Now What?

EDU 331 aka my Technology in the Classroom course has come to an end. Even though it was only a six week course which flew by, I learned so much in that course. For example, I had no idea that someone could do so much with Google!  I’m so glad that I was introduced to Google Docs and lots of useful Google Apps. Another neat thing (I can say ‘neat’ now) was blogging. To be honest, I was little anxious about starting a blog, but it’s a great way to reflect, organize and share my ideas, and connect with others (parents, peers, educators, and students). There were lots of incredible things that we were shown in class such as Common Craft, Smartboards, and online surveys which were neat to check out.
So the course is done...now what? Well, I’m still in my third year at school and I’m glad that I can take what I’ve learned in this course and apply it to my other classes, future placements, and career.  In this course I learned about tools, resources, and programs which I will personally use and use as an educator in my classroom. Some of the most important things that I took away from this course include:
a) There are SO many technological resources available for educators!
b) Don’t feel hopeless if you feel that you don’t have the best technological skills. Be open to learning. There are always new things to learn even for the most technologically advanced.
c) When using technology, use it wisely. For example, do NOT just use it to pass away the time!

I’m excited to continue learning and implement what I’ve been taught into my future placements and career. It’s been a great six weeks and thank you to those who have read my posts! I hope to blog again J

How Do You Measure Intelligence?

You don’t and you can’t according to Ken Robinson.  In February 2006, Ken Robinson led a TED Talk on how education systems stifle kids’ creativity.  Ken Robinson argues that intelligence is diverse, it’s dynamic, and distinct. It’s actually really incredible how diverse intelligence is—people think visually, in sound, in movement, in abstract forms, etc. Intelligence is not just demonstrated in mathematics or languages, but it is present in the arts, humanities, and other areas of study which tend to be lower on the totem pole of intelligence.  We shouldn’t just focus on students’ heads, but focus on educating their whole being.
Ken Robinson argues that the education system that has largely affected our lives, was the system of the nineteenth century which sought to meet the needs of industrialism. The education system since then has continued to place importance on the academic subjects such as math and languages since they are the subjects which can ‘get’ people jobs. Many adults and young people today have been influenced by this—that they need to take certain academic courses to get a job or that they need to do well in a certain course to be deemed intelligent, which is definitely not the case. Robinson states that all kids have tremendous talent and that the education system should nurture creativity. As teachers, we need to take a look what this means and re-think our view of intelligence for our students. Kids have so many diverse talents and it’s important to encourage those gifts; to discover with students the possibilities open to them.
In tying this into technology, technology can definitely be used to enhance children’s creativity.  Technology creates so many options! However, it’s important that teachers do not solely rely upon technology because then we’re falling into the trap of Harry Chopin’s song, ‘Flowers are Red’ by limiting ourselves to one way of thinking and working; just like limiting one way we think or draw flowers.  Creativity is important and there are so ways that it can be expressed. Technology provides great means of expressing creativity, but there are many other ways for teachers and students to demonstrate creativity.
It’s something to think about for sure. I think part of the reason why I really want to advocate the importance of creativity is because I'm a music student who does not have a strong skill set in mathematics or languages. Throughout elementary school and high school, I based my and others' intelligence upon one's strength in the 'most important' subjects of the heirarchy. I felt pressured to do well in those certain academic subjects, even though music and other art courses were of much more interest to me. I have a feeling that other students feel this way and I think it's important that they are aware of the importance of their own gifts and own intelligence which is incredibly valuable.
 I don’t know if we can come up with specific answers right away on this topic, but it’s something to think about and be aware of. Just like Ken Robinson encourages his Ted Talk audience, I think it is important for teachers to re-think our way about intelligence because it encompasses so much.
TED Talk: Ken Robinson
Flowers are Red by Harrry Chapin

Something to Get You Thinking

After watching a TED talk video led by Sugata Mitra about child driven education, the video really got me thinking about children’s eagerness and ability to learn and the role of educators.  In this video, Mitra talks about his “Hole in the Wall” experiments which he began in New Delhi in 1999, where he carved a hole in a wall and placed a computer there, which was accessible for those in the slum. Mitra has conducted this experiment in other parts of the world such as South Africa and Italy, and believes that children can teach themselves and others if they are motivated by curiosity and peer interest.  Sugata Mitra has furthered his findings by conducting other experiments such as the Gateshead experiments in 2009. In these types of experiments, Mitra asked students to arrange themselves into groups of four students and among each group, the students would have access to one (just one!) computer that they were to use for answering questions. The students worked together, discussed their ideas, and were always able to find the answers to the questions. In other experiments conducted like this, children who spoke languages that were different from the language of the question were still able to answer the questions. So incredible! These experiments really amazed me in what children are able to do on their own and how they can teach themselves. I know that I’ve been guilty of this, but sometimes I forget how eager children are to learn; that they like to learn.  I’m really glad that Mitra’s discussion brought this up because I think it’s something that educators overlook at times. Mitra created an environment and motivation in which the childrren wanted to teach themselves- he had the students learn about something that they were unaware of while using technology and he had them work with their peers. This environment proved to be very successful for the children. Are we motivating our students in these ways? How can we?  Are we providing them with an environment where their desire for learning is able to grow?
It’s really incredible how children want to learn and it’s important that educators encourage that eagerness! Mitra used technology as a tool for the students and I think there are many ways in which technology could encourage students with their learning.  Technology not only allowed the children to learn, teach themselves, and find the right answers, but it also allowed for discussion among the classmates, allowing them to work as a team.
Lots of great things to think about in this video. I only mentioned a few, so feel free to check out the video here and feel free to share your ideas!

So many choices!

Looking at research and at our own lives today, it’s evident that technology is used in a ton of incredible ways and in various settings.  For those, such as myself, who might not feel as technologically adept as others who seem to know and how to use the latest tools and cool gadgets, it can be difficult to discern where to start or what technological tools to try when there seems to be so many options out there. It can seem especially challenging when trying to determine what technology to use in a classroom, when you’re not entirely sure where to start, when it seems like there are too many choices, when you want to find technology that will be useful for your students, for yourself, and something that everyone will be able to figure out.

Edudemic is an incredible website which offers lots of resources, videos, articles, and useful teachers which can be used for teachers and students. It’s a really neat site, so I would encourage you to check it out!
In one article that was posted on Edudemic, there’s a list of fifty technological tools that have been recommended for teachers to be aware of-either for teacher’s own personal use or for students to try out. It’s not required that educators need to use every kind of technological tool possible in their classroom. It’s important how teachers use the technology in their classroom, whatever technology they might choose to incorporate in their classes. It is important to be aware of what is available and what various resources are able to do, for these tools can be very helpful to teachers as they try to meet the various needs of their students and also to help students in the different ways that they learn best.

Here’s a list of just a couple tools which I think are neat sources!

Grockit:  Students are connected with each other in study sessions that take place on this great social site. Online tutouring is also available!

Schoology: Through this social site, teachers can manage lessons, engage students, share content, and connect with other educators.

ePals: One of the coolest benefits of the Web is being able to connect with anyone, anywhere. ePals does just that, but focuses on students, helping them to learn languages and understand cultures different from their own.

FunBrain: A great collection of educational games. On it, teachers can take advantage of fun tools for math and reading.

Wordle: Create stunning word clouds using Wordle, a great complement to language lessons of any kind.

Quizlet: Quizlet makes it easy for teachers to create study tools for students, especially flashcards that can make memorizing important information a snap. (This is personally one of my favourites!)

LiveBinders: Like a real-life three ring binder, this tech tool allows you to collect and organize resources. Much better than a binder, however, the site also comes with tools to connect and collaborate and a virtual whiteboard.

It's important not to feel overwhelmed, but being open to try new things such as new technological tools. They can be incredibly beneficial to a teacher and students.

ISTE Standards and Conditions

What is ISTE?

ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) is an association for educators and education leaders who endeavor to improve learning and teaching by advancing the effective use of technology in PK–12 and teacher education. ISTE also provides a way for educators to connect with peers, to discuss the challenges and excitement of teaching, and to be part of a community of educators. If you're interested in learning more about this association, click here.

ISTE Standards
ISTE provides a set of standards for educators to carry out with their students. Some of the standards which I especially like is how the focus is still placed upon the students as teachers use digital technology to customize and personalize learning activities to meet students' diverse learning styles. Also, even though this might sound daunting to some educators, I like how teachers are to model and demonstrate effective use of various technological tools. It might seem like quite the challenge to learn how to use different digital tools, but it is neat how teachers have this responsibility to demonstrate to students how to use technological tools effectively.This can and will be of great use to students.

ISTE Essential Conditions

ISTE also provides a list of essential conditions which educators must meet to effectively leverage technology for learning. What I really liked about the list was the different resources and support that should be available to teachers in helping them use technology effectively for learning. I liked how there should be external support for educators such as policies and initiatives at the national, regional, and local levels which are to support schools and teacher preparation programs. Support can also be found within the community to support and fund the use of digital tools in the classroom. I also like how educators should participate in ongoing professional learning which will continue to teach and refine our technological skills. These resources will make sure that teachers and educators are not on their own and they do not have to fully rely upon their own skills in teaching a digital age. The ISTE essential conditions shows that there is lots of support available and many different resources that teachers can have access to, to help them use technology effectively for learning.

 

A Little Bit About Me...

Introduction

Hi, my name is Stephanie and welcome to my first blog entry. Please bear with me as I'm new to the blogging world and am still figuring it out! I am a third year student at Redeemer University College and am very excited as I begin the concurrent education program offered at Redeemer. I would like to teach at the Junior/Intermediate level and I am looking forward to taking education courses and placements to reach this goal. I am presently working towards my BA with a double major in Music and History which will be completed by April 2014. When I’m not at Redeemer I’m usually in my hometown spending time with my family who play a huge part in my life.
As I begin the concurrent education program at Redeemer and pursue a career as an educator, there are many things that I am looking forward to incorporating into my classroom. I want to create a space where my students will feel welcome, encouraged, and respected. This past summer I worked as a basketball coach at a Christian sports camp and I found it so thrilling to work with so many kids at various skill levels and be able to encourage them and see them continually improve. In my class I want my students, with whatever strengths, weaknesses, and skills that they might have, to be encouraged and wanting to continually learn and grow. As my students will be learning various skills in the classroom, I’m excited to also learn from them in which ways I can serve my students best and give them a great education.

Thoughts on Technology

This semester I am taking a “Computers in the Classroom” course which I am eager to learn more about as the course progresses. There are so many ways in which technology can be used in the classroom and I’m excited to learn the various methods and programs which I can incorporate into my teaching. I hope to improve my own technological skills through this course which will further my teaching skills.
Using technology in the classroom is so important for teachers, especially since students of this current generation have grown up in a digital world. Caroline Geck believes that many students today are ‘internet novices’ and ‘information illiterate’ meaning that students have access to technology, but they are not using their tools, such as the Internet, effectively. Geck encourages teachers to take action by demonstrating how technology, particularly the Internet, can be a great tool in the classroom. Geck argues that since most students like to feel web savvy, students should be receptive to this type of instruction. If you would like to read Caroline Geck’s article, Click here to find out more. As a teacher, I want my students to know how they can use their skills in technology to the best of their ability. As I discover more about this myself, I am excited to learn how to use technology more effectively which will benefit my students’ education.