What did you learn during your research for the research project (see agenda)? How did doing
this research make you feel (were you surprised by the innovations or overwhelmed/how
do you think these innovations could improve education here at Westminster? How
could (or should) it impact your future profession or learning? Blog by Friday, June 16th
at midnight and respond to each classmate by Sunday, June 18th at
midnight.
I learned a TON while doing my research for the research project. It was very helpful to look up these different apps to see what they really were and then think about how I can use them in my classroom. Before doing this project, I thought I would use a few apps and let students use their iPad for educational activities and be done with it. After this project, I feel like almost everything I do in the classroom can be done electronically and should be. It is amazing all the apps they have and resources they have for literally everything. The whole I think all I could think was wow, how did someone come up with these ideas? There are so many new apps that I will be using in my classroom. I just hope I get better at using these apps myself because I guarantee my students will learn how so quickly. They will be the ones teaching me! I think the professors at Westminster would benefit from this research project for one, to see how many other ways students can do homework, assessments, projects, etc. It would give them ideas on how they can give students other options on doing these different ideas.
ReplyDeleteAfter researching, like mentioned above, as a future educator, I definitely need to incorporate a lot of different apps in my classroom. I need to give students different options for everything we do, and keep an open mind and realize that all my students are going to learn best in different ways and I need to be adapting to that.
I strongly believe that the most challenging part of being a teacher is trying to grab student's attention to what they are teaching. Apps like Educreation, Pinterest, Schoology, Quilzlet and using QR codes to link videos and websites will not only save time but they will help students learn at their own pace and enhance their studying skills.
DeleteI was also impressed with all the tools out there that can be used to make teaching and learning more engaging and effective. After doing this research work, I have the feeling that there are enough technology tools to make education more effective and fun, and even new ones are being created every year. We just need to learn how to find and utilize them.
DeleteIt was interesting to learn how there are so many tools easily available at our fingertips in order to make teaching and learning fun. Prior to this research, I was quite unsure whether I will be able to make use of these apps in my future profession or not but now that I have conducted the research, I feel quite positive about these tools. I gained some knowledge about how QR codes actually work and how I can use it later in my career. For example, you can use QR codes to ask students to vote and give feedbacks, you can use it on periodic tables if you want to share more information about a specific element, you can use it list sources and link to supplemental materials in your textbook so that you don't forget your valuable resources and you can even use to share video tutorials by stamping a QR code on the handouts. Another interesting thing I learned while doing my research was that you can actually use Pinterest to brainstorm and seek innovative ideas while working on group research projects. I believe that using Pinterest will strengthen both digital literacy and modern research skills. I personally really enjoyed doing this research because not only did I get to learn about these tools but I also learned that American Chemical Society is planning to publish a book about using social media to communicate chemistry. Interestingly, there are now many institutions offering courses that aim to teach digital communication skills to scientists and many scientists are now using social media as a platform to share research directly with the public. I would highly recommend professors at Westminster to make use of these tools to make learning fun and teach students in an interactive way. Not only will the use of these tools such as QR codes and google forms make it easier to teach but I believe that it will really help nurture students’ creativity and strengthen their research skills.
ReplyDeleteI also liked to learn about the QR codes. Before this class, I had heard about the QR codes but didn't really understand much about them. After learning more, I think they are definitely something useful that I will be using to help students access more information on whatever the QR code is about.
DeleteI really like how scientists are starting to incorporate technology with their teaching. I think it will definitely make teaching and learning science more engaging and easier. Some of the technology tools such as maple and Berkeley Modanna that was used in my advance science courses were very helpful for understanding the materials, and I think as more technology tools are incorporated with science, it would be more easier and fun to learn and teach it.
DeleteThis research opened my eyes to all the useful apps out there that can beneficial for learning skills such collaboration, communication, and sharing information. I was specially intrigued by how the white-boarding apps such as SKRBL and concept mapping apps can enhance student collaboration. They provide a page where you can work on as a group from different IPad, and the information can easily be shared with others. These apps can also be important if you want to explain how to solve for instance a math problem to your friend.
ReplyDeleteBy doing this research, I have learnt some useful apps especially for learning, and it makes me feel that there are many more apps to support and enhance all aspects of learning and teaching. When I was taking multivariable calculus and advance chemistry courses such as quantum mechanics, I found diagrams such as the one given in the link below to understand or explain some of the concepts. But, for most of the time I struggled to find diagrams that are good enough to use. So, I always wanted to find apps that can help me find or create 3D diagrams. These kind of apps will especially helpful for me when I go to graduate school.
I think Westminster College can absolutely use these tools to improve student collaboration. For instance, students can use SKRBL and concept mapping apps when they are working in groups because it is an easy way to communicate and share information.
http://img.sparknotes.com/figures/0/02480ae8fc1a41b131a3fdb5a698e9a3/compare.gif
I had never really heard much about SKRBL before this class. I think it is a very interesting concept and I am surprised I have not used it before. I think it is definitely going to come in handy!
DeleteI also really loved the concept mapping apps. Even though I had heard of Pinterest earlier and also used it sometimes, I didn't know one could use this app for brainstorming ideas by creating a board pin where you and your peers can access and edit while working on group projects.
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