End of Semester Journal Reflection

 







How did you use AI applications in your practicum (e.g., not at all, lesson planning, assessment)?
  • I used AI during my Mid-range planning to discover potential common misunderstandings students may have. These considerations were helpful when planning lessons and considering instruction.  
  • I tried to enter outcomes to create a lesson plan, but ultimately, I never used the recommendations.

What did you learn or “take away” from this course, and how has your perspective about integrating
technology into K to 9 education changed/grown throughout the course?

    • The most helpful thing I learned from this course is that there are free programs that will provide students with an opportunity to learn coding basics. 

    • I began the semester dead set against AI and was reluctant to use technology in the classroom. Following this course, I am no longer hesitant to use AI; I have found many personal uses.  

    • Concerning leveraging technology in the classroom with students, I see the value of brain breaks/movement breaks and mindfulness activities. By leveraging these videos, I have more opportunities to observe students and incorporate their interests. One example of a video I played for the students was: "Little Cat" Dance Along! 🐱🧶 Kitty Cat Meow Brain Break | Danny Go! Songs for Kids. This video, in particular, was a huge hit and had the students all hyper-engaged in the brain/movement break. 


How did this course help you answer your “burning” question about the use of digital technologies in K to 9 education?

    • I can not say I had any questions, much less burning questions about using digital technologies in education. This was due to my resistance to implementing technology (especially in DIV 1 grades).


How did you contribute to the learning of others?

    • My contribution to the learning of others, as far as my MRU education peers are concerned, was limited. One assignment completed during this course that required incorporating a technological application and presentation would have been the only example I can think of. 


What did you learn from others?

    • I was excited to learn about the still-frame video-making application, which could quickly turn students' artwork into a video for presentation and assessment. 

    • My mentor teacher taught me how to navigate the smartboard and the smartboard camera. This supported the scaffolding of instructions and offered visuals for EAL students.

Comments

  1. Jessica LeblondDecember 11, 2024 at 7:56 PM

    I am really amazed when comparing your first post with your last. You made many good statements against the use of AI in the classroom, but you also make good supportive arguments for using AI in the classroom now. I also felt the same in my own experience, where there are both positives and negatives to weigh and consider when we use it in our teaching practice. I notice you mentioned how one of the most helpful things you learned from this course is the free programs for coding. Did you ever get to use coding in your practicum? Would you use it if you got to redo practicum? What about our next practicum? Overall, I have enjoyed reading your posts, Kira, and I look forward to seeing you grow even more as a future teacher. You did amazing!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

First Blog Post September 10, 2024

Image
  A limited experience with AI applications When I worked at TELUS, they were beginning to introduce AI Chat, which was intended to increase customer self-service and provide support to customer care representatives (overall reduction of cost and human resources). The program was really painful. It was intended to learn as it was used, but as I only worked with it at its earliest point in development, it was more nuisance than help.  Educational technology being used in my 3rd year practicum placement is: Smart Board  Smart Document Cam Polaroid Camera Brail Typewriter  Assistive Hearing Device  Laptop A “burning” question I have about using digital technologies in K to 9 education: What can a teacher who works in a modest to low-income school do to incorporate more technology in the classroom without incurring personal costs? I have witnessed a stark difference between the private and public systems and the availability of technology in their environment. An en...
Read more

Second Blog Fall September 17, 2024

Image
My Twitter Account  Above is my brand new Twitter account. This account will be used to post useful information intended primarily to support the families of elementary students. Posts will include family well-being and support programs, open-access local family-friendly events, and truly fun online educational resources to encourage learning at home too.  Families, and students too, will be invited to reach out to me via private message with suggestions for posts, or requests for help   finding specific support. Students will be encouraged to submit works of art, photo-documented experiments, and stories of doing good in the community.  With so many students learning from home or finding themselves in a new country with few connections to resources my feed will serve the need for connection. It can be easier to ask for support when it is coming through a judgment-free platform. 
Read more

Teaching with Technology

Image
Exploring the Planets within our solar system Lesson Plan By: Kira Berry and Jessica Leblond Check out our lesson plan here:  Lesson Plan   The Application https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/solar-system/   The Video  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQrlgH97v94 Reflecting on Facilitation of the App Lesson Facilitating the lesson with peers, and in such a short amount of time was limiting. I find it hard to be as serious with peers as I would need it to be for the practice to be of any real benefit. I genuinely do not find the process beneficial to my learning and would much prefer to have spent the time exploring the applications brought forward more in depth.  The ability to have them create the planets themselves based on the research they had done was not possible so we made due with print outs of the planets, took some of the fun out of it. The video selected went over really well, and the consolidation activity of having the students sort and hang the planets...
Read more