EDIT 5317: Module 5

a. I selected the concept of numbers representations because understanding the relationship numbers have with one another without calculations being involved is key to students gaining a base understanding of math.  

b. Being a classroom teacher, I've noticed that many students struggle with the vocabulary involved with math which gets them tangled up before they ever even reach the computations part.  I work a lot with defining terms and how they relate to non-math situations hoping that if we can conquer that hurdle, then we are one step closer to the actual problem being solved.

c. I originally selected the concept of numbers in general but it was too broad which then opened it up to too much detail to be covered in the suggested time frame which is why I edited it down to just number representations (fractions, decimals, percents, whole numbers).  That solved my problem of fitting it within the time allotted; however, then I felt like I did not have enough sub-topics (there are only 4 and the assignment suggested 5-6).  After discussing it with Professor White, we agreed this was still the better concept.

d. I switched my initial concept idea after feedback from Professor White,  I have not yet received feedback on the second topic so this part is TBA for now.

EDIT 5317: Module 3

a. I think a concept is the "big picture" you teaching to.  It encompasses many smaller subcategories and underlying processes but a concept looks more at an idea you're trying to understand rather than a process you're trying to master.

b. As a teacher, I was the Student Council sponsor the middle-school group and this was their first experience with a service organization.  Trying to teach them the concept of being leaders was challenging.  There were definitely processes involved - community service, networking with other school groups, assigning tasks to increase responsibility.  The concept of leadership was taught through these processes, but also through my own leadership of them and open discussions about why leaders are important and how they felt after helping others and accomplishing tasks.  I'd like to think this concept was ingrained in several of them through this process.

c. I think that a lesson needs to be developed based on the process needing to be mastered as well as the underlying concept to be understood.  Being a math teacher, many students would question the "why" of learning processes but if they had more understanding of the concept why, I think they would accept the process why more.