Image from Flickr
In LIBE 477, we have been asked to create our vision for the future of 21st century education. Our project can be tailored to any audience we choose and can focus on a topic within the broader topic that is relevant to us.
Currently I am kindergarten teacher and will most likely be one for the next few years. I have decided that I want to complete a project that I can use in my classroom immediately. I started my new position in December and have just introduced the iPads to the students in the beginning of February. I started small and incorporated them into our Math Centres. I taught the students how to search for apps and choose between a list of pre-selected apps that practice math concepts they have already explored with manipulatives. To say the students are engaged when using the iPads would be an understatement. They are mesmerized and are for more capable than I initially gave them credit for. However, I know that the iPads could be used to transform their learning in addition to allowing them to practice math concepts. I wonder how I could incorporate iPads into students’ mathematical learning in a more meaningful way? When I was thinking of this question, I thought of the groups of students who instead of using the iPads are scattered around the classroom using manipulatives to explore math concepts. Often the students who are building, creating, collaborating and producing products with hands-on manipulatives are doing exactly what we want users of technology to be doing – building, creating, collaborating and producing! While the iPad group is content playing their practice games, the manipulative group is busy trying to find someone to share their new found knowledge with. Sharing is such a huge part of the 21st century. We want our students to be producers of knowledge; to share their knowledge with the world. I have often reflected that I don’t gather the students around enough to examine and discuss students’ creations. My inquiry project will be an exploration of how I can incorporate iPads into our math centres in a meaningful way that will allow students to share their learning with the class and potentially the world beyond our four walls.
As a side note on the journey of this inquiry project:
I never really understood how those students felt who weren’t able to get started on a project. I’m not going to lie. I often felt that they were just stubborn and didn’t want to work but as I am attempting to start this project Carol Kuhlthau’s stages of inquiry came to my mind (which I had learned about in a course last semester). Perhaps these students were stuck! They had no idea where to start and the thought of an open topic paralyzed them! At the thought of doing an inquiry project for my vision for the future I felt apprehension, uncertainty, anxiety and doubt (hence the reason it took me so long to get this post up). All of these feelings are common in the first three stages of Kuhlthau’s model. While I have felt these emotions when embarking on other projects I have never felt them to the extent I felt for this project. I’m sure by the end of this project I will feel a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment as Kuhlthau’s model suggests. This project really feels like a capstone project for this whole diploma by bringing everything I have learned about inquiry, 21st century and digital literacy together. I’m glad this is one of my last courses I chose to take.
Works Cited:
Kwan, M. (2010). Kobe drawing. [image online] Available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aperturismo/4488285832/ [Accessed: 16 Mar 2014].
Library.humboldt.edu. (2014). Humboldt state university library: at your fingertips — information competence in the professions. [online] Retrieved from: http://library.humboldt.edu/ic/general_competency/kuhlthau.html [Accessed: 16 Mar 2014].
Excellent post full of strong ideas, good brainstorming and authentic and valuable reflection! Your ideas for encouraging more sharing and thinking about student’s learning is a powerful one and something your students will greatly benefit from as your teach them how to share their own learning, thus, focusing their thinking about what they’ve learned and how best to express it. I look forward to coming along on this capstone project. Just as equally valuable is your honest sharing of your apprehension and understanding of the inquiry process. Being able to understand the same feelings as your students, and sharing this with your visitors to this blog will ultimately allow you to connect with and support your students and PLN better. Overall, great job so far!
I can relate to how you felt. This is all new to me and a little scary. I like how you say sharing is such a huge part of the 21st century and your ideas for your future project incorporate this. Good luck with your project!
I, too, have found inquiry-based teaching, planning and implementation very uncomfortable. However, the resulting experiences (when looking back!) have been the best of my teaching career. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I really like your idea of using the ipad to move past games but become part of “building, creating, collaborating and producing” and sharing. I think you have captured the difference of using technology in the classroom to technology being another method to help your students learn. Looking forward to your project!