Over the past eight weeks, I have learned many different ideas and theories about using technology for teaching and learning. I was able to not only learn about the different topics but was able to play around with the different applications and technology. I was also able to create a unit plan for my sixth graders, based on plate tectonics, that has all of our new technology integrated into the lessons and unit. The past eight weeks have been wonderful to add more resources and engage with the technology. The technology that I enjoyed the most to use was creating mind maps! I first liked gathering information from surveys and enjoyed learning about why surveys are great to learn to create and read. But my favorite part of it was being able to create a mind map. Mind mapping is a wonderful way for my students and myself to show what one knows by a flow of topics using pictures and creativity. I loved how I was engaged on making the connections and ensuring the mind map was able to keep going and growing. I also liked how I was able to go back through the map and see what I created and understand the connections and topics. The technology that I wanted to love but just didn't enjoy using it was when we were able to explore a virtual reality in the classroom. I used the program Second Life, and I found it hard to find out where I wanted to go and my computer kept freezing and causing frustration. I understand that the frustration can be from the bandwidth or my computer, but I could see how my students would be upset with it not working in the classroom. Using a program like Second Life is a great idea to get the students out of the four walls of the classroom and explore and communicate with others, but it was not something that I found easy enough to guide my students through. I am hoping to keep exploring the program and adding more and more resources of different worlds to visit, so I can bring my knowledge to my students and gain more excitement for the program itself. This course has helped me better understand the use of technology in the classroom for both teaching and learning. From understanding the engagement that can be made from social media use for my students to breaking away from the time restraints of a class period by creating mobile learning presentations and applications. I learned how technology is not something that is to be feared or an addition to my curriculum, but rather one can take current lessons and teaching and easily implement technology for the students. Being able to access different resources was very helpful on see how I can bring it to my classroom, ASAP. For this upcoming school year, I have made some plans on bringing in the new technology for my students. Being able to create a unit that I can use ASAP was very helpful. The first thing that I will be doing is showing my students the mind mapping programs and how to create them. As this is the technology that I was most excited about, I am hoping to bring that excitement to my students by showing how they can be creative by creating a mind map. I am also excited to bring in more mobile learning into my classroom. My school recently added more Chrome Books and iPads for our students. I am hoping to be able to create more mobile learning lessons where the students can have access to them when needed. I know my first step will be to talk to my team teachers and create a solid support group at my school. Supporting each other while showcasing new ideas and technology use will be the most important part of my technology journey. Where do I see education in ten years because of technology? I believe that education will not be forced in four walls of a classroom nor will there be a time constraint on learning. As seen through these eight weeks, technology is evolving and teaching and learning through it is soaring. Many of the technology advances allows the learner to travel the world, meet new people, and learn when he or she is able to do so. I believe technology won't just break the students out of the classroom, but using a device will be the means of teaching and learning. From looking at Google Glass to augmented reality (AR), the learner is able to access information and manipulate his or her environment. The future will be filled with devices that allow for AR where manipulation can occur and more hands on learning is accessible. The future of education will be more student focused and student paced. The student will be able to be engaged with the learning that is occurring and technology will be a major factor for that to occur.
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Over the past two units we have investigated two different and interesting topics for education. The first was about using virtual reality in the classroom. At first thought, this made me scratch my head. I think of virtual reality roller coasters and the Sims, but after the unit I realized there is a world of education in a virtual world.
AS Attenborough's video shows, virtual reality allows for the student to break out of the four walls of the classroom and experience something they may never have had to chance to see or do. Touchstone Research published a great resource of top ten companies that are emerging in the VR world for education. That can be checked out here. For unit 6, I was able to explore and experience Second Life. Second Life allows for the user to create an avatar and explore different places, meet people, and learn as if they were in a museum or classroom. I found that there is a learning curve to Second Life, but once I was able to find interesting and exciting places to transport to, I was able to see how Second Life can be used in the classroom setting. During my time in Second Life, I was able to visit different worlds. One world was like a museum where I could walk around and experience different exhibits. I was in control of the outcome of the exhibit, as if I would be in real life. I could see how using a VR world in a classroom setting is helpful as it allows the students to collaborate and create. One can learn a different language by having a partner across the world or simply gain more of a community by working with a classmate. VR allows the user to transport wherever he or she wishes.
During unit 7 we explored the idea of mobile learning. Stanaityte, J., Washington, N., Wankel, L. A., & Blessinger, P. (2013) give us different reasons why using a m-learning setting is important and great for the students. I found that I agreed with the idea of how mobile it is as well as the interest they bring. Thinking of my own middle school students, I understand how important their mobile devices are. Just having them in school brings the students joy. Keeping the students engaged is the most important part of teaching a new topic. Just like using social media in the classroom, one can make connections with their students in a familiar platform that allows for learning on the go.
Another great connection with gaining interests of students is the flow theory. The theory states that one can be so engrossed and engaged with a topic or activity, that he or she can cancel out the rest of the world and focus in. Once pure focus occurs, then he or she can connect to the topic and learning and flow easily. This is a great theory to connect with mobile learning as it again supports the need and importance of making connections for the student that will allow for him or her to be engaged and excited to learn. With a mobile learning environment, there are some concerns and myths that come with the idea. The biggest challenge is being able to give the students an engaging task that keeps them off of Snapchat and into the objectives. References Stanaityte, J., Washington, N., Wankel, L. A., & Blessinger, P. (2013). Increasing Student Engagement and Retention Using Mobile Applications : Smartphones, Skype and Texting Technologies. Bingley, U.K.: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. |
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