Thursday, 9 March 2017
Monday, 21 November 2016
BYOD to Do It Yourself (DIY)
Is it reasonable to do things we would
prefer not to do to become successful? BYOD seem like it will gradually make
it’s way to schools as it has already become common at most work places. However,
care must be taken not to allow it to become a source of distraction. I suggest
the following four models be used to BYOD:
(i)
Ready to use model, where
the learners have the device at one side of the desk to be used only on instruction
or direction by the teacher.
(ii)
Guided model,
here, the learners keep the device in the lockers and are released only on
request by the teacher. The teacher guides them on how to use the device during
the activities in the class.
(iii)
Local use only model,
the learners are restricted only to use the device as notes taking device and
may be allowed to open already stored information in the device but should not
be allowed to use the web for browsing.
(iv)
Personal goal model, here,
the learners have the control of when and how to use the device in the
classroom. The trust here is that they understand when such devices are needed
to be used for the activities related to the ongoing classroom instruction.
It is observed that, these models
reflect majorly two things (i) more management needed to guide the learners on
how to go about the devices and (ii) give them their independence to use the
devices in the classroom.
Therefore, in preparation for
introducing BOYD in my class, I would do the following:
(i)
First to determine why BOYD not any
other approaches to achieve the school goals and set targets.
(ii)
I too have to let the parents and
teachers be convinced by myself before implementation phase.
(iii)
Make a selection of what type of device
you would allow and not allow in the classroom.
(iv)
Give teachers ample time to adapt to
these changes because may not be in position to change their lesson plans and
teaching styles just at ago. Train them on the use of different apps and how to
integrate them in the classroom instructions.
(v)
Provide device to those that may not
have access to BOYD
It is yet interesting for me to run a class
where the students will be allowed to use their devices for collaboration e.g
to watch a video and have a quiz after wards to establish out whether they would
have no time to play games during the activity.
Ciao!
Monday, 14 November 2016
Knocking Down the Walls? No!
It’s not about knocking down the walls;
rather it’s how you use the existing structure to remove the old classroom set
up with rows of desks which usually make collaborative learning harder. We know
many learning set ups today do not support the kind of learning our learners
would be engaged in by collaborating with one another in solving real world
problems. Then what do we need to do?
(i)
Replace desks with tables to cluster
the learners around it.
(ii)
Leave bigger spaces in between tables
for them to freely move around safely.
(iii)
Organize field trips (go in for a walk
not by bus) to bring the natural world in the classroom, use technology like
skype, it gets you outside the classroom.
(iv)
Break down computer labs by taking the
computers to classrooms where the learners need them.
In achieving all those listed above, I
had a brief speech to the Principal to share with him our consensus; I will
share it with you here:
Mr. Principal Sir,
Today schools must not only be designed by the engineers who
build them, but as well as the teachers and learners who possess them and spend
their entire life in these schools. A well established school must move far
from the inflexibility of the static working spaces to an environment that will
include collaborations, innovativeness, open spaces while enjoying the
teaching/learning process. However, a majority of the learning in our schools
as of now is determined by an obsolete pedagogy, a thing that should eventually
be forsaken.
It is therefore, imperative to re-strategize and adjust the
learning spaces, reshape schools to speak to genuine Learning Buildings, and to
show new and more effective rationalities of learning by figuring out how to
transform learning environments. This with no doubt will provide an opportunity
to grasp contemporary intuition from the learning sciences, brain sciences and
neuroscience, a thing that is needed by all.
The major consensus on innovative learning spaces is no
longer a basic but a building block for all schools that will meet the demands
of the 21st century learning skills. The pictures below demystify
the schools with favorable learning spaces.
Ciao!
Saturday, 5 November 2016
Old Things Same Old Way?
Einstein wouldn’t even
agree with me to continue doing the same thing in the classroom in the same old
way and expect new results. For example, in the computer set up in our school,
it is the same old way of organizing computers in rows and columns which can accommodate
up to 60 students at a time with limited spaces in between. I have attached
here a sample of a computer class in our school. I have to agree that managing
such a class room isn’t something easy for student’s collaborations.
What I would
promote and encourage in the school is slowly to integrate computer studies to
the subjects I teach and eventually to all subjects such that it becomes embedded
into the curriculum. This would discourage the obsoleteness of taking the students
say after every one week to go and practice in the lab and later sent back to
their classes (old things old ways).
Compare with:
Ciao!
Tuesday, 25 October 2016
Collaboration on Wiki Spaces
It is obvious that
collaborative writing environments cultivate an open door for learners to co-develop
information and get to be occupied with shared discourse with their peers
through platform such as wiki spaces. It is especially essential to provide learners
with collaborative learning situations outside the classroom.
In this lesson
members demonstrated the eagerness to gain from each other through scaffolding
and feedback in the wiki spaces provided. This extended collaborative association
and platform which permitted members to identify gaps in their written work,
and make relevant recommendations in providing an enjoyable learning
experience.
Wikis
in the Classroom, Why?
|
(i)
It is a great motivator for your learners
(ii)
It is easy for you the teacher to monitor classroom
participation.
(iii)
It provides for creativity and innovation
(iv)
No students is left behind, all are encouraged to
participation
(v)
It promotes interpersonal communication between learners,
their teachers, and parents
(vi)
It is a new way of looking at things differently,
interesting way to learn too
|
Wikis
in the Classroom, How?
|
(i)
Group projects
(ii)
To manage classroom documents
(iii)
Discussion and debate in the classroom
(iv)
Teacher collaboration
(v)
Post class work in wiki spaces
|
Ciao!
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