I feel a bit like a pioneer.
Having seen the video of an advanced BL environment (Borders College and Leeds University) I do feel like a pioneer in my school. There are few colleagues that practice use of mobile devices in class, but most don't. And it's a BIG school - over 1400 students, over 90 teachers. Being one of the few doesn't feel good at times, though.
(child) 'Oh, nothing really. Mrs. X was talking about something about poetry. Mrs. Y had some equations for us to solve, and that's about it.' (mom) 'Any homework?' (child) 'No, mom. I've got that covered' (and to himself/herself) 'I'll do that tomorrow before class, George always has homework, he'll let me copy his, he always does' (mom) 'Ok. Get ready for your soccer training/piano lessons/language classes/any other extra activities'
(child) 'It was mostly fine, but I had a class with Mrs. X today and now she wants us to analyze poetic devices in some poem she put online. I don't know, mom, she's crazy! How can she expect me to do that?' (mom) 'It's ok, son. Ask George, he always helps you.' (child) 'He won't this time, mom. He has his own poem to work on. It's different than mine. I tell you, she's crazy! She assigned different poems. I can't do it!' (mom) 'So what do you want me to do? Let me see the poem.' (child) 'That's just it, mom! I don't even know where to find it.' (mom) 'Let me call George's mom, maybe it's in the same place where George's poem is. Have you tried the teacher's website?' (child) 'No mom, haven't tried it. Bob is waiting for me outside, I promised him we'd hang out a bit after school. You know I have activities later.' (grabs a jacket and heads out) (mom) 'Don't be late, remember your soccer practice later...' ****after few hours**** (child) 'Mom, I'm hungry and very tired. I better have supper and then I'll be snoozing in front of the TV/computer' (mom) 'What about your homework with that crazy teacher, Mrs. X?' (child) 'I'm not doing it! She's crazy, it's her homework, she should do it!' (mom) 'But you'll get a bad mark..' (child) 'Everyone will get bad mark. I chatted with George and the rest of my class earlier on FB and we aren't doing her homework.' (mom) 'Ok. Get some rest, you must be tired. I'll have a word with that teacher tomorrow or later this week or if she doesn't listen, I'll have a word with the principal. She should teach you, not torture you! You are children after all! She can't be asking you to do all this work! It's not just one subject in that school that you should be doing. There are 15 of them!' Those are but 2 case studies. Just two of the ones I've encountered just recently. And of course there are students like the ones in the video, students that find BL useful and exciting, but when BL is not widespread, lots of students find it hard, or at least harder than the alternative. And parents...they find it harder too, because they see there's work that has to be done in 1-2 subjects and feel as if the other 13-14 subjects are neglected, so yes, their child's statement that Mrs. X asks for too much work is justified - she does. As parents, they feel all 15 subjects are equally important and their child is 'forced' to pay too much attention to just 1.
0 Comments
I feel I'm quite tech savvy so I feel confident in using technology in my classroom. What I don't know, I can learn is my motto. Here are my results.
Identify any areas of weakness and make a note of them in your journal. 1. I have a general understanding of how I can use technologies to enhance my students learning 10 / 10 2. I have a good grasp of the language and culture (netiquette) of online communication 9 / 10 3. I am aware of the broad range of digital study skills that my learners will need for successful academic study 10 / 10 4. I know how to plug in and configure a microphone on my computer 10 / 10 5. I know how to plug in and configure a webcam on my computer 10 / 10 6. I know how to plug in and configure speakers on my computer 10 / 10 7. I can use the microphone, camera and speakers on my mobile devices 10 / 10 8. I am confident using a media player on my computer for viewing multimedia 10 / 10 9. I am confident that I can make the most effective use of our virtual learning environment (VLE) 10 / 10 10. I am aware of all of the tools available within our Virtual Learning Environment 9 / 10 11. I know how to set up an electronic submission area in our Virtual Learning Environment for learners to submit assignments electronically 10 / 10 12. I am confident about writing good threads for discussion boards to encourage learners to engage in effective collaborative study 10 / 10 13. I am confident using Google docs to produce and share presentations and documents 10 / 10 14. I understand how to set up a wiki for my learners to work on collaborative writing exercises 6 / 10 15. I am aware of how I could use social media to support my learners 8 / 10 16. I understand how to access and use a chat room for my learners to access 10 / 10 17. I can tell my learners how to find free online courses on the Internet to support their studies 8 / 10 18. I can create quizzes or tests online for my learners to test their knowledge and understanding 8 / 10 19. I know how to audio or video record my teaching sessions for learners to use later 8 / 10 20. I can find and recognise good quality learning material on the Internet to use with my learners 9 / 10 21. I can find copyright free or creative commons licenced digital learning materials on the Internet 10 / 10 22. I am aware of the range of ways that a mobile device could be used to support learners’ study 10 / 10 23. I know how to use digital technologies to support learners with special educational needs 9 / 10 24. I am able to give my students advice about staying safe on the Internet 8 / 10 25. I know how to use digital technologies to support learners with special educational needs 9 / 10 These are my answers for review.
1) Constructivism Technologies you chose: In-class mobile voting, Lecture with Powerpoint presentation, Video recording of learner activity, Online formative assessments, Reflective logs (blog), Audio / video learning resources, Open Educational Resources, Simulations, Instructor-led activities How you might use them: Ask students to read an article and then do an online assessment or mobile voting. Neil's feedback: There are a wide range of technologies that can support a constructivist pedagogy. Technology enables learners to be more involved in their own learning, to get personal feedback on their performance, and to source and use learning materials suitable for their level, competence and needs. 2) Social constructivism Technologies you chose: Interactive lecture, Discussion forums, Reflective logs (blog), Social media, Video conferencing, Practical activities, Simulations How you might use them: Student writes on their blogs and other students comment thus creating a discussion. Neil's feedback: Social constructivism suits the digital age and digital technologies well. It is a useful pedagogical framework for the VET sector as it encourages interaction, communication, social learning and collaboration. Many technologies support these types of activity. 3) Problem-based learning Technologies you chose: Collaborative writing, Interactive lecture, Discussion forums, Reflective logs (blog), Open Educational Resources, Practical activities, Simulations How you might use them: Group students and have them research a topic, then using GoogleDrive have different groups: a) write a collaborative report (using GoogleDoc) b) create a shared presentation (using Google Slides) c) create a quiz (using GoogleForms). Neil's feedback: A wide range of digital technologies can effectively support problem based learning and encourage learners to develop creative thinking skills. I know the suggested apps and sites are just an example, but still, I have to have a say in it.
Nearpod - I've used it for about 2 months few years ago, and even though I loved it, it was an expencive tool for me. Schools here aren't allocated finances to purchase access to such technologies so I paid for it myself. Now, before you say it's free, let me just tell you that I have over 140 students every year split in 6 classes so it's not free if I wanted to use it with all my students. I'd need the full version of it and thus, I'm submitted to paid version. I've paid for it for 2 months and loved it, but... (oh well) GoogleClassroom - although I (and my students) use all the GoogleDrive options (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, Pics) it's difficult to set up a classroom on Google since the Ministry of Education here doesn't provide for school websites here, so the school where I work has a custom .com domaine. Unfortunately, GoogleClassrooms can be created for free just with .edu domains for free, otherwise one has to pay for a domaine created via Google. That creates the problem. I'm not giving up tho, I'll look for different ways to create a GoogleClassroom. Meanwhile, I'm quite content with using Edmodo and my personal website with my students.
I like this!!!! (embeded from the FutureLearn depository)
And what's more important, I can get to it whenever I need to, as a reminder or just to peek or refer someone to it! |