20% Project In order to be a quality educator, one must become a life-long learner. In today’s modern and digital world this means staying current with technology, along with the changes of curriculum, standards, and strategies. At first, this can seem to be a daunting task, to say the least, but the best thing about technology is that it brings vast amounts of information, quite literally, to our fingertips. Leaving us with one, possibly the most challenging, question to ask. What do I want to know?
Google has implemented a policy for their workers, where they are given the freedom to create, modify, or elaborate anything they wish to with 20% of their work time. This strategy, based on Daniel Pink’s philosophies of what motivates people, has piloted innovative advancements in the world of technology. Google offers no financial incentives nor public acclaim, however this program has still taken flight and been very successful. Inspired by Google, California State University San Marcos’s single subject teacher credentialing program has implemented their own 20% policy. Each candidate has been given the opportunity to learn anything they want through the use of technology. I have chosen to utilize technology by learning to play basketball via the worldwide web. A sport that I have always had great interest in but have never devoted the time to learn and play. By scrolling down you can easily access my resources and track my progress.
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Week 1
After performing a diagnostic assessment of my abilities and physical fitness, by shooting around and playing a pick-up game at the Gym. I have evaluated and reflected on, as every educator should, the results of my performance and decided that I need to improve my conditioning and quickness. I will follow the training regiment provided in the Pro Level Training video three times a week throughout this study. Developing these skills will allow me to push my body harder providing me a better opportunity for formative assessment later on in the semester.
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Week 2
I have conducted a formative assessment this week while conditioning my body and developing quickness. I have made substantial gains in this area, gaining the ability to move much quicker through each drill and exert myself for longer periods of time. Upon evaluation and reflection I have decided that it is time to develop another set of skills and aspect of the game. Ball handling is an essential part of the game of basketball. It allows players to make more contributions to the team without the risk of making a mistake that will negatively impact the team. To help me develop these skills, I will be performing the drills provided in the video below after each conditioning and quickness workout.
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Week 3
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"A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills and uses these skills to accomplish his goals." — Larry Bird
Ball handling is a key part of the game, without it you are a liability when you get the ball in your hands. With it, you have the confidence to open up the game for yourself and your teammates. Well, time to get to work and start developing this skill. |
Week 4
As you can see in my video there is a big gap between me and the little fellows you see in the video above. I have never felt comfortable on the basketball court, in large part, because I lack confidence in handling the basketball. This week I have focused specifically on this skill and my conditioning using the previous videos. - Thanks Fit Man
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Week 5
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Post moves are something I want to get better at because of the men's league I have joined in Carlsbad. This is normally a skill set for very tall or wide men, however the importance for solid play in the post has led me to wanting them next.
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Week 6
I have a very long way to go but I can feel my shape and ball handling getting better. I am glad that I have elected to learning this skills next because I firmly believe that it would be ugly for me to shoot from any further away. This video is the progress that I am making and will be the base to evaluate my final assessment later.
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Week 7
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"I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed." — Michael Jordan
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Week 8
Well, it has been 8 weeks now and I have been working on my shooting now for a week. To be honest, I have been shooting all along, because who can go down to a basketball court and not shoot around a little. I have also been playing in the basketball league, but I have been focusing on the advice given by Ray Allen on shooting tips (He is the best 3-point shooter in NBA history after all). I am improving and next week will be my final assessment from my last game of our season. The hardest part for me has been my consistency with the jump portion of my shot. I have all but eliminated it at this point.
In conclusion to this project, I would have to say that I am glad that I have done this. It has taught me a lot about the game and more importantly it got me to stop doing school work. I have forgotten how much I love being active but have not had the time and that I need to keep going with this project. Plus I am forced to see how fat I have gotten. Wow Video really does add..... 30 pounds? |