a CooL TooL

So, unlike many of my fellow PGCE’s I really have no prior knowledge or exposure of this thing they call an interactive whiteboard. Oh oh no wait, I remember in our school’s library there was this cool white board thing, but it just stood there. I fiddled with it once, but none of our teachers used it. It was like this foreign new object in the school, which may not be touched if you’re not an expert because it was soooo expensive. But it’s probably because it was only introduced in schools in my schoolyears.

After doing some research on it…(on Wikipedia hehe), I understand that you connect it to your computer where the pens act as the mouse of the computer on the white board. It seems like a pretty nice tool to use in the classroom, especially for all this learner-centered type of teaching we are taught about. It is perfect for getting the learner’s involved by having them come and write answers on the board or draw up a mind-map or picture of the work they have done. Everyone in the class can contribute. And then printing those mind-maps out for the learners, which could give them a sense of ownership and achievement.

As opposed to the traditional blackboard which is wiped out, on this board you can actually save your work and as the learners saw the work being done in the class, can have the printed copy of that work. This can enhance their remembering of classwork.

As many digital tools, if your school has one available, you must familiarize yourself with it and embrace this tool as much as possible.

EMBRACE CHANGE J

Einstein is my hero

As disgussed in our class today:

We are superheroes being able to and having the opportunity each and every day to make the world a better place via our little minions ;)

But unlike minions we need to let each one be their own person and create the space to create – themselves or things.

What does this type of outcome need to ensure its success?!?! That is the question

 

My curriculum subjects (natural sciences and life sciences) has a lot of potential to really engage learners and really use any practical and visual tool to convey the message.

BUT The big challenge would be on how to make the work applicable for the learners to spark their interest in the subject to get them involved and to love being involved. Optimal participation could be challenging in these subjects as it is not everyone’s field of interest necessarily…

So, thinking about how I would love my class to be one day…

First and foremost, I would get to know my learners, what their interests are, they could then design a poster or bring a tangible thing to class that represents their interests. This would facilitate me in creating applicable examples in class for them specifically and thus engaging the students in meaningful involvement. AND

NO presumptions about any learner!

THEN I would start by creating an environment where learners feel comfortable and excited to be in. Here, I will start with the decorating of my classroom with applicable subject pictures and quotes, but somewhat very creative ones and out of the box.

Also I would love a classroom with easy movable desks and children sitting in groups.

 

 

 

 

For science specific classes: bring in very recent works such as I’ve just seen on google where they have the google name in different styles and when you click on it it takes you to the info site on what the google sign represents for that day. Today it is a tribute to a woman astronomer, Caroline Herschel, on her 266^th Birthday.

All the learners have used google or knows what google is, thus this will maybe spark interest at learners to go on their own to see for themselves and bring back some interesting facts for the next day. Or they could go on their phones in class.

Through photography via their phones could spark interest as when you really look at something to photograph you look at it with deeper interest, to get that perfect shot. I would encourage learners to bring their photography to class and share what interested them about that object. It will then be put up on a classroom Instagram wall.

 

 

My other curriculum subject is mathematical literacy and here I really struggle to see how to make this subject engaging, relevant and exciting.

Thinking back to my math classes in school I would have really enjoyed a creative approach as everything in science and math is an art. Also stimulating creativeness, just activates the brain to think freely. Drawing this creativeness back to maths would have kept my utmost interest.

Hmmm, ssoooo Maths Lit…I actually really need help with this one…

Maybe teaching on a topic but asking students to come up with examples. This should be easy as maths lit is a lot about finding patterns and is very applicable to real life.

Some other points I’ll definitely still think about is:

• Effective communication between: learner and teacher; teacher and parent; parent and learner.
• Some other Apps I can apply in the classroom or for communication purposes.
• Stimulating creativeness and imagination.

And a lot more stuff that will pop up as I enter this adventure :)