Gamification

When using gamification, you must take careful consideration before selecting an activity.  The game needs to have educational value with real-life application or else the students will not learn the material.  It also needs to be appropriate for the age and skill levels of the students which means it should challenge their knowledge and encourage critical thinking without being overwhelmingly difficult.  Also, if applicable, the games need to be on secure websites, preferably with teacher or parent reports to track progress.

I think Osmo is one of the best examples of gamification I have seen.  It is app-based with new games released frequently.  I like that it has a more hands-on approach with the tiles, words, and whiteboards incorporated into the games.  The games are easy to understand and entertaining for a variety of grade levels.

                                         

I think gamification is great because it creates a fun learning environment for the students to apply their knowledge.  Nowadays, kids love playing video games or apps on their devices, so they respond well to gamification.  Also, the kids can play the online games from home and continue to practice while having fun.   

How Students Learn

Throughout my schooling, I learned best when provided with hands-on learning experiences.  Working with tactile objects helped me visualize the problem or whatever it is that I was doing as an assignment.  Moving in the classroom and staying active kept me focused and ready to learn rather than sitting at a desk for six hours a day.  Even when I was in secondary school, I preferred science classes with experiments because it reinforced the lessons and gave me a chance to apply what I had learned.  I have been able to adapt to different teaching styles, but I still prefer hands-on learning experiences instead of lectures.

                                                

I think my learning style will help me to be a more active teacher in that my students will be encouraged to immerse themselves in their learning by working with materials related to the lessons.  I understand that young children need to be active and have a short attention span.  I will not have unrealistic expectations, and I will also recognize other learning styles.  Some students are visual and that can easily be included with hands-on learning experiences.  Some kids work better in groups or individually, so I will encourage them to learn the best way they can.

                                                

I think humans need some type of reward as motivation, but each person's reward could be totally different.  Some people may want a prize reward while others are rewarded by knowing they did their best.  For example, some students study and work hard for the pure enjoyment of learning while others strive for a specific grade or bonus points.  Everyone is motivated by something that they feel is rewarding, but it varies across the population, and it can change with age, experience, and circumstance.

Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality

Augmented and virtual realities are on the rise in the world of technology and creating new opportunities.  Augmented reality adds interactive 3D graphics to what is already present in our world, and virtual reality creates a whole new environment that seems to remove us from our own.  Both have their advantages, but eventually one will dominate the field, and I think that will be virtual reality.  It provides the user with an experience that they may otherwise never have and can be used in gaming, entertainment, education, etc.  Augmented reality seems to be halfway between this world and the possible worlds of virtual reality, so why not go for the full experience?

Currently, I think augmented reality is a better tool for the classroom than virtual reality because of cost, participation, and adaptation.  First, there are several apps that incorporate augmented reality and are little to no cost for the user, unlike virtual reality which can be incredibly expensive for the best quality product.  Second, I think more students would be able to participate in augmented reality activities because a group of students can use an iPad app whereas only one student at a time can wear a virtual reality headset.  Lastly, I think younger students may have a hard time adapting to the new environment a virtual reality headset produces.  In my experiences with virtual reality, I have struggled to adjust after several settings and I understand how it makes some people nauseous. Also, young students could be scared by the environment if it is an underwater shark tank or a dinosaur park.  With further development I think virtual reality will prove to be the better source, but I would prefer to use augmented reality because of its current abilities.

Staying Current with Educational Trends and Technology

In a world full of continuously changing technology, it can be challenging to stay current, but I find that the best way is to fully immerse myself in it. I recently developed a Twitter account and I am now connected with dozens of educational resources and informative groups such as the U.S. Department of Education. Twitter is a growing community, and by linking myself to it I have gained knowledge of current trends and future technology on the horizon.

Another resource I use is Pinterest which I have been using for several years as a multipurpose tool. With it, I can browse ideas of other teachers and educational sources, and then pin the ones I like the most onto my own boards. The amount of resources on Pinterest are limitless, and I can also pin Internet sources to my boards as well. It is another networking tool of which I think every educator should take advantage. 

Social media has a tendency to be viewed in a negative light, but it is a great way for educators and other members of the school system to connect and share ideas with one another. When used in a professional manner, it can provide thousands of resources at the touch of a button (or a few keys), and, in a technology-driven society, I believe that is exactly what we need. The world is plugged in to technology; therefore, it is time for each of us to join in and stay current.

Struggles of Educational Technology

Educational technology has been slow to change and  faces many challenges.  For example, some educators and school administrators are slow to embrace the latest technology because they are accustomed to the older ways.  This is gradually changing as new educators enter the field because they have grown up with more technology.  When new technology enters the scene, educators have to learn how to use the new and then teach it too; for some this is just too much of a challenge. Another issue is the availability of technology in the home. Not all families can afford computers and iPads, or they might choose not to own it for other cultural reasons. Teachers have to be cautious when assigning homework that involves technology because not every student has the luxury of a computer at home. Lastly, some schools in areas of poverty do not have the financial ability to provide technology for their students, and some cannot even afford to purchase textbooks.

Teachers should embrace technology because it will continue to change whether they like it or not. If educators can stay up to date on the latest resources and tools, then they will not fall behind, and they will be better suited to use it in the classroom. Also, if students do not have access to a computer or other technology at home, then teachers need to be aware of that and provide alternative assignments or stay away from work that requires technology at home. If a teacher works in a school district with no technology and limited resources, then he or she needs to be creative and rely on good ol' pen and paper or a chalkboard if available.  As a future educator, it is important to take note of each of these obstacles in educational technology. Personally, I would follow the points I previously mentioned.

Microsoft Office vs. Google Drive

During my entire thirteen years in the public school system, I never used Google Drive, so this was a new experience for me. In both Google Docs and Google Slides, there is a limited toolbar which I think is hard to navigate.  There are fewer tabs which I thought would make it easier, but I could rarely find what I was looking for on the first try. It's also a very small, thin toolbar which added to the difficulty of it.  Microsoft Word has a large toolbar with many tabs and subdivisions, and I also prefer the visuals included in Word's toolbar because it is easier, in my opinion, to find what I need.  Another difference is Microsoft Word has the ability to adjust the size of images by typing the dimension I want into a box, and Google Docs doesn't have that feature. Instead, I had to measure it on the ruler at the bottom of the toolbar. The one thing I favor in Google Docs is the choice of font types; some of them are very creative and I think they would make documents more interesting for younger students.  Overall, I prefer Microsoft Word, but I think with more use I could get used to Google Docs.

I recently downloaded Microsoft 2016, so I noticed several changes in PowerPoint. There are more options of transformations and animations, and they are better than the simple ones in Google Slides.  One of the biggest complaints I have about Google Slides is the inability to choose patterns as backgrounds like in PowerPoint. With Google Slides, I can only change the color, but, like I said, I am unfamiliar with Google Drive, so it might be an error or mistake on my part. I cannot figure out how to put sound in Google Slides, but PowerPoint makes it pretty easy. I have found that animated .gifs work much better in Google Slides than in PowerPoint which was a bonus. Once again, I prefer Microsoft PowerPoint over Google Slides. Although, I do like that multiple people can edit a project on Google Drive when needed.

In a classroom, I would teach students how to use Microsoft Office and Google Drive.  I like that Google Drive can be accessed from any device with Internet and it is designed for individual work and collaboration.  Also, there is no risk of losing my work because Google automatically saves all changes as they happen.  I think Microsoft programs are easier to learn and use, but I may be biased because of my own experience.  I think it is important to show students their options and let them choose the best fit for them. 

Students Using the Internet

When instructing young students to use the Internet, an educator should realize this may be the first time many students are accessing the Internet and all that it has available to them.  Teaching kids how to efficiently search the Internet is important because it is a useful skill to have and they will continue to use it all throughout their education and beyond.  Searching based on keywords is different than searching for a particular phrase, so little tips and tricks should be taught to the students.  Also, comparing resources to show what is reliable is another important lesson, but it might be a little more advanced and geared more toward upper elementary classes once they have had more experience with technology.  Showing students some of the resources on the Internet such as online math websites, educational games, and interactive sources will help them develop there technology skills and focus on the curriculum.

The Internet should be presented carefully to young students because, on the positive side, they have access to tons of information and resources, but, on the other hand, there are issues with Internet security and safe sites for kids.  I don't think that kids should fear the Internet, but they should understand that there are limits for them as children and not everything on the Internet is true.  This goes along with teaching them how to properly use the Internet and giving them safe resources to use.  Most schools block sites that are inappropriate or could potentially link a student to something inappropriate, but it is important that the kids are taught how to safely use the Internet.  Schools that use iPads install apps for students to use so they can eliminate the risk of inappropriate material.  Also, students should always be monitored while using the Internet or any technology because they will need assistance when they are first learning to use it. It is also a great way for the students to connect and share their ideas outside of the classroom if they have Internet access at home.   I think it is equally important to communicate with the parents about ways to keep their kids safe on the Internet.  Google has a safety center that teaches safe tips and tricks and allows a parent or instructor to limit what a child can see on the Internet once a Google account is developed.  Ultimately, the Internet is a necessary tool in the classroom and, as educators, it will be our job to teach them how to use it and make them feel comfortable with it.