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Category: EdTech

Doodling

November 20, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Before this class, I had never heard of doodle notes, but wow I’m sold. Since I am someone with a learning disability, I have found this way of taking notes beneficial. I found it a relaxing process to draw the notes and it also required me to critically think and summarize the information. I think this way of note-taking could be very beneficial to students in any subject. Doodle notes have been shown to help students with ADHD focus in class, as it gives them an outlet for creativity (“Boosting Focus Through Doodling,” 2019; Sara, n.d.). Teachers have addressed the benefits of doodle notes for students with retention difficulties or physical disabilities (Sara, n.d.). Doodle note-taking helps with students’ retention as it associates words and images together, also known as a mnemonic. This type of note-taking gets students to take notes by writing instead of typing on a computer (Gammill, 2016). This also helps increase students’ retention as writing notes by hand has been shown to help students retain information for longer (Gammill, 2016). Although there are many benefits to doodle note-taking, I would argue that for some students, such as myself, re-scribing your hand-written notes from class into doodle notes might be easier and help retain information more than creating the doodle notes during a lecture. This is because it might take students a while to be able to process and summarize the information. Also, by doing doodle notes after the lecture, students are seeing the notes twice and therefore reinforcing it.

Here is a photo of my doodle note from class:

References:

Boosting Focus Through Doodling. (2019). Math Giraffe. Retrieved from https://www.mathgiraffe.com/blog/a-better-solution-for-helping-students-with-adhd

Gammill, D. (2016). The Benefits of Using Doodling and Sketchnotes in the Classroom. Edcuation Week Teacher. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2016/01/04/the-benefits-of-using-doodling-and-sketchnotes.html

Sara. (n.d.). Doodle, Hear from teachers who are using the Classrooms, ​strategy each day in their own. In the Classroom. Retrieved from https://www.doodlenotes.org/in-the-classroom.html

Educational video games in the classroom

November 5, 2020 / / 0 Comments

I thought the lesson on video games as a teaching tool was super interesting and somewhat pertains to my group’s inquiry project that is on digital storytelling, as video games are like interactive digital stories. I am not a big video game player myself, but I think video games are defiantly something that could be used in any classroom and can be a valuable resource. This article by Bryan Lynn (2019) states that educational video games have been shown to increase student’s engagement and enjoyment with different subject areas. From research studies, they have shown that although video games may not increase standardized tests, they do increase students’ soft skills like cooperation, creative thinking, and empathy, which are skills that employers are looking for (Lynn, 2019). I have included a list of science-based video games that may be useful in the classroom:

 

  • Immune Defence
  • Cell to Singularity
  • Mission to Planet Earth
  • Sci-Ops: Global Defense
  • CRISPR-VR
  • Mycocosm
  • You Change It! Climate Economic Game

 

http://bitly.ws/avaf

Reference:

Bryan Lynn. (2019). Video Games Used as Learning Tools in Schools. Learning English. Retrieved from https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/video-games-used-as-learning-tools-in-schools/4754113.html

Flip, or not to flip, that is the question…

October 30, 2020 / / 0 Comments

I think using a flipped classroom style of teaching in a science class would be beneficial to students. The flipped classroom allows a more individualized learning experience where students can work at their own pace on their own or in small groups (Trach, 2020). Flipped classrooms have been shown to be a more student-centred learning experience, as the teacher can address student’s needs individually instead of addressing the whole class (Trach, 2020). In these types of classroom settings, it is best to have a discussion or hands on activity to help students grasp the concept that they learned on the online portion (Trach, 2020). This can also help the teacher see where clarification is needed and which parts of the concept students understand (Trach, 2020). The one downside I see to this classroom style is that it assumes that all students will have access to a computer and internet (Trach, 2020). I think over this pandemic, it has become clear to educators that not all students have the same access to technology. I wonder if there are different ways that flipped classrooms could be achieved still but be modified for those students that don’t have access to a computer? Maybe the teacher could present these students with written text and paper handouts these students to still be able to participate in this new beneficial classroom setting.

http://bitly.ws/as9V

Reference:

Denney, M. (2019). 5 Beginner Landscape Photography Mistakes to Avoid. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWdwkkzFg3M

A bit out of the apple- EdCamps for Professional Development Days

October 22, 2020 / / 0 Comments

I found the EdCamp very useful and interesting. The only other time that I have been involved in an EdCamp was when I went to Esquimalt High School’s Pro-D day last month and it was very similar to the one that we did in class. So far, I have really enjoyed participating in EdCamps because they allow for inquisitive conservation to occur between colleagues. They are also cool because they are based around what the participants want to learn and what they are interested in, whereas on other Pro-D days the topics are predetermined. These types of camps give everyone a chance to share their interests, knowledge, and experiences, which I think is beneficial and helps educators to learn. One downside to EdCamps is that the participants can sometimes get off-topic; I experienced this in our in-class camp. However, it’s important to remember that off-topic conversations can be beneficial and lead to a new and enriching topic to investigate. Another benefit of these EdCamps is that they are open to all, no matter your role in education, this allows for diverse knowledge to be included in the conversation. At the bottom of this blog, I have posted a video that demonstrates the key aspects of EdCamps. http://https://youtu.be/gr7teMAk-hA

A new type of school

October 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments

This week in class, we had a guest lecturer come in, Jeff Hopkins from PSII (The Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry). This alternative school includes all the traditional school subjects, like math, science and English. The key difference is that the students learn these subjects through inquiry-based learning and by doing so, students learn multiple subjects at a time (“Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry,” 2020). I had a family member attend this school a couple of years ago and although it was beneficial for her at the time, the one thing she struggled with once she got to post-secondary was taking tests. She hadn’t developed the skill of test-taking that students in a traditional setting do. It’s difficult when the whole educational system hasn’t shifted; universities and public schools are still mostly based on didactic learning. I think since the educational system has been resistant to change, having a hybrid model would be the best for students. This would include inquiry-based learning as well as some traditional forms of tests. The new BC curriculum seems to be starting to follow this model, but we will have to see if it continues (Columbia, n.d.).

 

References:

Columbia, G. of B. (n.d.). BC’s New Curriculum. Retrieved from https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/curriculum/science/9

Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry. (2020). Retrieved from https://learningstorm.org

The benefits of storytelling

October 9, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Since starting my observational class at Esquimalt High School, the most used technique that I have observed is teachers telling stories. I have seen storytelling being used in a science class to relate, why safety in labs is important, as well in a textiles class in order to make connections with the students. I think storytelling is an important way for teachers to make connections with students, relate abstract concepts or ideas to everyday life, and it also makes the teacher seem more approachable and personable to the students. Before reading “The hidden importunacy of teaching with stories” by A.J Juliani, I did not know the importance or the science behind storytelling. I found it interesting how when telling a story that has important information embedded in it, teachers are able to reach students both emotionally and biochemically and thus can increase the learning experience (Juliani, n.d.). I also found it interesting when the author pointed to the fact that storytelling is rooted in history (Juliani, n.d.). I wonder then why and how have STEM courses shifted away from this storytelling approach? If storytelling is able to engage students as well as make complex theories less complicated, why don’t we use this in science?

Photo by Sam Woolfe

Reference:

Juliani, A. . (n.d.). THE HIDDEN IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING WITH STORIESNo Title. A.J Juliani. Retrieved from http://ajjuliani.com/hidden-importance-teaching-stories/

 

The problems of using social media as a teacher

October 2, 2020 / / 0 Comments

When you are a teenager, you never really think about the consequences of what you post online. When I was growing-up social media was brand new, so there weren’t adults telling us to be wary of what we post on the internet. Thankfully, I am someone that does not post on social media but instead uses it as a place to connect with family and friends. I think it even nowadays, kids know the consequences of posting inappropriate photos online but still feel a need to do it. This is similar to smoking in the sense that the consequences aren’t immediate, making it hard to grasp why they shouldn’t do it. I think as educators our job is to simply educate and explain to students the future consequences that can happen when social media is not used appropriately. I think having a professional like Jessie come into a classroom to discuss social media is important, because the professional can answer questions students might have or can offer tips or examples of situations. I think Jessie’s lecture was very useful to me. The lecture gave me useful tips like changing my social media names and making sure privacy settings are high. It has also brought to my attention some of the parent-teacher dynamics that can occur. I realize that information that I learned from this lecture should be on my radar as I enter the profession of teaching. I found this blog useful, as it to summarizes what Jessie said in the lecture (Rachel, 2016). The blog has a list of suggestions for teachers to follow if they chose to have social media accounts, like not friending students on social media until they have graduated or making sure profile photos are appropriate (Rachel, 2016).

Photo by Sara Kurfess from unsplash

Rachel. (2016). 10 SOCIAL MEDIA RULES FOR TEACHERS. American Board Blog. Retrieved from https://www.americanboard.org/blog/10-social-media-rules-for-teachers/

Questioning the traditional education model

September 24, 2020 / / 0 Comments

The movie, “Most likely to succeed” by Ted Dintersmith and Tony Wagner, had an interesting insight into the current education system. The movie first starts with a child sitting in her class crying because she has no interest in the subjects in school, which has snowballed into her not doing well (Greg Whiteley, 2015). This hit home for me; I remember in elementary school crying and hating school because I had no interest in any of the topics. The narrator then describes how the current education model is based on the industrial revolution education model (Greg Whiteley, 2015). The education model during the industrial revolution produced people with all the same knowledge and skills that would be beneficial in a factory setting (Greg Whiteley, 2015). They point out that this is not what current employers are looking for in a person. They instead are looking for people with technology-based skills, people that can problem solve, think critically, and collaborate with others. This movie stated that our current education system is failing students (Greg Whiteley, 2015).

https://sites.google.com/site/tcnjibrresources/what-is-ibl

 High Tec High was the school that was focused on during the film because of their student-led approach to teaching. High Tec High builds “soft skills” like empathy, perseverance, and collaboration in their students (Greg Whiteley, 2015). They do this by not giving the students tests but making an end of the year showcase to demonstrate to the public and themselves what they have learned throughout the year. By doing so, they have moved away from the didactic pedagogy to a more authentic one. I think what will be difficult for the students coming from schools like High Tec High is the transition into more traditional styled schools, for instance, if they chose to go onto higher education. This is a link that explains the differences between the two pedagogies. Didactic vs. authentic video link. My sister, for example, went to a school in Victoria that was inquiry-based, and she found it difficult taking tests when she went to university because she hadn’t taken them for several years. I think a good education system would be a balance between the two pedagogies. IB is a type of school model that would be in-between didactic and authentic pedagogy. IB is inquiry-based learning that some private schools in Victoria use.  For more information on IB. I think in general it is widely known that the traditional school model needs to change in all levels of education, and it needs to happen in order to give kids the tools to succeed in a technology-based society.       

   

Screen capture: https://www.cambridge.org/gb/education/blog/tok-bite-video-1-whats-new-ib-syllabus-and-support-available

Reference:

Greg Whiteley. (2015). Most likely to succeed.

Setting up WordPress

September 20, 2020 / / 0 Comments

I used WordPress before when I took EDCI 339 and found it easy to use. The version used in EDCI 339 was the free version, and although it was straightforward, you weren’t allowed to change any of the settings. Comparatively, the WordPress template on opened.ca seems to be more interactive, where the author of the blog is in charge of the widgets, categories, and the pictures. I will admit it was harder to set up then the desktop version I had previously used, but I like the more control I have, and I feel I can add more of my personality into the blog by adding pictures and headings. I also like how I’m able to follow different blogs. This feature helps with collaboration and information sharing; in this era of zoom, collaboration can be hard.

https://exob2b.com/en/how-to-choose-a-wordpress-theme/

I think blogs such as WordPress can be useful for certain subjects that are writing heavy, such as English. Students could blog about the book they just read or what they thought of the movie they watched in class. I’m training to be a science teacher, and I think blogging could have an important role in a science class. Some ways I think blogging could be used in a science class is if students were tasked with researching a scientist or a theory. Likewise, it could be a tool for students to follow other blogs about science-related topics. It could also be used to share their thoughts and feelings on guest speakers or field trips. I think in general, blogging is a useful tool for students to reflect on their learning as well as for teachers to see what lessons work and maybe what didn’t.

image showing person walking in pre-painted footprints
Photo by Flickr user jfchenier under CC license: BY-NC 2.0

Welcome and Introduction

September 9, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Before proceeding with this first blog post, we expect you to consider your privacy preferences carefully and that you have considered the following options:

  1. Do you want to be online vs. offline?
  2. Do you want to use your name (or part thereof) vs. a pseudonym (e.g., West Coast Teacher)?
  3. Do you want to have your blog public vs. private? (Note, you can set individual blog posts private or password protected or have an entire blog set to private)
  4. Have you considered whether you are posting within or outside of Canada? This blog on opened.ca is hosted within Canada. That said, any public blog posts can have its content aggregated/curated onto social networks outside of Canada.

First tasks you might explore with your new blog:

  • Go into its admin panel found by adding /wp-admin at the end of your blog’s URL
  • Add new category or tags to organize your blog posts – found under “Posts” (but do not remove the pre-existing “EdTech” category or sub-categories, Free Inquiry and EdTech Inquiry). We have also pre-loaded the Teacher Education competencies as categories should you wish to use them to document your learning. If you would like to add more course categories, please do so (e.g., add EDCI 306A with no space for Music Ed, etc.)
  • See if your blog posts are appearing on the course website (you must have the course categories assigned to a post first and have provided your instructor with your blog URL)
  • Add pages
  • Embed images or set featured images and embed video in blog posts and pages (can be your own media or that found on the internet, but consider free or creative commons licensed works)
  • Under Appearance,
    • Select your preferred website theme and customize to your preferences (New title, etc.)
    • Customize menus & navigation
    • Use widgets to customize blog content and features
  • Delete this starter post (or switch it to draft status if you want to keep for reference)

Do consider creating categories for each course that you take should you wish to document your learning (or from professional learning activities outside of formal courses). Keep note, however, that you may wish to use the course topic as the category as opposed to the course number as those outside of your program would not be familiar with the number (e.g., we use “EdTech” instead of “edci336).

Lastly, as always, be aware of the FIPPA as it relates to privacy and share only those names/images that you have consent to use or are otherwise public figures. When in doubt, ask us.

Please also review the resources from our course website for getting started with blogging:

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