Author: coordt Page 3 of 4

Music Blog #2

On February 9, 2020

Hey Blog!

I’m back with another music blog. As you know, I’ve been learning the song Prince of Heaven on the piano. So far, I’ve had some ups and downs with this experience. I’ll start with the positives!

First of all, I have absolutely loved learning the piano and getting to express creativity through music. It has been such a delight to get to hear one of my favourite songs come together into music – music that I am playing MYSELF! I have also loved how this project has given me the opportunity to work with friends who know the piano in and out. I have the opportunity to learn from my peers and comprehend things better with their explanations. This has also allowed us to simply play piano together and enjoy each other’s music. This individual project has, in reality, almost turned into a group one because of all the opportunity that there is for collaborative work, and it is so wonderful.

Nonetheless, there are also negative emotions that I have had with regards to this assignment. I have found that the piece I chose to play is a lot harder than I had expected and although I have found the right hand easy to play, the left hand (and playing both in unison) has risen to be a bit of a challenge. However, at the same time, I know I picked a trickier piece because I want to be challenged. To continue, I have also found it hard to stay motivated to practice. Although I throughly enjoy practicing, trying to find an open room with a piano on campus has been harder than I thought it would be. I just have to remember to keep booking the individual piano room so I can continue to practice my piece (or maybe I should just invest in a piano… hmm might be a little out of my budget at this point :P).

The final note that I have already taken away from this assignment is that I definitely want to purchase a piano to have in my future classroom. The opportunity to have students be able to experiment with music, just like I am able to for this project, is a must for me. I know the students and I will both love it.

Logging off for now,

COordt 🙂

Second Font!

by coordt

On February 8, 2020

In Free Inquiry

Hey Cloggers,

So I’ve started working on my second font for my calligraphy inquiry assignment and I think it’s going pretty well! I picked a simple cursive font because I think I can alter it in so many different ways. I’ve also continued practicing my first font. Below are two pictures of my work practicing both fonts. I have used lined paper again to help with spacing and organization!

I really like how the cursive font allows me to be very creative. As you can see, I was able to add length to words as well as shorten them by stretching letters out or clumping letters together. I also practiced some different words because my name only has a select amount of letters in it.

I then also practiced some more of font #1, which is block lettering, and added COLOUR! My blog was getting a little boring so I had to spice things up with colour. I practiced the months in different fonts and I think that font #1 is really going along. I’ll keep practicing both font #1 and font #2 so that I can be prepared for organizing my week with all different fonts and styles at the end of this process.

Next week I’ll be learning font #3 so make sure you check back.

Clogging off for now,

COordt 🙂

Perfecting the Piano (or at least trying…)

by coordt

On February 4, 2020

In Music

Hey Blog!

For my music class, I have been challenged to learn a piece on a musical instrument. The piece should exhibit an understanding of the instrument and the music I decide to play.

So… I will be learning a song on the PIANO! Since I have limited knowledge of musical instruments and music in general, I have decided to learn just one song, but one that is learned through sheet music as well as has roles for both hands. It is called Prince of Heaven and sounds super beautiful on the piano (so far haha).

Obviously, learning a song on the piano doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why I have set aside 1 hour 4 times a week for me to work on the song. My goal is to learn to play the song fluidly with the lower bass clef option (there’s two). I ordered my sheet music yesterday and started playing it, and although it will be difficult, I can honestly say that this is the first time in a while that I have felt truly excited to work on an assignment for school.

I created a growth plan to organize the steps I have to follow to meet my goals for this assignment. As is shown, I’d like the master the right hand by February 14 and the left (with the right) by March 20. These dates are earlier than the due date because I want to make sure I have time to upload my videos, especially since there is a possibility of technology not working properly and me needing extra help to upload it. I believe that writing this due date a bit earlier on my calendar will ensure that I finish on time and reduce stress regarding due dates.

With all this being said, I am excited to start learning Prince of Heaven on the piano and dive into creating music.

Logging off for now,

COordt 🙂

Kahoot! Is it truly a hoot?

by coordt

On February 4, 2020

In EdTech

Hey Cloggers, fellow bloggers, and amigos!

Claire, Laurence, and Kaylyn here. Today for our EdTech blog, were talking about Kahoot! If you haven’t heard of Kahoot, we feel bad for you because it was one of the best parts of our childhood school experience (kinda sad when you think about it…).

We wanted to look at some of the pros and cons of Kahoot because, as educators, we need to be critical before bringing a technology into the class. So here we go…

Pro #1: It’s FUN!

Kahoot is honestly such a fun way to take information. It allows you to play a game with your peers online and makes a traditional lecture more engaging.

Pro #2: It’s quick and easy!

With regards to efficiency, Kahoot usually immediately engages students and is a quick way for teachers to see where their students are at with information. It can be made in as little as 10 minutes and you could even pass this responsibility onto a student – this will help students better understand information too.

Pro #3: There are so many pre-made Kahoot quizzes already out there.

This can make it even more efficient because there is a good chance that there is already a Kahoot made for the topic that is being discussed. This can make at home or spontaneous studying and learning accessible and fun!

Con #1: Students can create their own usernames.

Since students can create their own usernames, there is often a mix of joke names and real names. This can make tracking student progress really difficult for a teacher. It can also be a way for students to make inappropriate jokes in front of the whole class without being identified.

Con #2: You need access to enough tablets or computers for every student.

If your school does not have enough iPads or laptops, then students will either have to share (which usually ends up with one taking control) or some students will have to sit out for certain rounds (which can result in less learning). Not ideal.

Con #3: It’s a competitive style of learning.

The very goal of Kahoot is to win, not to learn. Although learning might occur while students compete, it can create a somewhat toxic classroom environment. Furthermore, if students fear being incorrect (and having everyone see that dreadful red screen), then they might simply check out of the activity.

SO, what are your thoughts on Kahoot? Is this a platform you want to implement into your classroom? Or avoid completely?

Clogging off now/Adios Amigos,

LOBO, Kaylyn, and COordt 🙂

True or False? Screen Time Kills You

by coordt

On February 4, 2020

In EdTech Inquiry

Hey Cloggers and Carly’s Crew!

We’re back with our screen time inquiry project and we have some juicy information to share! If you like tea, this is the post for you 😉

Today, we’re going to present you with some common (and some less common and just plain funny) misconceptions and myths around screen time.

So here we go…

Misconception #1: Screen time makes you stupid.

Okay, boomer. This is a bit of a stretch (or more than a bit…) There is no evidence that points to a negative correlation between success and screen time. Screen time has zero effect on brain development or a human’s ability to learn and process information. This statement is so behind the times… So as Ariana Grande would say – thank you, NEXT!

Misconception #2: Screen time makes you unhealthy.

There is definitely a possibility of being unhealthy, but this has less to do with screen time and more to do with simply not taking care of yourself. Anyone in literally any occupation can become unhealthy if they do not take the necessary actions to stay healthy. There is, once again, no direct correlation between the two. Think of it this way, if you don’t spend any time on screens, that does not automatically make you a super healthy person. You have to personally work on staying healthy whether you use screens or not. In fact, there are so many technologies that can help you stay fit and remind you to take care of yourself. Let’s move on.

Misconception #3: Screen time makes you socially awkward.

If this is true, then we must be pretty socially awkward. But, luckily, it’s not. *Phew* Obviously, if you isolate yourself from people, you might struggle to connect with others. Nonetheless, technology doesn’t affect this. It can even help people increase their social skills through online chat rooms, emailing, and blogging (yay, us!) There are so many occupations these days that require you to communicate with people through technology so learning about it definitely isn’t holding you back in any way. And in the end, there’s nothing wrong with being a little awkward. 😛

Misconception #4: Screen time results in an earlier death.

Well, if this is true, we would probably be dead because we live for the blog. Since we can’t predict time of death to begin with, there’s not really any proof to back up this point. And to be honest, we’re sure that one round of Papa’s Cupcakeria won’t send you to the morgue (P.S. we played a round and we’re still not dead…)

So as you can see, there are so many crazy misconceptions about screen time. The reality is that screens are apart of daily life so you might as well learn how to use them effectively. As Peter West would say – “The amount of time a child spends in front of a screen is not the problem. The type and quality of the material on the screen is the problem.”

Be smart folks, and don’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Logging off for now,

Carly and COordt 🙂

First Font Fun!

by coordt

On February 3, 2020

In Free Inquiry

Hey Cloggers,

So I have been working on my first font for my calligraphy inquiry assignment. I decided to choose a fairly basic font that I can adapt in many different ways – it’s like a several-in-one!

I researched and watched youtube videos, and decided on a simple block font! In the picture below, I wrote out each letter of the alphabet in the font and then used the letters to write out my name. I then used different colouring and sizing to alter it – and voila, I have a bunch of fonts in one!

I found this font to be not crazy difficult. It was hard to create consistent straight lines and I used lined paper to make the spacing easier to control (just outed myself but oh well…).

I think this font will be easy to use in a variety of ways when planning out my life. It’s simple, yet versatile. And for someone who has never tried lettering, I believe it is a good place to start the learning.

I’m excited to learn more fonts and begin to incorporate colour and design. I am excited to see my final product but I’m still far from it!

Clogging off for now,

COordt 🙂

Psyched for PSII!

by coordt

On January 30, 2020

In EdTech

Hey Cloggers!

This past Tuesday, I visited the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry. It is a inquiry based independent school located downtown Victoria, BC. Here are some facts about the school:

This school is for students in grades 9 – 12.
There are only 7 teachers.
It costs $7500 tuition to attend this school (but, there’s a discount if you have more than one child attending).
They don’t have a timetable with scheduled blocks.
They allow students to select their own topics for assignments.
The only weekly scheduled subject is math.
School subjects and grades are all integrated.

Now that you have a bit of an understanding of the school, let me tell you what I think about it. PSII offers an alternate learning environment (different from that of a traditional school) which allows students to take control of their own learning. This occurs through the use of inquiry assignments; this concept allows student to dive into assignments that truly interest them, all while learning the various components of the curriculum. Although this type of learning sounds ideal, I still have several concerns and doubts about it. If I, a student who thrived in the traditional school system, were placed in this type of school, I would feel so overwhelmed by disorganization that I wouldn’t even be able to learn. Everyone can choose where and when they want to be working, and I simply think that not all students will benefit from the lack of structure. I also think it is hard to implement this concept into elementary schools because I believe students would not stay on track as much as is necessary for this structure to be beneficial for students. Finally, although I think this concept is great, I am concerned about how students will transition into a university setting where they are being tested and sitting in lectures. Perhaps they will be able to stay on task better than others, but perhaps they will struggle with traditional testing.

An inquiry school, such as PSII, is a great idea and I hope that our current school system adapts more of these ideas.

CLogging off now, (outtro inspired by Aria)

COordt 🙂

Screen Time with Carly & Claire!

by coordt

On January 29, 2020

In EdTech Inquiry

Hey Cloggers and Carly’s Crew!

We’re teaming up for our EdTech Inquiry project. As you are currently reading this blog (on a screen), would you ever think about the brain cells you’re losing? Or maybe the ones you’re gaining. Screen time has such a negative view in our current technology-centred society; but, is screen time really bad for you? We’re hoping to dive into this topic as well as look how we, as future educators, can effectively incorporate purposeful screen time into our classrooms!

Our society revolves around technology, and so it is naive of us to simply say that technology shouldn’t be apart of classrooms. Although we would love for our students to play outside all day, they must also have an opportunity to work on a skill that is so necessary in everyday life. Screen time is so much more than simply playing games on a computer and we want to give students the opportunity to learn, discover, and grow via technology.

Our goals are to learn how to incorporate technology effectively and how to have a healthy balance between screen time and real life experiences in the classroom (that being said, you can have great experiences with technology, but nothing replaces face-to-face conversation). The more we educate students about technology and how to properly use it, the safer they will be online when there’s no one monitoring their usage.

Some areas of focus/research for the next couple of weeks include the following: screen time in primary, middle, and secondary classrooms; pros and cons as well as common misconceptions; and what makes screen time effective.

So join us on this adventure! We can’t wait to learn more about our future classrooms and how we can prepare ourselves as educators.

Logging off for now,

Carly and COordt 🙂

RiP! Death by Copyright

by coordt

On January 21, 2020

In EdTech

Hey Cloggers! (like the new name? I was inspired by Beyonce’s beehive) 😛

Today in class, we watched a movie called RiP! Remix Manifesto Documentary (should I add the copyright sign after that title?? I don’t wanna get sued…). It’s a movie talking about the various ways people have experienced the unfortunate reality of copyright. For example, making remixes of songs, downloading music, and singing happy birthday are all infringements of copyright (well, not the happy birthday anymore… can you believe I was technically a criminal for 18 years – crazy stuff).

Anyway, this movie has really shown me how careful we as teachers, and just humans in general living in a society run by the internet, should be with regards to material we show in classrooms, worksheets we hand out to students, and pictures we put up on the wall (I wouldn’t want people mistaking my classroom for DisneyLand…) 😛 This is especially important in a ever-developing online world.

Today, we also discussed Creative Commons. It’s a platform that allows teachers to post their materials as well as use other teachers’ materials and lesson plans in their own class. On the website, it says “when we share, everyone wins” and ain’t that the truth?!? Furthermore, we looked at OER (open education resources) and searched up some resources we could use in class. These platforms are IDEAL or teachers because sometimes, the creative juices aren’t flowing… and that’s okay!

Anyway cloggers, happy resource hunting… and don’t sing any remixes while you’re at it 😛

Logging off for now,

COordt 🙂

Preparing for my Free Inquiry!

by coordt

On January 19, 2020

In Free Inquiry

Hey Blog!

So as you know from my last post, I am going to be focussing on calligraphy and lettering, as well as how to use it to organize your life, for my free inquiry project. However, before I can start working, I have to gather the appropriate materials needed to adequately work on this project and take it in a variety of ways. And that’s what I’m talking about in this blog post!

Since I know that nice art supplies such as markers and pens and special paper are often very expensive, I set a 30$ limit on my budget for materials. I then did some research to formulate a list of what would be most necessary for this project, and extra stuff I would buy if I had money left over in my budget. I listed paper (lined and blank), a pencil, an eraser, and a black pen as complete necessities and wrote coloured pens, markers, fine liners, highlighters, and a ruler as extras. As my last step before heading out to the store, I looked through the art materials I already had in my room so that I wasn’t purchasing duplicates on my trip. I found pencils, an eraser, a nice pen, an old sketchbook (with blank paper), and a ruler (yay – that smells like money saved!)

After this, I set off to the UVic bookstore (even though it can be pricey) to browse for supplies I was missing – keep in mind that the reason I chose the UVic bookstore for purchasing my supplies was because I already had flex dollars on my OneCard (these dollars have to be used on campus and cannot be redeemed for cash, so I thought might as well use this money instead of spending more cash at another store).

At the bookstore, I found everything on my list. Nonetheless, not everything fit in my budget… Therefore, I chose to purchase a set of 36 double-sided markers, a set of four (really high quality – splurge!!) fine liners, a pack of lined paper, and one coloured pen (my favourite brand and in the colour pink). I left behind supplies that I felt were less useful and I chose the double sided markers because now I would have set of thick tip and fine tip markers, all in one (and for the price of one!)

* All my supplies are shown below *

So, now that I have all the materials I need (I think…), I can get started on learning about calligraphy, lettering, and using these two artistic skills to plan out my daily life.

Logging off for now,

COordt 🙂