1. Old School- No technology in the classroom. There is something to be said about a good ol school lecture, if the teacher is able to engage their students through discussion and exhilarating conversation, however now a days any lesson can be amped up using visual aids- this is often done through the use of SOME sort of technology. I once had a university professor that couldn't even figure out how to maximize his powerpoint presentation or use the "slide show" so that the students at the back could even see enough to take notes! As i sat in this particular class i can hear the frustrated sighs around me, some students laughing at the disconnect between professor and student, others muttering not so nice things about our professors age and ability to teach. The student in me can't help but feel that same frustration, but the teacher in me worries that one day this could too be me. These types of teachers often stand in ones memory as stale, boring or straight up horrible.
Photo from: THIS GOOD READ
2. Hyper Tech- Teachers that use all sorts of technology in the classroom- these types of teachers are incredibly enthusiastic about technology, have vast amounts of knowledge, and frankly, these teachers intimidate me. These types of teachers are adaptable, smart and passionate. (From my experiences anyway). It can be challenging to keep up with the ever changing technologies, and everyday our students are becoming more technologically literate than we are. Its human law- young people keep up. These teachers are admired, well liked, and do a phenomenal job of keeping students engaged.
3. The somewhere in between. This is the category I fall under. Yes, I was born in the 90's, yes I know how to use a computer, youtube, google, powerpoint, word etc. I have a basic knowledge of basic technologies that i use in my personal life- but now I am left wondering how to apply this knowledge to the classroom. I have always just used the bare minimum i have needed to get by- as a student teacher i am often consumed by lesson planning and keeping my head a float- let alone attempting to be innovative with technology. Yes I have my own Facebook, twitter, and Instagram accounts, but they have always been for my own personal use- and to keep up with the social norms of my peers. Let me tell you- because of the access i have to the oh so wonderful tool- the internet at my disposal- it is not hard to find examples of how other teachers are incorporating these types of media outlets in the classroom. One major observation I have made as a student teacher is that there can be a large disconnect between theory (university) and practice (actual school experience). We are often asked to make lesson plan after lesson plan with no real idea how it may actually pan out in the classroom. I am left wondering how to bridge that gap through the use of technology, so after a little research, here is just one real life example that could have actually been applied to a lesson plan that I have written in the past- rewritten incorporating my new knowledge of #edtech.
Drama 10
During my internship I had my students do a lengthy project on character development. We spent A LOT of time talking about creating original characters and how to do so. For example, we talked about the difference between a realistic character and a stereotypical one. I had the students fill out a "profile" to get them thinking about their character and their daily lives.
This paper included: Name, Favourite foods, Best friend, Family, Occupation, Hobbies, Etc.
The students used this as a starting point to create journal entries written from the point of view of their characters. They later performed these, and then wrote scenes with another character in the class.
IF i could go back, or when if i ever teach drama 10 again, I would choose to have students create an Instagram account for their character, and interact with one another much like they do on their personal accounts. I would ask students to make sure to include photos that allowed any viewer to understand certain things about their character that was originally on that "profile sheet". Since the objective is to make REALISTIC characters instead of stereotypical ones, I believe that this exercise would allow students to interact as their characters in a way that is very natural to them. Not to mention, having to come up with and take photos of their characters life serves as an additional visual aid to their creative process. This could also serve as a mini lesson in digital citizenship, allowing students to explore interacting with each other responsibly.
English 20
Have students live tweet about a book being read in class- this could be much more productive than a simple discussion afterwards- as teachers are all too used to the familiar sound of crickets when it comes time for questions. This allows students to speak out if they are shy, have a lot to say and encourages everyone to participate- not just the few kids that are eager to speak out in class. Use a particular hashtag to connect everyones thoughts. This can also be a great way for kids to see their peers thoughts and develop ideas based on them. A much quicker and inclusive way to brainstorm/share ideas!
For more ideas on how to use Twitter in the classroom click HERE!
No comments:
Post a Comment