Rationale:

Identify the InTASC Standard that you feel the artifact best exemplifies:

The standard exemplified in Artifact 1 is InTASC Standard #3: Learning Environments

The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative

learning, and that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-

motivation.

Briefly describe the artifact, including when it was created, the purpose and process of its

creation:

This field observation took place on October 4, 2017 at Franklin Middle School. It was

one of four field observations I completed for my Field Experience Journal in EDTP 600. I had

the opportunity to observe a 7th grade mathematics teacher for three consecutive class periods.

During which time I noticed a number of pros and cons on how this classroom operated from

which I was able to take away a number of strategies to assist me in having a productive learning

environment.

Explain how your artifact demonstrates achievement of the selected standard:

During all three class sessions, the teacher used small group, group discussion and

individual work to assess student knowledge and promote an individual and collaborative

environment. She consistently encourages the students to ask questions. When she is not

available to answer the question, she encourages students to ask their peers. In one class session,

she told the students to ask each other for help, before they raised their hand for assistance. The

objective was to have students to rely on each others knowledge to solve problems. When the

teacher deemed the unit challenging, she consistently encourages the students to rely on prior

knowledge, her, and each other to successfully complete the lesson.

 In two of the three classes, she asked a student to come to the board and solve the drill

problem. For the remainder of the class she engaged them in a class vote to assess if the students

understood the problem, by asking them to vote if the problem was right or wrong. Individual

work was demonstrated through the drill and student demonstration on the board. Collaborative

learning was demonstrated through class voting, small group, and group discussion.

Describe how your creation of this artifact has affected your understanding of the

standard, and/or how it may contribute to your effective teaching/learning in the future

related to the InTASC Standard:

Observation of the 7th grade class at Franklin Middle School gave me a clear

understanding of how InTASC Standard #3 can be effectively implemented in my classroom.

Observing a well-seasoned teacher implement this standard allowed me to re-evaluate my

practices of this standard. Her consistent encouragement for collaborative participation after

individual learning, motivates me to implement the same process. Her clear knowledge of each

of her classes, allowed her to tailor how she implemented the standard. She began and ended

class one with collaborative effort. She knew that this class would grasp the concept of the unit if

they worked in a collaborative learning environment. In all three classes she motivated in self-

reliance and peer reliance. She wanted students to build a positive learning relationship with each

other first and then her.

This approach encourages me to focus on which classes are more receptive to individual

learning and collaborative learning during a challenging unit. Observing her strategy of the

standard, motivates me to encourage self-motivation, and active engagement in learning.

Given what your artifact demonstrates of your current abilities in comparison with the

selected standard, explain: What do you perceive to be your current strengths related to

the standard?

Currently I implement individual, whole group, and collaborative learning on a daily

basis. I give students individual work and then we work as a large group to solve the individual

work. When group discussion is implemented, students socially interact, however it is guided.

Thru class discussion I always encourage self-motivation; however, I try to refrain my students

from socializing about things other than math. I find that during all group activities, my students

spend much of the time socializing. Thus, I created Appropriate Academic Talk, Structures, and

Norms for small group

What will you need to improve/learn in order to better embody the selected standard?

After the field observation and close review of standard #3, I believe I must improve two

key areas. The first area I believe improvement is needed is trusting the process of collaborative

learning. Although students are engaged in outside conversations, I must be there to redirect

them to the purpose of the small group. This is my responsibility as the teacher. I also need to

understand that these students are in 7th grade and socialization is important to them at this stage

of adolescence. The second area I need to improve on is limiting the number of individual

assignments. This approach is more than likely boring to my students and does not promote a fun

learning environment.