There are multiple ways of using a TELE in our classrooms, although each TELE comes with unique features and qualities to it. The following table describes some of the features each TELE has and compares/contrasts them in the end:
| Anchored Instructions & Jasper | SKI & WISE | LfU and MyWorld | T-GEM and Chemland | |
| Main Features | Uses videos as the main tool to create problems that have real-life relevance | A teacher can use these online tools to create a whole lesson that fulfils multiple learning outcomes. | Problems are posed that have real-life relevance but very little information given to start with | Uses the online simulations to engage students in an inquiry based learning techniques |
| Learning Goals | Students feel more engaged with problems that are posed via videos and real-life relevance instead of using problems from a textbook | Uses scaffolding as one of the main tools to help learners who want to learn at their own pace. Students can go through these lessons multiple times for revision purposes | These tools engage students in problems that motivate students to inquire and access prior knowledge required for problem solving. | Students generate problems themselves by observing the given simulation and evaluate the results they arrive at. They get to modify the given simulation to learn further concepts. |
| Comparison/ Contrast | Jasper videos are videos that use real-life problems and turn them into interesting problems that high school students can solve. Similarly, LfU provides students with problems that can be seen in real life and be turned into problems that students can solve | SKI & WISE are not just tools that provide problems that students can solve but also help students learn a concept starting from scratch. | LfU and T-GEM require students to put their inquiry hats on before tackling the problem which makes these two TELES unique in their own ways | T-GEM is the only TELE that has a step-by step guide for teachers to follow in order to use this TELE in their classrooms. It makes me much more likely for a teacher to use a TELE in their classroom if there is a clear step by step guideline to apply them in their classroom. |
Synthesis: It is interesting to see how much all these TELEs have to offer to us in today’s world. All these TELEs give us a new hope for every child in our classrooms to be successful. These TELEs make sure that no child is left behind while they help students develop skills that will guide them through the rest of their life’s learning. These TELEs probe our students to be curious, motivated, collaborate, analyze data, and be independent. Jasper videos have given problem solving a new face as I, myself, was a student who hated textbook word problems because they were not relevant to real life at all. These TELEs give our students an opportunity to make their thinking visible and feel heard as they are able to express themselves in multiple ways. There is no bigger blessing to a child who feels they don’t understand everything in a classroom to be able to access a WISE lesson online and review material at their own pace.
With all these qualities that these TELEs have, one must think why are these TELEs not widely used in our classrooms. This module has been an eye opener for me given that I consider myself a teacher who uses technology in her classroom on a regular basis. Yet, I had never heard of any of these TELEs ever before. It is unfortunate that we have such great resources available online, some free of cost, and we don’t even know about them. Whether it is the lack of advertisement of the tools available online or the resistance to use on teachers’ part; our students are the ones that are suffering. No teacher goes to school thinking they are not going to do the best for the students today. All teachers do do their best but what is lacking or stopping these wonderful teachers from using these amazing TELE designs available online. It is interesting that TELEs such as T-GEM and LfU are pedagogical techniques that teachers can simply apply in their classrooms without having to deal with heavy duty technology in their classrooms. I just wish more teachers knew about these TELEs and we were able to help each child achieve their maximum potential possible in our classrooms.
Hi Gursimran,
Thanks for you post, I completely agree with you – each TELE could be so beneficial in the classroom! I also, however, had no prior knowledge of any of them! You bring up some great points and it is a topic that I thought about quite a bit while reading and researching; these TELEs place a lot of responsibility on the teachers to find, adapt and disseminate the appropriate resources to their students. It can take quite a lot of time to find something that works for your students. I, like you, also question how these TELEs and the accompanying resources can become better known? Should it be the responsibility of individual teachers, departments or schools? Definitely something to think about!
Thanks
Kathryn
Thanks Kathryn, I think it is not just the teachers’ responsibility to be aware of these resources but the school administration, teacher union, Pro-D days, BC ministry of education and everyone who thinks they get to have a say in what today’s educational system should look like, should be held responsible for this.
GK
What a great point! It makes me think about how these TELEs have slipped though the cracks…
As we have been going through this module, I’ve asked the science and math teacher in our middle school if they have ever heard of any of these and so far, there hasn’t been a single one that they have heard of. However, when I start to explain what they are exactly, they are able to point to things in their classrooms that they do that match up with different models. I wonder if, it’s not that these are not present in classrooms, but rather, they are not labeled and identified in classrooms yet they exist naturally. For example, most science and math classrooms use technology, questioning, and simulations to extend learning which is the heart of anchored instruction and WISE. They teach using real-world examples and systems, which is LfU. And they follow the scientific process, which is the original T-GEM.
By saying this, I’m not saying that these TELEs have no value, but I do think that they are each narrowing in on something that is and always has been a part of the science and math classroom.
-Jonathan-
Jonathan, you made a very good point of all these TELEs being present in classrooms but it’s just that we haven’t been able to label them… Again, it requires awareness!
Thank you,
GK