Summary of attendance

In the second hour of the NASA STEM workshop, we were supposed to be NASA scientists trying to locate a new habitable planet. We simulated home telescope view, Hubble telescope view, fly by, orbiting, and a core sample for the different playdough planets. Each time our group had to notice certain details and use them to hypothesize whether our planet was habitable or not. We used HaikuDeck to make slides on the details we found out (but it was on their iPad so I don't have a copy). At the end, the core sample told us what elements and compounds existed on the planet, and we had to look at chemical equations to see if we could create all the elements we need, like water, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen and more. It was a fun way to learn about chemical equations and how NASA investigates new planets.

the Facilitators had taught us what nasa does and how as preserving teacher we can get involved with nasa. We had also done experiments. 

This webinar discusses what implicit bias is and how to face those issues as an educator. They define implicit bias as stereotypes against groups of people that might be in our heads even though we don’t want them to be. The main aspect of implicit bias is that it is based on an individual's personal experiences so it is different for everyone. They also defined certain things that are normally included within implicit bias such as stereotype, prejudice, and discrimination. As they continued through the webinar, they discussed questions that are debated throughout society on how implicit bias formed. They also gave a poll to the participants asking if we have every taken a bias test, which can help you understand yourself when it comes to your underlying assumptions about others. As they go through different scenarios that could come up in a classroom, they give strategies that can help an educator work through the issues such as being conscious about your own behavior, understanding the effects of stereotypes on students, and working with the surrounding community. 

This webinar was all about implicit bias and how to recognize it not only in yourself but also in your students. It talked about how children develop biases at a young age and the environment that they are raised in plays a large part in what those biases are and how they present themselves. It also gave ideas about how to address those biases in a classroom because they can be a huge obstacle. This webinar really emphasized how important it is to be mindful and just aware of how your implicit and hidden biases can affect your behavior and interactions with others. 

During the workshop we learned about using Voice Recorder and Paper by 53.  Our directions were to create a recording about a book that we had read recently and include a drawing we make for the cover photo of the recording.  I hadn’t used either app so I found it to be a very interesting and helpful worship.  Both apps could be very useful in a classroom and I could see students working in stations and creating voice recordings to go into a movie.  

During the workshop, we became more familiar with Book Creator, Keynote, Spark Post, Spark Video, and Explain Everything. We learned how to use this apps as presentations within the classroom but also how to share them via seesaw with parents.

In this webinar I learned how to speak up when uncomfortable topics come about in my school. They were teaching the importance of identifying biased language in a school setting. They also wanted us to learn these skills in a deep matter to teach our own students how to speak up. I am talking about this topic in my Schools in American cultures class and it is a really big deal. I will use what I learned from my class and this webinar to help my future students see that prejudice is NOT okay.

I really enjoy the online webinars from Teaching Tolerance. The webinars focus on topics that make many of us uncomfortable.The webinar discussed how to have discussions with students about race and racism. Race is a factor and it always have been, whether we want it to be or not. In order to facilitate the discussion on race and racism, teachers must self-assess themselves and how their comfort level is around facilitating difficult conversations. It is important to have these discussions in classrooms because it allows students to engage in their identity and feel welcomed into the classroom environment. I have learned in many classes the importance of displaying different posters and pictures that incorporate all cultures. Students need to know they are welcomed. Creating relationships with students is very important before having these intense conversations. In my future classroom I want my students to understand that I am coming from a place of understanding and I am an individual they can trust. Race and racism conversation should be had in classrooms because as the webinar stated race is understood as a role. The assumptions made my many individuals come from race. All humans have a racial identity and we can not ignore it. Our race makes us who we are. By engaging in the conversations teachers can reshape assumptions and create a learning environment. Also addressing the emotions in this conversation is a must. Emotions will run high and as a teacher I know emotions can affect how a student performs. Overall I was taught to find the comfort in discomfort. Teachers do not have easy jobs ad it is part of their role to have some of the hard conversations.