Design Forward
An emergent exploration of critical instructional design.
Design Forward
Portfolio Part: The story of my students
Student Biography
The story of my students
In this exercise you will explore the stories and lives of your current students. You may choose to write a biography (incorporating the elements identified below) or you may choose to draw or otherwise represent a student (again, finding some way to incorporate the identified elements). Be as specific as possible, but think of your imagined biography as an amalgamation of students, rather than the actual biography of an individual student you know:
Elements to include:
- Name
- Hometown(s)
- Childhood education experience: type of school attended, typical grades, relationship with teachers, overall impression of what school is for z Family background: How may parents, siblings, etc. Who do they live with? Who do they have close relationships with?
- Interests & hobbies
- Declared major(s) or minor(s)
- Future life goals
- Stressors and obstacles
- Opportunities and comforts
Name: Who-Am-I
Hometown(s): Originally from Bubble but has lived in small and medium cities
Childhood education experience:
Type of school attended: Public, medium size
Typical grades: Depending on the subject
Relationship with teachers: Very good
Overall impression of what school is for: Get a decent job
Family background: Two parents, sometimes one. Two siblings. A cat and a dog.
Who do they have close relationships with? They are close to their mom and grandparents
Interests & hobbies: Sports, videogames, hang-up with friends.
Declared major(s) or minor(s): Undeclared, unsure
Future life goals: Graduate from college, get a job, be happy
Stressors and obstacles: Money, grades, peer-pressure
Opportunities and comforts: Time to make mistakes and learn from them. Warm food. A bed to sleep in at night. The gift of dreaming of a better tomorrow.
When you’re done, write 1-2 paragraph reflecting upon the student you have created. Where did you get your inspiration? How is this student like/different than you were as a student? As a teacher, what do you think are the 3 most important things you can do for this student?
I was inspired by many PSU students I have had over the years. Many come from small rural towns, but others are from urban and suburban areas. This student and (who I was a student) is trying to know who they are, what they want to become, and how. Unlike me, this student does not have to worry about being blown up, shot, or disappeared. The three most important things I can do is to help this student answer their questions. Help them to keep dreaming and realize that their actions can make a positive difference to those around them and beyond.
