Coffee & Chats with Chels

exploring the world of the tastiest bean

Month: September 2022

How do we Learn?

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On 09/29/2022

In Weekly Reflections

We all have an idea of what we think we can learn. How do you think the mind actually works? 

In this week’s class, we discussed different methods of learning such as the TPAK Framework, and the SAMR Model, among others. All of these are valuable tools for working within the classroom. Yet, it begs the question: why is there so much “research” on what kind of learner our students are when we should be focusing on implementing all different types of methods? 

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

 There is an idea in the educational realm where there are “types of learners” in a classroom. However, I don’t believe learners should be boxed into visual vs. verbal vs. logical learners. I believe that for student success, there needs to be a multimodal way of teaching regardless of what the needs  are for specific learners. 

Attached, I have an included an article about types of learners as it is something that tends to be spoken of often within education. 

How to Engage the 7 Types of Learners in your Classroom

Overall, I believe we should keep changing our styles of learning regardless of the “types of learners.” It is important to constantly keep students “on their toes” to get them to retain knowledge more consistently. 

Open Education Resources vs. Buy-in Resources: My Thoughts

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On 09/25/2022

In Weekly Reflections

recorded in: Microsoft Sound Recorder

In class, the issue of whether or not you should have to pay for teaching resources came up. Although I do believe there should be open access teaching resources to help with the process, I do find it valuable to have buy-in teaching resources! 

Why should you pay for some resources? 

In this mini podcast, I explain my reason for loving (some) buy-in resources like Teachers Pay Teachers. I feel as though a platform that allows a teacher to be paid for their efforts is valuable, as the things a teacher creates can be considered its own form of artwork! 

Photo by Monstera: https://www.pexels.com/photo/crop-kid-playing-with-maze-painted-on-paper-7352804/

Links to mentioned platforms: 

 Share Ed BC  – an open educational resource!

 Teachers Pay Teachers – a buy-in educational resource!

Most Likely to Succeed (2015)

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On 09/25/2022

In Weekly Reflections

As part of our first piece of homework, we were tasked with watching “Most Likely to Succeed” (2015) which shows the story of students who create their own project in the form of a showcase and present it to their friends, family, and greater school community. 

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

This movie made me feel a little unsettled at first, as I grew up in a “pen-to-paper” academia focused school system. I caught myself thinking, “ will this work? Is this system actually preparing students for post-secondary education?” However, as I continued to watch and see how their showcase unfolded, I grew more confident in a system that allows for self-driven creativity.

 At the very end of the film, a student was unable to fix his project for the showcase– and I found this to be impactful. 

Why is this so powerful?

This is powerful because his teacher does not say “c’mon, be prepared next time” or anything of this sort. The child knows this, and he is able to recognize this on his own (as shown in the film). The project seems to have meant a lot to the child– and this makes the difference in his self-reflection! I realized that by doing this student-driven project, a child is able to learn and grow more effectively within the classroom setting. 

🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚🏫📚

I appreciated stepping out of my comfort zone and watching something I’m not used to seeing. I plan to take on a hands-on approach to teaching, so this film allowed me to see a system so different from what I’m used to and  how it works! 

“sitting in a west coast coffee shop” – a playlist & a process

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On 09/25/2022

In Free Inquiry

PLEASE PLAY MY PLAYLIST ABOVE AS READING FOR FULL EXPERIENCE!

The idea to make my own coffee shop playlist came to me as I was standing at work during my regular Saturday shift. My coworker “L” asked me to throw on a playlist of choice at work. To some, this is a simple task. Yet, with so much liberty on what we can play in the shop, I found myself stumped. 

(if you’re curious, I ended up deciding on SZA’s album Ctrl (Deluxe) because it is my fave!)

However, with it being a difficult on-the-spot decision and feeling a sudden dread when being told to choose, I decided I would make my very own coffee shop playlist that I would test in the café… It ended up being a hit! 

THE PROCESS: 

  1. I decided to use Spotify as a platform for my playlist because it’s something we use at the coffee shop I work at, and it’s accessible – free to listen (with ads) and the option to upgrade. 
  2. I took a photo using the tea set I bought for $5.00 at a garage sale last summer. My partner works at a bakery, so he brought home some yummy butter tarts that I used as a prop! (and then ate them because I was hungry). 
  3. Choosing the “right” songs was a difficult task- I could’ve had anything! I started by gravitating towards some favourites within the “oldies” range. As I became progressively confident, I ended up throwing some Harry Styles & Hozier songs in there. I kind of decided that this was more about me feeling creatively liberated as opposed to the “perfect” choice in songs. I recommend having fun with it if you try making a themed playlist! 

Although making a playlist in itself isn’t difficult, breaking down the barriers of perfection is. After some time, I let myself be free and dropped the pressure of curating the “best” coffee shop aesthetic. In the end, it felt good to make something I can actively add to & grow as I work. This project definitely doesn’t end here! 

Cheers,

Chels

(who is currently sipping on a cold coffee that I forgot about while finding songs)

Picture by mmechelsea

opening up about my experience with coffee

by

On 09/25/2022

In Free Inquiry

Mornings are for coffee and contemplation.

Jim Hopper (Stranger Things S1 Ep 1)

Growing up, I was never really interested in coffee. I actually hated the way it smelt, the way it tasted, and the absolute mess the coffee grounds made on the counter after my parents made a fresh brew. 

I only ever really liked coffee in my second year of University. My roommate at the time loved coffee so much; she had the nicest Keurig, the fanciest Nespresso, and several tools/gadgets around the house. “H” has and still does have a way of influencing me. So one day, when I was super, SUPER tired after a long night of studying for an exam I was worried about, “H” told me to try some coffee. After some hesitation, I had a cup and felt more energized than ever. I was also super productive! I then began studying in coffee shops because the background noise helped me focus on my school work, and the smell of coffee became a comforting thing. 

Four years later, I find joy & nostalgia in a cup of coffee. I have worked at four different cafĂ©s including one that I currently still work at and love it so much! I have had nothing but good experiences with coworkers in these environments, and I enjoy the hustle bustle of cafĂ© life. 

I have always felt that I haven’t had “enough time” to master the art of the latte, to become a “coffee sommelier” ( in other words an expert), and to become a better barista. So here I am, doing my best and working hard to get to a place where I feel confident in my coffee knowledge while having fun.

Cheers, 

Chels 

(who is currently drinking a Keurig coffee with almond milk, above)

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