial and productive week for all 3 of our groups. Thank you for the opportunity to come together!!

· Very productive!

· I felt that it was a great opportunity. Time to work on a project that will be used in my classroom.

· Beneficial- I learned as a student and as a teacher.

· This week went smoothly. It was nice to have such a large chunk of time dedicated to a project.

· It just flew by. I would like to have had more sharing of projects, authentic tasks , etc. by participants.

· I feel this week was very productive. We have excellent goals for the upcoming year.

· I was able to accomplish a lot as both an individual and a group member. It was encouraging to be able to discuss the project with my administrator and receive her support.

At what moment during this week did you feel most engaged in what was happening?

¨ When I worked with my team on the research and putting it all together.

¨ I felt most engaged when we were looking through literature to decide what to use for teaching author’s craft.

¨ Creating our project (which took 90% of the time).

¨ The other 7^th grade teacher and myself broke away from the rest of the group to work on our own.

¨ On Monday/Tuesday PM when was cooking with outlining product.

¨ Right from the beginning.

¨ Tuesday- initial development of the weeks product.

¨ Tuesday when our process began to function.

¨ Wednesday.

¨ Reviewing and refining the material- the critical friends grouping.

¨ Wednesday afternoon, when we attended and the action plans to make our project real.

¨ Wednesday.

¨ Making my classroom plan and the presentation by Paul Vermette.

¨ Thursday night (culminating event) adults and children engaged in constructivism.

¨ Thursday when we discussed the structure of public education.

¨ Thursday it all came together and we were able to get great work done.

¨ Tuesday! I needed a day to see the light.

¨ Day 2 and 3 working on task.

¨ Tuesday and Wednesday were very productive days. I think Tuesday afternoon after we had our template it was easy to get going.

¨ Tuesday AM when I began our work.

¨ Tues. and Wed. when deeply involved in our task.

¨ Tuesday- work time.

¨ Tuesday- work time, on task.

¨ Tuesday work time.

¨ Working with my team.

¨ Working with group but interviewing other team members regarding our project.

¨ I felt most engaged on Thursday when we were all working hard to get the work done.

¨ Banquet the culminating activity that showed what we are all about- that fulfilled me, validated my beliefs.

¨ There was no particular day or time but rather I felt the most engaged whenever. I was talking with other members at the conference. The sharing of ideas about education and listening to others stories and experiences, especially of facilitators.

¨ When we were finished with the interviews and pulling their ideas together with our own personal.

¨ Every moment. There wasn’t a time where I was not engaged in some activity or discussion. My group was most engaged when we were compiling our material.

¨ When we were working with our team, Jen Bishop and Kate Allen.

¨ When I was frustrated about the enormity of the commitment to the task this year and when I had the opportunity to express my opinions.

¨ When I had the time to work on my plan before hand.

¨ Tuesday evening- setting up team intervention.

¨ Probably Tuesday when my group first got really focused on what we all were doing and got going.

¨ Tuesday and Thursday team work sessions.

¨ Tuesday all day.

¨ I was engaged from the beginning since I am formerly a partner teacher and a “roll-out.”

¨ Working with another school-about 7^th grade assessment.

¨ While we discusses getting together once a week to have coffee and collaborate. I felt that all of us were really engaged.

¨ I really enjoyed each of the AM presentations and several useful ideas.

¨ When I was actually working on the curriculum alignment with what I teach.

¨ I felt most engaged by Tuesday morning.

¨ Wednesday when the team stopped, evaluated, and refocused then continued with vigor.

¨ During the presentations.

¨ When we worked on LV with our lesson then got feedback.

¨ When I was using the Learning Village and entering my lesson.

¨ Working with Ron and our group brainstorming ideas for the upcoming year.

¨ The moment I felt most engaged was when we had an idea of what our actual task purpose was. We worked as a team and ended with a great product.

¨ During 8:30 presentations.

¨ On the 3^rd day.

¨ Lunch- No- really engaged with team all week.

¨ Monday- we were on our own, I was in awe of the whole scene!

¨ Beginning to end including nights.

¨ Completion of personal and school ideas.

¨ From Sunday AM on- great facilitator training that we didn’t know we needed last year.

¨ During the time when we were working as a team.

¨ Brain development- Jerry’s class.

¨ Brain- multiple intelligence conference.

¨ During critical friends interview.

¨ While looking at student work to help plan our teaching.

¨ I thought meeting with another group, discussing our projects was very productive and positive.

¨ Throughout our second day, getting to know team members and trying to make things happen.

¨ Tues. AM.

¨ Working with our group.

¨ Most days/ AM better then PM.

¨ Wednesday during the peer review.

¨ Every morning at presentations and working with my group on the classroom program.

¨ Thursday- as all tasks and strategies were used to reach goals through the constructivist approaches.

¨ I feel I was most engaged when working with my team. There were many tasks to complete and all were successful.

¨ When we were bringing all the stories together for the paper and when working with the students to create their stories.

¨ July 31

¨ 1^st day before daily problems with tech.

¨ When working on our task.

¨ On Thursday when we were really making progress.

¨ When I was passing out the newspaper.

¨ When I was doing the layout.

¨ When our group was wrapping up and putting out task on a web page.

¨ Facilitator gave lots of specific curricula I can use w/o “reinventing the wheel.”

¨ Thursday when our computer coordinator was here and we had our critical friends.

¨ All the time.

¨ During our time to work as a team on our goal.

¨ Tuesday afternoon, when beginning pieces started coming together.

¨ Morning work sessions with my team.

¨ Morning 9-12 on Tuesday.

¨ When we were discussing the “meat’ of our project, I felt we were all engaged.

¨ When the team was working on the task.

¨ At the presentations. While I was helping my team.

¨ During uninterrupted group work.

¨ Monday

¨ All the time.

¨ When we all had jobs to do and were all working.

¨ During the end when we were working on finishing touches.

¨ When the whole group was working as a team.

¨ Dealing with conflict directly.

¨ Planning out possible units.

¨ Not sure there was just one – during our planning time of course, but also during dinner conversations and during the presentations.

¨ I felt engaged the first morning, especially having the privilege to work and share thoughts with Mr. Larry Byrd.

¨ It is hard to say – as I helped my group- I was very on task- also some of the presentations were super.

¨ I felt fully engaged each day this year, for sure!

¨ While working/bouncing ideas off of my team. I worked with brilliant people.

¨ Tuesday when we worked on and discussed activities for our project.

¨ I felt most engaged when I was helping all groups to focus their findings and create plans of action.

¨ I felt most engaged when our group was designing our unit together, sessions during the Constructivist Strand, and when Don M. visited our group.

¨ Wednesday- after we had a clear focus and could really work.

¨ Day 4- we could see the end in sight and were on a roll!

¨ Seeing our final project!

¨ When our team first got together it was obvious that it would be a great week.

¨ Group discussions- all input was considered.

¨ The second day, when I was able to start revising my personal plan and help create our school plan.

What action that anyone took during the week did you find most affirming and helpful?

§ I love the facilitator- patient- helpful and kept us going forward.

§ I found it helpful when our curriculum director stopped in to help us focus on a project that that would help with the school goals also.

§ Probably the evaluation and questioning of other groups and the comments of our facilitator.

§ Critical friends.

§ The Albany Conference Planning team’s willingness to address their own group’s dynamics and take care of people affected.

§ Team sharing.

§ Comments from “Critical Friends.”

§ Graphic organizer of our personal process.

§ Our facilitator was most helpful and encouraging.

§ Michelle intervening with the people, innocently asking questions of our group not related to our work here.

§ Working with our facilitator was most helpful to keep us on task and organized. Our rough draft work into a finished product that she knew was in us.

§ Don Glinski’s support.

§ Teacher’s experiences/presentations.

§ Enjoyed the support of facilitator and other teachers.

§ Paul Vermette- his lectures were great. He helped me really grasp the ideas of constructivism and figure out how to approach this.

§ Jack Drury is a great facilitator. He directed us well!

§ Being asked to be on a dance card.

§ When our facilitator met with his most challenging challenge!!

§ Group collaboration.

§ Our facilitator, Jack Drury, willing to answer any question, help with our problem.

§ When our facilitator, Laurie Harper, helped us by listening and throwing out suggestions.

§ Critical friends let us (my group) know we were accomplishing something that other teachers would love to have.

§ When our facilitator kept drawing us back to our graphic organizer.

§ Diane Bonenfant’s eager help to aid my team in achieving its goal.

§ People giving us feedback and validating our project.

§ It was most helpful when people came to speak to the group because they shared advice, information, and personal stories.

§ Sandy’s 2% joke at debriefing.

§ When Don welcomed me here. When he first saw me his eyes lit up (as mine did too) and said “It’s good to see you, I’m glad you’re here.” It set the tone, helped me relax, and feel confident.

§ Critical friends interaction, and other interactions with professionals throughout the week.

§ We spoke with some principals about the hiring process and they gave us some hints.

§ Critical Friends!

§ Diane kept us informed and my colleagues understood my need to focus on what I needed to do.

§ The completion of our works-in-progress school plan and listening to Helen Branigan on Friday morning.

§ Diane typing our LCS plan.

§ Consulting with other teams.

§ Our facilitator was great – she knew when to leave us alone.

§ Jim Waterson’s activity Thursday morning.

§ There were so many – we talked with other 7^th grade teams and swapped email- our ideas are not new and are good.

§ I found one comment to be relieving “2% of the populations are nay sayers “ I thought it was just me.

§ Our team worked on common curriculum, which will be helpful to align my curricula.

§ I enjoyed Jim Waterson’s facilitation presentation. The conversation was outstanding!

§ People were very willing to share their materials ~ several did!

§ When one of our team members made us stop and ask ourselves questions about the angle we were taking.

§ Team members were reinforced through presentations.

§ A facilitator overheard my frustration as “inadequate” and reinforced the learning / self-evaluation process as “positive.”

§ Don talking to “compare notes” on many situations that we were both involved in, in order to piece together all of the events and help us both understand the circumstances.

§ When we realized other groups had parallel experiences to ours we felt affirmed.

§ Everyone on our team was very supportive and willing to drop their agenda for mine.

§ Affirmation from Ron, our principal and curriculum coordinator (Judy Leary).

§ The actions of our facilitators, Greg and Debbie, always encouraging us – even at our most frustrating moments.

§ Facilitator guidance!

§ When we were almost sure of what our task was!

§ Feedback from Nicole and other team on progress/project.

§ Critical friends- gave us understanding and closure.

§ Critical friends.

§ When our school team became involved in intensive exploration.

§ My team’s jelling early on. The great network of facilitators.

§ Don Mesibov’s presentation on Tues. on Aligning Curriculums.

§ Elaine was great! Elaine was very patient and a true team member.

§ When Frank P., our facilitator, let us know that a resource would be coming to talk to our group. He listened to us talking about ourselves and went and found us a resource.

§ Feedback of our critical friends and facilitator.

§ I can’t think of any one action although having a facilitator kept us on track when we needed it and provided feedback and direction.

§ When team members demonstrated concern for one another and when they took initiative on their tasks.

§ The (presentations) presenters.

§ Paul Vermette’s input at our table.

§ Roberta gave us some real concrete ideas.

§ Talking with Paul Vermette.

§ The helpful, supportive, kind personalities at my table and throughout the room.

§ Our facilitator, Gail was very helpful and resourceful! (Gathering info and getting others to meet with us.)

§ Our facilitator, Gail Kelleher, went above and beyond her responsible in order to accommodate us.

§ The constant encouragement from participants was affirming.

§ Mr. Rudd teaching me about the camera.

§ Carol w/ reflections, meeting with another person who engaged themselves in the well being of the group. Pat Flynn Constructivist Strand.

§ The support from our facilitator.

§ The support from our facilitator.

§ Robin helped me with my article and complimented it.

§ Robin made sure we finished everything by the end of the day.

§ Our facilitator guided us and kept us on task.

§ Our team worked well. All individuals did a “fair share” and were supportive.

§ Bob’s knowledge of curriculum and ability to find necessary web sites for us.

§ Peg D’Arpino Cooperative Learning.

§ I like the use of the barriers. It was quite loud at some times where we worked. The food/snacks was also wonderful.

§ Hearing the trust level in each other reaffirmed.

§ I found Jan Peters very helpful!

§ Encouragement from facilitator and critical friends team.

§ The debriefing sessions.

§ The critical friends process was very helpful. It takes some reflection and refocusing to explain to someone else what we’re doing.

§ Sandy gave us a good web site designer.

§ Everything!

§ When we gave everyone a job to do.

§ When other teachers came in to help us with questions we had.

§ Don modeled throughout the conference being the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ of attending to constantly meeting the needs individuals and groups.

§ Welcoming, introductions, and willingness to talk.

§ Again- I didn’t encounter any instances that were not affirming! I saw old friends and met new.

§ Technology was great! The sharing amongst each other was the greatest tool this week. I found the sharing process to be wonderful. Our facilitator (Alyce) helped us tremendously.

§ When I realized I wasn’t the only teacher using a lot of these principles.

§ Tim stayed here all week and went back to his room and finished typing all started work for the day. Alyce was helpful as well.

§ Don Mesibov spoke w/ our group on the final day. We had begun to flounder a bit, and he helped us to know where to go next w/ our work.

§ When we explained our project to the Niagara Univ. students who are collecting data for a book.

§ Don coming to our group and encouraging us to look for skills, knowledge, and concepts in our interdisciplinary unit. Therefore, we were able to correlate objectives and outcomes.

§ Don stopping at our table and discussing our project with us- asking tough questions.

§ Jerry’s guidance! He helped us but also left us to do our work.

§ I think knowing we had our facilitator to fall back on and to guide us at a distance was very helpful!

§ Working with our facilitator, Jerry, he was very supportive and helpful.

§ I can’t think of anything specific- everyone was extremely helpful all week!

§ I really appreciated Helen Branigan’s two presentations, especially test discussion. Her support is most affirming.

§ We revisited our graphic organizer and it helped to remind me of our goals and our focus – the students!

What about this week surprised you the most?

q The amount of ideas we all came up with.

q I was surprised at how much we got accomplished and how well we worked together.

q How well my team worked together.

q How our task changed after the first two days.

q Being called into Albany Conference Planning teams/organizers decision meeting and finding that people challenge to work as those issues with support for betterment of all.

q We were able to get so much accomplished.

q The efficiency of the group.

q How much we got done.

q That we pulled the meat of our plan together by Wednesday afternoon.

q The level of commitment- discussion it was intense.

q My willingness to work as hard as I did during the height of summer vacation.

q Tension.

q Meeting many different people from different places and schools.

q Teachers traveling many miles to support “CONSTRUCTIVISM.”

q I was surprised by the structure we had, as opposed to last year.

q The fact that there are constructivist strands already in my daily classes.

q How much I enjoyed myself.

q Teachers’ have a long way to go to actively embrace constructivism.

q The # of teachers, administrators, and facilitators willing to put in such long hours to complete a task for the well being of students.

q The interruptions.

q Interaction between people.

q How much work we were able to get accomplished.

q How quickly we had to downsize our topic.

q How many resources are available.

q The huge amount of work my team accomplished!!

q The amount of work we got done.

q When it looked like we could be torpedoed by one member of our team, people rallied to support the Institute and what we stand for!

q Very little surprised me. My only expectation was to have no expectations so nothing surprised me, but really the surprises never ended.

q How positive everyone worked together to make everything work.

q Everyone’s enthusiasm about learning, constructivism, and education as a whole.

q That we had a facilitator like Jen, who was willing to allow us to spend optimum time working on our project and she was so willing to pitch in.

q I had a hard time focusing- I have too much on my plate.

q Lack of “team” effort for ours!

q How different it is to facilitate a team that commutes.

q Nothing really surprising.

q No surprise- they’re not allowed in controlled chaos.

q Everyone on our group hung in there.

q The realization that all levels of experienced teachers are here- young and “old.”

q Many teams were working on 7^th grade problems.

q I was surprised at how committed my whole team was – we are going to do great things!

q The energy!

q Nothing!

q The hint of humidity appeared…

q Positive outcome of virtual ‘chaos.’

q In dealing with professional colleagues that are “experts” in their field, that I need to continually check for understanding, confirm, reconfirm, and reiterate directions and/or resolutions.

q We are unclear about what this question is asking.

q The work ethic.

q How easy going and supportive everyone is.

q I was surprised that we were able to attend morning presentations based on our own choices and levels of interests.

q Efficiency and effectiveness of facilitators.

q That our task was entirely different than what we thought on day 1.

q Cant’ think of any surprises – it takes a lot!

q How close and in depth everyone was in the conference! Close knit, friendly, and open!

q The diversity of projects/programs!

q I’m surprised that there is a typo on this paper! Total group exploration of education and many negative attitudes.

q How one year can be a repeat of energy from the year before.

q The free time for teamwork we were allowed.

q NYS Ed came “dressed up” so did BOCES people on Thursday. White collar/ blue collar effect.

q Brain- knowledge.

q That is was okay not to be sure of our task or the change our task.

q That it was okay to modify our project to better suit our needs. The networking here was just as important as developing the project.

q The atmosphere – was relaxed but educationally productive – not only for task development, but new ideas.

q Sometimes feeling as if we lacked support or regard from older participants.

q That I am already doing these things some of the time.

q No real surprises.

q Nothing.

q How well the group functioned.

q Some of the large tasks groups had taken on and were quite successful at meeting their goals.

q I was surprised in the atmosphere here. Everyone was very eager to answer questions and share resources.

q How difficult it was to deal with the technology. It had never been this much of a problem before.

q Saturday.

q The lack of tech.

q The heat!

q The amount of work we had to do.

q That it was so fun.

q The people were really nice.

q How well each teacher worked as a team

q I was pleased with the ambition level both at and away from the conference.

q Not having to listen to Don as much.

q Our accomplishments.

q The barriers were up by Wednesday morning. The amount of snacks surprised me the most.

q The amount of work could be consolidated in such a short time.

q How much work we accomplished.

q How well our group works together and fast.

q No great surprises.

q The availability of resources.

q The support from everyone. How well planned this event was.

q The amount of work we accomplished – our group worked extremely well together.

q We finished the web site.

q It was pretty cool.

q That it was fun, I thought it would be all work.

q That there were too many and not enough students. WE NEED MORE STUDENTS!

q How hard it is to build a web site.

q The way we (the team) were “catapulted” to another level of performance.

q Lack of formal presentations.

q No surprises.

q The ample time to work on our plans was most rewarding to me. Also, the surprise of myself addressing the Tribute of Mr. Larry Byrd was an honor.

q That everything got done! The organization of my team!

q We were left to get right down to business and accomplish what we came here to do.

q The warmth of participants, the supportive “whatever you need” attitude.

q I don’t know.

q That a facilitator can become a distraction in the progress of our project development.

q How much we were able to accomplish.

q Never having work with my two partners and facilitator before, I was surprised at our comfort level and how much we were able to accomplish.

q Our ability to complete far beyond my imagination, our task.

q The fact that the facilitator and most presenters were not able to walk the talk. There were too many lectures and too much wasted time especially the day the administrator came. Not enough work time.

q Nothing this year.

q I was surprised at how easy it was to pick up and continue our work when last year was so hectic and frustrating.

What, if any, changes will you make in your own day-to-day work, as a result of what occurred this week?

v Quite a bit.

v I am going to make an effort to set up regular time for us to meet during the school year so we can continue sharing ideas.

v This clarifies and defined the standards that each of us will be teaching and this directly affects our teaching (day-to-day).

v My lesson plans will be changed because of this week.

v Maintain contacts and willingness to ask for support when faced with hard tasks.

v Think and reflect on constructivism.

v None.

v Not allow people from outside groups interrupt critical friends process.

v Instead of commuting to stay at the conference site by Thursday I was really tired.

v This process can easily be adapted to my work setting but I’d need a facilitator to stay focused.

v Drink more water. Water was always readily available and because I did not normally drink as much- I will.

v More patience and holding back.

v Oh yes, many changes, nice creative ideas, more student involvement, student centered class.

v Incorporate the descriptors of LCC in classroom.

v I will be more organized this year so that more of my ideas can come to fruition.

v Try to be much more “HANDS” On in my classes and use different strategies to aid my students.

v I plan to use more group projects.

v Try to get my folks involved in this conference.

v I will return to doing challenges with a renewed sense of purpose I will definitely be sure to do more group activities.

v No daily changes but I sill design more projects/products for my kids.

v Different approach. Much more organized.

v I will use more backward planning.

v Encourage fellow teachers to give up lecturing for hands on. Try to incorporate higher level thinking skills on a planned basis not hit and miss. More graphic organizers.

v Use more graphic organizers for myself.

v None

v Some- most of our project was related to state advocate stuff – not something I’ll use in my classroom.

v I would make the agenda looser and more lax.

v I will believe in myself more. I will do more of the active learning since I have a brand new job, new life.

v Day to day not too much will change the possibilities and options at my future daily life will be much more expanded as a teacher as a result of this week.

v When I become a teacher I will implement everything that I gained throughout this week.

v I will focus more on cooperative learning and group activities when I form lesson plans.

v We will be increasing our contact with parents. Better utilizing parent volunteers.

v Organize, plan, and stick to task. My struggle everyday of my abstract random personality.

v Strive to accomplish as much of my personal plan as humanly possible.

v I will be aware of cooperative strategies and standards.

v Implementation of critical friends more.

v I have made a commitment to myself to really look at what I’m teaching each day and ask – how does this relate to the standards? The descriptors?

v Make my groups more organized and collaborative instead of just groups.

v More reflection- more pre-organization on my part – daily questions for reflection.

v To be sure to remember that learning is social first and to keep thinking “out of the box.”

v Journal writing for closure in classes.

v I was here last year so I’m going to try to better my strategies and try some new things.

v ---

v I will think more about what I teach and question its connection to the standards.

v Trying to find the time (ways) for myself and staff to work on our goal.

v Constructivism is always a “shot in the arm.”

v More focused on goals to be obtained and assessing those grades / outcomes.

v I will look for opportunities to confirm absolute clarity on directions and resolutions and will tightly work to obtain reconfirmation of what my perceptions of matters/ actions are.

v The “light bulb” for us was that the standards should be aligned in our assessment.

v I will plan better.

v I will focus on specific ideas that I learned here.

v Focus on 8 descriptors more often.

v I am more aware of the constructivist model and will weave the theory and practice of to more into my daily interactions with my students.

v Add more cooperative learning strategies to my teaching especially in my staff development courses.

v Incorporate the standards more readily in my lesson. Use more constructivist activities in my class.

v Try to do/ incorporate more collaboration or teams in process.

v I will try to teach (teachers even) in a constructivist learner-centered way.

v Implement critical friends process in my school.

v Revisit descriptors on a daily basis.

v Continue to apply these ideas to staff development and college classes.

v I have realized I set goals this week that I am going to meet.

v Feel better about what I do!

v Pre-plan with team teacher to incorporate multi-sensory activities by utilizing a rubric.

v Look for a school that has administrators who appreciate constructivist teaching and allow it.

v Direct instruction in the area of our project.

v I will try to use more of these principles daily.

v Pay careful attention to the moods and body language of those I work with, particularly younger students.

v More hands-on, less lecture.

v Integration of more activities in preparing workshops.

v An afternoon session with the guest speakers.

v N/A

v I will reflect and re-evaluate what I am doing with the children in my class.

v Because I am starting a new program I will use much of what I have learned here.

v Learn to have more patience. Enjoy time w/younger students- they-re more insightful than they tend to be given credit for.

v Take more pictures.

v Be better prepared for tech needs.

v I’ll do more reflection about my teaching.

v I will do more reflecting.

v Be more into it.

v I’ll work harder to get things done.

v I will allow the students to facilitator learning according to constructivist approach. I will guide them.

v I plan to get into school early to set some of these projects up before the students arrive.

v Scatter workdays. Teachers are used to being dome at 3:30 or 4 not 5.

v Continue to integrate LCC.

v I will be trying to use the math journals daily.

v An exercise break in the afternoon so the end of the day did not become sluggish.

v I will relate what is going on in other subjects to what I’m doing with the students.

v We will all be more effective and better prepared to function as a team.

v We are changing much of the way we do business. WE used this meeting to make progress toward this change.

v Adding the math journal as closure (Jerry Peter’s presentation).

v I will seriously look at my lessons and try to redesign them from a constructivism perspective.

v I will make many adjustments in my teaching style.

v None.

v None.

v I think that there should be something for the students to do while the teachers are at all the meetings, instead of making us go.

v I’ll just try harder to listen and observe each person with whom I interact.

v Break up afternoon session.

v Try to remember (especially when I’m working with people who don’t value collegiality and respect) that my goal is to show and model the value of constructivism and collaboration.

v I will resume my duties as in the past, but I will allow more decisions and student building to occur.

v More projects.

v More rubrics and journals of students and self.

v I will think much differently in preparing for class. More group work, more letting students come up with the answers through exploration.

v Work more with other teachers.

v I will look for ways to help my faculty incorporate some of the principles of the constructivist theory in their everyday teaching.

v I will ask more questions of experts when I fell “stuck.”

v I will incorporate web guests into my curriculum.

v I really enjoyed my “new” experiences this week and will attempt to incorporate them in my classroom. Example: developing a web guest.

v Implementing our project will change my instruction of this unit.

v It was reconfirming how important it is to have student involvement in all parts of the process- raise the amount of student involvement.

v Incorporation of more constructivist work in my classroom: authentic assessment, technology.

v I would like to see some of the other members of our faculty join the team and implement the practices.

What would you like to see as the next steps to ensure follow-through on this week’s work?

Ø We will meet as a team.

Ø Same as above.

Ø More discussion between team members and follow-up at the end of the year.

Ø Attending the conference next year to finish up our plans for the entire year.

Ø Our team has own goals-really support and encourage Conference Organizers continued look at –ism issues and plan for group mechanism to handle systematically with future activities.

Ø We have a plan in place with time lines to follow through till the completion.

Ø We have a firmly decided time line.

Ø Email connections with other team members.

Ø Actual follow-up with groups working on related/same projects.

Ø A newsletter that keeps everyone abreast of how their projects were instituted and how they went.

Ø Arranging a meeting day with our facilitator in order to review what is done and when it must be attended to.

Ø Administrative support and funding.

Ø I would like to see the work and ideas about constructivism of other participants.

Ø Samples of lesson plans from constructivist lesson and a presentation.

Ø On going contact with my facilitator and contact between Don, Al, and my administration.

Ø Take a sample of lesson plans to show people different ideas and methods of implementing this philosophy. Also maybe do a demo lesson to achieve this.

Ø I would like to see more examples of “cooperative” strategies used to teach subject area content.

Ø I will ride hard on my group next year, I hope we can get more teachers involved.

Ø I would like our group to be able to get back together during the school year a couple of times to continue what we have started.

Ø Another meeting.

Ø Occasional touch-base meetings with the group. Expanded group/same project next year.

Ø The faculty meeting- our staff to get excited and see how this will really help our school.

Ø Taking this back to my school for a staff development day; continuing the process/evaluating.

Ø Our faculty continuing the process of developing hands on activities and covering standards.

Ø Ensure others follow to help finalize my teams’ task.

Ø Newspaper articles and letters back from reps with comments, A FULL PASSED BUDGET!

Ø I would like to see communication within and between groups to keep each other informed about the progress of our work at the conference.

Ø Everyone’s email address posted somewhere with are of expertise so we can “pick the brains.”

Ø I’d like to see the incorporation of some of the Learner Centered activities when teachers plan their lessons everyday.

Ø Don, Pat, and Paul add our group’s contributions to the upcoming “book”.

Ø I would like to see the book that Don, Dr. Vermette, and Pat will write.

Ø Superintendent support, successful recruitment of parents, enlisting financial support.

Ø Get my computer to work.

Ø Meeting as a team once before school begins, or soon thereafter to reconnect.

Ø LCS team meetings and “roll out” concept – sharing ideas with a receptive colleague.

Ø Visitation to team’s school.

Ø We have already taken the next step scheduling the two days and agreeing on a weekly meeting.

Ø Uncertain funding continues to a concern. We need definite administrative support.

Ø Our 2-day meetings- we are brainstorming of everything we need to do before school to make this work.

Ø I want to see open dialogue back at my district.

Ø I want us to commit to our meetings and get the time together that we need.

Ø As a faculty we need to continue with in service.

Ø That the rest of the faculty makes a commitment to our work.

Ø We, as a district need to continue with this work at all grade levels, and have the same commitment as this group does.

Ø Comm. w/ team about progress on their task.

Ø I would like to see portfolios of other teams work and a directory for networking.

Ø Administrative decision making and policy creation based on the proposal created this week.

Ø We need to be kept informed of our districts support level as to ongoing training ($, computers…).

Ø I want to work with Amy to practice and or finish.

Ø Specific strategies revisited for our upcoming meetings.

Ø Follow-up is critical. I would like to know the progress and journey that our project/proposal will be taking. Also, it is my responsibility to do my own follow-up of what I have learned this week.

Ø Our task: Would like some feedback on what was done with our proposal.

Ø A follow-up from the head of project on where we are going.

Ø Contact to find out what happens with project as a result of input.

Ø Feedback from Nicole.

Ø WE will continue to work on our report and develop a “structures” handbook.

Ø We have set up several meeting and will communicate with facilitators.

Ø We’ll see it or ask for it as we meeting August-October, etc.

Ø The meetings that we have throughout the year with our team and facilitator.

Ø Collaboration with other Constructivist districts throughout the year.

Ø Being checked on by the facilitator and support from administration.

Ø ?

Ø There needs to be support at my district.

Ø I’m not sure.

Ø Better communication and advocacy for the needs of next year’s group.

Ø Use of the document. Continued “fine-tuning” of our document.

Ø Continued time needed to complete work.

Ø More time.

Ø Time to continue the project.

Ø Setting up the classroom and meeting the students.

Ø Our week’s work should be presented to coworkers for input.

Ø I would like to present our project to our coworkers and administration.

Ø Better preparation next year for possible problems. Increased work with younger students.

Ø A real long paper.

Ø More-open communication.

Ø Our group will meet next week.

Ø Get our new reports cards printed and ready for the school year.

Ø When I go back to school I’ll work in the newspaper.

Ø Anything.

Ø Our task is a work in progress. I would like to keep all lesson plans.

Ø Our work would be well served to be shared at the earliest possible faculty meeting.

Ø Keeping in contact with my partners and facilitator.

Ø I don’t think it will be a problem – we have administrative support.

Ø WE are meeting prior to the beginning of school to help finalize the 1^st interdisciplinary unit of the year.

Ø More release time to continue and follow up.

Ø I will relate what is going on in other subjects to what I’m doing with the students.

Ø Continue to build our curriculum and continue to meet and discuss.

Ø We will be following through on a day to day basis as our program develops.

Ø Availability of time and resources to get together to finish the task.

Ø More training on facilitating.

Ø We are planning to meet again as a group.

Ø Compilation of all files into one folder.

Ø The site finished.

Ø That everyone tries to remember what they learned.

Ø Updating what we did.

Ø To follow up on the guidelines, which were emerging, from situations, etc.

Ø Regular meetings- a plan of action for weeks to come.

Ø I value Don’s newsletters- they arrive just when I need them.

Ø Follow up with the administration to present our plans for the upcoming year.

Ø Time to see more, money to supplement my classroom.

Ø Administrative follow-through and support.

Ø Continue to meet with team as study group.

Ø Meeting in our study groups / work on rubrics.

Ø Checking with groups to see implementation is happening and team presentations to the rest of the faculty.

Ø Times to meet and finalize our project.

Ø A “trial-run” of our project to determine what, if anything needs to be “tweaked.”

Ø Actual implementation of the web guest we developed.

Ø The three of us will need a little more time to complete our project. We will need to dedicate the time.

Ø I’d like to see the connections made with partner teachers to “spread the word.”

Ø A presentation to my schools board and administration.

Ø I would like to see some of the other members of our faculty join the team and implement the practices.

Has your understanding of the term “standards” changes as a result of your work this week? Please amplify:

ü No.

ü Not really.

ü No, at our school, we are a standards-based school.

ü No- familiar with use and construction of already.

ü Yes, because I am still learning about U.S. schools and U.S. methodology.

ü Not really.

ü No. Standards are standards.

ü Not applicable to our situation.

ü It was not changed dramatically.

ü No.

ü Before this conference I haD an idea of what is constructivism, now I know in detail.

ü No. I realized that “standards” can be achieved.

ü It’s my responsibility to help every student find a way to achieve the standards and to guide the students to a way for them to assess themselves.

ü Yes, in that they’re not as far removed as I originally thought they were. No, it that they are still mandated without variance.

ü No, not really.

ü Not really, although Helen’s presentation resonated with the idea of acceptance of state testing.

ü I truly wasn’t using the performance indicators the way they should have been used. I have become more familiar with them and feel more comfortable using them.

ü No.

ü No.

ü Yes- I actually know what I’m talking about now.

ü Yes, I now can understand the science ones.

ü I have looked and looked at them and am much more familiar.

ü No.

ü Yes, to me all standards were just “our class averaged an 85% on the Regents exam” so I think teachers must be doing a better job and the students are learning more then a school whose Regents score is 80%.

ü We didn’t really work with standards too much.

ü Yes, standards used to mean state standards that teachers have to meet. Now, standards are what I will do with my lessons, using constructivist strategies to teach my students.

ü No.

ü No.

ü Just that I need to accomplish more in regard to aligning the standards to everything I teach.

ü Not really- just affirmed that I’m always teaching a standard.

ü No.

ü I just realized that I need to keep them in mind everyday.

ü Standards are a goal not curriculum.

ü An awareness of standard 3 in the occupation/ career (?) standards opens up my responses to parents when they ask why.

ü The standards are not as restrictive as they may seem.

ü I was not aware of other standards such as “Career development and Occupational Studies.”

ü No.

ü I realize how overwhelming a task it is to align our curriculum.

ü No- I was aware and understood the term.

ü No- well, I feel more frustrated working with them this week. There is so much more to it, then just looking at these.

ü No, guess I pretty much understand them.

ü Yes, I now think in terms of “alignment” in association with standards.

ü No not really.

ü We understood the standards but now feel stronger in being able to narrow the focus to standards we are assessing.

ü I was aware. Now I will be entrenched in carrying them out.

ü Meeting standards doesn’t have to be dry and boring.

ü Somewhat- I realized the impact of standards even more. I view them as more of a guide instead of a negative or a threat.

ü Not really- didn’t work too specifically with standards.

ü Yes! I realize I need to use them as a base for my lessons in a more structured way!

ü No-already versed in standards for years.

ü I feel I know more ways to meet them and are not as intimidated by them.

ü No due to he nature of our project.

ü Yes.

ü Not really- just been reaffirmed.

ü Yes, there’s nothing we can do to change them so deal and work with them.

ü Meet standards through / from the learner. We need standards.

ü Guide.

ü No.

ü No.

ü I’m not sure.

ü No not really.

ü Yes, I understand them as more “global” They are imbedded in other things.

ü No- had a good grasp of standards.

ü Just reaffirmed.

ü Yes, now I see how they fit across various grade levels.

ü ---

ü No, worked with standards for awhile.

ü Yes, standards are more detailed than I anticipated.

ü No.

ü I do not know.

ü Still confused on the expectations of standards related to tasks.

ü Not really- I have been immersed in standards from the beginning.

ü Yes, we adjusted our report cards to follow standards. It was difficult.

ü ---

ü No, I knew what standards were.

ü I was educated with standards previously but used them more this week.

ü The numeration of standards makes them less human for teachers to understand and apply. Citing standard numbers does not necessarily constitute understanding.

ü No.

ü No- this is year 3.

ü No, I feel the topic was not touched on that much and therefore the standards mean the same as they did before.

ü No, but the need to see the connections.

ü No.

ü No.

ü No, just the realization that we still teach more to the test, not necessarily the standards.

ü No- I feel I was well versed in the standards before I came.

ü Yes, I need more training and knowledge.

ü No.

ü Yes.

ü No.

ü Yes, standards help you and give you a goal to work towards.

ü Not really.

ü I know what they are and how they are used.

ü Not this year.

ü Yes, I have a deeper appreciation of the standards as a guide and the damage done by the state tests.

ü Not really, just a reminder that in many schools, there is still a long way to go to have standards implemented effectively and in accord with best practices.

ü The standards for me have always been a guideline to follow. It was my responsibility to teach the material and how I taught the material was my responsibility. I chose “Constructivism” a long time ago.

ü ---

ü Yes! The presentations helped greatly in addition to working with Tim! Putting it all together (the Plans) also was beneficial.

ü No.

ü No, I have a good understanding of NYS Standards.

ü Standards are for everyone, not just kids, and teachers.

ü Not really, however, I have made very real connections with the standards to the project our group is developing.

ü No. I’ve always been mindful of and familiar with the standards and how to design my plans to reflect it.

ü I definitely got a better handle on “standards,” performance indicators and performance tasks.

ü No.

ü No. I have been very involved in using the standards through writing learning experiences and the peer review process.

ü No, more of a review and a opportunity to dialogue with other professionals.

ü My understanding hasn’t changed, but I was given some interesting things to think about through dialogue with colleagues.

Has your understanding of the work “Constructivism” changed as a result of your work this week? Please amplify:

· Yes.

· Yes, I didn’t really know what constructivism was. I am anxious to try out some of these ideas in my classroom.

· I realized how much of the work that we already do is truly constructivist.

· No, this is my second constructivism conference. I knew what to expect.

· I’ve noticed parallels between change in cognitive/pedagogy realms and the process of change in affective/emotion realms when addressing issues of diversity, esp. systematic societal forms such as sexism, racism classism, and so on.

· Yes, I learning more each day of its meaning through experience.

· Yes.

· It hasn’t changed it has just restored and reinforced the plan.

· No-it is ALL that I expected it to be – HARD WORK!

· Yes, I have a renewed appreciation of “the doing” in whatever project presents itself.

· No.

· Yes. As I mentioned in the above answer how I know in detail and most important of all how to apply these ideas practically.

· No/Yes. I realize that students and meet “standards” working on a constructivist class.

· The word “constructivism” has become clearer to me, since I have a year of teaching under my belt now. I feel like we were very isolated this year. There was little opportunity to connect and mix up with other groups like there was last year. I believe that was more fun, and I was able to get more ideas and feedback.

· Yes, it gives me a much clearer picture of something that it vital to the education of our future.

· Yes, I understand this term much better.

· I learned about constructivism about 4 years ago. Each year it becomes clearer.

· I was not 100% clear on what it actually was.

· I now realize how “real world” it can be.

· I now have an idea of what it means. I am on my way to thinking as a constructivist.

· Yes, I actually know what it means.

· I’m not a true constructivist yet- I still have “problems” with giving up ownership… I loved the time to work, work, work this week to allow my kids to learn hands-on.

· Now I could tell someone what the term in education means.

· I have learned to better trust chaos.

· No- I have been here too many times- I think I’ve “got it.”

· I have understood more exactly how constructivism is applied in the classroom. I have also learned about several constructivist techniques for the classroom.

· Need more health food- carrots, celery, etc. for snacks.

· Not really it now simply incorporated more activity that I can use as a constructivist teacher in the near future. Just more words put into the definition. Much like the prompt above to me the idea became larger, brighter, more detailed, and louder, or simply amplified.

· My knowledge has explained and with my interviewing and research has allowed me to create a solid understanding of constructivism.

· I wasn’t wholly familiar with what it meant. Now I know that it is learner centered and active learning ways of teaching.

· Our understanding of the constructivist process has been clarified to a greater degree.

· No.

· It has been expanded through living it and seeing examples of collaboration.

· No.

· Yes, I guess that I realized that constructivism is really nothing new. It’s not as overwhelming when you realize you do a lot of the stuff already.

· Flexible, individual, kid centered, necessary.

· Refined and extended my definition.

· I realized that with my own restrictions, I will never be purely constructivist, but I can move up the continuum.

· Yes that students need to be more responsible for their own learning.

· No- here last year so I was fairly aware.

· No, I am a constructivist whenever possible.

· Same.

· No.

· Not especially.

· Actually, this was an “introduction” to the concept for me. I really like it!

· Yes- I have used the constructivist model in its “text book” format for a while and see the positive results. However, I was able to see and understand how many things can be constructivist in nature and beneficial even if they don’t follow the “text book” format. I was negatively enlightened by the role of the facilitator. The “teacher”/facilitator in a classroom is the expert and trained to instruct content etc., etc. The role of a facilitator was demonstrated as “very hands off, go with the flow of the group, whatever you want is what I’ll get and do for you.” The facilitator was obtrusive and invasive.

· We do not feel that this week was focused on constructivism… what it is, ways, to implement it, etc. We are not leaving with knowledge on constructivism (that we are aware of).

· Learner centered teaching is great.

· I gain more ideas each day.

· Yes, by working on our task in the constructivist model I gained the highest possible understanding I could’ve received. It has motivated me to want to do more research on the model and to use its strategies more.

· Definitely!! Much better understanding of strategies used, and how to apply practically- I am motivated to read and study more about this approach.

· Yes, wasn’t really sure exactly what it was or how it worked! I have a clearer idea.