I need help on artifact

[jimmykim100]

Hello, my name is Jimmy, and I need to create artifact for my portfolio. Can anybody tell me what is artifact and how to create it? Thanks.

[hweber]

An artifact is a man-made something. For example, a student-created artifact for a social studies class could be a project or a paragraph that s/he wrote; language arts - a story; science - a poster; math - a game s/he created. If you tell us the subject and grade level, perhaps we could give you more specific examples.

[Boxcar]

Is this for a portfolio to take to interviews and that sort of thing?

[jimmykim100]

Is this for a portfolio to take to interviews and that sort of thing?

Yeah, it's for interview and hiring.

[jimmykim100]

An artifact is a man-made something. For example, a student-created artifact for a social studies class could be a project or a paragraph that s/he wrote; language arts - a story; science - a poster; math - a game s/he created. If you tell us the subject and grade level, perhaps we could give you more specific examples.

I've wrote it like this:

Standard: Management and Motivation

Q: Why/How does this Standard relate/align to what we know to be “good” teaching in physical education?:
A: Effective, or “good”, teaching in physical education is results intended student learning. One principle of good teaching is creating a learning environment that is directly related to students’ performance and behavior. This means students will get a reward if they behave well; on the other hand, students will receive punishment if they misbehave. Rewarding will motivate students to keep up their good work, and punishment will discourage will discourage students to misbehave.

Q: Describe the artifact you are going to use to demonstrate evidence of your competency related to this Standard:
A: I’m using positive and negative reinforcements to show evidence that I possess knowledge and ability to create a safe learning environment and positive social interaction.

Q: Why are you choosing to use this artifact?
A: Positive reinforcement is introducing a pleasant stimulus to students’ environment in order to retain desired behavior. For example, if students are behaving well, actively engaging in class activities, and turn homework in time, then I can praise them such as “good job” or “keep up the good work”, giving them pencils, notepads, and gift certificates, and even have a pizza party. On the other hand, negative reinforcement is introducing unpleasant stimulus to students’ environment to remove undesired behavior. For example, if students are misbehaving, not engaging in class activities, and not doing homework at all, then I’ll make statements such as “disappointing” or “need more effort”, just walking around the field for whole session than engaging in class activities, and even sending them to dean’s office if situation gets worse.

[Chef Dave]

I've wrote it like this:

Q: Describe the artifact you are going to use to demonstrate evidence of your competency related to this Standard:
A: I’m using positive and negative reinforcements to show evidence that I possess knowledge and ability to create a safe learning environment and positive social interaction.


I'm sorry but this answer makes no sense. What are you actually going to do?

Identify the instructional method of delivery. How will you teach this lesson? Will you have an advance organizer? How will you monitor participation? How will you assess student understanding? That is what the question is asking.

[Chef Dave]

I've wrote it like this:

Q: Why/How does this Standard relate/align to what we know to be “good” teaching in physical education?:
A: Effective, or “good”, teaching in physical education is results intended student learning. One principle of good teaching is creating a learning environment that is directly related to students’ performance and behavior. This means students will get a reward if they behave well; on the other hand, students will receive punishment if they misbehave. Rewarding will motivate students to keep up their good work, and punishment will discourage will discourage students to misbehave.

I am confused. What does an artifact have to do with physical education? Physical education is gym class. Are you sure you meant to use the word "artifact?"


Q: Why are you choosing to use this artifact?
A: Positive reinforcement is introducing a pleasant stimulus to students’ environment in order to retain desired behavior. For example, if students are behaving well, actively engaging in class activities, and turn homework in time, then I can praise them such as “good job” or “keep up the good work”, giving them pencils, notepads, and gift certificates, and even have a pizza party. On the other hand, negative reinforcement is introducing unpleasant stimulus to students’ environment to remove undesired behavior. For example, if students are misbehaving, not engaging in class activities, and not doing homework at all, then I’ll make statements such as “disappointing” or “need more effort”, just walking around the field for whole session than engaging in class activities, and even sending them to dean’s office if situation gets worse.

I'm sorry but again, your answer has confused me. What does an artifact have to do with classroom management? The question has asked why you are using this artifact. In other words, why did you choose this object instead of something else? How will this help you teach the standard? How will it generate student interest?

Other questions that come to mind ... is it easy to produce? Is it affordable? Is it safe for student hands-on usage? Is it durable? Does it help teach the instructional objective?

[hweber]

An artifact is a specific item, not a concept such as positive reinforcement. I too am confused by your answers.

[jimmykim100]

Where can I find website that shows portfolio and artifact examples?

[hweber]

do a google search for portfolio and educational artifact examples. You might want to ask your teacher as well.

[Chef Dave]

Where can I find website that shows portfolio and artifact examples?

Why would you need a website that shows artifact examples? Just follow the instructions of your assignment. If I understand you correctly, you need to create a product to use in conjunction with one or more state standards so that you can model lesson plan creation. You are also supposed to answer questions which you have not done in a satisfactory manner. Have you noticed that all of your answers are basically the same? You talk about positive and negative reinforcement and don't actually say anything to address the actual questions.

The first question does not even make sense. Did you copy it correctly?

If you are doing this as part of a job application, you need to step up to the plate, dig down into your creativity and put together a portfolio that will wow the heck out of the interviewing panel.

Copying an existing portfolio and artifact would not be the best way to go.

You really need to do this work yourself. If you are successful, you will demonstrate creativity, organization, knowledge of instructional methodology, and understanding of the instructional standards.

I do not want to hurt your feelings, but if I was assessing your performance, I would not give you passing marks on the basis of the answers you have given. Not only do they not make any sense, but they don't even begin to address the questions.

In terms of portfolios, there is no hard and fast rule about how to create a project portfolio. This is again an exercise in creativity, time management, organization, understanding of age appropriate subject matter knowledge, knowledge of diverse leaning styles, and knowlege of instrucitonal methodology and assessment.

If you want to go high tech, use a computer to create a digital portfolio on a CD-Rom that you may turn in with a hard copy and your artifact. If you go low tech, use an accordion folder in which the elements of your portfolio are in color coded labeled folders.

At the very least, I would suggest that you include:

1) Overview: List the title of your project, your name and contact information, and the contents of the folder

2) Artifact: Include a picture of your artifact and a brief description of what it is.

3) Lesson plan that includes the state standard(s) which you are using. I am not going to review the components of a lesson plan on the premise that this is something you should already know.

4) Supplemental materials such as worksheets or handouts

5) Assessment rubric or other means by which you will assess student understanding

6) Answers to the questions that you were given.

I personally like the wow factor of a CD-ROM because this would demonstrate technical savvy and computer skills.

• You could take digital pictures of your artifact.
• You could shoot, upload, and edit a digital video of your production of an artifact.
• You could create a powerpoint overview of this project.

Again, this is an opportunity for you to step up to the plate and to bat a homerun. Right now you're on the verge of striking out.

You said that you are doing this as part of a job interview. A good portfolio can make you stand out from the other job applicants. A bad portfolio and/or a total lack of effort will put you on the unemployment line.

This is not a difficult project. If you really want to teach, suck it up and do the work.

You have had the opportunity to discuss this project in this forum with a group of impartial and highly experienced teachers. You have not taken advantage of this opportunity. Several people have replied to your initial post and your answers have been minimal or non-existent. How can you expect anyone to help you if you will not even help yourself?

There is precious little in this world that is free. Nobody is going to give you a job just because you have a teaching certificate. If you lack the skills to even complete this project, I have to question whether or not you even belong in a classroom.

End of lecture ... :soapbox: