Ideal Science or Math TELE
Based on my experience as a teacher, in ETEC 511, and this course, I have developed the following description of an ideal Technology Enhanced Learning Environment (TELE).
An ideal TELE for the math or science classroom would be well-organized with an intuitive, clear design that is free of extraneous elements (distracting ads or visuals) and is focused on a particular task or purpose. Planned content would be scaffolded, and there would visual support (images, animations, films) for textually presented information. Students would be able to access as-needed content areas. They would also be able to do the following: share and compare data or ideas, annotate anything (for self reference), sort information in a variety of ways, collect and organize their artifacts, and create meaningful visualization. Finally, it would be engaging and rewarding to partake in the experience.
Media Credit:
KROMKRATHOG. (2013). Modern Design Template Social Media Button Stock Image. Freedigitalphotos.net. Retrieved January 28, 2014, from http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/Computer_Networks_g351-Modern_Design_Template_Social_Media_Button_p166387.html.
Hi Kimberly,
I like your succinct and clear definition and ideal TELE!
I am curious how feedback plays a role in your environment? I realize that you mention “share and compare” but I am wondering if it is a part of the technology-enhancement itself or through other means? Is there an ideal form of assessment? Or perhaps you have a preferred way of assessment in your position?
Cheers,
Mel Burgess.
Hi Jonathan,
Thanks for asking this question. I realize in hindsight that I wasn’t actively thinking about assessment and evaluation when describing my ideal environment but it is an important…possibly the most important element because we want to know what has been learned as a result of the experience. If it does not result in learning, you really have to question it’s composition.
At this point in time, I really like the Khan Academy environment that is a closed system of content, practice, and evaluations that self-grade and allow you to get more practice if needed or move on to another concept with encouragement and rewards for progress and reminders about what you have learned so far, but I think that there’s another aspect of learning math (and science) that also involves knowledge-building meaning users are self-researching, solving problems that rely on the basic knowledge or skills in the subject but allows for individual inquiry, connecting with other users’ inquiry, and instuctor (or more experienced person) feedback and questioning. In such an environment, I would want a system of instructor, peer, and self assessment. Self-reflection is key to higher order thinking and problem solving, and it works in conjunction with the feedback from a more experienced learner (or instructor).
Hello,
I like how you included the organization, collection and sorting of information into your definition. In the information age where there is an overwhelming amount of information, it is perhaps more important to figure out ways to store and retrieve the information than to rely on an individual’s memory. I have overlooked this aspect in my TELE.
I noticed that you mention creating meaningful visualization in your TELE. I am wondering if you came across some digital tools that help you achieve this? I find creating visual charts like concept maps online is quite difficult and I resort to having students do this using pen and paper.
Thanks for the great definition and description of your ideal TELE.
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
I tend to agree with you that mind-mapping software that is available is not as productive as pen and paper as the branching function is slow and interrupts the flow of ideas. Having said that though, I am reminded of one application called Text2Mindmap that uses an outline structure that transforms into a branched diagram. I included this element because of my previous research on dynamic text and interactive data visualizations. Gapminder World has an interactive graph that can be ‘played’ to show changing populations and life expectancies in countries around the world (and numerous other numerical facts. A user can turn data elements on and off and the colour coding is meaningful as well. MIT SENSEable City Lab contains numerous large data visualizations that are quite meaningful. Health InfoScape is a data visualization of health in the United States that can be sorted by type of health issue and shows the connection between health issues; it can also be sorted by gender and displayed in different ways.
I like the idea of manipulative data visualizations for learning about topics with large data within a TELE; I also like the idea of a tool within such an environment that allows you to create data visualizations.