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So, the last 2 module has been on gamification and the flipped classroom. I have to say, I really like some of the different components of gamifying the classroom. I love playing games when I have a chance, especially puzzle or adventure games on the xBox or phone.
Playing games can be a really cool way to learn to fail. The cost for failing in a video game or an app is very low. If it didn't go well, go ahead and restart. If you are stuck on a level, keep playing. If you can't complete the level at all, there is always YouTube or some Wiki that someone has made to help you clear a level. To take this into the classroom would be a tremendous benefit for our students because there is often a fear of failure. My daughter is a student who has a hard time feeling. Therefore, she sometimes has a hard time taking risks and stretching herself. If she doesn't know if she'll be successful, it is hard for her to get started sometimes. I think there are many students like her in our classrooms or failure just doesn't make sense.
The Flipped classroom is another cool idea. However, I don't know that, in my teaching situation, it would be something we could do in our school. We have many low-income students and there are still many families that don't have internet or even email. And as strange as it seems in our society these days some do not even have a computer. I liked one of the articles that explained and idea of using an in-class flipped model, which basically turns the learning portion into a center. I thought this would be a good way to possibly get your feet wet into this kind of idea of a flipped classroom.
It is been cool taking part in the Google Plus community. Though sometimes during the week, life can get in the way and it's not always easy to spend much time on there, it's always good to catch up with some of the Articles and assignments people are posting on the website. Having teachers collaborate and communicate on this website is another idea using the Web 2.0 tools to become better at teaching to become better at helping our students. It is always cool to see some new ideas or get feedback on an assignment and be able to consider things from a different point of view that will help us only become better teachers.
Regarding my project, I'm kind of still in the same area where I have my ideas and I'm collecting my ideas but as far as having any kind of tangible thing- that is still up in the air. On paper it certainly doesn't look like I've made much progress, however I know if I started too soon I would have probably changed many more times as a result of learning different tools and new learning strategies throughout this course.
My elective status I'm is moving along I am nearly done with my first elective I'm a couple modules into my second and I plan on starting my third in a couple weeks. I feel like I may run out of time with some of the electives, especially at school starts here soon but I will do my best. If I'm not able to commit completely certificate program for the certificate, I am confident that I will continue my learning and growing in this area of educational technology.
Derrick
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