"Keep it Simple Silly!"

Blog 5:  “Keep it Simple Silly!”

In technology class this week we were introduced to a wide range of interesting online teaching resources.  Two of the resources that I personally found interesting were One Syllable Texts and “Simple English” Wikipedia.

One Syllable Texts can be used as a means to reduce the wordiness of a document or a classical literary work.  This online teaching resource demonstrates how we can simplify an entire text at just the click of a button.  One Syllable Texts would be very useful when teaching lessons to ESL students and students with learning disabilities.  By simplifying the content of a classical literary work (such as Robinson Crusoe), students will become more confident in their abilities, and begin to enjoy reading.

Another useful online teaching resource that would strongly benefit struggling learners would be “Simple English” Wikipedia.  “Simple English” Wikipedia also reduces the wordiness of a document, and it would really come in handy for research papers in the intermediate grades.  I really wish that I knew about this resource when I was working as an educational assistant.  It would have made research assignments a lot simpler for the students who were in my care.  Instead of sifting through a pile of wordy and redundant information, the computer could have done this for us.  Many times I had to go through the pile of information myself and then translate it manually into a more simplified language that the students would understand.  The only problem with Wikipedia is that we don’t know who the author is.  This liability makes it very difficult to discern if it is a reliable source for scholarly information.

 

What is Educational Technology?

Blog 4:  What is Educational Technology?

In technology class this week we learned that educational technology is an array of tools and techniques that might help us as educators to improve the process of learning for our students.

Some examples of traditional tools which were used to enhance learning in the classroom include:  chalkboards, overhead projectors, and globes.

Some examples of modern tools which are used to enhance learning in the classroom include:  computers, podcasts, electronic books, and mobile devices.

Technology’s main purpose in the classroom is to design—deliver—facilitate—and manage the instruction of learners of all ages, whether it be through face to face communication, in a classroom setting, or through online study.  While it is important for us as educators to incorporate the use of modern technology in the classroom, children still need to learn the basic disciplines of cursive writing and mental math techniques.  The problem is that our society has become so reliant on technology to do the simplest of tasks that we would not know how to cope if something were to happen to severely alter our technologically dependent way of life.

The Transformation of Gadgetry

Blog 3:  The Transformation of Gadgetry

On Thursday, September 27, 2012 we watched a TED TV talk-show, which described the progress of an interesting artifact:  the astrolabe.  The astrolabe is the world’s first computer, which was used as a model of the universe to measure times and seasons, based on the alignment of the sun, moon, planets, and stars.  It is a 13^th century gadget, which includes intricate patterns, leavers, and scales to measure coordinates with great precision and accuracy.  One important lesson that the astrolabe teaches us is how all things fit together and connect to the world.

At the beginning of the TED telecast, the speaker explains how technological progress is when you lose something, but you also change something in the process.  A good example of such progress is how technology has rapidly evolved over such a short period of time.  When I went to elementary school, I remember watching movies through film projectors and slides for the longest time.  Then we switched to VHS cassettes, and now we have DVDs and downloadable movies from the internet.

Here is a link to an amusing video that I found on YouTube.  It shows a group of French school children examining technological artifacts that are seven decades old:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdSHeKfZG7c&feature=player_embedded

"Film Tactics" and Learning Styles

Blog 2:  Film Tactics and Learning Styles

On Tuesday, September 18^th we watched Harry Joe Brown’s 1945 archival film entitled Film Tactics.  While the main purpose of the film was to demonstrate instructional techniques for a naval operation, I couldn’t help but notice the diversity of teaching methods which were used to appeal to various learning styles.

Visual Learners:

As a visual learner, I really enjoyed watching the visual metaphor of what was going on in Sam’s head.  For instance, the large rifle that he was carrying symbolized his memories of how he first learned to fire a shotgun.  The blackboard drawings also featured pictorial cues for the operation, which were later decoded and translated into written form (ie. manoeuvre, signal, direction, performance, and execution).

The large thermometer in the film also seemed to carry different meanings for me.  It could be interpreted as a visual metaphor to describe one officer’s battle with exam anxiety (ie. shortness of breath, perspiration, racing heart, etc), or it could be that the officer actually finds some attributes of the classroom environment difficult to handle (ie. the heat cranked up too high, or a confined space to work).

Auditory Learners:

Verbal instructions and directions that would appeal to an auditory learner were also playing repeatedly in the background.

Tactile and Kinaesthetic Learners:

Later on in the film, the officers were given a chance to apply what they learned in a real life situation.  For some students, visuals and verbal instructions are not enough.  Some students learn best by hands-on activities and actually working on a project.  Tactile and kinaesthetic learners must have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and get involved in the action.

The moral of this blog:

When planning lessons for children, it is especially important that we incorporate all learning styles into our activities, that way they will understand what we are trying to teach them, and enjoy coming to school.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello!  Welcome to my blog!

I've finally figured out how to add something, but I must admit that I am still learning how to use all of this new technology.

*****

Thursday, September 13: Lane Smith's "It's a Book"

The book demonstrates repurposing, in that it portrays different scenarios which can be applied to the instruction of various subjects at different points in time. Repurposing is when we use something for another purpose. For instance, children's books can be used in the classroom to teach math, English, history, technology, the characteristics of living things, and a wide array of other subjects. We just have to look deep enough to see the hidden treasures behind the story.

In Lane Smith's "It's a Book," the approach to teaching the content is very unique. Instead of using formal quotations for the dialogue, each character's script is written in a different colour font. The style of language also reflects the formal language of literature (ie. "laugh out loud"), but it also includes a translated modern text (ie. "LOL").

The illustrations are also a unique teaching device, in that they convey double meanings and humour. For instance, when asked the question "Where's the mouse?" are they talking about the computer mouse or the rodent under the hat? The illustrations can also be used as a tool to teach mathematics in an Early Years classroom. For instance, there are two types of clocks illustrated in the book, a clock with numbers and a clock without numbers. These illustrations can be used as a learning aide for telling time. Children's books can also be used as a tool to introduce the concepts of identifying shapes, addition, subtraction, and problem solving.