Virtual Field Trips

Virtual field trips have become very popular within the last few years. Virtual field trips are ways to take students to another place without having to leave the classroom. It is known as a great way to go “beyond classroom walls.” Virtual field trips benefit students because they can see places and things that they would not be able to see through a traditional field trip such as the Coral Reef, The Galapagos Islands, rainforest jungles, and other continents. Virtual Field Trips benefit parents because parents do not have to chaperone or pay money for their children to go. Virtual Field Trips benefit teachers because they do not have to worry about checking attendance every few minutes, collecting permission slips, collecting chaperone forms, and collecting money. I would want to use virtual field trips in my classroom so that my students can explore the world around them while also using technology. It would probably also go smoother than a traditional field trip because all students would be seated in the classroom. However, I do believe that some students need to physically touch, smell, and hear things to understand them better, therefore, I would still want to take my students on traditional field trips as well. The only disadvantage that I can see with a virtual field trip would be if the students did not know much about operating technology. This would hinder their learning experience while on the virtual field trip because that is the whole purpose of the virtual field trip – to use technology. I can see teachers using virtual field trips when introducing a new topic or a topic that the students do not know much about. Teachers can use the following apps for virtual field trips in their classroom: Sphere, National Parks by National Geographic, The Life of Art, NASA Earth Now, Creatures of Light, and The Congressional Record.

Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is very powerful. It is almost like stories being told through a movie. It usually includes pictures, videos, sounds, music, animations, text, and a narrative voice. Digital stories are typically two to five minutes long. Digital storytelling benefits the classroom because it keeps students engaged more than just looking at a book or textbook and reading words off of a page. It also puts meaning behind the story while not just including media. It allows students to have access to technology while also giving them a choice of a topic. Students may also choose which pictures, videos, sounds, music, animations and texts that they would like to use. Students seem to be more engaged when they have a choice in what they are learning about. It also benefits students by allowing sharing and collaboration with one another. Students can work together while also sharing with others what they have learned. Digital storytelling is also an example of project-based learning. It is considered project-based learning because it incorporates technology and research into the project. Digital storytelling is beneficial to teachers because it is a great differentiation tool and can meet the needs of all students. For ELL learners, it provides pictures and sounds instead of just words. For ADHD students, it allows them to stay busy with technology. Teachers can use digital storytelling to get students interested in a topic. This can also help students to link prior knowledge with new knowledge. Teachers can use the following apps as well to incorporate digital storytelling in the classroom: MovieMaker, iMovie, Tellegami, Flipgrid, Storybird, Little Bird Tales, Explain Everything, Puppet Pals, Sock Puppets, My Story, and Toontastic. I would definitely use digital storytelling in my classroom when introducing a new topic or a new person (autobiographies and biographies) to keep students engaged and interested in learning.

Project, Problem, and Challenge Based Learning

In problem-based learning, students work in groups to solve an open-ended question by getting a viewpoint from all angles. There is also no one right answer in problem based learning because students come up with their own answers based on their research. As long as students have a way to back up their answer, then the answer should be acceptable. Within the group, each student comes up with their own solution. From the group, they choose which solution seems to be the best. Problem-based learning is beneficial to the classroom because it provides a way to address student’s needs. It seems to keep the students engaged. Problem-based learning benefits teachers because it increases classroom attendance and encourages students to spend more time studying and learning.   

                With project-based learning, there is more in-depth research and it typically takes longer to complete. Students will be extending their ideas and completing an entire project instead of just coming up with a solution. Project-based learning has more complex problems and offers a challenge to students. Project-based learning is beneficial to the classroom because it allows students to learn more about a topic through research. Project-based learning benefits teachers because it offers multiple assessment options.

                Challenge-based learning is similar to problem-based learning and project-based learning. However, challenge-based learning incorporates technology. The goal for challenge-based learning is for students to come up with real-world solutions and not just use critical thinking skills in the process. The more challenging part of this type of learning is to share the students’ solutions worldwide through technology. This type of learning will benefit the classroom because it will keep students engaged and on task. Technology seems to be “fun”, engaging, and exciting to students. Challenge-based learning benefits the teacher because it allows teachers to provide feedback through technology. It also allows teachers to use a variety of assessment strategies.  

Student Response System

The Student Response System is a way for the teachers to ask questions and get responses from students during daily lessons. The Student Response System is beneficial to the classroom because it allows shy students to share their answers without speaking out loud. I did not realize how many students might be afraid to speak in front of others, so this method would help them tremendously. Student Response Systems can also help students that “blurt out” by providing them a way to answer a question right away, but quietly. The Student Response System is beneficial to teachers because it provides a way for all students to answer. It also shows teachers which students participate and which ones do not. It also provides feedback immediately to the students to let them know if they got the questions right or wrong. Through this, students can see their strengths and also areas that they need to work on. It also shows their grades as they go. Students can also see that other students may get the same question wrong as they did. This might help the students to not be so hard on themselves realizing that not everyone got the question right. Students seem to find student response systems engaging so it is more likely to have a 100% participation rate when using these. Examples of the Student Response Systems where all students have a voice, would be apps such as Kahoot, Carousel Brainstorming, Corners, Jigsaw, Popsicle Stick, and Clickers. Student response systems supposedly raise overall test scores by 30% or more. Student Response System can be used with just about any kind of online software program. I did not realize how often student response systems can be used with so many different programs. Since there are so many ways to use student response systems in the classroom, this would make it easier on teachers to access them for lessons. 

Personalized Learning

Personalized Learning is also known as “applied learning”. It is instruction that provides ways to meet each student’s individual needs. This allows small group independent work for the students. It also refers to differentiation in realizing that all students have a different ability level. All students also come from different backgrounds. Therefore when considering personalized learning, all assignments need to accommodate all students. To keep the differentiated students on task, teachers should provide engaging activities. This might make the students think that they are just having fun when really they are learning at the same time. Also, if the teacher does not provide engaging activities students might fall behind because they might not want to complete the work. Including the students’ interests in assignments, read-alouds, activities, tests, etc. is important. This will catch the students’ attention and more than likely keep them engaged. Students would also rather do an activity/game relating to the topic than read out of a textbook. Students may feel a sense of power when they get to choose what they want to learn. Implementing technology in the classroom or “centers” would also help keep students engaged because it requires them to stay on task and stay busy. Personalized learning would help me in my future classroom by providing ways for all students to learn. I have learned that personalized learning works better when students are engaged. This causes me to look at personalized learning differently. Now, I try to look for engaging activities that will accommodate each and every student so that students can stay on task. Personalized learning would benefit the teacher by providing ways to look at students’ individual needs. Knowing background knowledge and how a child learns will help with planning engaging activities for personalized learning. Knowing students will also help with building relationships.

Student Led Conferences/Digital Portfolios

               Student Led Conferences allow students to take on a leadership role by presenting their own work. They also help students build on their communication skills. The student led conferences could help me in my future classroom because it builds relationships providing more participation from the parents and students. This would allow the classroom to run more smoothly. I have learned that student led conferences can help build relationships with their families. I did not realize this before when thinking about student led conferences. Because of this different view, I can see how important student led conferences can be and how important it is to get the parents or families involved. This also benefits the teacher, students, and parents through connections. As a teacher, I would benefit from this because of the relationships being built with the families. I would also benefit from this knowing that my students would understand how to speak and present their work.

                Digital Portfolios provides students with a way to document their work without having to keep up with loose papers and other supplies. With a traditional portfolio students would only be able to share their work with a few people. With a non-digital portfolio, students can share their work with the world. Digital portfolios also store and capture other modes of learning that are not possible with non-digital portfolios. Digital Portfolios would help me in my classroom because it would open up communication and allow parents to access the student’s work instantly. Digital Portfolios would be beneficial to the teacher because it would save time on organization. It would also be easier to access for formative assessments.

                Student Led Conferences and Digital Portfolios can both provide a way for the students to self-reflect on the work they have done throughout the year. Also, students can show ownership (feelings of pride, responsibility, and dedication) through student led conferences and digital portfolios.