Reflection from class on September 17th

There were many things that I enjoyed about class today!

The first thing I really like was creating my own PowToon. I had never used this resource before and now that I know about it, I think it is definitely something I could use in my own classroom some day! Although it takes a lot of time and effort to create, I believe it could be very engaging for students and would make them excited about learning! Especially if I am able to incorporate their interests.

Tittenberger, P. (March 2009). Hole in the wall project

 [Online Image]. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1MtfcQw

Another part of class that I really enjoyed today was the TED Talk video, “Kids can Teach Themselves” by Sugata Mitra. He explained his hole in the wall project where he placed a computer in impoverished communities and allowed the students to explore. Before watching this video, I had already realized the amazing potential of young students to use technology. Through working with children I knew that whenever they are given a device, they can figure out how to work it as fast as lightening! Another belief that I had was that this learning came from a base of knowledge that they already had, and they were only expanding on their previous knowledge. The TED Talk video and explanation of Hole in the Wall changed my whole mindset! The children that were provided with a computer had never seen a computer, or any other technology. They had never interacted with this kind of technology, as so many children in our society have. With that being said, it took the children no time at all to figure out how to work the computer! I was shocked. The author raised the point that children are capable of anything, so long as they have the time. From this, the children were able to teach each other how to work it, and they even taught themselves many English words.

Today’s class provided me with two resources, the PowToon as well as Google Slides that I will hopefully incorporate into my teaching. It also helped to shape my ideas on how students learn and what they are capable of!