Final class

In the last class of this course, we talked briefly about virtual reality, augmented reality, and QR codes.

Virtual reality allows for students to experience different places and worlds without actually being there. Google cardboard is an example of a virtual reality headset by simply putting a smartphone into the viewer and opening a virtual reality app that can be downloaded from the app store. The virtual reality options are endless and it is a great way for kids to be engaged and suits all learning types especially for those who are visual learners. However, some people may experience nausea and it is not recommended for children under the age of 13 as it could disrupt certain parts of the brain.

QR codes are codes that can be scanned by a smartphone which leads to additional information in the form of a URL link. it is a super convenient way to share information and can be used by students and teachers for assignments and projects, on a bulletin board, worksheets, and helps to form professional develop connections. Augmented reality takes the idea of QR codes a little further. An app called “HP reveal” allows teachers to create hot spots on a piece of paper. When they are scanned, a 3-d object pops up and can bring students to audio files, pictures, and videos for deeper understanding of a concept.

Distributed Learning

In high school, I took a course online that was very self-paced and I had trouble staying motivated to complete what needed to be done. Because there wasn’t a specific teacher or supervisor that I was assigned to, there weren’t any guidelines for me to follow and it was up to me to set goals for myself and to determine how much time I wanted to put into it. Personally, I prefer face to face lectures as I feel more connected to the course material and the teacher. However, I can definitely see how some students may benefit from other ways of learning.

In this class, I have had the opportunity to be a part of two video conference sessions which was new for me, but they were very informative and it comes to show that learning can be effectively delivered in different ways other than a face to face lecture.

I think that distributed learning adds a new dimension for learning and it is nice to have a change from face to face lectures. Blended learning involves both face to face and online lectures. Not everyone can be present so distributed learning can help fit the box for those individuals. This way, they are able to be present and be able to learn. Not everyone has to go down the same path- there are different learning pathways that fit different students’ needs. Distributed learning can also help students with anxiety or those who live in a rural area who can connect with teachers online instead of having to travel for hours to school.

Coding with Microbit

This week, I decided to try out a different program called microbit. Although it is similar to scratch, it has the benefit of being able to switch to javascript which shows the actual coding that is happening. This feature helps me to understand the relationship between the blocks and the written code.

Similar to the module that we completely last week on scratch, I created another game using step-by-step instructions. This was called “rock, paper scissors“. There were many other lessons to choose from to program the microbit however you want, as well as a section for educators that contains curriculum materials and resources to teach students.

For the most part, the instructions to the lesson were easy to follow. However, because it was not the most descriptive and mainly showed where to put the blocks through pictures, it took me some time to find which blocks to use. There was one section where I had to create a new block that wasn’t already provided for me, so I spent a while trying to figure this out as the instructions did not state to do this. Overall, I had fun with this program and it’s a great way for students to use their creativity and develop skills in coding to make different games and animations. Click here to watch a video of us playing the game we created!

Password: microbit

Sketchnoting and Twine

Today, we learned how to take visual notes created from a mix of handwriting and drawings. I have never heard of this before and was a little hesitant to begin with as I don’t consider myself to be a “good” drawer, however I quickly realized that people of all ages and skills can excel at this activity. I started off by drawing simple lines and objects, and learned about designing titles with thin lines for letters, bubble letters, shading for a 3D effect, and adding other simple details for it to stand out. Unlike simply writing out notes or typing them out, sketchnoting helps with memory recall by condensing information faster and connecting it to visual diagrams that the brain is more likely to remember. On top of that, it is also fun, engaging, and it helps with concentration.

Another neat activity I explored was creating an interactive story on Twine. This software allows a user to create a story in the form of web pages, by typing out any information they would like on the page, and adding double brackets around a word or phrase they would like to hyperlink to a different page. It feels much like an adventure, going from one page to another virtually. You are also able to see the whole layout of your story on the main page, which shows boxes of text that are connected by arrows (the boxes being each new page that is created). Best of all, you can easily publish it to html to revisit it and share it with friends and family all across the world!

Minecraft

Today, we spent the class learning how to play Minecraft. Heidi James, a teacher from Colquitz Middle School, brought a few of her students to our class and talked to us about the learning outcomes that come from playing Minecraft. I have never had an interest in gaming and like many parents, see it as a “waste of time” for children. However, after this class I realized how important it is for adults and especially for teachers to be open-minded and encouraging of students to engage in video games- specifically Minecraft. As Heidi mentioned, Minecraft helps students to develop numerous skills such as planning, cooperation, creativity, and problem-solving. It can also be integrated into many subjects such as science, social studies, english, math, and art.

I was able to play this game with all my peers by simply connecting to a server, which made the whole experience more fun and engaging. The room was buzzing with energy and the sound of voices as we were all collaborating with one another and helping each other out. Heidi showed us a really cool feature where the teacher can control the game by freezing characters, transporting them, switching the game to survival mode with monsters, the time of the day, and so much more. I definitely want to try this with my students in the future as I think it’s a wonderful way for them to learn and have fun!

For more information about Minecraft in the classroom, click on the link here

open learning and privacy

We had the wonderful opportunity to have another video conference session, this time with Verena Roberts, who talked to us about open learning education in grades k-12. This type of learning goes beyond learning in the classroom and allows students to connect to their community and develop their identity. A huge part of open learning is that it requires people from outside the classroom to be involved in education. Building relationships, making clear connections to learning and thinking, clear assessment, and feedback are all very important components as well. A few indicators for open learning practice include the following:

Designing for sharing
Participatory learning
Learning networks
Safe learning spaces
Expanded learning environments

After the session with Verena, we listened to Jesse Miller talk about safety and privacy with using the internet and how it can impact our teaching career. Jesse began by informing us that tweens are not the only ones who don’t know how to use social media properly and that in fact, nobody does. Technology can be an amazing thing for kids when used right, so it is important for parents and educators to learn how to use it correctly and appropriately first, before educating young ones about it. Something I learned was that every social media platform is connected to another. Even giving someone a piece of information as simple as your phone number can lead to your facebook account, instagram, snapchat, and so on. As future teachers, it is extremely important to be cautious about what you post on social media and how you portray yourself in order to maintain a high level of professionalism and respect.

A few other points that I got from this talk include:

understanding the school expectations and policies of the employer

Public/parents- understand how the school district wishes to use social media to communicate to the public
Staff- understand how the district wishes staff to use social media to communicate and educate to students
Students-understand how the district wishes to use social media to educate students about internet trends and online concerns in conjunction with parents, the community, partners, and school board

Copyrighting

It is important to know what copyright is and the rules and regulations behind it. Through my personal experience at school, my teachers would always emphasize the seriousness of plagiarism, however they never really talked about how serious copyright infringement can also be. When sharing information such as pictures, videos, music, and other works, it is important to know whether or not you have the right to do so and to also give credit to the creator of the work. It isn’t a good feeling when someone uses a work of your own without your permission or any acknowledgement.

A creative commons license is one out of many copyright licenses which allows people to have the right to share and use the work of that author. There are different rules and guidelines for each type of license so it is important to look carefully and to follow the right information. Here is the link to the creative commons website for more information: https://creativecommons.org/

A useful tip that I learned when saving pictures is to write the license number of it, the name of the person who took it, and where you found the picture. By doing this, one is aware of where they found the picture and what licensing it is under.

School visit

The school visit to the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry was an eye-opening experience for me. I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but as soon as I walked around the school, I was amazed to see all the resources and facilities that the school had to offer such as a common room for students to interact, a quiet room, a kitchen, and even a music production room. After talking to the students, I found out that many of them had struggled with the traditional style of teaching, which is why they transferred to this school for a less-structured curriculum and a self-directed way of learning. The students come up with a passion project much like what we are doing in tech class, and they decide how much time and effort they would like to put into it. There are no scheduled class times or subjects as subjects are integrated into the projects, and students are assessed based on competency development. It was great to see the tight-knit community of students and teachers and everyone seemed to get along very well. The teachers are always available for help and guidance and do a lot of one-on-one interactions with the students. Although this kind of education isn’t for everybody, it works for many students and provides a strong foundation for their passions and interests that could potentially lead to their career path. When students are given freedom and choice of what they want to do, learning comes easily and naturally.

Video conferencing and assessment

Last week, our class was held in the video conference room where we had a talk with Ian Landy of Powell River Elementary. He introduced us to the benefits of using an E-portfolio instead of the traditional report card for the assessment of students. This kind of formative assessment is meaningful and relevant in the way that it showcases what students are proud of in their work and their learning process. Every individual is unique with different strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to give students the chance to highlight the areas they want to share. One thing that really stuck with me is the fact that not everything needs to be documented/assessed, and that it is a lot easier and practical to assess only what is important. Overall, I really like the idea of an e-portfolio as it gives students a voice in what they want to showcase and it really captures the whole learning development and progress of the child.

Video and audio editing

Today, we learned how to edit videos on IMovie and produce music on GarageBand. I had forgotten much of what I learned about video editing in the past, so everything was new to me. I had a lot of fun playing around with all the different options for backgrounds, transitions, audio, and titles. It didn’t take me long to get the hang of using editing tools such as cutting the length of the video, splitting it into different sections, zooming in, and using slow-motion. I’m sure I’ll start using IMovie a lot more now to edit some of my own videos and create something that I will want to share with my friends and family. It’s also a great way for students and teachers to share content and knowledge by incorporating the use of technology skills along with creativity and fun!

GarageBand captured my attention and interest immediately as I am quite passionate about music. I was pretty familiar with the different sounds and effects that I could make as I’ve had the experience of playing a real synthesizer before. However, it was definitely a different experience playing around with the sounds on my computer, and I find it incredible to be able to create basically any sound imaginable.