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This week in tech we started our class by recapping all the content we’ve covered. Hard to believe it’s already March!

Today we learned about TPACK and SAMR, both are technology integration models.

Substitution – Technology directly substituted for traditional classroom methods. 

i.e. students typing notes instead of writing.

Augmentation – Tech again directly substituted for traditional classroom methods but provides significant advancements to student learning experience

i.e. students using google docs which allows for spell check and grammatical errors to be caught.

Modification – Tech creates a change or enhancement to the learning design and outcome (significant task redesign)

i.e. Using google docs to collaborate with classmates (peer editing, group work etc.)

Redefinition – Tech creates a new education experience or task, that was previously inconceivable. 

i.e. publishing a class book online where students can leave reviews/comments and parents can access it to read.

These models really help break down technology integration and make it seem less intimidating to someone who is not very tech-savvy.

This week we didn’t have class so we got to meet with our pods! Everyone in our pod was interested in multiple topics, however, we focused on bullying and internet safety as well as mental health.

I feel like these two topics are interconnected and can be influenced greatly by access to the internet. With very young grades the theme of bullying over the internet and internet safety does not seem to be as apparent. However, we discussed examples of middle school-aged students misusing the internet. I think it is important to help your students understand the impacts of misusing social media/online platforms and equally inform them of the positives that come from using the internet.

I believe the quote Jesse Miller used in his presentation last week applied to our conversation this week,

“Boundaries and expectations empower”

This week I perfected the “Magic Circle” that I talked about in my last blog post. I have started to crochet the sides of the hat. This process is much easier as it is just a single chain crochet. There is no counting required therefore you can go around and around and around!

I decided to switch my yarn colour and I made the top of the hat a bit bigger so it would keep its shape and not have to stretch to fit my head

I have started to find crocheting super relaxing and will work on my bucket hat while watching tv or before bed.

I’m excited to have picked up a new hobby and am curious to see what I can learn to crochet once I have more time!

This week in tech we discussed Personal Learning Networks, active learning, flipped classrooms, audio and graphics.

Specifically, we discussed using graphics as a teacher and projects you might have students do when creating graphics.

Today I tried out the platform “Canva”. Here’s how it went!

This week we had a guest speaker, Jesse Miller, come in and educate us on technology and social media in schools. He was an incredibly engaging speaker and allowed for some very important discussions during his visit.

Jesse spoke about how to navigate using technology and social media while staying aware of the consequences it can come with. We heard a few “horror stories” about the improper use of technology by teachers, but also some very neat ways that technology can be implemented into the classroom.

As a new educator, I think it is crucial to understand the school’s policies and your critical audiences before engaging with technology. the quote that stuck with me after his presentation was

“Boundaries and Expectations Empower”

As much as technology and social media in the classroom still seem intimidating to me I am excited to see how it advances over my career and how I learn to implement it into my own classroom.

This week I decided I was ready to move on from practicing my regular single stitch crochet and learn how to crochet a circle! After researching the best way to crochet a bucket hat every website said to start with the top of the hat. Therefore I needed to learn how to crochet a circle. To start a circle you have to crochet a “magic ring”. To learn how to do this I watched a video and tried and failed multiple times until I finally got it!

This is the video I used to help me learn how to crochet a circle. The hardest part was definitely starting the circle but as I went on it continually got easier!

It was so nice to finally be back in person this week!

In class today we learned how to screen record our computers. I think it is a neat tool that could come in handy if/when we ever had to teach online. I thought it was cool that you could have audio and even a video of you describing what you’re doing in the screen recording.

Our lab classroom is sweet! I’m glad we have so many technology resources as I think it’s something that we will be interacting with a lot as educators.