When your using technology in the class make sure it is still focused on learning
Align everything together (Big Ideas, Learning Outcomes, Etc.) Learning goals should fit with the lesson
Assessment should really speak to the big ideas and learning outcomes
Visions Of The Future
Jonathan Haidt – We have overprotected children in the real world and underprotected them online
We can do better protecting children on social media
Social Media age restriction?
How can we make sure children don’t lie about their age
Some kids may be left out if they have a later birthday
Social Media can be beneficial for communication with family/friends and it’s not all bad
Could be promising to protect children from unhealthy situations (bad mental health, talking to random people, etc.)
Reflecting This Class
It wasn’t about specific platforms like Kahoot for example but it was more about learning how to incorporate technology into the classroom in an appropriate way – Dos and Don’ts
Used MatterMost instead of Brightspace because the resources last instead of getting deleted within a couple weeks
I have learned a lot from this class and I am thankful for the opportunity to expand my knowledge on technology in the classroom
How can teachers integrate technology in a meaningful way to develop a relationship/care for the land/environment and relationship/care with the land/environment?
for the land: more separated from the land – e.g planting trees for the land
with the land: becoming part of the land – e.g drawing the land
QR Code Scavenger Hunt
One way to use technology outside is to place QR codes and let students go around with IPads or their phones to scan the codes and follow the directions on it – This may be using different websites to learn about a topic or documenting different experiences
This is good to get students outside and give a break from the classroom
Different Apps You Can Use to Integrate Technology and Nature
LeafSnap Plant Identification
Rock Identifier:Stone ID
Google Maps
iNaturalist
Seek
SkyView
Google Earth
Moon Phases and Lunar Calendar
ChatterPix
Minecraft in the Classroom
Book Creator
This video is an example of an app called ChatterPix where you can take pictures and make different things talk. You could have students research about different plants and create a video of the plant talking about itself like this cedar tree for example!
An organization that supports families of students with disabilities and complex learning needs
Provides guidance and advocacy for parents who feel lost or overwhelmed in navigating the education system
How to Help Create an Inclusive Classroom/Community?
Ensure all students feel valued and included
Provide appropriate support to meet diverse learning needs
Foster collaboration etween teachesr, students, and families
Work with the school team to develop plans with parents and students who may need extra support
Create safety plans (this may be the only option in some cases)
Accessing Support & Funding
The student has to have an assesment in order to revice funding
Schools have limited assesments available, so families often need to seek private assesments which can take a very long time
Early intervention is key to supporting students effectively but this can be a challenge when assessment is so limited
Challenges
Underfunding – many students go undiagnosed and don’t receive funding, or do receive funding but it goes towards students who may have a more severe disability (e.g. a student who has autism may not get support because the student in a wheelchair needs more assistance)
Prioritization Issues – some students receive more support, while others who still need support may be overlooked
Using Technology for Support
For nonverbal students: Ipad’s with TouchChat or other AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) apps
For students with hearing difficulties: Microphones, hearing aids, and. subtitles/visual aids
Issues with this include: some families may be unfamiliar or don’t have internet or time to use technology, many people have resistance to change, and lack of funding can slow implementation
AI has rapidly become accessible to non-experts, changing how we approach education. Much like the internet did in 1993, AI is now a powerful tool in classrooms worldwide. However, as we integrate AI into teaching, it’s important to rethink how we assess student work, foster creativity, and maintain our human connection.
AI as a Creative Tool
AI tools like Labs.google’s GENTYPE offer exciting opportunities to create personalized, interactive content. For instance, creating an alphabet using everyday school supplies or something more specific to the lesson you are teaching allows for creativity in ways that traditional methods can’t. The possibilities for learning through AI are vast, allowing for deeper engagement and self-expression. I asked GENTYPE to create an alphabet with fish jumping out of the water, here is my example:
Rethinking Assessment in an AI World
With AI’s ability to generate content, there needs to be a shift in traditional assessments. Instead of focusing solely on the final product, we should shift to evaluating the process. Asking students to reflect on their decisions and thought processes encourages deeper learning. This approach helps us understand their creativity, even when AI tools are involved.
AI in Daily Life and Learning
AI has been embedded in our daily lives for years through tools like Google Maps, Netflix recommendations, and Siri/Alexa or other voice assistances. These applications show how AI can enhance learning experiences in the classroom, whether through refining writing skills with tools like Grammarly or generating ideas through platforms like ChatGPT.
Addressing AI Concerns
Although AI has some positive aspects, it also raises concerns, including environmental impact, data privacy, and it can be bias. It’s crucial to teach students not only how to use AI but also how to use it ethically and responsibly. By focusing on the environmental and ethical aspects of AI, we can help students develop a critical lens when engaging with these technologies.
In our class on February 25th we explored various topics related to digital curation, organization, collaboration, and the power of student-led learning.
Digital Curation & Organization
We discussed how digital curation can be defined as a way of shaping how we are perceived online (Instagram was used as an example). It involves selecting, organizing, and presenting content that we want to be shared. This connects to the importance of file management, where naming and organizing files properly helps ensure accessibility and efficiency.
We also considered the efficiency of physical books and paper copies. While they have their positives, they can sometimes be difficult to search through and share, making digital tools more convenient for certain tasks. Tools such as Notion, OneNote, GoodNotes, Apple Notes, and WordPress were recommended for organization in academic and professional life.
The Networked Teacher
Another key takeaway I had during this lecture was the concept of being a networked teacher—using resources like podcasts, online sources, and peer connections to continuously learn and improve. We recognized that teachers don’t have to navigate their profession alone and they can engage with others to exchange valuable insights and strategies.
A term for processing and sharing knowledge is Seek, Sense, Share which means actively looking for ideas, making sense of them, and sharing insights with others. This term encourages collaboration and ensures that useful information doesn’t just stay isolated but contributes to help other educators.
EdCamps
Learning about EdCamps made me realize the value of student-driven learning. Unlike traditional ways of teaching where topics are predetermined by the teacher, EdCamps allow students to come up with/pick a question they are most interested about and discuss it with others who are interested about the same thing. This activity was done by having students come up and write something they want to talk about (if they had any ideas) and then the class would get to go up and vote for 3 topics that were most interesting to them by using stickers. Once all the votes were in, students could pick through the most voted ones and that would be the one they were going to talk about.
In my own group discussion, we focused on the topic of field trips and their educational impact.
Field Trips: Maximizing Learning
One major point of our discussion was whether worksheets should be used during field trips. While they can reinforce learning, we felt that requiring students to complete traditional worksheets during a trip might take away from their engagement with the environment. Instead, a compromise could be:
Completing worksheets before or after the trip, not during
Using engaging formats like scavenger hunts instead of lengthy written assignments
We also debated the best timing for a field trip within a unit. We agreed that end-of-unit field trips are more effective because they reinforce what students have already learned and can serve as a motivational reward.
Final Thoughts
This lecture reinforced the importance of organization, collaboration, and student-centered learning. By taking charge of our own learning, whether through digital tools or EdCamps, we become more effective educators and students. Looking ahead, integrating these ideas into our own teaching practices will help us navigate both digital and physical learning spaces with greater purpose and creativity.
Visual engagement plays a crucial role in learning whether teaching young or older students, incorporating graphics can make lessons more interactive, memorable, and effective. The tools I see most used in classroom are Canva and Bitmoji, they both offer creative ways to enhance instruction, promote engagement, and support diverse learning styles.
Why Use Graphics in Teaching?
Increases Engagement- visuals capture students attention and make lessons more appealing
Improves Comprehenion- graphics help break down complextopics and reinforce the key concepts
Support Diverse Learning Styles- visual learner benefit from clear, structured image that accompany explanations
Personalization and Creativity- graphics can be customized tp the students needs and interests, personalizing it to them
Canva
Super Easy to Use- Canva offers thousands of pre-made templates for worksheets, posters, presentations, and newsletters, allowing teachers to create high-quality materials quickly
Create Visuals/Anchor Charts- you can create posters or infographics to reinforce key concepts
Interactive Assignments- you can design engaging wroksheets and activity templates
Student-Created Projects- students can be taught how to make their own infographics, posters, or presentations on Canva!
Bitmoji
Personalizes Learning Experience- adding a fun personal touch to slides and worksheets making lessons feel more engaging and meaningful
Give Directions and Feedback- Bitmoji characters can be used to give directions, reminders, or positive feedback on assignments, adding a friendly, encouraging tone
Makes Learning More Interactive- Students respond well to visually appealing content, and Bitmoji makes lessons, instructions, and announcements more interactive and interesting
This is a picture I made on Canva that didn’t take much time and I was able to upload pictures from Flickr onto it, as well as adding my Bitmoji
Other Graphics to Consider Using
Powerpoint-Create interactive lessons and presentations
Pixlr-free web-based photo editing tool that allows teachers and students to create, enhance, and customize images for lessons, digital projects, and creative assignments with an easy-to-use interface
Vectr-free web-based vector graphics editor that allows teachers and students to create scalable, high-quality designs for posters, infographics, digital projects, and classroom visuals with an easy-to-use interface
We had guest speaker, Jessie Miller, come into the class to discuss how to navigate the evolving aspect of social media and mobile technology. As technology continues to become more ingrained in our lives, its impact on education has increased significantly. This lecture gave me a deeper understanding of how interconnected our would has become with technology and how much communication and privacy have been affected by this.
Flickr
We discussed how social media often is far from the reality of our lives and how crucial it is for educators to teach students how to critically evaluate what they see online. Social media can have a negative impact on self-esteem and mental health. This made me realize how crucial helping students understand how to use social media responsibly is to their well-being.
Additionally, Jessie discussed the AI 4 C’s of literacy
Critical Thinking: Evaluate AI generated content
Creativity: Using AI to generate and refine ideas
Communication: Practicing effective interactions with AI
Collaboration: Group activities exploring AI use
These skills are essential for navigating AI tools responsibly, which plays an increasingly important role in education as AI is becoming more popular.
One topic that stood out most to me was the boundaries around the use of social media in schools. Teachers must maintain professional boundaries, especially surrounding the privacy of student information. Digital consent is critical and both teachers and students must understand the ethics surrounding sharing content online. I have always been uncertain about this topic because I worked in classes where the teachers frequently communicated with parents and students via social media or text. While the intention was only to communicate about school, I often questioned if this was allowed or if it crossed professional boundaries. It helps to know that we should steer away from this to prevent any potential issues in our teaching careers.
Overall, the class reinforced the need for critical thinking and clear boundaries surrounding the use of social media/mobile technology. As technology continues to evolve we must equip ourselves and future generations with the skills to navigate our digital world responsibly!
The documentary “Most Likely to Succeed” by Ted Dintersmith and Tony Wagner, challenged the traditional education system including lectures, standardized testing, and memorization. This film focuses on skill development and project-based learning.
This film was very interesting to watch and it made me wonder a few things
If the education system we have relied on for so long serves the best purpose for students?
Why we don’t incorporate more elements of project-based learning into our teaching practices?
Is there a better way that we could encourage collaboration in the classroom, and focus on real-world applications of knowledge?
I do not believe all schools should push to be exactly like this video and I don’t agree with everything stated in this video. Although, I do agree that students need less lecture style teaching and more hands-on learning. I think that even small shifts in how we teach and assess learning could make a big difference in engaging students and preparing them for the future.
