As first semester came to a close, the students at Brock U’s
Educational Technology Cohort entered our first teaching placement with a
virtual tool belt of educational technology tools and ideas to implement into
our lesson plans, but most importantly, with motivation to make a difference by
teaching with tools that most students probably haven’t seen before.
There are so many different tools out there that it can be
very overwhelming to find the right tool for the each lesson. Our learning process will include trial
and error, teaching and reflecting on what we can do to engage students in a
way that creates meaning in their learning, and connections that are necessary
for them to learn new concepts successfully.
Understanding the culture of blogging was a project on its
own, as I’m still learning something new every day. The tools that we’re able
to embed within blogs are endless, and it feels like new tools are created all
the time. In an educational context,
maintaining a classroom blog is a great way to communicate with parents by
having them involved in their child’s learning. Going one step further and
teaching students how to blog can be a rewarding hands-on experience for them.
It’s an exciting way for teachers to incorporate cross-curricular connections
such as reading reflections and research assignments while engaging students,
but more importantly teaching students about social media and online safety.
Having learned how to use SlideRocket expanded my
understanding of creating presentations that we’re able to embed and access
online at anytime. Even the concept of embedding
instead of simply pasting, taught me
a new way of thinking about blogging and sharing information. It is a tool that
could not be only be used in my professional capacity but can also be taught to
students for sharing project assignments.
Prezi can seem intimidating with so many features to include
in your presentations, but once I took the time to learn the features, it was
well worth the effort. Why not create a Prezi presentation for or with your
students, especially if it is something they have not seen before! It is a
great way to capture their attention.
The opportunities are endless…creating web or graphic organizers, zooming
into details such as paintings for art lessons, create Venn diagrams, or build
on a topic or unit that you are learning about as a class.
BitStrips for Schools is becoming more and more popular in
Ontario classrooms. With many school boards now subscribing to a BitStrip
membership, this allows teachers to create their own virtual classroom with
each student and teacher as an avatar. There are so many opportunities for
learning trough comic creation. As the teacher, you can ask questions tied to
one or many curriculum subjects for your students to respond to by creating
their own comic. Using BitStrips
as a classroom activity is a great way for students to show you what they have
learned and spark their humour and creativity.
I found that having the background in understanding the theory
of the TPACK approach was so important when I started to plan lessons that
incorporated technology. As
educators, it is crucial that any technology we use in our lessons adds to the
value of the lesson, rather than take away from the lesson goal. The technology
tool has to fit the purpose and aid the students in their understanding,
thinking, communication and application of the concept. For example, just providing students
with a Smartpen does not provide them with the instruction they need to aid in
their learning. Rather, if it is a tool for them to record thoughts, ideas and
reflections in groups, this allows for a valid purpose of using the tool to aid
in the groups recollection and collaboration of ideas.
As our first semester comes to an end, I feel fortunate to
have so many tools and resources to use at my fingertips!
