Category: EdTech Page 1 of 2

Today is the final blog post for this Tech class, we are learning about coding.

I have previously learned to code before when I was observing last semester in a grade 6/7 split. My partner and I were in a technology class for most of our time there, we had the opportunity to learn lots about different tech software to use in the classroom. I had the chance to work with kids on their coding skills using CODE and get to see their work that they had created through scratch as well.

I loved the hour of code website, I never knew how many resources there were with so many different interests for students for all grades. I was playing around with CODE today and it was actually quite easy to use. I loved this website because it is designed simply and doesn’t have so many buttons to click on and it doesn’t get confusing. I was playing with the Elsa and Anna one, I really like that there are different levels that the students can start with. It starts with easy and gets you to understand what you need to do and allows you to get familiar with the concept of coding. Then with each level, there are different tasks to complete so that you understand how to work it and then you can be moved onto the next level.

Now we are learning about Scratch, I find Scratch a bit more confusing and would be used for older grades because it doesn’t break the steps down and you don’t really know where to start. I find it confusing because there are so many coding buttons to plug-in that you have play around with it to figure out what works. The one thing that Scratch has that CODE doesn’t is you can be a bit more creative with it, you can create stories and make your own characters. You can also add music or sound effects rather than just steps. I have noticed that there is a connection between coding and math, using degrees and steps can link the two together, there is also storytelling and games. I think that using CODE in my classroom would be beneficial for students who are learning how to use coding and using computers, it is a fun game and also helps them learn about technology while playing. I am wanting to teach primary grades from K-3 so CODE would be more beneficial for me to use. I would use CODE for my students to create stories or even just playing on the computers because CODE has many different kinds of activities to use I know that each student would be interested in using it.

Today we had the chance to use Zoom. I thought that this tool is so cool to use especially in these types of situations. Due to the Covid-19, we were unable to meet as a class today for our tech ed class. It was interesting to learn how to use Zoom, I like the idea that everyone can video chat and our class has 32 people! Zoom has many online tools like chatting, screen recording, muting/unmuting, turning the camera off, multiple viewing options (you can see everybody in little boxes or in a strip) and hands up. Today we used Zoom’s tools to do our presentations that we had prepared to do in class but we were able to do it online and screenplay our screens onto Zoom so that everybody could see our slides. It was really cool, I felt comfortable talking on Zoom for our presentation because people were still listening but I wasn’t standing at the front of the class. I found Zoom okay to use and connect to my computer, it wasn’t too difficult to figure out but I feel that there could have been some problems for people who are not as techy to get their screens to show up. Next week I won’t have to have my screen shared because I have already done the presentation. Basically Zoom is a great tool for online classes and I think that more teachers should be used in situations like this.

Today we learned about Minecraft and how teachers can use it in the classroom. We reviewed multiple Minecraft lesson plans and my two favourites are “Fairy Tale Reimagined” which is associates with language arts, art and design, and world languages. The other lesson plan that I found interesting is “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” that associate with digital literacy, dramatic arts and theatre, and reading and writing.  These lessons are all designated for the age range of  5-10.

For lesson plan one, the learning outcomes are;

The pro’s about using Minecraft as a pedagogical tool is that the students can work together if they’re in multiplayer mode and work on team building. It is also a great tool for teaching math and geography. The students can use coordinates and plug their coordinates to meet their classmates. You can use Minecraft for lots of different subjects and creative ideas for students to play with.

The con’s about using Minecraft as a pedagogical tool is that not every student will want to play the game. It is difficult to use and there isn’t a lot of instruction on what short cuts they can use. I found it complicated to learn how to play. Although Minecraft can be used for many subjects I don’t love the idea of using it in the classroom and incorporating them into lessons. I think that the controls are complicated and I don’t think that students under the age of 8. I do think that it would be a good free time game for students to play because it does have some good learning tools.

Lesson Plan One:

https://education.minecraft.net/qCmsq

Lesson Plan Two:

https://education.minecraft.net/gIqce

We also learned about the Google Science Journal and you can make a video recording of light, motion, and so much more. You can add audio and make a recording of the data that has been found.

My inquiry that I chose for a grade 1 is about dreaming. I made a video of images of stars and questions because I am interested about how dreams work.

• What do I see when I’m dreaming? Sometimes I see stars or pictures or memories. 
• What do I know? That you dream every night but only sometimes you remember them.
• What do I wonder? How do dreams work and why do only sometimes you remember them and what causes people to dream. 

I learned so much from watching Jesse Miller’s Tedtalk and listening to his presentation in class today. I learned that the google pictures to allow the cache that has street signs, cars, lamp posts or birds are decided if those pictures are right by other people answering those questions. The biggest thing that I learned today was that Snapchat keeps every photo to use for marketing. They don’t necessarily care what the picture is but they will look at everything around them and look if there are any signs or logos and will use this to make money for marketing and seeing what people are wearing or using. This scared me because there are people are just using an app that has no idea what’s going behind the app. This is how Snapchat makes its money. We also learned about the camera on our laptop, if you click on a website and allow access another background user could hack into your laptop camera. Also, we learned that if you have a Samsung tv and a Samsung phone they are communicating. The TV can tell if you are watching tv and if you are on your phone. If you are watching TV and ads are coming up and you go on your phone, they can tell what you’re looking at to give you ads that are more relevant to you. I have seen this on my phone, I will be talking about a product or some clothing and the ads for these will show up on my Instagram or Facebook. We also learned about the importance of teacher and student relationships and making sure that if teachers are posting pictures that there should be no student, student information or anything about them online. We want to keep everyone safe and make sure that they really understand social media and privacy. I learned about social media safety when I was a child just starting to use social media but never to this extent, this new information really shocked me.

Here is a clip of an iMovie that I made from my own pictures of some beaches that I have been to.

Today I was given the opportunity to visit the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry located downtown Victoria. I have lived in Victoria my whole life and I wasn’t aware that this school existed. I was very surprised to learn about how this inquiry school worked. It is very free and open for the students to decide what they want to learn and where they want to learn it. Each student when starting an inquiry project has to develop questions, which are then followed by several steps that they have to go through then conclude their learning adventure in their chosen topic. They have all other subjects that regular high schools have like art, photography and filmmaking, technology, science, English, math, social studies, physical education, and music. The interesting thing is that there is not a set schedule for the students or a bell schedule. A few of the courses listed above meet once a week and have the rest of the time for students to work independently or with their teacher getting additional help tailored to them. Also, there are no classes designated to specific grades, they are all mixed based on their interests or inquiry projects. I really like this idea because I think that students who are driven to a certain subject can work together and come up with great research and questions.

There were multiple questions about how do these courses then get assessed or are they transferrable to universities. The PSII school still has the same curriculum and exams but are assessed in different ways than a normal high school would, like from test scores or assignments handed in. This school grades its students based on their learning journey and ability, they also don’t believe in homework, which I think is amazing!

I am hesitant because for certain students, does this “free” and “self-taught” environment really work? I know that for me, I like to be given something and then learn it. I know that Principal Jeff Hopkins mentioned that the students use the curriculum to create inquiry projects off of the competencies and content, but how can students really accomplish these on their own, from their own inquiry projects they have created. I have a hard time thinking about that if some students want a more structured timetable with the same classes at the same time would this school be able to do that.

The PSII school is an independent school that is supported by the government by only 50%, which means that the students have to pay around $7,000 a year. Within the $7,000 the students get a membership at the YMCA gym which is where they do their physical education classes when they need facilities. The students are involved in using facilities in the community that are outside of their school, which normal high schools don’t usually do. I think this is a wonderful addition to this school because, for high school students, this is really great to get them ready to post-secondary and becoming young adults.

From listening to Principal Jeff Hopkins speak, I have some new ideas and thoughts that I will be bringing into my future classroom.