Wrapping up the semester here, things are adding up to very stressful, overwhelmed weeks! So it’s nice to take some time in reflection on what I have learnt and what this course has offered me....
My Contributions
The biggest contribution I participated in during these past few weeks is the exploring and discovering of digital educational tools, software and resources. Actively using the new tools suggested in the DBs provided me with a solid foundation to research others. This confidence only grew and now I’ve created a whole mind-map all with new educational tools. The mind map I created is definitely something I see myself referring to in the future as well as the resource lists from Jason Ohler (Digital Citizenship) and Tools for School.
Independent research I conducted into the 4C’s and PBL has also been hugely beneficial to me. As mentioned in previous posts, this approach to teaching really excites me! I personally love the flexibility learning by design offers, being able to move seamlessly back and forth through each step and continually build upon ideas; I find, is such a fun and engaging way to learn
The collaboration with Haley and Andrea provided us all the opportunity to contribute to the learning, taking place. We successfully integrated our individual points and edited and adjusted where we saw fit. I think the highlight of this was in achieving a well rounded list of tools which we can all definitely use in future classrooms.
Independent research I conducted into the 4C’s and PBL has also been hugely beneficial to me. As mentioned in previous posts, this approach to teaching really excites me! I personally love the flexibility learning by design offers, being able to move seamlessly back and forth through each step and continually build upon ideas; I find, is such a fun and engaging way to learn
The collaboration with Haley and Andrea provided us all the opportunity to contribute to the learning, taking place. We successfully integrated our individual points and edited and adjusted where we saw fit. I think the highlight of this was in achieving a well rounded list of tools which we can all definitely use in future classrooms.
What I Learnt... (just a few things!)
- I learnt that simply knowing technology, although hugely beneficial, is not key; what is important is correct and effective integration with the right learning approach. The lesson should simply be enhanced with use of tech.
- I learnt that modern day citizens are Pro-sumers (now one of my favourite words!). We are simultaneously receiving and producing information. Although exciting, this means we have to be constantly vigilant both in addressing the information we’re consuming and the information we’re putting out. We have to take into account content and delivery method, hence separating message from medium. Most importantly we have to effectively educate our students in such a way that this ability to “decode” the world around them, is ingrained into their education.
- I learnt about the 4C’s- A method I have been using myself for years without consciously realising until I found the name for it! This is the backbone of success with anything in the 21st century- Design thinking, PBL, Learning as a process, Inquiry Learning, it all comes down to Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking and Creativity.
How Well do I think I did?
PASS
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Highlighted above are the rubric descriptors I believe I have achieved in completion of this assessment. I think my presentation and writing is strong and I can incorporate technology and design learning well into classroom curriculum as depicted in outcome 5, although I would have had more to show had I participated in more DB’s. My various blog posts, evidence and research provide an insightful examination of various technologies and the use of these technologies.
However my justifications do tend to be simple descriptions and I feel my blog posts, the actual evidence, can sometimes do more of the reflection. This was because of the context and formatting. In a blog post I feel more at ease to post my thoughts, as it’s not necessarily a piece of academic writing; the light in which I viewed the justifications. Also as expected in a post grad my referencing has to be much stronger then it sits currently, I need to be getting my information and supporting my arguments from a wide variety of sources, this always impacts my mark greatly.
Overall I would give myself a 58% depending on the weighting of the descriptors.
However my justifications do tend to be simple descriptions and I feel my blog posts, the actual evidence, can sometimes do more of the reflection. This was because of the context and formatting. In a blog post I feel more at ease to post my thoughts, as it’s not necessarily a piece of academic writing; the light in which I viewed the justifications. Also as expected in a post grad my referencing has to be much stronger then it sits currently, I need to be getting my information and supporting my arguments from a wide variety of sources, this always impacts my mark greatly.
Overall I would give myself a 58% depending on the weighting of the descriptors.