After watching my first video I was instantly hooked and decided I would watch them all! After doing this I decided to pick four and write about my observations and what I learned about technology integration from them. The four I picked are the videos that I found most interesting as well as intriguing.
I'll start by discussing the first one, Case 1: Differentiating Instruction Through Interactive Games (https://www.edutopia.org/video/differentiating-instruction-through-interactive-games-tech2learn-series ). I played a lot of online games in computer lab growing up, so I love the idea of implementing them in the classroom! I like how Robert Pronovost explained that because the games give automatic feedback the children are able to do it individually and he is able to focus on the students I need of extra help. The students seemed extremely engaged in what they were doing and were excited to "level up". Pronovost explained that students aren't yet realizing that "leveling up" truly means they mastered one concept and are now able to move on to the next. The teacher's role in this video was basically just to explain the games and procedures to the students on when and how you can change software, after that he then took those in need of extra help to a small group table in the back and let the others do their thing. I loved how throughout the video you could tell how excited Pronovost was to talk about his student's success and improvement. I also enjoyed learning about how hard he worked applying for different grants to get the laptops, MacBook's, and IPods for his students. You could tell he was very dedicated to their success. I like that he used the Planet Turtle website, used for reinforcement of class practices, for independent practice and said they needed to get 80% or higher before moving to Dream Box where they were able to play games at their own individualized level. These are two good websites that I could use one day in my own classroom.
Now I'll move on to Case 2: Learning STEM Skills By Designing A Video Game (https://www.edutopia.org/video/learning-stem-skills-designing-video-games
). I found this one extremely fascinating because I was amazed such a young student was able to not only create video games, but to accept others negative comments and edit his game to add in their suggestions. I was extremely impressed when he discussed how when someone makes a comment like "dumb" or "not good" he said, "what am I supposed to do with that". He explained how those comments had little value because the person who wrote it did not give him any suggestion son what to fix and then he went on to compare it to a similar situation on the baseball field. AMAZING! This student is making connections, this is something that always gets me excited when I am out in the field or subbing. Rhys seemed very engaged in what he was doing and was clearly motivated to make it the best he could because, like I mentioned, he took the time to go back and read the comments and would add in some people suggestions in order to make his game better. I would love to implement the Gamestar Mechanic software in my own classroom one day. I know I will have students that will find creating games fascinating and I would love to provide them with a tool that allows them to do what they love. I also think a lesson could be designed where students have to create their own game and I could create a rubric of things it must contain based on what the software provides. A very cool video about s very cool kid!
On to Case 3: How the Maker Movement Connects Students to Engineering and Technology (https://www.edutopia.org/video/how-maker-movement-connects-students-engineering-and-tech-0 ). This was by far my favorite video to watch because Quin, and eight grade boy, took on the role of not only a student but being a teacher. As an educator, this is one of the things that excites me the most. Seeing a student so fascinated in a topic they take it upon themselves to teach themselves how it works and then want to share that knowledge with others. Quin was clearly very engaged in what he was learning and motivated to do so because he did it all on his own. He was very motivated to share his knowledge and how his school district need to be more engaging. After all, how many 13-year olds come to a school board meeting to share what they think their district need to do? Not many. The superintendent of his district referred to Quin as a "gem", which he truly is. Quin was not only his own teacher but the teacher of his friends as well. After Quin spent his time learning to use 3D printing, Arduinos, and other hand on STEM skills he took the time to each his peers with hopes they would continue teaching their friends. Something I learned from this video is that if a district has a student like Quin who's willing to teach others these amazing skills, they need to let them. These student's voices need to be heard and they need to know that what they are doing is nothing short of amazing. After watching this video, I pray I will have a gem like Quin in my own classroom someday. A student dedicated to helping himself learn as well as his peers. My middle school and high school had some of these makers spaces and we also used Arduino boards in physics hear at IUSB, so I know these skills Quin performed were no easy tasks, and he deserves to be applauded for that. His hard work and determination lead him to do something amazing. I think Maker Spaces are very cool and very beneficial for students, and in the future if the school I am working at does not have any I will be an advocate for getting them.
In Case 4: Collaborative Digital Presentations Enrich Projects (https://www.edutopia.org/video/collaborative-digital-presentations-enrich-projects-tech2learn-series ) Kate Summers claimed right from the get go, "students are more engaged with technology involved," which I 100% agree with. I related to this video a lot because in high school we used google docs and presentations a lot, we also used a lot of guided notes when we would have presented, often recommended by the teacher. The students seemed to be engaged in what they were doing throughout the video and I believe that when it comes to group projects you will have a divide between your students, some will be more motivated than usual because they are part of the group and others will be less motivated because there will be someone there to pull their weight. I would like to teach these so called "slacker" group members that this is not acceptable, so they do not carry that kind of mind-set on into middle school and high school. The teachers job in this case was to facilitate the project and make sure students were on task. I like that she let her students use things such as Twitter if it contributed to what the students were teaching, it was allowing students to use something that is part of their everyday life for an educational purpose. Because this is something I did in my own high school I did not learn any new technology integration ideas, but I think Summers did a great job implementing technology inside her classroom.
