Chapter 3 in our text book was full of new concepts that I
wanted to look further into. The first concept is teaching in a unique,
powerful, and transformative way with technology. As a teacher using technology
in a unique way could be a great way to get the kids involved more in the
lesson but also allow you to use the technology to teach the lesson in a way
that you couldn't on a chalk board. I think the key to this as a teacher would
be to make sure you think outside the box when you are setting up your lessons.
The way a teacher integrates technology into the lesson plans could be a
powerful tool for other teachers to follow. Lessons like this would mean that
teachers are transforming the way the school is teaching its students and the
way it is keeping up with technology and using that to their advantage to
create better and more creative lessons. Below is a shot fun video on the history of technology in education.
The next concept is active learning. This is a concept that
I truly believe in. Active learning means that as a teacher you are allowing
students to be more hands on in their lessons. You wouldn't just sit at the
head of the class and lecture but you might instead allow students to get in a
group and work on a project together. The students would not just be learning a
lesson but they would be a part of the lesson. I think this would also grab a student
attention more and therefore students would be more likely to remember the
lesson.
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| Created by Chasity Kahl on Piktochart |
The third concept, teacher-centered and student-centered
learning, is two concepts but I think they should go together. Teacher-centered
learning is basically the teacher telling the students what needs to be learned
and the goals they have to reach to get there. I think every class I went to in
school was mostly like this. The other concept is student-centered learning. This
allows the students to have a say in the classroom. It lets the students come
up with questions that may not be on a regular lesson. The students may also
pick a lesson or get in a group to do a project that makes them think outside
the box. It is less of a strict way of learning and lets students be a part of
the decision making. I think if the two concepts were combined it would a great
thing. The teachers could keep the class on track with their lessons but also
set aside time for the students to do their own thing. That would allow
students to be creative in the class and also learn the lessons needed.
In conclusion, integrating technology in a unique, powerful,
and transformative way is a must to keep up with the times and stay current.
Also letting students be more hands on and using active learning is a great way
to keep students participating and learning in the classroom. When teaching you
can use a teacher-centered approach or a student-centered approach. Both are great
concepts but if they were to be combined then teaching and learning could be
elevated to a new level.
Resources
Kahl, C. (n.d.). Banner on Piktochart. Retrieved February 1,
2015, from https://magic.piktochart.com/
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon
A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming
Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education,
Inc.
The history of technology in education. (2011, October 3).
Retrieved February 1, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s
You noted that the "out of box" thinking is important for teachers as they plan the integration of technology into lessons. I think that the more recent focus on creativity and the opportunity to access digital resources has really opened up a new door to technology and the importance of it in the learning process.
ReplyDeleteYour Piktochart also sends a clear message for flexibility in preparing lessons. Fortunately, there are many web 2.0 tools that are free of charge and as long as you have some digital devices and internet access, there is quite a bit you can do (and have students do, too!) :)