Concept Map: Math with Google Apps created with www.bubbl.us
VoiceThread: Using Google+ Communities for Education (13MB .mov file)
Assessing Characteristics of Meaningful Learning: The Chemistry of Hair Care
The most valuable thing I learned in this course was how to assess my lesson plans with respect to the five characteristics of meaningful learning: active, constructive, intentional, authentic, and cooperative. To me, the first unit of our textbook, Meaningful Learning with Technology, was the most valuable. I had read the unit for another class, so I was already familiar with the five characteristics. In this class, however, I was able to reinforce my understanding of the characteristics by working through a lesson plan with the meaningful learning template and building a concept map to show the relationships between the characteristics when using a particular technology. It’s fair to say that I didn’t have a good handle on the real-world relevance of the five characteristics until I did these exercises. I’ve started to apply the template to some ideas I’m developing for new classes, and it is helping me to think more carefully and creatively about my lessons, especially with respect to using technology.
The course also helped me understand how to utilize modeling and visualization with technology. This is something that I feel has great potential for helping my EFL students achieve learning goals. For example, I think using concept maps to reinforce vocabulary words would be a fun and useful group activity. In addition, I like the idea that my students might be able to use their phones as learning aids, going on guided tours, etc., especially if I can get them to build such tours! I also think activities like using and building word walls and interactive flashcards could be great ways to boost engagement and help students learn from one another.
In terms of using specific technology, one course assignment had an immediate contribution for me: the Newsy video assignment. The Newsy video I chose was "Leaders At World Economic Forum Criticize Illegal Cryptocurrency Use." I used the video and the activities I described on the assignment discussion board in an Economics ESP class, and the lesson was very successful.
Newsy was just one of the many ways to use technology for meaningful learning that I was able to learn about from this course. I also learned how to use VoiceThread, and I used it to explain how to use Google+ Communities for education. I had to learn the VoiceThread program’s limits, and it was a good exercise in evaluating the use and value of a technology to enhance learning. Watching the other students’ VoiceThreads gave me a lot of other ideas about how to use technology for my classes, such as VR tours and other augmented reality applications.
I’ve never been one to advocate using technology because it’s cool or because it’s been paid for. After this class, I have learned how to evaluate the use of technology more effectively with respect to meaningful learning.