A digital apple for you, the teacher.
I believe educators have a responsibility to continue learning about their craft. It doesn’t mean we are not good at what we do, it means we accept there are always things we can do better. Illuminate: Technology Enhanced Learning
helped me to realize technology waits for no one, you can keep up or fall behind, the choice is yours. I feel the primary theme is introducing new technology but in several ways. The spark, if you will, is the ability to enhance engagement from students in the classroom and peer educators.
One of these sparks I found discussed virtual field trips. Petty (2018)
states, “A wealth of excellent apps exist today that makes it possible to take students on amazing field trips around the world without ever leaving the classroom” (p. 19). I have used multiple virtual field trips in my classroom and I know students really enjoy them. I am fortunate to have Chromebooks for all my students and we take virtual field trips whenever possible. I have also created a virtual field trip wakelet combining information from one educator and adding many of my own. The point is now I don’t have twenty or so, now I
have over eighty different virtual tour sites to use in my classroom. I agree with Petty (2018), “Its fun to travel alongside students as they make discoveries about the world” (p.19). The main reason I took the opportunity to search for more virtual tours on Wakelet.com is that I knew I
was not the only educator watching technology feed the engagement of my students. I am not one to want to fall behind, and due to my reading, I have found technologies coming for education.
Here I was excited about both the collaborative and independent abilities of virtual field trips and here comes Augmented Reality (AR). Kamarainen et al. (2018) describe AR applications as “ a technological device to visually display digital information so that it appears to be overlaid, embedded in, or activated by the physical environment” (p. 259). How close are we to AR in the schools? Kamarainen et al. (2018) state, “research using early versions and prototypes provides
compelling arguments that well-designed AR experiences support learning”
(p.261). This means the ability is here and it is proven to support learning. Please view the video below utilizing AR with Google Expeditions.
This type of learning is at the core of what author Bethany J. Petty discussed in her text. Don’t be afraid to reach out and grab new technologies and bring them to your classroom. Petty states, “You can use technology as a tool to design amazing learning experiences for your students and encourage them to collaborate, create, communicate, and think critically about their content and the world around them” (p. 115). There are new tools being created and we need teachers learning how to use them for our students. If we understand technology-enhanced learning is the key to twenty-first-century education,
then we must agree educators will be required to learn new advancements in technology just to keep up. Don't wait, start today!
References
Google for Education. (2018, September 26). EDU in 90: Augmented Reality with Expeditions AR [Video File]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/3sIcDgZlgMU
Kamarainen, A., Reilly, J., Metcalf, S., Grotzer, T., & Dede, C. (2018).
Using Mobile Location-Based Augmented Reality to Support Outdoor Learning in
Undergraduate Ecology and Environmental Science Courses.
Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 99(2), 259-276
Petty, B. (2018). Illuminate: Technology Enhanced Learning. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting, Incorporated.
Darren I loved your video on augmented reality. I have never heard of the concept and it seems really cool and engaging for the students. For my PLC book I read "The Interactive Class" and the writers Merrill and Merrill (2019) stated was, "One thing is certain: Educators cannot continue teaching in the same structured classrooms, with the same outdated materials, and in the same standardized ways" (p. 7). I feel like this quote fits perfectly with augmented learning because it is different and unique from anything else that I have seen before. It is not outdated and it is not teaching in the standardized way.
ReplyDeleteI also feel that the above quote holds true for the virtual field trips that you have researched. Many of those places that you have on your Wakelet would not be possible to visit in the standard classroom because they are too far away, or too expensive to visit. Virtual classrooms make it possible for our students to see and study places that we would never have even dreamed of visiting.
References:
Merrill, J., & Merrill, K. (2019). The interactive class. ElevateBooksEdu
I know that technology is always improving...but that AR video was TOO cool! It reminded me a lot of the TV show Bones. They have this table that Angie uses to bring up images and they discuss facts about cases. My math and science brain immediately thought of a million things I could do with this. Unfortunately, I will only be teaching reading, writing and social studies this year. I bet I could find a ton of new things for our social studies units.
ReplyDeleteOur minds and thoughts are very similar when it comes to discussing technology in the classroom. I also feel that it is an ongoing learning process for teachers to see new updates and utilize them in their classroom. Merrill and Merill (2019) stated that "if you want to become an interACTIVE teacher, you need to surround yourself with other interACTIVE teachers." (p. 63) This made me think about our newest teacher on our team who is coming to us from the technology department. I think I have learned most of what I know about technology FROM OTHERS! Sometimes I have to figure things out on my own, but surrounding myself with teachers who are excited to use new technology is a big deal to me. I don't want to be the teacher who gives out pages and pages of paper work and does not have a very engaging classroom. TUsing virtual reality is a great way to shape students "both culturally and socially in your classroom" (p. 29). Last year I was reading a book about the Sistine Chapel and I wanted SO BADLY to use our schools VR goggles to "take" my students there. Obviously, I had to think about showing them "naked people" and decided against it. But, I would have loved to at least show them the actual building and give them some background on the topic.
References:
Merrill, J., & Merrill, K. (2019). The interactive class: Using technology to make learning more relevant and engaging in the elementary class. S.l.: Elevate Books.