Friday 3 July 2015
The Future Of Education With The Advancement Of Technology!
Doing a little bit of more research on the role of technology and its effects on teaching, I came across this very interesting video :
Thursday 2 July 2015
Disruptions in Class...
Many educators specifically in the field of Adult Education take disruptions in
class personally. Therefore, I believe the following steps are useful in
handling disruptions in class:
1. Calming Down: it is crucial for both the student
as well as the teacher to depersonalize the incident in order to be able to
communicate a resolution. However, calming down does not necessary imply
a lack of disciplinary action.
2. Listening: Provide the student with the
opportunity to explain their side of the story and show them that you are
willing to listen ... (We use this technique quite frequently in the
field of Early Childhood Education.
3. Using Humor: Again, this may work better and
more effectively in the field of Early
Childhood Education.
4. Deflect Argumentation: Allocate certain amount
of time to get to resolution and not let the situation get out of control and led
to argumentation.
These are just some of the points I thought of that
were used predominantly and are more applicable to my field of expertise.
It's a little funny how true this
is for any online class. It's a stark contrast from online discussions where
there's no structure at all and it just boils down to petty insults and
name-calling. It is interesting how online education can really bring out the
best in students, yet the online atmosphere can bring out the worst
Wednesday 1 July 2015
Some Thoughts On Technology & Classroom Management....
I believe educators are still divided in terms of allowing students to use technical devices in classroom given that many instructors believe using technology will in fact take away teachers' freedom and prevents them from having control over their work and classroom. Since I see smart phones as being disruptive, I am against allowing students to use their personal devices in class. As such, I believe there should be a median set for the use of technology in a classroom setting. This is an article showing that in fact there are still students out there who prefer 'good lectures' over the use of cool gadgets, tablets and technical devices in lectures:
Sunday 28 June 2015
4th Generation Virtual Learning Environment!
'4th Generation Virtual Learning Environment' as a topic of our discussion forum was a topic that interested me greatly. As I found myself reading up on the subject matter, I came across a very interesting article on the topic.
This article suggests that the profound impact
of this type of learning style resides not only in the technology itself but
rather on the changes it brings on the context of learning. As such, while this
type of learning strategy is still at its infancy, the hesitation in
implementing it in a broader spectrum lies in the very fact that it requires a
major shift in both the teacher as well as the learners' role as it carries the
notion of independent learning while introducing the concept of learning at
'anytime, any place'. Here is a link to the article that in fact highlights a few interesting points in relations to this topic:
The Future Virtual Learning Environment & Outcomes!
It never ceases to amaze me how far technology has
progressed in such a short length of time. Sometimes, it only seems like
yesterday as I sat in Iran with my eyes plastered on a text book as my teacher
would drone on about politics and history. Just as quickly, I moved to Canada
and was exposed to 2nd generation VLE’s via Web CT in UBC sciences.
At the time, I found myself relatively lost in the new system, the navigation
was awkward, and it was definitely not an easy task to find everything that one
needed to succeed. Though I was grateful for the opportunity to stay home
sipping coffee while finishing my assignments, there was a part of me that felt
that VLE’s were missing something. Maybe it was because I was old fashioned and
missed the drone of the teacher in the background as I diligently read my text
book. Fast forwarding to today and my experiences in PIDP 3250,
I have to say
that I have once again found the need to adapt to a new generation of virtual
learning. Though it was a whole new period of adjustment, I can confidently say
it is a far more polished virtual environment when compared to past iterations.
I really enjoyed with how simple it was to engage with thought-provoking
discourse with my peers and professors. Through my own self-reflection, I would
have to admit there is a certain part of me that is not as comfortable with
self-directed learning as I would like, even today, I do miss the guidance and
direction a live instructor provides, especially given how complex the online
learning environments are today. Moodle, depending on the instructor can be
either a joy to use or a harrowing misadventure, and I do think it is important
that institutions work on streamlining the process, especially since VLE’s are
now reaching a broader educational audience.
This makes me think that this type
of learning strategy is still at its infancy, and given its current state, I
understand the hesitation in implementing it on a great scale as it represents
a major shift in both the instructor and learner role that likely requires more
transitional time or even a new generation. My concerns aside, I do believe
that VLE’s are the future, even though it has not been the most efficient means
for building upon my own educational foundation.
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