Although my actions have seemed small, they have yielded excellent results. After collaborating with my department, cooperating teacher, and administration I will soon be the proud user of a smart board! One of my goals was to integrate technology into the classroom that will assist and benefit my students, while providing more problem/project based activities. This will be the perfect tool to help launch my efforts. Sadly, my new "toy" will not be in my classroom for use until next year. This obviously provides a learning opportunity for me. I will now need to learn how to operate my new equipment. I have had some training; however, it consisted of an instructor demonstrating everything this great tool can do in a very short period of time, without hands on experience. My new questions will include not only how my students will also be able to use this tool within their projects and activities, but how to utilize the capability to save and publish the notes, examples, etc. to the school's edline page. All of that will be learned over the summer, but I am very excited to get started as soon as possible.
This week, my students participated in a group activity (after a week's worth of preparation), and presented talk show or law and order episodes as a culminating activity for Lord of the Flies. One of the greatest things I have learned, is that although my students are hesitant concerning voice recordings and digital storytelling, many of them are excited to make and edit video footage. The scripts, commercials, and final products were amazing! As a class, we laughed so hard that we all cried as the humor meter was off the charts. Not only were the students entertaining, they still captured the heart of the assignment and demonstrated profound knowledge of the text.
As I continue to reflect on my previous and current practices, perhaps the best adjustment I can make for my plan is to begin with the technologies and concepts my students are comfortable with, instead of my own comfort zone. Personally, I find video intimidating; however, the best instructors I may find fill my classroom each day and are more than willing to share their knowledge with me. I am truly reminded that the role of the teacher has, and continues, to change to that of a facilitator, rather than a dispenser of knowledge.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
One of the greatest things that I have learned, is that I do not always have to have all of the answers or know how to use all of the programs. Problem-Based Learning occurs all the time in my classroom, whether it is an intentional unit or my students are simply trying to solve real world problems. There is one lesson in particular, where my students were using the laptops to create their own commercials, that encourages me. During this lesson, I provided the basic tools, however some students knew how to use Photo Shop and some knew how to create websites. By the end of the project, they were working in small groups (on their own!) to teach each other how to use these new tools and applications. All I did was monitor and facilitate their learning. In fact, the next time a project came around, my students were able to transfer that knowledge they gained previously to produce better and more tech savy projects! It truly was a beautiful thing - especially since I have no idea how to even use Photo Shop. Students will take what they are comfortable with and teach each other - I gave them an inch, and they took a mile...but, this time it was in a good way!
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work! If you can allow students the opportunities to be leaders and teach one another, you will reap the benefits. Perhaps you could do a PBL unit where the students pick a new technology and teach you and the class how to use it!
Good luck,
Christina
Congratulations on getting your new smart board! I know when I was given my respone clickers and my interwrite tablet that I was excited, overwhelmed, and nervous all at the same time. It might be a blessing in disguise that you are not getting to use it until next year because that will give you some time to get more professional development and exposure to using the equipment. I went with the "dive right in" approach with my new equipment and I had mixed results at best!
ReplyDelete