Final Reflections

 

  1

 

 

Meaningful Group Discussions

 

 Shannon O'Shaughnessy

Throughout the semester, I learned a lot about teaching dance in this class, but my key takeaways are how much effort goes into planning a class/curriculum, how methods of teaching differ for each age group, and how students can tell if you care. Before this class, I didn't know that each teacher needs a mission & vision statement, and an assessment. I now realize that a vision statement can help teachers convey to potential student what they will get out of taking their class. Also, assessments are necessary to keep track of progress, but it is important to keep in mind that assessments come in many forms. For example, younger children can be assessed simply by completion of class activities. Next, I now understand the best ways to teach different ages. Elementary age children learn best by having fun, and older children learn better with a formal structure of class. Finally, I learned that students can definitely tell when a teacher cares about a class, and this was reaffirmed by watching people teach their classes because I could tell that certain people go the extra mile for the class. 

During this class, I felt free to express my ideas. When we went to the Lowe, and the guide taught us to ask "What more can we find?" instead of "What else can we find?", that attitude sums up my feelings during class. Learning the creative method helped me feel confident to ask questions and try to give my best answers because it encourages creativity instead of one right answer. I also felt really connected to peers in class because of all the group work we did. In most classes, you don't get to know most people in class, but I can name almost everyone in this class. I liked sharing ideas with each other and having meaningful group discussions.

I can apply what I have learned in this class to my career even though dance is very different from finance and accounting. I learned communication, creative thinking, and leadership, which are all very transferable skills. For instance, communication that I used in group work can be important when working on a team in a finance department. Additionally, the creative thinking I used to come up with a lesson to teach kindergartners can help me when clients come with problems I need to solve. Last, I learned leadership skills when I actually had to instruct the class. Being able to speak in front of a group and engage them will be important if I ever have to present something to a team, whether that be my colleagues or a group of executives that are superior to me. Moreover, the skills I learned in this class will definitely be valuable in the future. I think anyone will benefit by taking a dance class. 

 

2

 

Adaptability and Inclusivity

Emi Haderer

In DAN 385, I gained invaluable takeaways that enriched my understanding of teaching dance in diverse educational settings. Through engaging lectures and hands-on activities, I acquired a comprehensive vocabulary of dance and honed my ability to creatively apply dance concepts. Learning to design lessons tailored to children's varying developmental stages was particularly enlightening, as it highlighted the importance of adaptability and inclusivity in teaching. Additionally, I learned the different forms of dance and how those different forms are taught, which was valuable and something I will always remember. I learned a lot about what actually goes into teaching, and the qualifications that are pivotal to possess as an instructor.  

This class gave me the ability to express my ideas and think outside the box. There was a lot of freedom to work with the age group, for example, that I wanted, or with the dance type I wanted for many of the in-class assignments. I really appreciated that because we were able to use the skills we learned in class towards something that truly resonates with us. The opportunity to actively participate in constructing lesson plans and leading teaching demonstrations instilled a profound sense of confidence and competence in my ability to teach dance effectively. Moreover, engaging with peers in collaborative activities fostered a supportive learning environment where ideas were exchanged freely, enriching our collective understanding of dance education.

The knowledge and skills acquired in DAN 385 hold immense relevance to my field of studies and personal life. As a student majoring in Finance and Marketing, I feel that I will use the skills to critically think, be creative and confident in my own ideas, and have an open mind in a group setting. These are skills that I will take with me to the work force. Throughout this class, we practiced how to enhance our leadership skills, which is very important for our lives.  Beyond academia, the creative expression and physical activity inherent in dance can serve as a powerful tool for self-care and personal fulfillment in my everyday life.

 

3

 

 

 

More than One Way to Teach a Class

 

Sophia De Caster

Through this semester taking Dan 385 I have learned so much about teaching dance. I started assisting in my studio classes around the age of 10. They wanted me to start teaching a convention on how to teach the children because I had such a way with doing it. I love teaching dance and children all around and this class really helped me remember that. I didn't realize how much planning went into each class though, nor did I realize how far back all of the information on learning what children need comes from. I loved the videos of teachers who were so passionate about what they did and how it shined a light on the difference it makes in the student life. A teacher who cares about their job is going to have smarter and more well rounded students than a teacher who shows little attention to her students and just teaches what she needs to and checks out when the bell rings. The difference between children's growth in the classroom has so much to do with how the teachers attend to the students, I didn’t realize this until this class. It motivates me to put my all into everything because my bad day shouldn't affect others.

During the learning process I felt like the class was a little slow and sometimes I was bored. More so in the beginning when we first started. It also deals with how my schedule is though because I sit in the studio for 3 hours and it's a long time when we would just sit on the ground and learn. I understand it though because we had to learn the material and there wasn't much movement and activities that move the body to help get the material across. I really enjoy what we are doing right now and teaching the class dance classes because it makes us think about how we would go about the class. I like seeing everyone's different approach and being reminded there is more than 1 way to do a class.

My field of study is psychology, a lot of what we learned can be applied to it. When we act, it's psychology. What we think is psychology. I can apply what I've learned about teaching to so much in the way I approach talking to others in my field and interacting. You are always teaching people and it doesn't matter what field you are in. Whether it's teaching a new employee the tasks expected or telling the patient what you will be doing. The steps we’ve learned through this class will be so effective and I am so grateful for the knowledge I have learned through this class. The biggest thing I can integrate into my field of study is the knowledge of how passion can completely shift the way what you’re teaching people get interpreted. You can make such a big difference with just a little care, this is something I'll remember to integrate into my field, always show passion.

 

 4

An Engaging and Structured Environment 

Julia Si

 

This past semester in DAN 385, I learned how much effort and knowledge goes into being a teacher and creating plans for lessons. To understand curriculums, we first dove into the history of education in the world and how that has shaped our education system. This history is imperative to how our modern curriculums are formed, whether it was for better or worse. The biggest takeaway from learning the history of it is that education has shifted to become rote memorization. However, most students are not actively learning from memorization, rather they are just getting by to pass classes. In addition, we learned about the steps taken to prepare a class, including action plans, mission statements, and teaching philosophy statements. Having knowledge of these processes can contribute to being a successful teacher because it keeps you organized even when unexpected things can happen. I personally did not know these processes existed, but I can see their importance in creating an engaging and structured environment for learning.

During the learning process, I wanted to keep an open mind and keep an open perspective. While I do not intend on pursuing any type of teaching career, I felt that the material I was learning was still applicable to my life. I knew regardless of the content; I would enjoy my time learning in this class because Dr. Morejon’s teaching style is more appealing than the typical classroom setting education. I found myself curious to know more about our history of teaching and how that impacts us now. Throughout each class, I was eager to learn and expand my knowledge.

While being a teacher will not be my future profession, there are many applications of what I learned in this class to my future profession of being a physician. As a future medical school student, it is important for me to understand how material can best be retained, especially given the fast pace of learning in medical school. Memorization definitely will not cut it, so it is imperative for me to incorporate other approaches to set myself up for success. Another key takeaway from this class was to stay organized. It is best to have a plan for when things go awry. Even now, I believe it would be beneficial for me to keep a plan for what I intend on doing daily and long term. As a physician, staying organized and structured is essential to the profession. I believe having a “lesson plan” for each day or week would be extremely helpful for maintaining a sense of order. This can prevent injury and promote a healthy mind.

 

 5

 

 A Judgment-Free Zone

Gia Maietta

 

I have learned many new things over the course of this semester. One key takeaway for me is that I really got to learn how vital movement is in a classroom setting. This idea made me realize that all of these years where I have been sitting in classrooms with no ability to move was actually a negative thing. If teachers and professors incorporated this into their classroom structure, I not only believe my performance could have been better, but also my classmates’ performance could have improved. Another valuable key takeaway that I got from this course is that creativity is so important. Being creative allows our minds to work in a way we’re not used to. It allows us to express ourselves freely, and through this class, I learned that creativity can be expressed in many different ways. The last key takeaway I learned is to never be embarrassed of yourself! This class allowed us to push each other in the mini-teaching lessons to do things out of our comfort zone, and in a judgment-free zone which was really nice!

During the learning process in this class, it’s probably one of the only courses at UM where I have felt stress free. I wasn’t worried about an exam, homework, or nervous about any of the work that we did because it was a very reasonable amount. I liked how we had visuals like videos and different exercises, while also having a direct conversation about whatever it was that we were learning. I also felt that the size of the class made it much easier to learn and feel comfortable in what we were doing since there were not a ton of people. I think from when I started the class, I was very nervous that it was going to be super intense, with tons of technical dances, and a scary professor, but I was mistaken! By the end of this, I feel relaxed, that this class was actually useful with a very understanding professor, and I would definitely recommend it for people looking to take a dance course at UM.

Many skills that were taught in this class can be applied to a real world job or internship. For me, this class really helped with teamwork since we were working with others quite often. Additionally, I think this class is really helpful for roles where you are higher up in the company, and have to manage and teach other employees how to do things. Our project really helped us pinpoint and understand how to teach different age groups and in what manner that will make them retain the information. Lastly, the creativity taught in class will definitely apply to my full-time job post-graduation. After graduation, I will be working with Bose to come up with different advertisements that emphasize movement and “feeling the music.” This class will help me to understand what types of movement appeal to the different age groups which will allow me to develop an advertisement that is appealing to the youth! Overall, this class really applies to any real world job or internship.

 

 6

 

 

Meaningful Mentor/Mentee Relationships

 

Daniela Abbo

    Throughout my time in this course, I have learned many lessons that I will carry with me as I begin my professional journey. One of the most notable, was defining and learning how to utilize teaching, coaching and mentoring. To sum up, the difference between each of these approaches is that teaching involves imparting specific knowledge, coaching accounts for situational adjustment through experience, while mentoring is a form of personal guidance. It's important to underscore the difference between each of these philosophies so as an educator you can select and apply which methodology to use depending on the material, curriculum and student, to achieve certain results. This lesson not only taught me the discrepancies between each strategy, but also how to assume each role, and look for and create meaningful mentor/mentee relationships.

    With this knowledge, I definitely feel more prepared to enter the workforce in business. Given that networking is such a huge part of my future career, knowing and applying these methods will further enhance my communication abilities with stakeholders. I will make sure to have open and honest conversations about personal values, aspirations, and future goals with my mentors, and seek insights on how to navigate workplace challenges. I will also express my commitment to growth by implementing the mentor's advice to my personal situations, ensuring to actively seek feedback, and continuously working towards self-improvement.

    Holistically, I felt that this class was fairly different than my other courses. Not only was I challenged to share my opinions, thoughts, and ideas, I was also engaged in a variety of formats. Typically, my professors just use oral lectures to teach, however, throughout this course I was continuously engaged through a variety of different visual, auditory, and kinesthetic tactics (VAKT model). Additionally, the casual formative assessments made it easier to really focus on learning, rather than simply memorizing information. Overall, I really enjoyed this course! Thank you!

 

  

7

 

 

 

Intricate Details that Go Within Teaching

 

Alessandra Diamond

Throughout the semester, I gained invaluable lessons on the complexities involved in teaching dance. A significant insight was the intricate planning required to curate an engaging class or curriculum that caters to various learning stages. The course highlighted the necessity of having clear mission and vision statements, which I learned are not just formalities but essential tools that guide both teaching strategy and student expectations. Moreover, the diverse ways of assessing student progress, particularly the adaptability needed for younger learners, reshaped my understanding of educational evaluations. This expanded view on assessments has taught me the importance of tailoring evaluation methods to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

During this course, I attempted to approach each lesson with an open mind and a willingness to engage fully, regardless of my career intentions outside of teaching. The materials and methods introduced, although tailored to educational settings, resonated with broader aspects of my personal and professional life. The style of instruction offered by Professor. Morejon, which differs from traditional educational approaches, significantly enhanced my learning experience. This method sparked a curiosity in me about the evolution of teaching methodologies and their influence on contemporary education and beyond. With each session, my enthusiasm for delving deeper into the subject matter grew, pushing me to broaden my understanding and apply these insights beyond the classroom. I truly enjoyed every single class especially since I was able to see all the intricate details that go within teaching a lesson and planning for a lesson. It is much more complicated than I imagined and I saw this as I planned for my own teaching lesson.

The methodologies and skills acquired in this course are broadly applicable, even in fields seemingly unrelated to dance, such as my area of study, computer science. The leadership experience gained from leading a class has prepared me to confidently handle presentations and lead meetings in a corporate setting. Likewise, the creative problem-solving approaches developed through lesson planning are beneficial for addressing complex issues in any sector. Additionally, the communication skills honed through group activities are directly applicable to team collaborations in a business environment. These skills underline the course's impact, demonstrating that the principles of effective teaching are universal and can enhance personal effectiveness in diverse career paths. I hope to be able to take a course like this in the future again. 

 

 8

 

Organizing Future Presentations

Tori Howell

 Throughout this semester, I have improved upon my knowledge of teaching dance. The different lessons in each class have opened me up to creating a lesson plan and tailoring courses to a specific age group. The blogs you made throughout the semester helped me organize the information in my mind, and the articles you provided furthered the point of the lesson. The work we had to work on on our own helped to further the idea the lesson intended. Because of this class, I understand the deep and rich history of teaching and the intricacies of teaching dance, especially to young children. The lessons and the organization required to plan a class are something I can appreciate a lot more now after taking this class.

 While taking this class, I felt good about the material as I have danced most of my life and taught a few dance classes in the past. However, I wish there had been more movement in the class. For example, we always talked about how a class would run or how we would implement specific techniques in the class, but I feel it would be beneficial to the learning experience to do some other movements or dedicate some of the classes to “act out a class” based on the information we have learned in the past classes to give practice to us or even just to provide us with a chance to get up every once in a while

 I can apply the lessons I have learned in this class to multiple places in my life. I can use it in my field of study as well as my summer job. I have a job over the summer where I teach dance to kids aged 6-12. I have always loved to teach kids. Last summer, I did not know exactly what I was doing because this was the first time I had been entirely in charge of a class. However, I feel more prepared because of this class. I can apply the lesson plans to each age group I teach, and they will be far more organized this year than last year. I can also apply these skills to my field of study because planning out lessons can be translated into organizing future presentations and even planning out work weeks in order to get better work done. Overall, this class has been helpful in every aspect of my life, and I am thankful I took it.

 

9

 

A More Efficient Teacher

Hector Montoto

 

This semester I took my second to last dance minor class, Methods of Teaching Dance K - 12. I really did learn a lot on how to prepare myself as a teacher, whether it would be for a school year or a school semester. The biggest take away is that now I understand the planning a teacher must do in order to help you stay organized. Planning is an essential part to being a teacher. Once you have everything organized it will allow you to be a more efficient teacher who will be able to achieve their classroom goals.

I have learned a lot in this process because I was not aware of all the tedious planning teachers have to go through. From different types of curriculum to various lesson plans there is so much preparation that’s involved. Many students and parents do not see all the hard work that teachers do prior to the beginning of the school year. Now, I feel clear on which steps I need to take in order to properly teach a class. Also, I feel that now, I have the resources available that I can use to keep my lesson plans and goals organized. I was not aware of how many tools are available for teachers online.

I will be allowed to teach theater with the degree that I’m receiving from the University of Miami. This class has helped me understand the planning that I need to do and it will help me learn how to stay organized as a teacher. I truly feel that after this class, I have the essential tools I need to guide me as a teacher. I feel more prepared now than I did before. In conclusion, teachers are educating the future leaders of this world and should be compensated, fairly or at times even more for their service.

 

10

 

Concepts Through Experiential Learning

Cora Cook

My takeaways from this class are that developing a class and a safe classroom environment requires many different steps and levels of planning. It is important to develop lesson plans with concise goals and objectives in order to best target the skill/knowledge you are looking to teach. Before a lesson plan can be developed, however, the teacher has to do pre-work to decide how they want their classroom to run, what rules and expectations there will be, what the routine will be, and what kind of environment it will be. It is also important to have a way to asses the students to see how they are retaining and learning what you are teaching. I thought the class was very informative and experiential in learning how to provide the best learning experience for other people. I think that the class gave a nice mix as well of sitting and learning as well as doing and I think the final project was a really good experience.

During the class and the experiential nature of it I felt a little out of my comfort zone at times, but ultimately good. I was nervous for the final project and teaching in front of the class for a while, but when I was up there and doing it I actually felt pretty comfortable and okay and felt like I got into the role of the teacher. Overall, I felt very comfortable to come to class and learn and work with my group. I felt like I could comfortably work with my group and create the different activities. I liked the mix of lectures and then practicing the the concepts through experiential learning. I felt like it gave me a better sense of how I could use the different skills. I liked being able to also have the break in my day to get up and do something rather than sitting the whole time.

I can apply what I learned in this class to know how to help make safe environments in work and in general life. I also can use the knowledge of knowing what a teacher really is and how a mentor and coach can make a difference in life. I can also use the knowledge of how to break something down into multiple parts to best analyze and learn/teach it. Being able to effectively teach and plan is very important in professional and general life. Being able to plan a lesson or topic to communicate the idea efficiently is a great skill to be able to have and a way that I can apply some of the concepts we have learned to real life.

 

11

 

 

 

Purpose-Driven Approach

Mackenzie Howell

In this class on the methods of teaching dance, valuable skills that extend beyond the dance studio were taught. I learned how to create comprehensive lesson plans, a skill applicable to any subject. These plans involve setting clear objectives, incorporating diverse teaching methods to adapt to different learning styles, and evaluating student progress effectively. This class also explored the different aspects of building relationships and communication, which are critical for creating a positive atmosphere for learning. From the beginning of class, the history of a curriculum was taught from the ancient to American to holistic and then to the behavior modified curriculum. I thought the progression of a curriculum really helped us visualize how it started, know the reason for the change of the curriculum and how it contributed to society today. This background helped us create our own curriculum in which we had to think about a teaching philosophy statement, mission and vision statements, an ideal dance studio and the process to create our own units and lessons. I thought this class was very well organized in how everything was taught. I liked how we saw examples of curriculums and teaching and tried to experience it ourselves to learn deeper.

Because of the experiential approach, learning in this class was extremely beneficial. Every lesson provided an in-depth understanding of teaching techniques, from developing holistic frameworks and behavior modification curriculums to studying curriculum models from ancient to the United States. I thought it was very informative when creating mission and vision statements, teaching philosophy statements, and coaching and mentoring strategies. My skills for becoming a better teacher have advanced by working with kinesthetic loops, innovative dance approaches, unit planning, and teaching assessments. Each class we learned how to create the lesson into our own which was very helpful in my experience to learn more about teaching dance and a class in general. Overall, the experience aspect of this class made learning engaging and very beneficial for a future in dance education.

My love of dancing and my subject of study in environmental engineering may both benefit from the knowledge I've learned from this class. My ability to properly assess student progress, adapt teaching strategies to match various learning styles, and develop thorough lesson plans will all help me better explain difficult environmental engineering ideas to a range of audiences. I can create a professional attitude and purpose-driven approach to my job with the help of my abilities in producing mission/vision and teaching philosophy statements. Innovative ideas and collaboration can be promoted by using kinesthetic learning and imaginative dance education methods into environmental engineering. Overall, the skills I've learned from teaching dance have improved my creativity, communication, and holistic thinking. They are also beneficial to my work as an environmental engineer and have improved my personal life as a dancer.

 

12 

 

Understanding the Material in New Ways

 Mia Diffley 

 

This class has been one of my favorite classes of the year because of how different the content is compared to all of the stem classes I take at the same time. One of the main takeaways from this class is how much goes on behind the scenes of planning a lesson beyond just the activity that will be done that day. For example, I never would have thought about needing an action plan for behavior before teaching, but it makes sense why this is necessary. I have seen what can happen if a teacher may not have something like this in place and may react differently to different students, and this lets certain behaviors slip or be deemed okay when they are not. Another key takeaway is how much thought needs to be put into every student and how important it is to approach it from their perspective. The main thing that showed me this was the empathy map, and how thinking about their thoughts and feelings can help us plan certain things.

While learning in this class, I always felt engaged and interested in the current lesson. I liked that often there were videos mixed in so that we got a break from reading or looking at words on a screen. They helped to learn the material in a different way but were still always informative. I also like that we always had to apply what we learned to a class of our own or with our group. Applying it individually always helped me feel more comfortable with the material and confident that it would stick. Applying it in a group helped bring new ideas to light or helped me see or understand the material in new ways and that was always interesting.

I will apply what I have learned very often in my future careers. For example, I am currently a member of the dance team here at UM and hope to hold a leadership position. Because I have learned the importance of keeping an open mind with how different people learn and behave, I will be able to apply this to leading a team should I be given the opportunity. This is also important to remember in any team or collaborative environment outside of dance. In the future, I hope to find a job in engineering, where working with a team will be most important. The knowledge I have learned in this class will help me to apply others perspectives before teaching or working and how to keep in mind that everyone works differently. 

 

  

13

 

 

Enjoyable Learning Experiences

Indira Rambarran 

 

Throughout this class, I have learned a great deal not only about the education of dance but about the education process as a whole. For example, one of the main takeaways of this course was the importance of creating an accepting and nurturing learning environment. With this comes the ability to understand the various learning styles students possess and how to structure the class as well as possible to set students up for success. Additionally, I learned the importance of diligent planning and organization when designing the class. Overall, I chiefly learned a combination of student support and careful planning is needed to create a successful learning environment. 

 

Considering the experiential nature of this class, I genuinely enjoyed learning through this different approach. With that being said, I was able to directly practice in-class learning through activities and assignments. Additionally, I really enjoyed the amount of group work that occurred and was able to learn even more through collaboration with my peers. All in all, this class provided me with one of the most enjoyable learning experiences I’ve encountered. The classroom environment was comfortable, supportive, and engaging providing for a very enjoyable learning experience. In conclusion, I learned many skills in this class that can assist me in my future career. 

 

As a motivated business student pursuing a career in marketing, specific lessons on collaborative teamwork with professional communication will prove to be exceedingly useful as I navigate the marketing industry. Additionally, I have seen the importance of directly practicing in-class lessons to promote them and this is something I will continue to do in the future. For example, if I had just learned a new marketing skill, I would incorporate this learning immediately, regardless of concern of failure, to build on my confidence in their practice. All in all, I will continue to apply collaboration, communication, and practical experience lessons in my future career as a marketing professional. 

 

 

14

 

Ongoing Self-Reflection and Professional Development

 Katherine Aguero

 

I've gained valuable insights into the intricacies of effectively instructing dance techniques. I've learned that clear communication, both verbal and non-verbal, is essential for accurately conveying movements. Adapting teaching styles to accommodate diverse learning needs within a group has become apparent to me, as well as understanding the developmental stages of dancers to tailor instruction accordingly. Creating a positive and inclusive learning environment that fosters creativity and self-expression is paramount. Lastly, I've come to appreciate the importance of ongoing self-reflection and professional development to continually enhance my teaching practice and inspire my students to flourish in their dance journey.

In the dance teaching methods class, I felt a sense of fulfillment and excitement. Each session offered new perspectives and practical strategies that empowered me as an aspiring dance instructor. The supportive learning environment cultivated by both the instructor and fellow classmates contributed to my positive experience. As I delved into various teaching techniques, I felt a growing confidence in my ability to effectively convey dance concepts and inspire my future students. Overall, the class left me feeling motivated and eager to apply what I've learned in my own teaching practice, knowing that I'm equipped with valuable tools to make a meaningful impact in the dance education.

Although it might not seem immediately apparent, the skills acquired in a dance teaching methods class can indeed be valuable in the medical field, particularly in areas like physical therapy, rehabilitation, and even mental health. Understanding the principles of movement, anatomy, and body mechanics that are taught in such a class can aid medical professionals in devising tailored exercise programs for patients recovering from injuries or surgeries. Moreover, the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, which is emphasized in dance teaching methods, is crucial in conveying instructions and building rapport with patients. Additionally, creating a positive and inclusive environment, as encouraged in dance instruction, can foster a sense of trust and motivation among patients undergoing rehabilitation. Furthermore, the principles of adaptation and differentiation learned in the class can help medical professionals tailor treatment plans to suit the individual needs and abilities of each patient. Overall, the skills in a dance teaching methods class can contribute to a more holistic and patient centered approach to healthcare in the medical field.

 

 

15

 

 

 

Practical Application of Learned Concepts

 

Mia Roselli

This class stands out to me from my other courses due to its unique content. It has shed light on the intricate process of lesson planning, revealing that there's more to it than simply deciding on daily activities. One significant revelation was the necessity of having a behavior action plan in place before teaching. Witnessing the consequences of neglecting such planning, where certain behaviors are overlooked or tolerated improperly, emphasized its importance.

Throughout the course, I remained thoroughly engaged with each lesson. The incorporation of videos provided a refreshing break from textual learning, offering diverse yet informative perspectives. Furthermore, the practical application of learned concepts, both individually and within groups, contributed significantly to my understanding. Applying them individually bolstered my confidence in the material, while group activities facilitated the exploration of new ideas and perspectives.

The lessons learned in this class will undoubtedly prove invaluable in my future endeavors. As a current member of the UM dance team and aspiring public relations professional, the importance of understanding and considering others' perspectives is paramount. Whether in dance or any collaborative environment, the ability to approach situations empathetically and acknowledge individual differences will be essential for success.

 

16

 Sophia Wong Stokes

 

17

 

 

Managing a Class 

Ashley Fincheltub

 

Throughout this course, I have learned invaluable lessons that will benefit my future career, whether in dance or another field. A key takeaway is the importance of understanding different learning styles, especially as they pertain to the different grades/ age groups. This awareness taught me to tailor my teaching methods to accommodate all students, ensuring that each one can thrive in the dance environment. Additionally, the course emphasized the role of creativity and improvisation in dance, demonstrating to me how to encourage students to express themselves uniquely while adhering to dance techniques. Another critical lesson was about the importance of feedback—both giving and receiving it constructively as we did with the discussion board on Blackboard. This skill is essential not just in teaching but in any collaborative environment. Lastly, the practical teaching lessons that we were able to create with the final project (lesson plans) were particularly transformative, providing firsthand experience in managing a class and teaching a dance lesson to my fellow classmates.

Learning in this class was an exciting journey that often pushed me out of my comfort zone, which I found both challenging and rewarding. The experiential nature of the course allowed me to not only study theoretical aspects of teaching dance but also to apply these concepts in practice with my classmates. This hands-on approach helped me internalize the teaching methods more effectively and gave me a realistic glimpse into the life of a dance teacher. It was truly inspiring to see the joy and excitement in students' eyes as they learned new moves! The supportive atmosphere within our class really encouraged open communication and continuous learning, which heightened my overall experience in this class. 

The skills and knowledge acquired in this course can definitely be applicable to my future if I decide to pursue a career in dance education. For example, I plan to utilize the varied teaching strategies learned in this class to cater to diverse student needs in my own classrooms. By fostering an inclusive and creative learning environment, I aim to inspire my students to explore dance not just as an art form but as a means of personal expression and growth; as I myself experienced growing up dancing ballet. Furthermore, the emphasis on continuous feedback and self-reflection will guide me in my professional development, ensuring that I remain responsive to my students' needs. Beyond my career, the collaboration and communication skills developed through this course further enhanced my appreciation for dance and having a creative outlet. I had a great time reconnecting with my dance roots throughout this class and it was very enjoyable overall! Thank you!

18

 

 

New Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Guemara Marcelin 

Participating in this course this semester has improved my knowledge not only as a dancer but also my knowledge of teaching dance. I have left feeling experienced in teaching all different age groups and audiences as well as being able to write out a proper lesson plan. I loved how the course started off with not just dance education history but the history of education overall. It was important for me to not only understand the foundation of teaching dance but to also know the foundations of teaching in all aspects as a whole. I also got to experience firsthand the work that goes into teaching a class overall; it takes a lot of planning and organization. That is a skill I can truly say I am leaving this class with and that is something I am grateful for. I appreciate each and every blog post for every lesson you made, because it was so easy to follow through whether I was in class or out of it, and I always knew exactly what was planned for that day in class.

My experience in this class has been such a wonderful experience, not only did I get to connect with such a great and kindhearted professor, but I got to meet some amazing classmates along the way too. Exploring different teaching methodologies and real-life examples has allowed me to connect theory with practice in meaningful ways. The collaborative and supportive learning environment fostered in this class has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and explore new approaches to teaching and learning. I would have liked us to do more interactive classes where he had teaching seminars or scenarios that allowed us to move and dance more, but I still enjoyed the discussions that we did and lessons that helped us build up to teaching our own lessons.

The main reason I chose my field of study; Global Health, is because it allows me to do what I love most, which is helping others. Not only do I get to help improve the quality of health for others and help achieve health equity but I get to do so on a global scale. This class has taught me how to work with many different age groups and audiences, which is good for me to apply to my future career as I will be working with those who are living in different circumstances such as those who live in poverty, those who are disabled, special needs, those who speak different languages, and those of many different cultures and backgrounds. This class has also taught me how to plan and organize very well, from building our lesson plans, group projects, and curating a portfolio. It will all come in handy for me as next semester I am stepping into my senior year, and being a part of the Global Health program requires me to do a capstone of my own which will then require me to build a portfolio as well in the end. With my prior knowledge from this class I can take all of these experiences to conduct my own research, and
build a nice long resume/portfolio to show all of my accomplishments and achievements after studying my program. I am so glad to have been a part of this class this semester, it has truly changed my life and skills for the better

 

19

 Finding Clear Objectives

Emily Arzola

 

Throughout this class, I have learned valuable information to properly teach a dance class. I recognize that it's very important to make a detailed lesson plan. Without planning classes, the lessons and themes would likely not be clear. I enjoyed learning different ways to teach a variety of ages. With my focus on young children, I think looking at Miami- Dade's curriculum helped find clear objectives.

I enjoyed the way this class was taught. Working with other people was beneficial because we could bounce ideas and thoughts off of one another. I also really enjoyed having students teach their theoretical classes. It brought what we were learning to life. I feel that we were very prepared to teach our own classes after we had experimented in making lesson plans and coming up with activities.

I would apply what I have learned when I am coaching cheer-leading this upcoming season. Instead of just showing up and figuring out a plan, I will prepare for practices. I also think it would be beneficial to my athletes if I send them the lesson plan, so they are prepared upon arrival. This is something that some of my coaches have done that I like. I will continue to stay organized and make more plans and schedules in general in my life.