Hello from Richmond!
Hello all — I’m going to give a good sigh of relief (like Ken). Got the first full day of teaching out of the way, now I can settle down to a little quiet with MET. My name is Jonathan Tang and I’m currently teaching a Grade 2/3 classroom in Richmond, BC. This is my 4th MET course and it has been hectic but a lot of fun to study/teach simultaneously.
The combination has allowed me to become a more reflective and critical teacher. My students have been a part of many of my ‘tech’ experiments. Some ideas weren’t able to reach their full potential, but it has been really enjoyable for both my students and myself. Technology in my school is encouraged gently and as a result anything I do is simply a bonus.
I’m curious as to the ‘venture’ aspect as I believe it will provide a more complete picture of the process of developing a product. It should help to better inform many of the choices in the type of technology that I use within my classroom.
Posted in: General
grzesko 8:57 pm on September 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I agree with you Jonathan on how hectic it can be teaching and studying. I too use my class for tech experiments which haven’t always been successful. My latest is creating a virtual world for them to perform tasks in, I will have to see how that one turns out. What were some of your “experiments”?
Jonathan 9:07 pm on September 6, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Wikis have been my greatest experiments to date. The success has varied and I’m currently trying to use it as a language development tool in primary classes. I’ve had some success but I’ll give it another shot this year. I’m also dabbling with Mindcraft. I’ve sen a lot of stuff online and have spoken with quite a few people in MET that have used it, but I’m still wrapping my head around the game. I’m not sure I totally enjoy the game (which is a shame) but I do appreciate the creative aspect of the game.
What about your tech experiments?
jenbarker 9:34 pm on September 5, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Jonathan! I also teach in Richmond. Which school are you at? What other MET classes have you taken? I am breathing sigh of relief knowing that i have a real person I can connect with should I have difficulties in MET. Did you know that the District will begin loaning iPad2’s this year. My school is scheduled to get them next month. I only work on Fridays but am excited to use them with my primary class to document their mathematical understandings.
Jonathan 9:12 pm on September 6, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Jen! A friend in the district? That is great news! I’m over at Whiteside. Yourself?
I’ve taken three to date (500, 511, 512). Let me know if you need course material from those classes (although I believe a lot of the reading material was online). I didn’t know that the district was loaning out iPad 2’s this year, I’ll have to get my school into it. Our school has recently acquired two of the iPads and I’ll be curious to use them with the students. I’ve had one (personal) in my classroom for a few years and have found opportunities to use them.
You’ll have to keep me updated on what you think about it for student use!
kstackhouse 8:30 am on September 6, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Welcome to the course Jonathan. My students have also had to deal with my attempts at using technology to enhance OUR learning (theirs and mine). That was part of the reason why I selected the MET over other Master’s programs. It just seemed to fit my needs. 🙂 Best of luck this term.
Ken
Jonathan 9:13 pm on September 6, 2012 Permalink | Log in to Reply
“enhance OUR learning”
Nothing wrong with learning together right? 😉