Brian Deyo's Professional Portfolio
Reflection for Standard 3 Cognitive
3. Cognitive - Analyze, synthesize, use inductive and deductive reasoning, solve problems effectively and creatively.
Reflection on Cognitive Work Product
At the time of this project, I was enrolled in EDTEC 671 with Dr. Hoffman and just starting a full-time position as an adult school computer applications teacher. I had made a change in the direction of my career from helping the children to helping their parents. The purpose of this project was to provide a comprehensive orientation for community members that live near an adult school. Many adult schools suffer from a lack of name recognition within the communities that they serve.
The EDTEC standard I am demonstrating with this project involves cognitive skills such as analysis, synthesis, inductive reasoning, deductive reasoning as well as creative and effective problem-solving skills. I conducted an audience analysis that involved currently enrolled students, school faculty, school administrators, and random community members. I was confronted with analysis results that did not match my pre-analysis assumptions of the situation. With the analysis results, I used creative problem-solving skills to create a solution system based on the analysis. I was able to let go of my pre-analysis assumptions immediately when I saw the analysis results. I was able to synthesize the needs of the prospective adult students with their need to have related quality educational activities to occupy their children during the Open House. I feel that the solutions articulated in this project were very effective in accomplishing the goals of the project.
One problem that arose during this project revolved around getting support from the school staff. Most of the faculty dismissed the idea by not having confidence in the community to respond to such an event. Some teachers did not want to dedicate additional time for preparing for something like an Open House. Others did not want to vary their routine or lose an evening in their pacing of curriculum. The administration felt that the expense involved in such an event wouldn’t pay off later in increased enrollment. They also felt comfortable with the status quo of community awareness even though survey results were presented to them showing that the community members as a whole are not aware of what services are provided at the school or even that the school exists at all.
I feel that this work demonstrated my ability to come up with creative and innovative solutions when most of the people that I would expect to be supportive stakeholders actually refuse to participate in the solution. When the analysis reveals facts that contradict my assumptions, I can use the results of the analysis to form my solutions without being “disappointed” that my assumptions are wrong. I didn’t let the results of the analysis on a personal level. I was able to stay focused on the reality that I faced and look for solutions. I didn’t allow private feelings to cloud the execution of a successful solution system.