Category: Weekly Reflections

In our technology and innovation class, guest speaker Brittany Johnson shared valuable classroom management strategies designed to support student engagement and emotional well-being. Below is an overview of some key strategies she discussed:

SEL Check-ins

Brittany emphasized the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) check-ins to understand students’ feelings each day. One example involved using characters and emotions from the movie Inside Out paired with a check-in sheet that reads: “I feel [blank] because [blank], and people around me can help by [blank].” There is also a tick box for students to indicate if they want to speak to their teacher about their feelings. This creative approach provides a fun and meaningful way for students to express their emotions, fostering better understanding and support from teachers. Reflecting on this, I feel that such a tool could have made a big difference during my childhood, offering a way for my emotions to be recognized and supported.

Soft Starts and Transitions

Soft starts and thoughtful transitions help ease students into new activities. For example, during my Grade 1 practicum, my teacher uses calm music, fidget toys, building blocks, reading time, and drawing in the mornings to gently transition students into their day. This practice reduces anxiety and helps students settle in, creating a positive learning environment.

Routines and Expectations

Brittany highlighted that children often thrive on routine and structure. Clear expectations can reduce anxiety and help students feel more secure. In my practicum, my teacher uses a visual schedule with laminated circles, each representing an activity. As the day progresses, a clothespin moves to the next circle, visually showing students what to expect. This simple yet effective approach gives students a clear picture of their day.

Inquiry and Strength Based Approach

Brittany sets classroom goals focused on students’ interests, strengths, and areas for growth. Recognizing that every class is different, this approach ensures students remain engaged, challenged, and motivated by what truly interests and inspires them.

Co-Creating and Collaboration

Involving students in co-creating classroom rules, decorations, learning materials, and rubrics helps them feel a sense of ownership and engagement. When students have a voice in their environment, they are more invested and engaged, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and collaboration.

Digital Literacy Framework

Finally, Brittany emphasized how technology can be a powerful tool to help students engage and take ownership of their learning. Using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework, technology can enhance engagement, representation, and action/expression, impacting different parts of the brain. By leveraging technology, we can support a diverse range of learning styles and needs.

Creating My First Coding Game with Flappy Birds

Insights on Computational Thinking: Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills from Digital Literacy + Computational Thinking for Children

From the Best of Digital Literacy + Computational Thinking for Children YouTube video, I learned a straightforward definition of computational thinking and its role in enhancing students’ problem-solving skills. Computational thinking encourages a systematic approach to challenges. Through decomposition, students can break down complex tasks into manageable parts, while pattern recognition enables them to identify commonalities in problems, simplifying solutions. Abstraction helps students focus on relevant details while ignoring distractions, and algorithmic thinking guides them in creating clear, sequential steps to address issues. This approach equips students with a valuable framework for tackling problems effectively across subjects.

Importantly, computational thinking isn’t just for math or science—it’s applicable across various subjects. In language arts, for instance, students might use decomposition to analyze story structure, or pattern recognition to identify recurring themes. Such integration promotes critical and logical thinking, preparing students to tackle problems in diverse real-world contexts.

The BC Ministry of Education’s Computational Thinking Teacher Training Package offers a variety of resources to introduce computational thinking in the classroom through engaging and collaborative student activities.

Available PDF resources include:

What features of games that can make effective learning tools?

Here are some steps to make games effective learning tools from Rich’s lesson:

• Include instruction & explanation about underlying concepts.
• include adaptative scaffolding and mechanism and guidance
• offer gameplay that enhance the player’s sense of autonomy
• Offer gameplay that offers just doable challenges
• Dynamic in-game scores that leaning progress feedback
• Promote a learning attitude without time constraints or penalty score

Sketchnoting the Beach (Plage) in Class

Below is a summary of what I’ve learned

SAMR Model
The SAMR model, developed by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, is a framework that helps educators evaluate how technology can transform teaching and learning. SAMR stands for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition, representing the different levels of integrating technology into the classroom. You can watch this video on SAMR for further explanation.

The SAMR Model: Technology Integration from Enhancement to Transformation

Challenges of SAMR
While SAMR provides a roadmap for technology integration, it can be time-consuming for teachers to implement effectively. One of the key challenges is assessing the individual needs of students within limited time constraints. How do educators ensure technology meets each student’s needs in a timely manner?

TPACK Model

TPACK model, first introduced by Punya Mishra and Matthew J. Koehler in 2006 by research found HERE. The TPACK model helps educators select the most appropriate technology or tools to meet specific learning objectives. This model emphasizes the combination of technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge, helping teachers choose tools that enhance their teaching in meaningful ways. It’s important to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each tool since not all educational technologies are suitable for every classroom or age group.

Could Sketchnoting Benefit Grade 3 Learners?

A 2018 study from the University of Waterloo, found that drawing is superior to writing for memory retention. This study showed that older adults could enhance their memory by incorporating drawing into their learning process. I believe this approach could greatly benefit my future Grade 3 classroom, as most children enjoy drawing and being creative. The study can be found HERE.

For example, when teaching a topic like fractions, students could use sketchnoting to visually organize their ideas, linking concepts across the page to aid in retention. By engaging in this creative process, students may find it easier to remember new concepts while enjoying the learning process.

In the video MatterHackers Minute: Developing 3D Printing Curriculum in K-12 Education, Rebecca Buckhoff, a Technology Professional Development Specialist for Moreno Valley Unified School District, discusses designing 3D printing curricula for students and training teachers to facilitate these lessons. To learn more HERE.

I believe using 3D printing as a cross-curricular tool is effective for teaching students skills while also providing behavioural and social-emotional support throughout the process. Students collaborate and seek help when needed, developing skills that can prepare them for future careers in fields like technology, medicine, product development, or art.

When considering the use of 3D design and printing in a Grade 3 classroom, there are several potential pros and cons to weigh. On the positive side, 3D design fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while also helping students develop a range of practical skills. It encourages creativity and allows students to learn by choice, exploring topics at their own pace. Additionally, it offers cross-curricular learning opportunities, enabling students to engage with multiple subjects simultaneously, such as math, science, and art.

However, there are also challenges to consider. 3D printers can be costly, and there may be a limited number of teachers trained to use the machines effectively. Technical issues, such as printing errors and mechanical problems, can disrupt lessons. Furthermore, some students may experience anxiety when facing difficulties with the design process or the technology itself.

I think by the age of 8 (Grade 3), many kids have a strong understanding of how to use technology, which makes tools like H5P ideal for classroom learning. I believe H5P can significantly enhance interactive learning, allowing students to engage with lessons in fun and meaningful ways.

For example, I can use H5P to create video and audio content to teach math concepts like multiplication, division, and fractions. With H5P, students can learn at their own pace, customize their experience by changing the language, slowing down videos, or adding closed captions, making it inclusive for different learning styles.

The H5P website is a helpful resource to learn, how interactive video tutorials can be used and provides instructions on how to use them. It provides easy-to-follow instructions, which helped me understand how to add interactive elements like Multiple Choice Questions , True and False, Photos, Links making learning more engaging.

In the Journal Article , “Revolutionizing Pedagogy: The Influence of H5P (HTML5 Package) Tools on Student Academic Achievement and Self-Efficacy“, the study compared H5P tools to conventional teaching methods to determine how they affected students’ grades and confidence in learning German as a second language (Author(s), 2024). It found that students using H5P performed better and gained more confidence (Author(s), 2024). The research shows that H5P tools can improve both academic success and self-assurance.

I’ve included an example of my video, “How to Buy on Amazon,” with H5P tools added below. While I initially struggled to get the hang of H5P, it’s proven to be a valuable resource. H5P allows me to integrate quizzes or interactive elements directly into lessons, testing student comprehension in real time. This tool has become especially useful since many learning environments have shifted online due to Covid-19, giving teachers flexibility when remote teaching is necessary.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

Jeff Hopkins

The competency-based education approach is a great method that allows students to master skills or competencies at their own pace, accommodating various learning abilities. Students have a choice in how they learn and are not pressured to pass a single exam; if they fail, they can continue learning without falling behind and learn from their mistakes. However, a challenge of competency-based education is determining which competencies are most essential.

If you improve education by teaching for competence, eliminating schooling, and connecting with students, the test scores will improve.

William Glasser : American Psychologist