Wow, this class sure had a little bit of everything in it. From new tech tools, to rich discussions around all sorts of education topics, I feel like I learned so much in Week #10.

First of all, a quick reflection on the use of Miro in the classroom. I personally enjoyed the tool — it was pretty neat to see everyone’s ideas pop up. While I could see it going off the rails (particularly with middle schoolers, who might see it as an opportunity to put inappropriate comments), I kind of appreciated the anonymity. It might help people open up a bit more, particularly those who are a bit more shy. However, more than the tool, I loved the process. Having one person sort the comments, and then having a class discussion around the sorting, was such an interesting experience. I could see kids having really rich discussions about which topic should go in which category, and being opened up to a bunch of new perspectives as a result. It was such an enriching use of Ed Tech!

This could be a good resource for people new to Miro:

The whole EduCamp process was super interesting, as well. I think it’s a good way to blend structure and choice — two things that are super crucial for positive development. Here are some of my favourite insights from EduCamp discussions:

  • My classmate Rick raised a good point in our conversation about unstructured play — there is a difference between risk and hazard. We should promote healthy risk taking, but avoid hazards, which can actively cause harm.
  • We had an interesting conversation about ELL resources in the classroom. My classmate Rylee mentioned that one student she met had to bring their own language materials to school. This did not seem right to me!
  • In the ELL group, we talked about the different functionalities of Google Translate. For instance, it apparently has a camera translation function. It sure has come a long way!

A couple other little notes from the class: The Five Why’s thing was interesting to me, because I think I could use it as both an intellectual tool (to deepen thinking), but also a de-escalation tactic in a SEL context (getting to the root of conflicts, for instance). Also, Edulinqs seems like a good tool, but I want to learn more about what makes it different than say, Link Tree. I would be curious to hear about any insights my classmates may have on that front!

Sometimes I wonder in class what the technology connection of a particular topic is. However, I then remind myself that the course is called Technology and Innovation in education, and I so value the innovative approaches we are being introduced to!

YIT,

Markus