That is a great question - I'd like to continue to use technology in my classroom better and better. I'd like to improve my use of technology in finding apps for our iPads that promote understanding and not just memorizing - where students can manipulate things to gain understanding. Tone generator was fantastic for that - I'd like to find more like that.
Secondly, I'd like to improve my use of technology in assessment. I'd like to become more comfortable videoing and recording anecdotal records on my ipad. Whether it is pe or literature etc.
Thirdly, I'd like to start a class blog. I've had one made for a while but still have not entered anything into it.
Finally, I'd like to use google docs more and encourage our upper end to use google docs for students.
I'd love to learn more about the IT component of technology, but I'm afraid it would require courses. I've learned some basics, but I'd love to learn more.
When I started this blog I had two ideas in my head of what I'd like to do. Now I've got a list. Somehow that just makes sense.
ARK
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Schools kill creativity - one of my favourite videos
One of my favourite quotes from Calvin and Hobbes is when Calvin brings in a snowflake into class. The punch line of the comic is when Calvin goes to show his class his snowflake and in a sense of irony he says "I'm leaving you drips and going outside". For me, it's a commentary on what Ken addressed when he says that schools kill creativity. Students come in so unique and I wonder if the goal of schools, when they say that they are making functional citizens of Ontario, that is that another way of saying that we are making cogs in a wheel. - Changing the uniqueness of snowflakes into common water.
Although there is an element of technology with this where we can use technology to inspire creativity and create things - it does not necessarily have to do with technology. The idea of having the students exercise their creative muscle often in the class is important.
How do you make sure that creative muscle used in the class? How do make sure they understand the material?
ARK
Although there is an element of technology with this where we can use technology to inspire creativity and create things - it does not necessarily have to do with technology. The idea of having the students exercise their creative muscle often in the class is important.
How do you make sure that creative muscle used in the class? How do make sure they understand the material?
ARK
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Too much
First of all sorry this blog entry is late. Wednesday and Thursday of last week, I have been spending time writing curriculum with other teachers from around the province. This is always an exciting time for me and a great opportunity to exercise the creative muscle in a creative space. As a bonus it was a time for me to introduce other to the power of google docs. It was also used as an attempt to use Twitter during curriculum development - it didn't go well, however, it was an attempt.
During this time, a comment was made that her students commented on the fact that there was too much technology being used. In this school, each student has a chrome book. (mental note: find out more about chrome books - anybody?) As a result, for our culminating activity it is going to be a physical scrapbook for the students to take home. But it made me wonder about the comment that there was too much technology used. In addition to this comment, I was talking to someone who had gone on the High Tech High field trip to San Diego. He noticed that there was a lack of, for example, smartboards.
Both of these things reminds me that there is a place for balance and the need for an awareness of knowledge of your own disposition towards the trends in your class and the habits you have. When writing this unit it is tempting to write the unit with all the "bells and whistles" of technology. 21st century skills doesn't mean technology soaked curriculum. How do I approach the balance in my own class? For the past month my class has created a powerpoint for country projects and typed up poems for a poetry project. Is that too much? I think we'll switch gears for the month to come and try a little more balance.
During this time, a comment was made that her students commented on the fact that there was too much technology being used. In this school, each student has a chrome book. (mental note: find out more about chrome books - anybody?) As a result, for our culminating activity it is going to be a physical scrapbook for the students to take home. But it made me wonder about the comment that there was too much technology used. In addition to this comment, I was talking to someone who had gone on the High Tech High field trip to San Diego. He noticed that there was a lack of, for example, smartboards.
Both of these things reminds me that there is a place for balance and the need for an awareness of knowledge of your own disposition towards the trends in your class and the habits you have. When writing this unit it is tempting to write the unit with all the "bells and whistles" of technology. 21st century skills doesn't mean technology soaked curriculum. How do I approach the balance in my own class? For the past month my class has created a powerpoint for country projects and typed up poems for a poetry project. Is that too much? I think we'll switch gears for the month to come and try a little more balance.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Using technology to enhance pedagogy
http://www.teachthought.com/technology/23-ways-to-use-the-ipad-in-the-21st-century-pbl-classroom/
This is a great example of using technology to enhance pedagogy. What I like about this website is that it not only shows what apps you can use in the classroom with your students, it also shows good pedagogy. It has great uses for using the apps to create project based learning. I like how it is not substituting technology for an existing pedagogy but creating new pedagogy using 21st century skills such as collaboration and creativity.
In this article http://edudemic.com/2012/09/edtech-integration/
my favourite line is:
But the more important thing I realized was that we are entering a phase with technology in instruction where many teachers who have been using it for awhile have integrated it into their teaching style – it’s part of our methodology.
That's the point I'd like to get to , where it becomes part of my methodology in my class.
This is a great example of using technology to enhance pedagogy. What I like about this website is that it not only shows what apps you can use in the classroom with your students, it also shows good pedagogy. It has great uses for using the apps to create project based learning. I like how it is not substituting technology for an existing pedagogy but creating new pedagogy using 21st century skills such as collaboration and creativity.
In this article http://edudemic.com/2012/09/edtech-integration/
my favourite line is:
But the more important thing I realized was that we are entering a phase with technology in instruction where many teachers who have been using it for awhile have integrated it into their teaching style – it’s part of our methodology.
That's the point I'd like to get to , where it becomes part of my methodology in my class.
Monday, 21 January 2013
Starting points
Shared Vision
Proactive leadership in developing a shared vision
for educational technology among all education stakeholders, including teachers and support staff, school and district administrators, teacher educators, students, parents, and the community
This has to be a starting point for addressing technological change in a school. The idea of shared vision is important when creating the culture of the school. The proactive leadership can be available. We currently have over 20 different school leaders in California proactively looking for ideas and being inspired to bring these ideas to their schools. Now how do they bring these ideas to their schools and communities? How are they going to inspire a variety of technologically savvy or otherwise teachers and a community that may or may not understand the possibility of change in education? How do you inspire a community to a vision?
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools
One of the ideas that is growing in the elementary schools is the idea of throughlines. A basic tenant of throughlines that we are stressing is that every inch of this universe belongs to God. Since this is the case the question with technology does not only become what we can do with it, but also how can we honour God with it? This section cannot be ignored in our dealings with technology. How can we use technology in the throughlines of justice seeking, God worshipping or order discovering? What does it mean to use technology in a way to further God's kingdom - how does technology helps us answer the question how now shall we live?
ARK
Proactive leadership in developing a shared vision
for educational technology among all education stakeholders, including teachers and support staff, school and district administrators, teacher educators, students, parents, and the community
This has to be a starting point for addressing technological change in a school. The idea of shared vision is important when creating the culture of the school. The proactive leadership can be available. We currently have over 20 different school leaders in California proactively looking for ideas and being inspired to bring these ideas to their schools. Now how do they bring these ideas to their schools and communities? How are they going to inspire a variety of technologically savvy or otherwise teachers and a community that may or may not understand the possibility of change in education? How do you inspire a community to a vision?
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility
Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices.
a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources
c. Promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information
d. Develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital age communication and collaboration tools
One of the ideas that is growing in the elementary schools is the idea of throughlines. A basic tenant of throughlines that we are stressing is that every inch of this universe belongs to God. Since this is the case the question with technology does not only become what we can do with it, but also how can we honour God with it? This section cannot be ignored in our dealings with technology. How can we use technology in the throughlines of justice seeking, God worshipping or order discovering? What does it mean to use technology in a way to further God's kingdom - how does technology helps us answer the question how now shall we live?
ARK
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Entry 1
My name is Albert Kok and I am currently teaching at Beacon Christian School in St. Catharines, ON. I am teaching Grade 4 for the first time after years of teaching Grades 6,7 or 8 in either Toronto or Indonesia. My wife Stacy and I have four kids, the oldest being 9.
I am interested in curriculum, specifically science curriculum. I am also interested in how technology can enhance pedagogy esp. because it gives lots of opportunities for differentiation.
I am taking this course because I am applying to receive my OTC. However, why this course is because technology is fast growing especially in education and I'm hoping to learn new things I can do in my class everyday.
I believe educators should use tech in education mostly because it is the language that students speak and it allows for a much greater ability to reach all the students through differentiation. Here is an example http://differentiate-with-technology.wikispaces.com/ or this http://edudemic.com/2013/01/how-technology-is-empowering-the-learners/.
I am interested in curriculum, specifically science curriculum. I am also interested in how technology can enhance pedagogy esp. because it gives lots of opportunities for differentiation.
I am taking this course because I am applying to receive my OTC. However, why this course is because technology is fast growing especially in education and I'm hoping to learn new things I can do in my class everyday.
I believe educators should use tech in education mostly because it is the language that students speak and it allows for a much greater ability to reach all the students through differentiation. Here is an example http://differentiate-with-technology.wikispaces.com/ or this http://edudemic.com/2013/01/how-technology-is-empowering-the-learners/.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)