Class Observations - Report 1 Sonia Thakur Summary: After observing two very different classes week 10 of the semester,

, I got inspired and decided to write a reflection associating them to a theatre performance with Directors (the professors), actors (the students), the stage (the classroom setting) and props (i.e. technology). In addition, I created a multimedia representing my reflection. Classes observed: Massage Theory I Prof. Amanda Baskwill Program Coordinator of the Massage Therapy program Photography Design Class First Year - Prof.David A.Scott School of Media Studies and Information Technology A Theatre Called Learning The stage had been set for each of you (the student) to engage in your own learning process. Be it in a traditional classroom setting such as the one where Amanda Baskwill taught Massage Therapy or, in a studio environment, just like in David Scotts photography class, each one of you actors (as a student) took an active role towards acquiring new knowledge. The professor as a facilitator took charge as the Director. They combined their expertise in the subject matter and aligned all their creative efforts to motivate you and to deliver contents taking into consideration your unique learning style. Both Amanda and David had outlined the script for the day and for the remainder of the semester in the form of the Agenda. I learned that this helped you keep yourself organized. It also

provided you with a guideline to understand the milestones in the learning outcomes yet for you to achieve. While Amanda presented an opportunity for you to take a unique role in your group discussions by analyzing a case study, David instead referred to great artists in the field and asked questions for you to shine with your unique answers. I could clearly understand how the case study technique provided an opportunity for you to develop skills in analytical thinking and reflective judgment. I also recognized the importance of asking questions to keep you engaged and allow you to actively participate. I was impressed at the level of comprehension you have achieved be it that you were in the middle of the play (mid-semester) and that at that time you were applying your knowledge to real life examples. This helped me understand that various teaching strategies can help you as the actor grasp the meaning of concepts based on your unique inquisitive learning style. I was surprised at the various actors sitting in each of these classrooms and the natural flow in which they took charge of their own parts to play. In group discussions, the director (Amanda) requested for you to determine who the lead actor, the time keeper, the editor and supporting roles would be. I was amazed at how even though this was not an expectation set by the other director (David), this still naturally took place. The roles varied from some of you being very engaged while others were more into your Blackberries. Technology has advanced and I have seen an effective use of these in both observations. There was use of technology as props to connect with various learning styles including images on Blackboard for the visual, music for the auditory and an opportunity to use a camera for the kinesthetic learners.

Something I noticed was that all the actors in the classroom were concerned with their final product not necessarily being knowledge but a much more immediate appreciation through the Directors overall method of evaluation: their overall grade. I was amazed about how you dont necessarily realize that in your performance, there is an underlying work in progress with a broader final outcome. This is that the pieces of the puzzles will come together just to fit with each other and expand the horizons of your comprehension. It was quite interesting to see how you were trying to fit all the script into a rubric but ultimately in academic excellence in this process you will one day realize that this will help you think outside the box. It has been a pleasure to be the audience in these magnificent plays with a director, several, actors, props, a script but the one thing that I want to say is that no matter the form it takes, the academic stage has been set for each one of you to participate and engage and take charge in your learning. It is my opinion, that Academic Excellence is given by those moments where the facilitator allows for improvisation for each student to showcase their understanding and expand their own horizons. Although for now the curtain is closing, and this audience of yours is not there, the process of learning is a continuum for everyone.