Flight through Technology in STEM

This is Your Captain Speaking... 

Image Source: Giphy.com

We are currently flying at forty-thousand feet on our flight through EDU782 Technology in STEM. We are expecting a smooth flight and anticipate on on-time arrival of 7:30 PM CST on March 3rd. Now please sit back, relax, and enjoy your fight.

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My flight through this course has been smooth and quite enjoyable. I have spent time being reminded of the different learning theories, which I hadn't thought of in over a decade. I have read numerous professional learning articles that have sparked new learning and ideas on how I can implement it into the teams I am working with. I have laughed, I have learned, and I have tried. 

There are two highlights so far that I have enjoyed the most: engaging in the "Four C's" and trying a wide range of new tools. 

-1- Engaging in the Four C’s

You can learn about the "Four C's" and the 21st Century Skills that are meant to prepare students for a Global Society, but it probably wont stick well. Much like I referenced in my Now Active: Learning  post, we only tend to remember 10% of what we read. In this course though we are doing much more than reading. We are reading, and we are also talking about it and actively doing it in class. Each week we are collaborating together, communicating to one another, creating, and engaging in critical thinking. Together we are acting as 21st Century learners, which will help us encourage our students to do the same. 

-2- Trying New Tools

I have learned a handful of new tools throughout this course. 

Image Source: Flickr

One of the new tools I learned about was an Ozobot. I had never worked with, or even seen, one of these before. This new tool can let you draw lines and code a little robot to follow the path you have created. This little tool is one that I can see myself purchasing for students to try out in a class. It employs them to collaborate together to determine the paths they want to create and what they want the bot to do. It requires constant communication, creativity, and collaborative thinking. I could see students working together at the start of the school year when they are getting to know each other, or using this as a team-building activity. I can see students sharing the paths their bots have taken with one another and the "tricks" that it takes. 

Image Source: Flickr

Another interesting coding tool that I have learned about is Scratch. This is a tool that I am even excited to share with my 4 1/2 year old daughter! Being able to think logically with the end-picture in mind and working backwards is exactly the way my mind works. "If I need this to happen, then I need to do ___ first and make sure that ___ is the result." This can be used for students as they create games that depict different math strategies or even make characters in a story come to life. The possibilities are seemingly endless and allows for entrance points of students at any age and of a variety of abilities. 

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Image Source: Teaching with Technology Hub

Moving Forward

I am a sponge when it comes to understanding the Four C's.  If there is any way that I can learn more about how to help support teachers supporting students I will take it. I want to find ways to encourage teachers to try new collaboration tools when I work with them during our Instructional Support time. I want to find ways to show teachers how easy and effective communication is, and how important it is to the big picture. I want to learn more about how to help teachers support students that are growing in this digital age and help provide them with opportunities that will take them to places we couldn't even imagine. After all, most of our Kindergarten and younger-aged students are going to be going into jobs that don't even exist yet. 

As I round out this second-half of my trip, I do feel as though I am one who is willing to take risks when it comes to technology and try new things out. I am willing and eager to dive into new tools, try them out, and find ways to incorporate them. I am comfortable with giving students space to try something new and encouraging students to be divergent thinkers as they create. 

I am excited for what the rest of my trip has in store for me.