Category: EdTech Inquiry

Hey Cloggers and Carly’s Crew,

Sadly, this will be our final blog post for the semester! This post will be a conclusion of our findings and we also want to share our personal opinions with you. We have attached our presentation that we will be sharing with our class! Here are our 3 biggest take-aways from our research and exploration:

1: There is no black and white answer.

We discovered that there is not one answer when it comes to  effective use of screen time in classrooms. Each classroom is filled with different needs that a teacher needs to cater to and technology speaks to that. One year a teacher might use no technology at all but the next year they might use technology every day. The truth is that it is all about moderation and as long as we support students and their families by being upfront and honest about the purpose of technology we will have success. 

2: Technology is not meant to replace face to face interactions.

Well look at us today! Video-calling on Zoom due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Thankfully technology is getting us through this hard time. With that being said, we need to note that technology is not meant to replace the interactions between students in classrooms. Instead it is used to enhance their knowledge and their educational network. If a student is researching a medical topic, what better way to get their information than from someone who actually works in a hospital every day? An online interview with a doctor would be an amazing experience for the student. We do need to ensure students are balancing their time between technology and real-life interactions but this can be a topic for discussion in older classrooms. Even us adults haven’t figured out the golden answer! 

3: Technology is always evolving

Last but not least, technology is ever evolving. Teachers need to stay updated and educated with new programs and apps in order to best support their students. Sometimes the students might know more about the teacher and this would be a great opportunity for the student to “teach the teacher”.  We as educators need to be okay with the fact that we don’t know everything and acknowledge our mistakes when they are made. Let’s just say when technology is involved, something is bound to go wrong! Problem solving and troubleshooting is inevitable in a technology class, but this is also a great opportunity to teach the students about helpful strategies for these situations.

In terms of our experience with the whole partner inquiry process we both had a lot of fun! Although the research section is important, we both felt that we absorbed the most from our conversations that we had in person! We both agree that working with a partner was extremely beneficial in supporting our learning. That is all we have for you! 

Clogging off together for the last time,

Carly and COordt 🙂

Hey Cloggers and Carly’s Crew,

We’re back with another EdTech Inquiry blog post and if you look at the past two posts, I’m sure you can guess what we’re discussing this week. That’s right, high school applications.

This is a bit more difficult of a topic because they aren’t a lot of online applications that teach high schoolers what they need to learn. At this point in their life, CoolMathGames.com isn’t all that cool anymore… (or maybe it is, who knows honestly?) But we’ve taken to the internet to research some good ones that will help high school students in one way or another.

So let’s get into it!

#1: Google

No, we’re not just talking about a Google search menu… Google has a variety of applications included in an account that can be extremely useful for students. Some of these include Google Drive, Docs, Slides, Sites, and Classroom. Each of these apps gives students the ability to use a different platform but all on one account (easy organization!) Google also gives students the ability to share their work with other Google users; this means that if students are working on a group assignment, they will be able to work collaboratively whether they are together or not. Finally, within the Classroom app, teachers can set it up so that students can even submit their work online. Online homework means that there’s no ability for their “dog to eat their homework” #Score for teachers!

#2: Remind

This application does exactly what its name says: reminds. It allows teachers to give reminders for certain assignments and homework all through technology – this means no paper notices being sent home that get lost… It also offers group chats which can be really helpful for group projects/student questions. This aspect also takes mandatory social media out of the picture (for those who wish to stay offline).

#3: Seesaw

This application is an online portfolio. It allows parents to see student work and check in to see what students are working on. Students can also choose what they wish to post which ensures that student privacy remains intact. This is a great app for giving parents a chance to see what their child is working on which still remaining respectful of students’ wishes.

Although these applications aren’t necessarily going to teach much of the curriculum, they will make a student’s learning experience easier and more accessible.

Check in next week to see our concluding thoughts on this entire inquiry. It’s gonna be a longer one, but you won’t want to miss it.

Clogging off for now,

Carly and COordt 🙂

Hey Cloggers and Carly’s Crew,

This week we are back and we are diving into the best technology tools that can be used in middle school. Middle school students are constantly surrounded by iPhones, laptops and televisions at home so we need to ensure that we are providing them with new knowledge that leads them to success. Students at this age are extremely creative and competitive so we chose programs that are tailored to these qualities.

#1 iMovie 

iMovie allows students to make a movie from a blank canvas, or create a trailer from a structured story board. Students can use iMovie to create projects like book trailers or a short newscast. iMovie also provides students with the challenge of editing video clips together…sometimes this can be very frustrating for students. Students will have way more fun creating projects on iMovie rather than just handing in an essay and it also encourages students to think outside the box.

#2 Kahoot 

This is our personal favourite educational app of ALL TIME. Kahoot is such a fun way for students to review material before a test. Although it doesn’t really tap in to students’ conceptual knowledge, it is still a super fun activity that changes the pace of the class!  We still get excited about playing Kahoot so if you haven’t ever played, we highly suggest you go try it out.

Check it out!

#3 Science Journal

We had never heard about this app until we began our research but it sounds super interesting! This app is only available on smart phones but it allows students to record data for lab experiments through pictures, videos, writing and audio. Not only is that app a one stop shop for recording all the data and staying organized, it also allows students to watch videos of other science experiments and get inspired. We thought that this app would be a great resource for students that want an extension on any science projects that are completed in class. Finally, this app turns phones into light and motion sensors (these are lab tools that are extremely expensive). All around it seems like a super neat app!

Go take a look! 

That’s all we’ve got for you this week!

Clogging off,

Carly and COordt 🙂

Hey Cloggers & Carly’s Crew,

For this week’s blog, we’re gonna name drop some of the best computer applications and online learning resources for a primary classroom.

Let’s get right to it!

#1: Raz-Kids

This website allows students to find a WIDE variety of books at any time. They have the option of reading books themselves, or they can listen to an audio version of the book (in various languages too). It also involves interactive tools that allows students to practice their critical thinking skills. Finally, it allows teachers and parents to track student progress through an online portal. However, teachers should keep in mind that using this website requires a membership fee for each student.

#2: Mystery Science

This application focuses on science and offers various resources and interactive activities. This format allows for independent learning where students can work at their own pace and choose their topic of interest. Some examples are Plant & Animal Superpowers, Weather Watching, Invisible Forces, and Spaceship Earth. This is great for teachers who want to introduce an inquiry based approach into their classrooms without losing control of classroom management.

#3: Explain Everything

This application allows students to use visuals and pictures to explain their learning. For example, if you are teaching a unit on money in math, students can open the money tab and play around with the various coins and bills. They can then record their voice to add to their video of them working with the money. This app also offers other subjects and a variety of activities within each subject. It’s also available on desktop computers, tablets, and phones!

If you’re a teacher, maybe test some of these out with your class and write a blog about it so we can learn more from you!

Clogging off for now,

Carly and COordt 🙂

Hey Cloggers and Carly’s Crew! (Did you miss us?)

This week for our EdTech Inquiry, we are focusing on…

ONLINE SAFETY IN THE CLASSROOM!

Technology can be a scary addition to a classroom, especially with all of the dangers associated with being on the internet. Lucky for you guys, we have created a list of important strategies to keep you and your students protected online! 

With regards to each and every tip, we believe teachers should educate students as to why this can be dangerous, and allow for students to engage in discussions and ask questions about personal safety online. 

Tip #1: Don’t share personal information. 

Make sure your students know that they shouldn’t be sharing personal information such as their name, address, birthday or school online. This includes sharing passwords with friends; no matter how close the students are, a password is personal and private. 

Tip #2: Don’t talk to strangers on the internet.

If someone you don’t know tries to talk to connect with you via an online platform or chatroom, students should inform a parent or trusted adult immediately and allow them to deal with that situation. Stranger danger is just as important on the internet these days, as it is in real life! Students should also be informed that people online are not always who they say they are and they need to be extremely careful before they trust anyone. 

Tip #3: Get students thinking about their digital footprint. 

As soon as students start creating work online they are building their digital footprint. We need to teach students that everything they do online can be traced back to them and therefore, they need to be cautious and considerate. Teachers can help students decide what is appropriate to post online and what is better to keep to  themselves. Students’ digital footprints are related to keeping their personal information secure. 

Tip #4: Don’t believe everything you read online. 

Students are often quick to believe that everything the read online is straight facts. In reality, the internet is not as credible as we may think. Due to the fact that anyone can post anything, students need to be critical when finding information on the internet. As teachers, we should encourage students to ask an adult or classmate  for a second opinion if they ever get confused. 

We hope you learned something about online safety! Teachers are responsible for finding where the resources store their data (and students’ personal information). This is just as important as finding quality online classroom resources when it comes to purposeful screen time.      

Logging off for now,

Carly and COordt 🙂

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 🙂

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 🙂