Another semester is done! I have to say- this class has been the most useful that I have taken, by far. EDM 510 has helped me navigate our new way of teaching, and for that I am grateful. I never would have guessed that I would be required to teach my 21 first graders through a computer screen, but here we are. I’m implementing so much of what we’ve learned in class and my kids are loving it!
My Top 3 Take Aways
- Technology can be used with young students. I was always under the impression that technology would be very useful for older students that were more capable of navigating a computer, but not for my 6-7 year-old first graders. Taking them to the computer lab was always a monumental task. Teaching them how to click a mouse, find letters on a keyboard, and use the shift key was hard enough. How could we do much more than log into the computer? EDM 510 has shown me a world of technology that my students are not only capable of using, but that they enjoy!
- Technology can make teaching easier. Teachers are always encouraged to use technology. It’s even listed on our observation sheets! I was always looking for ways to incorporate something into my lessons, just to make my boss happy. Because of this, I looked at it as something that just made my job more difficult. After exploring all of the tools that are available during this class, I now realize that when used correctly, technology does the exact opposite! There are so many amazing apps, websites, and programs that we can use to create engaging, effective lessons that our kids will love! Everything that I encountered in this class was relatively easy to navigate with a little practice.
- Using technology is an effective way to teach. It’s no secret that children love technology. Just like adults, kids are immersed in it every day. Cell phones, iPads, gaming systems, and laptops are at the top of almost every Christmas list. As teachers, we can use that to our advantage! Before the schools closed, I introduced some of the different tools we learned about in EDM 510 to my students. I had children that were rarely interested in learning all of a sudden become engaged, active learners! I remember looking around at my class while they were completing a Kahoot quiz and being amazed. They were working in groups to solve math problems, and the discourse was mind-blowing. They all wanted to win the “video game” so badly! I don’t think they even realized that we were learning.
My Favorite Assignment
My favorite assignment in EDM 510 was the movie project. I created a film introducing myself to future students, and I had a great time doing it. Another reasons this project was my favorite is because I’m looking forward to all of the ways I can use it in my classroom and at my school. I’m hoping to have my students create a film that depicts one of their writings next year. I’d also love to have them create a film about their favorite book! Not only do I want to use iMovie in my classroom, but I want to implement it at a school level. My school has clubs that we meet with every month. I think that a film-making club would be a huge hit with the kids!
Implementation
There’s no doubt that what we’ve learning in EDM 510 will be implemented in our online classrooms. I also plan to use a lot of it when we get back to our normal routine. For now, I’m using online assessment tools regularly. I use Google Forms for my formal assessments, and Kahoot and Quizizz for informal assessments. They’ve been great for my first grade students! I’m able to include pictures and audio recordings, and my kids have easily navigated them. They’re graded automatically, which saves me time, too. I also hope to use all of the resources on APT and AVL when we return. These websites have a wealth of resources and information, and I had no clue they even existed prior to taking this class! I’m most excited to use the lesson plans and activities.
In conclusion, EDM 510 has been an amazing course that I’ve learned a lot from. I’m so glad I took it this semester! Thank you, Dr. Gaston!
Brooke's Blog 