Category: Weekly Reflections (Page 1 of 2)

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.

Possible cross-curricular active learning opportunities for 3D Design & 3D Printing

STEM classes :

• Math : Cross-curricular activities are important to math as students are able to measure dimensions, calculate volumes and explore the shapes. This will give students the opportunity to measure more accurately. It can reinforce different concepts to students like proportion or volume and surface area.
• Science: Using 3D design in Science students are able to create models of different learning topics like ecosystems or anatomy as well as simple machines like levers or pulleys. All topics reinforce their learning of force, or motion, sustainability and giving them the chance to learn about anatomy in a hands-on aspect.

Art :

• Art may be one of the most popular reasons to use 3D design or printing as students are able to create sculptures and art pieces. They are able to express their creativity and culture in a more interactive way. They would also be given the opportunity to explore with different textures, colours, painting and more.

History :

• By giving students the opportunity to use 3D design in a history lesson, students are able to recreate historical artifacts or landmarks. This gives them the opportunity to expand their knowledge on these cultures as well as think about the thought process of the original creators.

Literacy :

• By connecting literacy and 3D printing, students are given the chance to create “real life” characters for stories they write or draw. They are able to create a “real life” setting for their story to take place. Students would also be able to take characters from an already written story and bring them to life.

What are the potential pros and cons of using 3D Design and print in Grade 2

Pros :

• Engagement : in Grade 2 students are still amazed by almost everything. Having 3D learning within the classroom will have many students captivated and fully engaged in the lesson or activity. By doing so this turns the learning fun and students wanting to do it more.
• Hands – On Learning : This will help students gain a better understanding of learning concepts through tactile experience. Many students need to see or feel a concept for it to click in their brain.
• Real-World Skill : By starting students young with real world skills like proportions or design or even technology, students have more opportunities outside of school as well as find a new hobby or interest. Many students may not realize they are good at Art if they are not given the opportunity to explore all ranges like sculptures rater than just drawing.

Cons :

• Resources : Depending on the school, a 3D printer may not be realistic for their budget. Printers and design need technology and a variety of materials. Educators must be able to safely operate and teach others how to use the system which means they must spend time go through a learning process.
• Complexity : 3D printing and design is not always the simplest. Young students especially in grades under 3 may struggle with the design software and the instructions. This can lead to frustration, which turns into projects not always being done properly and students will likely become discouraged and disengaged.
• Time Consuming : Educators must get through a lot of information within a school day. Unfortunately, 3D printing is not a quick task, meaning it will either take time away from other subjects or students will get frustrated because they are unable to finish their project that day.

Include a screenshot of one of the 3D Designs you made during the workshop

What are some of the major limitations of GenAI?

• Lack of Knowledge : GenAI is taught a certain level of knowledge. It may not have up to date information on specific events or topics.
• Biased Responses : With the knowledge that GenAI has, it may have biases present in the data. Typical biases could include stereotypes, cultural biases or environmental biases.
• Limited Creativity : GenAI may appear creative although there is no original thought behind it due to it being trained on how to respond.
• Lack of Reasoning : GenAI does not have the ability to reasons like a human can, therefore its responses can not apply common sense or make inferences.
• Dependency Risk : people may become overly dependent on GenAI, which can take away their ability to think critically or independently.
• Academic Integrity : Using GenAI in either assessments or assignments, may cause others to question the originality or creativity in ones work.

Possible uses for GenAI in school settings at the grade 2

1. School Work

• GenAI can help students with their homework as it can guide the students through the necessary steps instead of giving them the answers right away.
• GenAI can simplify the explanations of concepts to a student who may not be understanding it right away.
• GenAI can help teachers by suggesting books that focus on students reading levels and interests.
• GenAI can aide students with their learning languages (new or native), it can create worksheets to expand their vocabulary or create simple conversations which allow students to practice their speaking and listening.

2. Classroom Management

• GenAI can provide teachers with strategies to positivity reinforce behaviour within the classroom.
• GenAI can create automated reminders about upcoming events or homework to help kids stay organized.
• GenAI can help teachers with relaxation activities that can help students regulate their emotions during chaotic times.
• GenAI can give prompts for journaling within the classroom that focus on reflections and feelings.

Not Appropriate uses for GenAI in school settings at the grade 2

1. School Work

• Students may become dependant on GenAI to help them with their homework. This means the children may not be grasping the concepts of learning and start to lack their skills of thinking critically and problem solving.
• There is a lack of hands on learning, students at this age need lots of activities that have physical interactions. GenAI is not able to produce that.
• GenAI can be very complex and use words that are too complicated for this grade level.
• By using GenAI in the terms of homework may cause issues for students as they may not have the ability to access the internet let alone generative AI websites etc.

2. Classroom Management

• Children do not have a long attention span, therefore using GenAI to keep the students engaged will likely be difficult.
• Teachers will not have control over what the children are using AI for, this could lead to children seeing things they should not see or should be learning about just yet.
• Relying on GenAI can hinder experiences for students, like creating in person connections with their classmates and learning how to fluctuate in friendships.

How you’ve found GenAI useful or not for educational purposes.

GenAI has many different forms of being useful for educational purposes. In university I found it to be useful when analyzing or simplifying large texts. I find there are many times where the wording of assignments are complex or I do not understand it, therefore, generative AI is able to simplify that question so I can understand it.Things like voice to text is incredibly useful for students when it comes to writing assignments, many find it easier to voice their ideas and turn it into text rather than taking the time to write out all their thoughts. It is also useful when coming up with prompts for projects or assignments.

Although it can not be useful as I do not want to become reliant on it. I find it can be an easy way out and it is something that takes away from some of my learning. As we know sometimes generative AI can give us wrong answers or incorrect information, which can result in the wrong simplification or analysis of a text.

H5P tutorial video short code ;

Describe how Multi-media Learning Theory can help us create more effective instructional videos and tutorials

Image : Patti Shank’s webinar recording

According to an article written by the Jacksonville State University, Richard Mayer created the Multi-Media Learning Theory to influence the way that online, blended courses and instructional materials are designed. This theory can help create more effective and instructional videos in many different ways.

For starters, using visuals and texts, by incorporating images, diagrams and text to emphasize the topic. This flows into the idea of active engagement, having interactive elements which makes the learner more inclined to participate or interact with what they’ve learnt. By having different medias like videos, and graphics within a presentation also helps those who have different learning methods.

Following this, adding check ins to the presentation or lessons gives the learners a chance to check their understanding, which can help them when it comes to studying as they are able to figure out what sections they may need to brush up on. This also gives the educators a chance to see where their students are at with understanding the topic, teachers may need to focus more on a specific section of the lesson.

By adding these ideas of Multi-Media Learning Theory into instructional videos and tutorials, learners are more likely to gain a deeper understanding of the topic, have better engagement to the lesson and are more likely to remember what was taught. Overall, these would lead to more effective learning for many students with different learning methods.

Describe what a Flipped Classroom teaching model could look like for grade 2

Image : ViewSonic

A flipped classroom teaching model for grade 2 is made for students to engage in content through instructional videos and readings. Where they then use their class time to engage in activities, discussions and collaborative learning. Flipped classroom would be implemented in the way of having home learning through short video lessons about key concepts like math strategies or online activities like games and quizzes which focus on the concepts covered in the videos or readings. Students will then take this learning into the classroom where they are able to work on collaborative projects, hands on learning and get the support needed by their teachers.

What are some of the strengths and weaknesses of this approach for grade 2?

Image : TrainEasy

Strengths of having a Flipped Classroom

• Students are able to engage in activities that are more hands-on which creates a more critical and collaborative way of learning.
• By having a more interactive activities, students are more likely to stay engaged with their learning.
• This gives children the ability to take ownership of their learning. They are able to feel more independence within their schooling.
• Teachers and educators are able to identify where students may need extra support in their learning, which gives them the ability to help the students gain a better understanding on a deeper level.

Weakness of having a Flipped Classroom

• At the level of grade 2, students are not independent enough to understand and access any class content at home. This means they will be relying on their parents or guardians to help them, which could cause issues for some families for various reasons.
• Students at this age also have a shorter attention span which means that the content will have to be engaging to hold their attention.
• Students may not have the ability to access the internet or devices like computers, tablets etc at home. Students would then be unable to get the proper learning.
• This also means parents will be more hands on with their children learning which may take both students and parents time to adjust and may cause some challenges.

Do we need to reimagine education?

Image taken from Noor Sweid https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/reimagining-education-noor-sweid

Needing to reimagine education is a personal feeling. There are many reasons why education should be reimagined although there are many reasons that could cause challenges in the idea of reimagining education.

Reasons to reimagine education.

• Technology – with the changing world of technology, education systems must be willing and ready to adapt to the changes and enhancements.
• Engagement – traditional ways of education can often be disengaging for students. By reimagining education, teachers can add in more engaging learning like project based or personalized activities.
• Diversity – reimagined education can create more inclusive and personalized learning methods to focus on the diversity in learning styles.

Reasons not to reimagine education.

• Change – reimagining education will likely affect both students, teachers and guardians as the change can put pressure on one’s mental health. Many don’t like change due to the fear of going out of their comfort zone. There may also be concerns of the effectiveness from new methods.
• Standards – changing education will mean there is an adjustment to how students are assessed. Educators may find it difficult to find a balance in testing students with the current assessments and a new strategy.
• Support – by adding new methods of teaching / testing, teachers will likely need extra support or education in the job. Without the proper support or education, the educators may struggle when it comes to new the methods.

My personal opinion on reimagining education is that it should be reimagined to an extent. As times change, education must change so our students can adapt to the world they are living in and can properly prepare for their future. At the same time, there are methods of education that seem to work consistently and is effective for both teachers and students. I believe that education must be fit to the individual needs and styles of learning. Yes, this may become more difficult for teachers as they could have a variety of students who have a variety of needs although this is where the extra support for teachers comes in. The idea of reimagining education is a good idea but there are factors that must be considered and options to be weighed.

What obstacles do educators face when they try to change pedagogy?

Image by Lighthouse Therapy https://lighthouse-therapy.com/core-principles-identify-obstacles/

There are many obstacles that educators will face when they try to change pedagogy. Starting with the fear of change, many have already established comfort within their methods of teaching. This change can be scary or uncomfortable for the educators due to the fear of unknown, or worry about the efficacy of the new methods. There is also the obstacle of insufficient resources, new methods may need certain materials, environments or technology that may not be affordable or available for some schools. Lastly. there is the obstacle of the student readiness. Learners may struggle with new methods of education and the teachers must to be able to manage those changes as well as making sure their students learning is not compromised.

Pros and Cons of Lesson Plans vs Learning Plans

Image by AvidMobile https://www.avidmobile.com/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-sms-marketing.php

Lesson Plan Pros

• Structure – provide clear, step-by-step for what is taught / expected within the class.
• Preparation – detailed and clear lesson plans make it easier for the educators to prepare the needed materials and resources in advance which helps stay organized.
• Focus – concentrates on specific content and skills, giving the students and teachers a clear way to teach/learn certain objectives for each lesson.

Lesson Plan Cons

• Flexibility – can leave little room for flexibility and adjustments which may be needed for certain students needs or interests.
• Student Input – heavily focused on what the teacher will teach the students which can lack students interests or feedback.
• Focus – teachers may focus too much on sticking to what is on the lesson plan instead of adapting to the various needs of the classroom, which can effect students who have IEP’s etc.

Learning Plan Pros

• Student Focus – these plans generally focus on the students goals, interests, needs and enhances a more personalized learning environment/experience.
• Flexibility – lesson plans have more flexibility around instructions, as well as accommodating students who have different learning styles or strategies.
• Independence – often encourages students to take responsibility of their learning, helps students set goals as well as see their personal progress in the classroom.

Learning Plan Cons

• Structure – might lack certain details that is needed for daily instructions.
• Assessments – learning plans can make it more difficult on teachers/educators to assess a student as it is their individualized goals.
• Implementation – learning plans might require more effort to develop and implementation into the classroom. The individualized plans need to work with curriculum requirements which may be difficult.