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Affective Marriage
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46325849@N03/5718623025/
Close to 30 years in one monogomous relationship, I often wonder, when can you proclaim that you have a successful marriage. I have heard of couples getting divorced within a year, and even after 36 years. After a 36 year marriage, that ends in divorce, can you say that was a successful marriage? I came to the conclusion that the only way you can proclaim you have (had) a successful marriage is if you are a widow or a widower. One partner died, and you can say, “yes, it was successful, because we were still married when the partner died”. I am not looking forward to that proclamation by either myself or my husband.
So, what is an affective marriage? Affective is the domain of being motivated and inspired. I would then conclude that an affective marriage is a marriage that motivates and inspires you to be the best you can be. Do you get motivated by your partner’s actions? They are trying to “get healthy”, so it motivates and inspires you to “get healthy too”. They or you are learning about a new subject or topic, or have taken up a new interest or hobby. Does that motivate you to join in? Or at least ask about their new interest? It should. I never knew so much about James Bond, military airplanes or motorcycles until I entered a relationship with my husband. He in turn knows alot more about dog and horse breeds, my culture and country and Journey (the greatest rock band ever!).
I found this quote that I especially enjoyed tonight:
Marriage resembles a pair of shears, so joined that they cannot be separated; often moving in opposite directions, yet always punishing anyone who comes between them.
Sydney Smith
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_marriage2.html#gVHoKVjALFDwrxmV.99
Come together, and go apart. Be your own blade, but stay connected, and have similarities. AND always, punish anything that gets between you….You will then have an Affective, and Successful Marriage until the of time.
Using Technology To Motivate
One of the most difficult tasks a teacher may have is to motivate an unmotivated student. There is an endless desire to reach students who don’t want to be reached. The teacher investigates every avenue they can think of to come up with an idea that will help. Getting into the student’s world, finding relavence, and using tools they are comfortable with, are all commonly mentioned techniques a teacher can use. But how to learn about students whose generation is 20, 30, 40 sometimes 50 years younger?
step in the latest technological device that every 12 year old clings to like a life saving machine.
A few years ago, my husband and I purchased an MP3 player….not because we wanted to have an MP3 player, but because we knew that the technology was moving so fast, that if we didn’t stay familiar with it, we would be dependant on our 5 year old to teach us how to run our Blue Ray. Now, with clouds and other ways to store information, MP3 players are nearly irrelavent. My students can absorb the new information and technology much quicker than (older) teachers. My advice for teachers: Do not be afraid of new technology, instead, purchase, practice and stay familiar with the new developing world around you…it may even motivate you to learn more….that is why I started this blog.
photo credit: rAmmoRRison via photopin cc
Flipped for Flipped Learning
Ever hear of Flipped Learning? I have been hearing about teachers who are using technology in a constructive way, instead of just games. I didn’t know it had a special name, but I knew the technique. Students access the next day’s lesson the night before at home through video, podcast or other such visual demonstration. Students can view the lesson several times at their own comfort and convenience. The next day when the student goes to class, they “practice” the information they learned the night before. In class, the teacher can work with small groups of students who need extra instruction and/or they can go help students practice their new learned skill. Now, what I just discussed is a very “generic” version. I began investigating this technique and came across “Flipped Learning”. The idea is students learn the concepts at home, and then practice in school. I did more investigating and found the “Flipped Learning Network”. There is a link in my BlogRoll.
It is free to join. Learn and practice a new philosophy on how to increase practice time in your classroom, and how to differentiate learning for all the learning levels you may have in your class. Their are webinars, discussion groups and support if you have questions. Please comment about your experience with flipped learning, or if you have even heard of it….it may motivate you! It motivated me to try….but I need to learn more…..how about you?
Finding Motivation
I often hear teachers discussing the concerns of extrinsic rewards. How the student needs to do the activity, assignment or projects and just feel good about it (intrinsic reward), and they shouldn’t have to give them anything else. My response is this: Why do adults get extrinsic rewards, often rewarding themselves, but yet children/students, have to “feel good about their work” without rewards? Usually the response is, I don’t have extrinsic rewards….Oh yes, you do…that “mocha latte, the paycheck, the nice car, the new “gaget”, the lastest phone, the vacation “you need”, and on and on. Bribing the student “if you get this done, you will receive that” is a different arguement, and not for this post. Just be aware, that everyone has a “modiva” (a motive), and finding what motivates your students, even if it is extrinsic reward, is a valid way to promote students participation.
Your Attitude Determines Your Altitude
What a great attitude!
Affective Learning 