Interesting... Very Interesting...

The title of this blog says it all! This week in our #AEE412 lab we presented interest approaches. What is an interest approach you ask? An interest approach is a brief activity at the beginning of a lesson to stimulate student interest on the topic you will be teaching for the day, almost like a hook at the beginning of an essay. That being said, everyone in my lab group came up with great ways to grab the attention of their students at the beginning of a lesson.

What Happened?

For this assignment we were asked to right an entire lesson plan complete with the following Essential Elements:

• Lesson Title / Essential Question
• Learning Objectives
• Pennsylvania Ag & Academic Standards Addressed
• Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
• Bellwork / Do Now / Warm Up
• Clear identification of methods and activities for learning that account for variability of instruction
• Assessment of Learning (Opportunity to Learn/Student Show what they know!)
• Cognitive Connect
• Application to Total Ag Ed Program (FFA/SAE)

Take Two Of My Interest Approach

Following the creation of this lesson plan, I presented my interest approach. My interest approach was created for a Proteins unit in a Biotechnology course. To start the activity, I had the students look at a group of different foods and asked them what nutrient that they had in common. After determining that they were all high protein foods, we had a discussion on what protein is, why it is important in our diets, and why it is relevant to Biotechnology. After answering a few easier questions, I asked harder questions that I hoped would help the students want to learn more about the topics of transcription, translation, and protein synthesis in class. In true Taylor fashion, I presented my interest approach only to realize after the fact that I had forgotten to record the experience, so I had to present it a second time (insert face palm emoji here).

How Does It Relate to What I
Know About Teaching & Learning?

Over the past few weeks, we have been exploring the subject of engaging our students. Just like a bad first impression can lead to not being taken seriously for the rest of that relationship, a boring interest approach can lead to disengaged students for the rest of the class. Therefore, interest approaches are an important technique used to get our student's attention and prime them to learn more about a topic that is relevant to them. Thinking of Lancelot's Principles of Interest that we explored last week, from humor to novelty to competition there are quite a few ways to get students interested in what you are teaching.

What Did I Learn From This Experience?

From this experience I learned to always press the record button at the beginning of each lab. In all seriousness, I learned a lot about how important it is to not only connect your interest approach to the rest of your lesson, but also to the lives of your students. By connecting an interest approach to the lives of your students, you are helping them to see the relevance and importance of what you are teaching. If you do not explain the "why" behind a topic that you are teaching, students will not see the value in learning it. I also learned that not all interest approaches need to be large and dramatic. Interest approaches can be subtle and effect, which is more realistic in a classroom setting.

How Can I Apply This As An Agriscience Teacher?

As an Agriscience Teacher I can apply this learning experience when crafting future interest approaches. Thinking about how my lessons relate to the lives of my students can be challenging when I am focused in on the information I am teaching. By stepping back and looking at the big picture of what my lessons will do for my students however, this task can be made easier. Furthermore, realizing that interest approaches can be subtle will help me to have more realistic expectations for everyday interest approaches. Looking to the future, I am excited to learn more about how to engage my students with relevance!

"Taylor"ed with love,