Category: EDCI 336 (Page 1 of 3)

Sketchnoting! Creating sketch notes as the final activity for the class was a perfect way to wrap up the semester. With sketch notes we were able to express things we have learnt throughout the semester with a mix of visuals and words. By having us students create a sketch note, both our professor and ourselves are able to see the topics we worked on and what stood out to us most within those topics.

Post a screenshot or photo of one of your Science Journal activities.

Reflect on how the Science Journal might be a useful tool in grade 2 (this could be part of your critical reflection). 

• Engagement – The Arduino Science Journal can be very useful for young learners as it integrates technology into school activities. In grade 2, the students are at the stage of being curious and eager to explore their environment. Students are able to interact in hands-on experiments that encourages learning. Science is often seen as a boring and frustrating subject, by using the science journal/app, it creates a more fun and exciting way of exploration within the subject.
• Interactive Learning – The science journal lets students collect a variety of data through sensors and then document their findings. For example, the students are able to measure things like temperature, light, or sound levels. The hands-on approach is very intriguing for young learners, as it focuses on all different learning styles like kinaesthetic, visual, and auditory. This gives students in the classroom the ability to get a deeper understanding of scientific concepts.
• STEM Learning – The Arduino Science Journal focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education by creating a space for students to explore and connect with subjects in a holistically approach. Students in grade 2 are able to look at engineering principles in a simple format and create projects with the Arduino components. This format creates the starting pathways to learn more about complex STEM concepts in the later grades.
• Real-World Connections – Students are able to use the journal as a way to connect their classroom learning to real-world concepts. For example, by measuring different environmental conditions, as they discuss topics like the weather or the effects of pollution. The discussions that students will have can create a sense of relevance and encourage the students to think about their role in the world.

What questions might you need answers to before using (or not) Science Journal in your class?

There are many questions that will need to be considered before using the Science Journal in the classroom as this is a technology based journal. Here are some questions that I think would be important when considering the use of the science journal.

• How will the Arduino Science Journal work with the schools curriculum?
• Are students ready to use technology like the Science Journal?
• How will teachers assess the learning and engagement while using the Science Journal?
• How much time will be needed to use the Science Journal within a lesson?
• What equipment and resources will be needed in order to use the Science Journal?

Describe how smartphones and tablets are, and are not helpful in educational settings at the age level you’d like to teach

Smartphones and tables have many pros and cons to being in educational settings.

Pros :

• Accessibility and Accommodation – Students are able to look up information, watch educational videos, read or listen to e-books, which gives students the ability to learn in an inquiry-based way and help them develop skills of researching and analyzing. Due to the amount of resources that are available online, students are able to explore different concepts in depth and at their own pace and ability.
• Interactive Learning – They are able to give students more access to educational apps which make learning fun and interactive. Games, quizzes, and activities found online can cater to a variety of school subjects, which encourages students engagement and motivation to the subject. The devices also have access to videos and animations that simplify complex topics.
• Collaboration – technology gives students the ability to work together on projects through shared documents and collaborative apps. This gives students the ability to enhance their connections in teamwork and communication skills. While using collaborative documents and apps, teachers are able to gain access and provide feedback on student work.
• Personalized Learning – The use of technology applications in the classroom give students the ability to have a more individual focuses learning. This way students are able to learn a subject in a way that focuses on their needs and abilities. Students are able to learn about topics that interest them, and give them the opportunity to gain a sense of ownership and motivate their learning.

Cons :

• Distraction – Technology can be the number one distraction within a classroom, with the amount of games, videos, and non-educational content that are accessible can distract the students from their tasks, which can lead to off-task behavior causing a disturbance within the class. Students may also struggle to maintain their focus for extended periods or on tasks as they have been engaging with the fast-paced content provided online.
• Reliance on Technology – Students may develop a dependence on technology for answers, this can negatively affect the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Heavy reliance on technology can lead to lack of focus on traditional learning methods, like hands-on activities and collaborative interactions.
• Privacy – Often the educational apps and platforms that are being used require students to create accounts, which often involves names, email addresses, and sometimes even more sensitive data. Technology may share the information with third parties, which may lead to potential privacy breaches. Some of the work online includes students sharing their work, whether in group projects or through different platforms. This can also lead to the unintentional leaks of personal information.
• Health & Wellness – If students are spending too much time on screens they may start to experience physical issues like eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep patterns. This can lead to effects on a students’ well-being and performance within the classroom setting. The increase use of devices within the classroom lead to stationary work which is concerning for children as they need regular physical activity for healthy development in enhancing their physical, social and personal skills.

I think that smartphones and tablets have both positive and negative impacts within the classroom. I have first hand seen both impacts, for example, within my Link2Practice class one of students is non-verbal and uses a tablet to communicate his needs. Although on the flip side, it can be very distracting to the other students in the class as they want to use the iPad themselves. There will always be pros and cons to using technology within the classroom as it is a ever changing platform.

The presentation with Brittany Johnson was very interesting and insightful. I think it is incredibly beneficial to hear from a teacher who is in her early years of teaching and grasping the way of teaching at the moment. Brittany’s presentation showed many different aspects of how important the classroom is to teaching and management.

Brittany shared some super insightful tips about how she has created her classroom layout. She talked about the importance of trying out different desk arrangements, and ask students and EA’s their input on the layout or arrangements. This gives students the chance to express their preferences as well as giving the teacher the chance to see who works well with who or what layout works. I also found it very interesting that every year, Brittany starts her year with a bare classroom and works with students to build and create the comfort and fun together, this gives the students the opportunity to see the progression and feel like the classroom is “theirs”. On top of all that, Brittany talked about how important it is for there to be a space for mindfulness. This corner or area could be considered as the “calming corner”, in this corner there may be items which can work to help regulate students emotions. She really emphasized the importance of letting your students have a say in the way the classroom looks and feels as it is the area that they will be spending 5 days a week.

Routines and schedules are also incredibly important to the classroom. Brittany talked about how students often thrive within the structure of daily routine. Brittany explained how having a set daily routine has given her students the confidence and comfort of knowing what comes next, they know that their day starts with a “soft start” and then know where they will transitioning to next. She talked about how there is ease within the students as there is no panic about feeling lost on what to do. Brittany also talked about the importance of having a visual schedule so students are able to see the layout of the day and see when it has been completed. I really liked how Brittany explained her layout of the day and the importance of keeping it structured and routined for her students as well as herself.

Overall, Brittany had so many useful and wonderful ways of running her classroom and organizing her students. I personally think that as a kid, I would have done quite well in Brittany’s class due to her routines and focus on student input. I will definitely be using some of Brittany’s classroom skills within my future classroom as I fell she is set up for success in both her career as well as her students learning.