Internet Resources

As I searched through the Emerging Ed Tech book I found myself knee deep in educational resources  I must admit, I have always been a skeptic when it comes to technology in the classroom. My own fear of technology is the main source of this fear. However, having reviewed the many applications of technology I am finding myself warming up to the prospect of technology, or what I would consider advanced technology, in the classroom.

Google Drive, or one of the similar applications, is something that I would like to use in my classroom. Now that I have a Google Drive I see that there are so many possibilities for collaboration in the classroom for any age or ability level.

I hope that I am one of the lucky teachers who is able to have an iPad in their classroom. The more education classes I am in the more support I see for iPads. There seems to be so many possibilities! There can be apps for all subjects, special education as well as "gamification."

What I like about the "gamification" (the use of games in education) is that there are endless possibilities. Anything has the potential to be a game! By incorporating technology into learning and games, students gain first hand knowledge regarding technology and collaboration, in addition to the content. Some  examples are; 4kids.org and learninggamesforkids.com.

Overall there are so many possibilities to connect technology and learning. I have only mentioned a couple in an endless sea of technology learning. I am excited to see how much I am going to rely on technology by the end of this experience.

2 Cents= Endless Oppertunities

After reviewing David Warlick's blog I realized there is so much that can be achieved though blogs. On February 1, 2013 Mr. Warlick posted the video Washing Your Hands in Space. How COOL! Students from Corpus Christi, Texas were able to ask an astronaut questions about space. Oh the possibilities! If a blog can connect people who are "out of this world" with students in a classroom, connecting students around the world will be no problem! There are so many opportunities for learning to take place. Students on two different sides of the world can both engage in inquiry by interviewing each other while breaking geographical roadblocks. This is so exciting!

A classroom blog can redirect education as we know it. There can be external learning links, student work can be displayed and accessed for future projects. In addition to having limitless learning opportunities, a different kind of connection can be created in the classroom society with a classroom blog. Teachers as well as students can post links and videos which can inspire learning, such as the Washing Your Hands in Space video. There are so many educational opportunities for blogs in a classroom, I cannot wait to apply them in my own.

Ms. S.K.

Welcome to the Life Patterns Unit: Inquiry and Project Based Learning

Hello everyone, throughout this course I will be exploring both inquiry and project based learning. However, before I discuss the importance of inquiry and project based learning lets review what they are.

INQUIRY LEARNING
Inquiry learning is a natural process which occurs throughout an individuals life. Students recognize their own thought process and apply their background knowledge, or schema, to the task at hand. Inquiry based learning is not a process in which someone retains knoweldge, but the pocess of which they gained the knoweldege. If an individual is unable to successfuly go though the process of learning by asking questions, they will not be able to gain the knoweldge to retain.

PROJECT BASED LEARNING
Project based learning is an instructional method in which students analyze and research questions they connect to their everyday life. Due to the fact that students are actively involved in the learning process and are researching topics that appeal to them personally, the students become more engaged in and enjoy the learning process.

IN THE FUTURE
Inquiry and project based learning are essential for effective learning. The goal of the educational system is to create learners who are actively learning in society. Both inquiry and project based learning train students to be actively engaged in their own learning. The unit, Patterns Within Life, is designed to allow students to make connections through multiple content areas by recognizing the patterns within them. In my Unit Plan, students are going to be engaged in inquiry as well as project based learning.

Ms. S.K.