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Methods course documentation
Celebrating the journey together (D8.3)
Logistics and scheduling information (by Raffaella Borasi)

Choice of format and focus for the celebration

At the end of the Methods course, I think it is important that the whole class recognizes the learning and accomplishments that were achieved in the course. With these goals in mind, I have invited students to share with each others some of their "aha" experiences over the semester as well as the high points of their concurrent student teaching experiences. Whenever the students are expected to do a final project involving the teaching of innovative math lessons, a presentations of the results of these experiences is also scheduled over the last two class meetings -- so that everyone can recognize how the theories discussed in the course have been put into practices by at least some of the course participants. A class discussion about the course itself, where the instructor invites suggestions to improve future implementation, also contributes to this final "taking stock" of the experience together and looking ahead towards the future.

I have always tried to make these last sessions as informal and festive as possible, often bringing in food so as to further convey a more celebratory atmosphere and to encourage informal interactions.

Scheduling of the celebration

The experiences identified above are always scheduled as the conclusion of the last class meeting. Occasionally, after the end of this last class, instructors and students have also continued the celebration in an even more informal and festive way in a local restaurant or pub.

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Return to list of materials about "Participants' final written reflections"