Looking Forward

Looking forward to next year...should I be fortunate enough to facilitate again, I've been reflecting on the teaching process and learning process of this summer's GALACTIC class. Here are some things that I've learned:

1. One thing that I think I need to keep in mind is the speed of time. With good planning and reason, I do tend to "over plan" without realizing it. I guess that's the teacher in me. Nobody wants to be facilitating or teaching and be out of plans with a half hour to go. If I would almost prioritize more next year, I could choose what is essentially the most crucial to include in the class sessions and stick to that plan. There can always be a ten minute "journal reflection" activity to wrap up a class if there is extra time. But I think that this year, in including local and global issues, there was too much "content to introduce. This week and the sessions go by so quickly, there is no way to cram in an entire unit of content like in a traditional class.
2. I need to include more activities. Less disseminating of content, more activities...the Balfour scholars have long days. They are here to explore. With a lot of content being thrown at them, they definitely caught a lot this last week, but it may be more meaningful for them to participate in a more engaging learning process throughout the week. Like stated above: less content would be helpful to meet this goal.
3. I will allow more time for the project creation. For the second year in a row, it seems that our students are racing the clock to finish the projects on the final day of class. While the final day should not be wasted or be left without plans and completely open, it may take some weight off the scholars' shoulders to allow the project creation to start working itself out earlier on in the week.

Here is what I hope for next year:

I have really been passionate about reducing plastic waste in my personal and professional life. In addition to a series of small changes that I've made in my home, I've also tried to educate my 5th and 6th grade students about the issue so that we can make changes within our classroom and school as well. There so are many great ideas that come from students who are working on graduate and doctoral work at Indiana University, and I have really enjoyed the topics that my teams have created these last two summers. I am hoping, however, that (again, should I be fortunate enough to facilitate again) I might be able to meet/match/pair with a team that has a background in or a passion for environmental topics. I would love to work on an environmental project with this group of students. I don't have a lot of graduate preparations other than in the field of education, so sometimes I think I've second guessed myself as though I don't have a lot of topical researching background to contribute. I usually go along with whatever ideas the graduate and doctoral students have to offer. I am hoping that maybe I can find a way to advocate for some environmental causes next summer.