Last week our Internet for Educators class broke into groups and tackled the question "What are some pros and cons of technology?
Before we began brainstorming ideas, Mike spoke to us about different
ways we can use technology in our classrooms. One of the interesting
things he talked about was Lakewood School taking a hands on approach to
their morning announcements. A concern for a lot of schools are
ensuring that students are hearing the announcements, because many just
tune them out. Rather than school administration or classroom teachers
giving the announcements, Lakewood School had decided to have the
students record announcements in the morning and play them in all of the
classes. I think this is such a great way to get the student body
engaged in activities and events throughout the school. I also enjoyed a
history teacher's use of technology at SJR in Winnipeg. He had his
students complete a project Getting to Know Winnipeg. This
project encouraged the students to learn about other areas in the city;
research online, meet some people and take pictures. This finished
product of this project was creating a website with all of the
information students had found through their research on Winnipeg. Mike
also provided us with an idea for using bucket lists in the classroom.
The students were asked to create their own bucket list. They were then
told they needed to complete one of the items on their list and share it
using a form of social media. I think this is such a great way to get
students thinking about all of the things they would like to do in their
lives.
Getting back to the pros and cons of technology...
Pros Cons
Fast Distraction
Immediate results Dangerous (without proper knowledge)
Information at your fingertips Expensive
Global connections Lazy ("I'll just Google it")
Sharing Shorter Attention Spans
Social Media Once it's on the net, it's always there
Networking
Broadens Communities
Engaging for Students
Our Conclusion:
Our
group decided that technology is extremely beneficial for our students
as long as we/they are aware of the negative consequences. It is our
duty as educators to ensure our students know internet safety,
netiquette, digital identities, hoaxes, and unsafe uses.
Monday, 3 March 2014
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Podcasts
Podcasts are a digital medium consisting of a series of 'episodes' from audio, video and PDF files, that users can subscribe to by downloading or streaming online. Webster's Dictionary defines a Podcast as "a program (as of music or talk) made available in digital format for automatic download over the internet". John Evans visited our class a few weeks ago and introduced us to the website http://thepegeek.com/, which I am quite familiar with. I often use this website during my Physical Education planning and placements. Something I have struggled with as a Physical Educator is finding ways to include technology into my classes. When browsing the site, I noticed there are a list of educational podcasts, so I listened to a few of them. The podcast I found most relevant to my current needs are Episode 7 - Ten Things to do with One iPad. I think that this podcast has provided me with a lot of ideas to use in the gym and I am looking forward to trying them.
Although this podcast is based on Physical Education, I would absolutely use podcasts in a classroom. I believe one of the most important benefits of podcasts are that they offer a simple way to learn. Podcasts provide support to auditory learners, and those listening are not constrained by time or location. They are great for developing basic reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, they develop technology skills and applications, they help users interact and communicate with others, and they encourage active participation and a learner-centered focus.
Although this podcast is based on Physical Education, I would absolutely use podcasts in a classroom. I believe one of the most important benefits of podcasts are that they offer a simple way to learn. Podcasts provide support to auditory learners, and those listening are not constrained by time or location. They are great for developing basic reading, writing, speaking and listening skills, they develop technology skills and applications, they help users interact and communicate with others, and they encourage active participation and a learner-centered focus.
Show and Tell - My Homework Student Planner
When looking for new and interesting web based apps, I found one I really liked for many reasons. The app I am sharing is called My Homework Student Planner, and it is great for both students and teachers alike. I think this app would be most beneficial for middle and senior year students, as those in elementary seldom have homework assignments. Students and teachers can use this app to keep track of their calendar, classes, teachers, assignments and announcements. The purpose of this app is to help students organize, take responsibility for and stay on track of their lives. Because of the increase of online activity, I think an app to organize information is more beneficial to students than having them use a paper agenda book. I believe that students, as well as most teachers, would use this app rather than writing in a book because it is engaging for them. The other thing I really like about this app is that teachers can link their information to the students. Teachers can automatically put in updates and reminders so the students can just follow that has been provided for them. I think this would be great in Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) classrooms. Ensuring that students are accountable for their own behaviour is crucial, and this app puts the responsibility in the students hands.
Below I have included screenshots from the website myhomeworkapp.com.
Below I have included screenshots from the website myhomeworkapp.com.
Why Should Educators Use Videos in the Classroom?
There are many reasons educators use videos in the classroom. I think that the use of videos are important for learning because they help students retain more information, understand concepts more rapidly and are far more engaged and enthusiastic about what they are learning. With the amount of technology in today's world, videos are a key component in helping students make connections between topics covered in class and the outside world.
In all of my placements (Physical Education and in a classroom) I have used videos to enhance the learning rate of my students. Although I used the videos for basic teaching there are other ways I would feel comfortable using them now, with more experience.
Videos in the classroom are great for impossible or virtual field trips, meeting people around the world, abstract concepts, understanding habitats, showing hazardous experiments, Skype in authors, musicians or celebrities, and listening to music. By using videos in the classroom, educators are better able to reach all children with a variety of learning styles, especially visual learners, practice netiquette and cyber safety, engage students in activities, provide a common experience for students to discuss and re-watch, and help students engage in critical literacy and media viewing skills. Although some of these ideas would not be successful in an early years class, most of them can be used in many grades.
The first video is from Bill Nye and is on sound. I would use bits of this clip with my students to show them different aspects of sound.
The second video is a song on the rock cycle. I used this with my students after they had some experience with rocks and minerals. Using music and song in the classroom helps target all learners and is a great way for most students to retain information.
In all of my placements (Physical Education and in a classroom) I have used videos to enhance the learning rate of my students. Although I used the videos for basic teaching there are other ways I would feel comfortable using them now, with more experience.
Videos in the classroom are great for impossible or virtual field trips, meeting people around the world, abstract concepts, understanding habitats, showing hazardous experiments, Skype in authors, musicians or celebrities, and listening to music. By using videos in the classroom, educators are better able to reach all children with a variety of learning styles, especially visual learners, practice netiquette and cyber safety, engage students in activities, provide a common experience for students to discuss and re-watch, and help students engage in critical literacy and media viewing skills. Although some of these ideas would not be successful in an early years class, most of them can be used in many grades.
The first video is from Bill Nye and is on sound. I would use bits of this clip with my students to show them different aspects of sound.
The second video is a song on the rock cycle. I used this with my students after they had some experience with rocks and minerals. Using music and song in the classroom helps target all learners and is a great way for most students to retain information.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Personal Learning Environment
A personal learning environment is a place for users to take control of and manage their own learning. Some of these include setting personal learning goals, managing content, and communicating with others through a process of learning. Personal learning environments are usually represented by social media/networking sites such as Facebook, blogs, Wiki's, and Twitter, although the possibilities are endless. Below is a snapshot of my personal learning environment.
21st century connected students are those who embrace the capacity of technology to engage themselves by amplifying and optimizing learning and achievement. These connected students are essentially partners in their own learning striving toward higher order skills such as critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity and entrepreneurship. By ensuring students are connected we are helping to build digital literacy and digital citizenship. Below I have created a mind map of a 21st century learner.
Infographics
Infographics... info what?!
When we were asked to make an infographic for this class I had absolutely no idea what Mike was talking about (a running theme in this course). Immediately I googled the word infographic and came up with this definition "infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge that are intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. Infographics can improve cognition by enhancing the human visual system's ability to see patterns and trends. The process of creating infographics can be referred to as data visualization, information design or information architecture." (Wikipedia). Seems easy enough, then I clicked on images because I am a visual learner and needed to see some examples.
I worked on this assignment with my colleague Cara and we had quite a bit of difficulty when creating this infographic. I think if I used this more often, I would be more successful. As I was attempting to complete this assignment I was thinking this would be a great idea for my students, and I could use them as a creative means of assessment. When students create their own infographics, they are using visual and technological literacy to explain information. Below is the infographic I designed for this assignment.
I have also included an example of an infographic I found on Mike's Pinterest board. I chose this particular infographic because I really agree with the information it provides on teenagers and social media.
When we were asked to make an infographic for this class I had absolutely no idea what Mike was talking about (a running theme in this course). Immediately I googled the word infographic and came up with this definition "infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge that are intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. Infographics can improve cognition by enhancing the human visual system's ability to see patterns and trends. The process of creating infographics can be referred to as data visualization, information design or information architecture." (Wikipedia). Seems easy enough, then I clicked on images because I am a visual learner and needed to see some examples.
I worked on this assignment with my colleague Cara and we had quite a bit of difficulty when creating this infographic. I think if I used this more often, I would be more successful. As I was attempting to complete this assignment I was thinking this would be a great idea for my students, and I could use them as a creative means of assessment. When students create their own infographics, they are using visual and technological literacy to explain information. Below is the infographic I designed for this assignment.
I have also included an example of an infographic I found on Mike's Pinterest board. I chose this particular infographic because I really agree with the information it provides on teenagers and social media.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Kindergarten Diva Blog
Last year I was fortunate enough to take a professional development session with Devon Caldwell and I have been following her blog Kindergarten Diva ever since. Devon has been teaching kindergarten in Oak Lake since 2008, and a combined JK and SK class for four years. Devon is an accomplished educator; she is a Microsoft Expert Educator, has received the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, a ManACE award, and the FLBSD Early Years Teaching Excellence Award. Her work with technology in the classroom is plentiful, engaging and exciting. Devon's students are very lucky.
Devon's most recent post (February 19, 2014) is one of my favourites. It provides readers with insight into who Devon is as a person and as an educator. She participated in an interview with a Brandon University student and really explains how she uses technology in a classroom, while linking it to curricula. As a new teacher, I really enjoy that Devon was also a struggling technology user at the beginning of her career. It gives me hope that I too can use many of the tools she is. I am happy to say I have learned a lot about using technology in the classroom and different ways to incorporate a variety of medias into my teaching style. That being said, I know there is still a plethora of information I need to know.
The question I responded to most was "is there any advice you would give to someone who is new to using technology or is unsure about using it?" Devon starts off by saying that we don't need to know everything, we just need to know enough. Basically she states that if we can turn it on, we can use it. Like attempting to succeed at a sport or a task, we need to practice with technology. For students in today's schools, that is not the case, they don't know a world without it. As educators, we need to be willing to learn with our students; we need to take risks and fail in order to grow. Using technology in classrooms is not an option. It is a disservice to our students if we are not providing them ample opportunities to use different medias, as they will be required in their futures.
Below is a link to Devon's blog Kindergarten Diva. I encourage you to check it out, she really does have wonderful ideas for using technology in a classroom.
http://kinderdiva.blogspot.ca/
Devon's most recent post (February 19, 2014) is one of my favourites. It provides readers with insight into who Devon is as a person and as an educator. She participated in an interview with a Brandon University student and really explains how she uses technology in a classroom, while linking it to curricula. As a new teacher, I really enjoy that Devon was also a struggling technology user at the beginning of her career. It gives me hope that I too can use many of the tools she is. I am happy to say I have learned a lot about using technology in the classroom and different ways to incorporate a variety of medias into my teaching style. That being said, I know there is still a plethora of information I need to know.
The question I responded to most was "is there any advice you would give to someone who is new to using technology or is unsure about using it?" Devon starts off by saying that we don't need to know everything, we just need to know enough. Basically she states that if we can turn it on, we can use it. Like attempting to succeed at a sport or a task, we need to practice with technology. For students in today's schools, that is not the case, they don't know a world without it. As educators, we need to be willing to learn with our students; we need to take risks and fail in order to grow. Using technology in classrooms is not an option. It is a disservice to our students if we are not providing them ample opportunities to use different medias, as they will be required in their futures.
Below is a link to Devon's blog Kindergarten Diva. I encourage you to check it out, she really does have wonderful ideas for using technology in a classroom.
http://kinderdiva.blogspot.ca/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)