Category: Learning Design

Minecraft

On November 1, 2019

Today we had the opportunity to meet a few grade 8 students and their teacher who are all avid users of Minecraft. We had a chance to explore Minecraft Education Edition on the lab computers and were able to view other users playing. While we played, the students walked around and offered help to anyone that needed it. They also taught us a little tips that would accelerate our learning about the game. These students seemed very passionate about the game and most have been playing it since a very young age. They shared their experiences with the Minecraft and how it helped them in school since it is a digital tool that is being used more often.

They taught us applications of the game and how we can implement it in classrooms as an educator. For one, it allows students to view a realistic type world where they roam and explore but from a fictional perspective. This game can be used to teach students about agriculture because they are able to grow their own garden and cultivate it. I visualize this game being used for math because it facilitates students to learn about the different axises in a 3 dimensional world. They learn how to navigate the world using the x, y and z axis. This game allows them to experience the dimensions visually which is a far more effective method than simply taking down notes in a traditional math class. This game offers the kinesthetic aspect of learning dimensions because they are physically playing the game.

The game has many modes in which they can play. The game has an educational mode where the players explore and just get to the know world better. They don’t have to worry about surviving or hunting. This method has far more restrictions because it is meant more for learners. The game has a survival method where you have health points and need to keep them up to stay alive. This includes surviving by hunting animals for food and by growing seeds which become plants you can eat. Players have the ability to die and respawn in a predetermined location. The last mode is the creative mode where everything goes and there aren’t many restrictions. Here, you could build where and how much you want. Basically, you get to be an ultimate creator in this world.

“Minecraft Castle” by Mike_Cooke is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

EdCamp

by gurkiratd

On October 25, 2019

In Learning Design, Reflections

Today in class, we had Valerie introduce EdCamps to us which are essentially work shops set up by students all around the world. How it works is participants choose a topic they would like to talk about or know more about and they write it down on a sticky note. The notes are then posted on a board where participants each have 3 votes on which topic they would like to see being discussed. The top topics that receive the most amount of votes become discussions that are being held at different places but at the same time. Participants are able to choose which topic they would like to be apart of and are allowed to get up and switch to a different discussion whenever they choose. The purpose of these EdCamps is to get individuals involved around topics in Education so that they may be able to share their experiences or learn new pedagogy attributes they would like to incorporate. It allows individuals who are from all different parts of the community such as teachers, parents, students, and principles all to connect with one another. The great thing with EdCamps is that there is no lead talker so everyone gets a chance to speak and share. The EdCamps are held on Saturdays and are open to the general public so anyone can attend.

In our class, we had the opportunity to set up our own mini EdCamp. The three topics that received the most votes were creating inclusive classrooms, mindfulness of students and experiences with our favourite high school teachers. The discussion that I chose to be apart of was elaborating on our experiences with our favourite high school teachers. Every individual in the group had a chance to share their experience and a key point that was similar to everyones story was that a teacher had gone out of their way and made the student feel appreciated. The teacher stood out because they were able to view the student as more than just a student. They were able to connect on a different level and create that positive student teacher relationship that students will be remember for a very long time. Personally, my favourite teacher was able to see potential in me that no other teacher could. He knew that I was capable of giving more effort but was just hanging around with the wrong crowd so I didn’t really take school seriously. I was succeeding academically but would put in minimal effort when it came to participating in the class. This EdCamp session in class really allowed me to reflect on the main reason I am here today, as a Biology graduate and now an aspiring teacher.

WordPress Tutorial

by gurkiratd

On October 13, 2019

In EdTech, Learning Design, Reflections

We had Rich McCue come in today and explain to us a how WordPress.com works and all the different features it has to offer. He discussed the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org which I had no idea they were two completely different platforms. Rich showed us how to make a wordpress.com site and how to host it on a Canadian server which is open etc. We had a chance to play around with our site, customizing the themes and playing around with the toolbar. I can view WordPress being a very useful application to blog about my experiences as a teacher which may be helpful for other teachers. This site would contain no personal information about students but rather the activities and lessons we do in our class. This way, parents are able to be informed about what their child is learning about and the different topics we cover in the classroom. Since OpenETC is a Canadian server, no information is stored outside the country ensuring that the information is being stored in a safer manner.

After we had a chance to make our own wordpress accounts to document our reflections and blogs for the EdTech class, we were introduced to Trello which is an online website that acts as your daily planner. This website has a section where you can insert your to-do list and categorize it in ways to show whether it’s in progress or is completed. This website is an amazing resource for a teacher because it allows them to visually see how a student is planning their assignments and studying for a particular class. The teacher can also go in and comment on the parts where the student may be excelling in or may need assistance with. I can picture myself using this website as an educator to monitor my student’s schedules to better provide them the antiquate learning they need. As an alternate to planners, Trello can be accessed online through many devices such as a smartphone and is portable so students don’t have to carry around an extra booklet to plan their work.