6.2 Develop a plan for improving own knowledge, understanding and skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT

One way I could try to improve my spelling is to make a note of the words I am unsure of and place these notes around the house i.e. on the fridge door so that I see them every day therefore helping them enter my long term memory. I have also created an account on luminosity a program online which gives you tasks designed to help improve your memory. Also another way I can improve on these sorts of tasks is to understand why I am being asked to do them therefore gaining an understanding of why I need to do certain things. To elaborate on this sometimes I am not sure why I am being asked to create certain resources for the children but once I see them being used I realise what I have prepared.

I can't always remember things I was told or shown if I don't act on them straight away although if I am able to write it down normally having prompts I can achieve what it is I am asked but I can't always do this. Another problem I have is that I lack confidence which is a difficult trait to have when I cant remember what I was told as I then struggle to to be assertive. Again I think the best way to get better at this is to have to make these decisions.

As for my ability in I.C.T one aspect I would like to improve on is being strict with myself and not drinking and eating when on my lap top not just for health and safety reasons but also because I have recently had to buy  a new laptop as I did not respect and use my old one sensibly. Another aspect of I.C.T I need to improve on is using the photocopier understanding how to enlarge, photocopy back to back, etc. I believe the best way to improve on this is to use the photocopier whenever possible so at college and at work either at the gym or at the school.




    

6.1 Evaluate how own knowledge and skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT impact on practice 6.2 Develop a plan for improving own knowledge, understanding and skills in literacy, numeracy and ICT

I believe I know how to find information from books and know how to use the internet to find information also I believe I could look things up in magazines.  I occasionally take notes although could improve on the notes I make. I believe I am confident in feeding back information to the teacher I am working with. I am happy to write information for others although could give more detail in what I write. I have in the past kept a workplace diary although have not been able to keep it going this is something I could aim to do this year. I believe I can read with expression and at the end of last year I was beginning to put this to use reading to the class after playtimes on the odd occasion. I always do my best to listen to others but struggle with tasks with more than one aspect to them. I could definitely improve on my spelling ability I often get mixed up with "ie" words often putting it as "ei". I am normally confident when writing myself but become doubtful when questioned on my spelling.
As for maths this is a subject in which I am confident in my own ability as it was something I had a better understanding of when I was at school. Also the logical way that maths build on what you already know definitely suits me well. I know the steps to learning a mathematical problem is first to hear and use the correct vocabulary then to see it shown physically with counters or soft cuddly toys, next is to apply to different situations, then after all of this the child can start to use the abstract symbols for example +,= etc. Once all of this has been achieved the t.a. or teacher can look to explain the problem to the t.a or the teacher. Then Finally after all of this the child should be able to teach the skill to someone else therefore showing a complete understanding of the skill itself. I understand how to draw graphs and produce other styles of displaying information and believe I could help a child to achieve this as well. I also am clear on the importance of visual aids in helping with the learning of numeracy. As for different methods of calculation I am clear on how to use number lines, how to use the grid method and how to perform chunking. If a child was struggling with a task I believe I could break the task down in to easier simple tasks. I am confident with most mathematical language and normally find that that of which I am uncertain of normally is something I am aware of once I see it in use. I normally have a preferred method for remembering number facts but will try my best if having to show something in a way I personally may not use. I believe I can double numbers, round numbers and perform estimates. Finally where as with literacy I may not be confident in all aspects of the subject I believe I am more willing with maths and also am confident even when I may be helping older years in this subject.
I will now evaluate my ability in ICT. I have found that my ability in ICT has improved over time as at first I was not confident in this area.I can log on and off at at both the school and college I can open programs and save and retrieve work when and where necessary. Also I can use email which I often do to communicate with my tutor. I understand about health and safety related to using computers not just thinking about unsafe cables but also computer ergonomics and e safety etc. I am aware of how to produce graphs and have a level two in functional skills i.c.t although am not necessarily always aware of how the programmes the children are using work. I believe I am able to solve problems related to I.C.T to a certain extent although can't always understand the problem. For example I was asked to take a group in the I.C.T suite to use a program on the internet this program involved a separate log in and I had logged in to the program on a separate occasion so felt confident I could do this. Although when we came to the log in page the section where the i.d and password should be was just blank. I then decided to use a different programme and told the teacher I was working with later on. I am confident with printing documents although am cautious when determining the number being printed. Also I am confident with straight forward photocopying although struggle with enlarging or manipulating the image.