Why School was a great read for me this week. While it was very American in its content, it only serves to make me love teaching in Canada that much more. I thoroughly agree that when students are engaged, they are more likely to seek out answers and ways to problem solve. I actually brought with me from home the Focus on Inquiry document that came out of Alberta in 2004, just for some relaxation reading when I am not working on homework. While inquiry based learning has been around for some time, I am not sure that I have a handle on what it really entails. However from the blurry vision I have on this topic, I think that this type of learning lends itself very well to implementing technology in a variety of ways.
After all the work that has been going on with collaboration in my district last year, I was really hoping to focus technology on enhancing this collaboration. I was also wanting to explore this inquiry based learning to greater depth. I am wondering if they both can fit together in some way and also implement technology as a support for both the collaboration and the inquiry. Perhaps the resources we have looked at this week could support both these points, or perhaps there are other aspects of technology that could enhance these topics to a greater extent.
I found a little video on YouTube that talks about project based learning (inquiry based learning). The video is not the greatest in terms of graphics but the ideas presented are really great. Not only does it talk about the classroom but about a similar project in the work world. The connection is made that this is a life long skill that will be as useful in the professional world as it is in the classroom.
Project Based Learning: Explained
Here is where my technological expertise is lacking. I can’t figure out how to put the video here, but I am fairly sure the link will take you there on your computer…It does on mine. if anyone can help me learn how to insert a YouTube video into a blog I would be very grateful!
I feel that your contributions to the learning group through your blog, in discussion groups and through your sharing today on collaboration has had a large impact on me personally and others in reading your blog comments. I agree whole heartedly that collaboration is the way forward. I can connect with the issuce of personal devices in school and how to make it equitable for everyone. I appreciate and can identify with your honesty over technological expertise. With the volume of digital resources covered this week I agree that we need to remain mindful on our personal journey to ensure that we gain competency with a few in our teaching practice. As well as remain open to explore more in the future.
To embed the video, when you’re writing the post just copy and paste the link into where you’re writing the post… don’t use the insert tool, or use any html.
Find it on youtube, copy the link, paste into your post.
Here’s a tutorial on how to embed videos as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1GvwhisHaM
I feel that you’ve covered broad range of concepts and theory and put a lot of thought into how it can be applied in a practical setting. Your comment referencing collaboration and Focus on Inquiry shows that not only are you applying what you’re learning in this course, but in previous courses as well – outstanding! Your posts this week are detailed and informative, and very honest. I agree, we are presented with so many resources it’s very easy to fall into the trap of being a jack of all trades and master of none. It seems like an uphill battle for educators to stay current with all the new theory and technology made available to us. I think your experience about learning how to use your new computer echoes the frustration our students (myself included) sometimes feel when forced to unlearn and learn how to use unfamiliar resources. We are all life-long learners and it’s impossible to master everything – hopefully this resonates with students!
The video I posted above explains how to embed videos in our blogs. The gist of it is when you have a Youtube video you want to share, you can click on Share -> Embed and then copy the HTML code. On your blog click on Text in the top right corner and then paste the code on your post.
Keep up your insightful work!
It would be very interesting to do a three pronged inquiry into 1) inquiry-based learning, 2) collaboration for professional growth, and 3) using digital technologies to support and sustain items 1 and 2. One of the biggest barriers to teachers taking a leadership role in their ict development has been a program of ict professional development that focuses on one application or device, rather than fostering participatory learning cultures engaged in life long learning. Teaching can be supported by scientific data, but it is also an art. And artists need connectivity.