ETEC 533 Inquiry e-folio

Technology in the Science and Math Classroom

ETEC 533: Interview Analysis

Grade Six Teacher: Vancouver, BC

January 28, 2009

 

This grade six teacher is in his first year of teaching, and has utilized technology in his current practice and in practicum.  Examples of technology used in his classroom include the following:

·         Computer generated food chain posters that use various animations and graphics (student project)

·         Online surveys (e.g., ecological footprints)

·          Online math games (e.g., fraction hunt)

·         Student and teacher made power point presentations

·         Webquests

 

The following questions and responses are copied from an online chat discussion that occurred on January 27, 2009.

 

Question:  Did you reflect on the effectiveness of your use of technology?  If so, how did you measure its effectiveness?

 

·reflect, yes, more informally

·i always think its good simply because we are in a technological society what kid doesn’t think technology is great

·any chance they have to use the computer they cheer

 

 

I purposefully asked my interviewee this question to gain insight into how this educator rated the utility of his use of technology.  While his reflections and measurements are informal it is clear that his students respond well and are motivated by his use of technology in the classroom.

 

 

 

Question:  Do you think it enhanced their learning and ability to meet the prescribed learning outcomes?

 

·greatly enhanced

·it’s more REAL to them because they’re on a computer when they get home too

·the more quickly get to the task at hand

·which means they pick up what they are learning more quickly

·and therefore getting through the PLOs just in doing so

·you don’t have to draaaag something out that may have taken forever through the old way

 

This question was asked to see if the teacher thought his use of technology was actually helping his students meet the prescribed learning and performance outcomes.  It appears that this teacher feels the relevancy of the technology use for his students quickens the learning process for his students.  This teacher also responded later in the interview that his formal assessments also demonstrated enhanced learning.

 

I feel this is a great reflection regarding relevancy as there is so much evidence in educational research that demonstrates that children’s learning is enhanced when it is relevant.  Students are inundated with technological devices so this reflection just makes sense to me.  However, I think we still need to be cautious about what technological innovations we’re going to use as teachers. Technological “gimmicks” may grab student’s attention, but we need to ensure that it will be of value to their learning.

 

Question: As teachers we need to be cognizant of the diversity of learning needs in the classroom.  How was this considered when implementing your use of technology?  Explain.

 

·         Utmost because technology is what inspires the [attention difficulty]

·         the kids that need that extra “urge”:

·         to do an assignment

 

This question has great relevance to me as I view good use of technology as that which is open to the most users as possible.  There are a lot of students in schools who are hyperactive or have other exceptional reasons that make it difficult to focus on tasks at hand.  Kids with ADHD, FAS, FAE, and Autism are an example of just some of the exceptionalities where attention to tasks can be difficult.  If technology can help these kids focus on tasks designed to enhance learning than it is a success!

 

Question: Do you find most learners are able to use the technologies you described?

 

·         they are and they teach me things

 

This question I posed relates to open learning as all kids need to be able to actually use the technologies introduced.  Introducing something that is too far from their schema can cause disinterest, frustration, and lack of motivation.  I was encouraged by this teacher’s response to the question and reflected on my own similar experiences.  My students often teach me things they know about technology and I think this can do great things for their pride.