Module 7 - Activity 8

Communication tools, if nothing else, help to ensure students' engagement in the connected classroom. I have a renewed perspective of tools, such as Twitter, that help to enhance how students learn within the classroom. It also eliminates the age-old role of the teacher as the dispenser of knowledge, and now as a facilitator of knowledge. With time, I can see my students  using such technologies within the classroom to help their peers and themselves. I especially liked the CNN news article with the use of Twitter to aid shy students. This eliminates the notion that not because a child says nothing means that he has nothing to say. I observed that the right outlet would change the child's perspective of himself and other students' perspective of him. This activity was definitely an eye-opener.

Utica Christian

Module 7 - Activity 7

This activity helped to eliminate some notions I had about social media and learning. It helped to see that once monitored correctly students can enhance their learning experience as social beings.  Through social media such as Face book, Myspace, Twitter and other social media created by the teacher and otherwise, they can

1. communicate with peers and experts
2. source information
3. build knowledge
4. develop meta-cognition.

I believe that once I incorporate such media within the students' experience, their knowledge would be built and they will develop into more social and independent learners.

Utica Christian

Module 7 - Activity 6

Collaboration is a MUST in 21st century learning. This activity has enlightened me to this fact. Hence, I should have students collaborate through

• brainstorming
• sharing ideas
• formulating projects
• publishing 
• assessing 

In doing so, I am convinced that my students would be more creative learners and more engaged in the learning process.

Utica Christian

Module 7 - Activity 5

The readings, videos and activities of this section of the module have caused me to review critically how I engage students in the classroom. I already embarked on the following activities in students' engagement by:

1. winning the trust of the students.
2. engaging them in discussions and activities that build their critical thinking skills.
3. taking curriculum and convert it into meaningful learning activities and experiences for the students.
4. breaking up large projects into smaller, more manageable projects.

However, I do believe that student engagement can be improved if I

1. Empower students to ask questions as well.
2. Teach students new technical skills using content that they already understand.
3. Engage students in real-life processes.
4. Invite experts to share in the learning process.
5. Publish students' work in the community, where persons outside the immediate classroom environment can share in that culminating experience.

This is beginning to get exciting!

Utica Christian

Module 7 - Activity 4

Project-based learning definitely supports knowledge building within the classroom. As such, it is my endeavour to create such a learning experience for my students where

• learning is derived from construction and discovery
• it is learner-centred
• learners are taught how to learn
• lifelong is modelled and perpetuated
• there is customized learning
• the teacher is the facilitator of learning
• the teacher is flexible and creative
• learning is FUN!!

As a result, I will seek to merge real-life 'problems' with the curriculum goals of my subject area.

This is an interesting and exciting stage of my career.

Utica Christian

Module 7 - Activity 2

It was interesting to see how much further I needed to go, as it relates to the teaching of French. The current trends have given me a renewed vigour and interest in the teaching of the language. I am now more excited than ever to start to implement 21st century activities that would be relevant to the students and enriching to the learning experience.

Utica Christian

Module 7 - Activity 3

I have always been intrigued by the thought of improving critical thinking skills. However, trying to integrate technology in the classroom, I have pondered how effective it would be in the improvement of critical thinking skills in students. The activities in this section have definitely enabled me to see reachable methods of improving such skills with the use of the relevant technologies. It is my hope to do engage in such activities with my students.

Project Based Learning is one of the methods of improving critical thinking skills. It is my hope to encourage my students to work along with experts to ensure the accuracy and precision of their information. I believe that in doing so, they will become more well-rounded students

Utica Christian