Sam, when I read your blog I became caught on the idea of storytelling. In all this talk about multimedia I believe mny of us became caught on the idea of technology. By including storytelling into our lesson plans and teaching, we are not only using a new and engaging media, we are also connecting with the First Peoples Principles of Learning which implies storytelling is a key way of relating current day education with their traditions. In primary grades, fantastical stories are engaging and inspiring for students. They believe in each and every aspect of what they are hearing and they absorb everything they are hearing because the story triggers parts of their brain and becomes engraved in their memory. As if they themselves expereinced it, it’s fascinating! In the onlder ages, students wish to hear our stories. How do our travels, adventures, or lives relate to what they are learning? It makes what they are learning real and memorable. I wonder, if by asking the students to relate what they are learning to themselves, and to tell us those stories, if it would support the students in learningthe content at a deeper level.
Category: edci337-feedback
Liv, firstly I must thank you for sharing with us your experiences through public school and post-secondary education. We seemingly had similar experiences! Having teachers who are passionate about learning is essential for students’ success. Between our two stories, I find similarities and wonder if the reason our passionate teachers were successful was not only because of their excitement for the topic they were teaching, but because they were willing to learn new things when we were interested. Throughout this past year in the education program, I have found the importance of being a flexible teacher and promoting inquiry in the classroom. Our lesson plans may not always get the students thinking about what we hoped for, but if they are asking questions and finding interest in similar topics, we are lucky to follow their ideas and support them in finding the answers. Humility is key. Arrogant, know it all teachers rarely are respected by their students nor find success in teaching. Teachers with humility allow their students to learn alongside them. Be a guide on the side, not a sage on the stage.
Thank you for sharing your views on the topic of technology in the classroom Kayla! When you mentioned how you wonder how to incorporate technology while continuing to keep your classroom interactive, I immediately thought of games. There are so many games online which allow students to interact through technology. I used to think video games were useless, time consuming, brain cell killing, devices which had no use in classrooms; through practica however, I have experienced the value in them. Online computer games allow students who struggle to connect with their peers in any way, the opportunity to chat, work, and interact with students in their classes and others. Although this may seem like the opposite of interactive learning, for many students this kind of interaction allows them to step out of their comfort zone and communicate without fear of judgement. Surely technology has the ability to connect and support students in other ways, but I believe this is one of the most remarkable and rewarding forms of technology in the classroom.
https://justynmackie.opened.ca/category/edci337-blog/
In Justyn Mackie’s blog post, “Multimedia and Interactive Learning,” Justyn describes the incorporation of technology into education as needing to be “organic”. As a fellow teacher who fears, and sometimes forces, the use of technology in lesson plans, you really made me think about how I may incorporate technology in more natural ways. Perhaps, for aspiring teachers like you and I, this course and the resources provided to us through this course, will support us in becoming more comfortable, open, and knowledgeable when it comes to implementing technology into our classroom. As students in the University of Victoria Education Program, we are both familiar with the idea of creating learner-centered classrooms and designing lessons to be open and accessible for all learning styles and abilities. Technology has the potential to create a learning environment where every student is provided the resources to be successful. A quote by Caroline Belden explains how technology can support students in school,
“Equality is leaving the door open for anyone who has the means to approach it; equity is ensuring there is a pathway to that door for those who need it.”
Through opening our minds and learning to implement technology into our classrooms, we can make our learning outcomes more reachable for all our learners.