Mid-term

It is true what they say: time flies when you are having fun!

It is hard to believe that my STEAM course is already half-way over because it feels like just yesterday it began! I feel as though I have already learned a great amount that can be used to improve my teaching and classroom environment. I have already tried to implement a few of the tools we have used in class, as well as be conscious of how I am getting kids to engage in the classroom content. I feel as though without having tools and tricks in the front of your mind, one is missing out on providing an environment conducive to growth. Teachers, just as much as students, need to apply knowledge on a daily basis.

One new piece of knowledge or tool I have learned from this course is how to increase student collaboration in the classroom. This is important for students because collaboration is a skill they will be using throughout their lives in different aspects/settings. To increase student collaboration, there were a few tools that were mentioned for students to use, such as Padlet, Ozobots, and PowToon. Although all of these are great ways to increase student collaboration, the one I was most interested in learning more about was Ozobots. I put in a Donors Choose request for three Ozobots, and it was successfully filled! In my classroom, I have been using Ozobots to help students learn the basics of coding, as well as to increase collaboration and engagement in current science content. My students just started using Ozobots yesterday, and I have already seen their eyes widen as they realize all of the learning possibilities the robot provides them. This week, students are going to be using Ozobots as they collaborate to help clean up as much CO2 molecules as they can in, which are part of the cause of global warming. Students learned about global warming effects in our last science unit, so they have background knowledge that will be called upon. They will also use Ozobots to create molecules by having the Ozobot travel from one atom to another, which ties in with what they are learning in science. 

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Although I feel confident in implementing tools for collaboration, I feel as though I would like to continue to expand my knowledge of tools that can be used for communication with students and/or parents. I feel as though a lot of the communicating I do is verbal or written, but there is a lot of technology out there that can make communication more meaningful. I would like to use Instagram in order to post information to students because they are already using the app. I think it might increase the likelihood of information being communicated, as well as provide a connection between school and the outside world.

As I continue in my STEAM course, I feel as though I am most comfortable in trying out technology to promote collaboration. I think a virtual place for collaboration is sometimes better than collaborating on paper. Students who might be shyer in the classroom can benefit from working in a space online. I have used collaboration space in OneNote and PowerPoint in my classroom. I would like to try out other ways such as Padlet and MindMeister in the near future. I feel as though these would be easy ways for me to incorporate technology in a meaningful way, and one that I feel can make the most immediate impact on my students.