Reflections

Wednesday 

June 2, 2021

"What unit project will you be focusing on for this course? What are some things you would like to incorporate or change?"

I am planning to focus on a unit that takes videos that students are watching and enamored with within popular culture and popular applications and recreating them in the classroom, whether it be through special effects, multi-layer editing, or videotaping techniques.  I am still trying to figure out the specifics of the lesson but the idea is basically derived from answering the never-ending question of  "Why are we doing this?" I want to take something that my students watch and make them participators rather than spectators.  I also want to show them that even within popular culture there are several skills that people need to learn within the classroom before they can create certain forms of media.

I used to think that incorporating student choice was fairly easy, just throw a bunch of options together and allow students to go crazy.  However now I think that you need to take into account a few more things , the biggest of which is: How do I challenge my students and engage them at the same time.

I chose to answer Lauras question because I am literally using technology within my classroom all day long.  There is probably not a moment when we are not on computers, cellphones, or using editing software or online applications in our work.  I think that honestly our students are living in an environment where they need to master these 21st century skills in a way we have not before.  I also think that we are training them for jobs that do not currently exist and they will rely heavily on technology.  In that aspect I think there is no way they can lose sight of the learning goal because technology is so intricately woven into it. 

Two takeaways that I have had during tech camp so far are :

1. Parlay:  I have never heard of this  discussion platform that allows students to interact with each other and their teacher, both virtually and in person.  I think that after exploring the application I can possibly include it as a part of my repertoire in the future.

2. Tech Overload:  Most of us are navigating the fine line between integrating technology into our lessons vs. not overloading students with too much technology in a post remote learning environment

The technology tool that I have used in the past and will continue to use in the future to determine if students are benefitting from learning are: Google Sites and Google Form Reflections.  I have been having students do weekly reflections on their Tv Communications Google Sites Pages so that they can reflect on the learning that was done that week.  When I preview them I can look for common themes about what students were excited about, completely hated and maybe I need to pour more into in the following week.  I use Google form to create reflections for quick feedback for what I have taught how the applications they are using have helped them, where they are still struggling and if they see it as a benefit as  a whole. 

I think that the daily reflection served as a way for me to celebrate my daily successes and acknowledge my daily challenges throughout the week.  These reflections allow me to see where I am, where I want to go and reflect on how to get there.  The reflections have also served as a way for me to learn about my mistakes, ignite ideas, and focus what I can accomplish one day at a time.  I think in general I am try to do way to much all in one week of tech camp, however the reflective process allows me to see that Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will all of the components of my lesson plans.