Reflecting on eLearning

As a part of the Milestone 6 evidence I have written a short reflection about the different eLearning ideas that I have tried to implement in Room 8 over the past term or so.

Milestone 6 Evidence:

Goal 3

Teachers to integrate eLearning effectively into their practice creating an innovative and exciting learning environment.

Throughout the last 6 months I have learned of many different ideas of how to integrate eLearning into the class room.  I have attempted to practice these ideas in order to create “an innovative and exciting environment”.

Learning Spaces

After a visit to Hingaia Pennisula School earlier in the year, I began thinking of ways to incorporate different learning spaces in our classroom.  Another visit at the beginning of Term 3 cemented some of the ideas spinning around my head!

The Box:  I had two large boxes (dishwasher and oven sized) at home.  I brought them into the class – one behind the door in the cloakroom and one in the library corner.  They were a huge hit!  Unfortunately the one in the cloakroom only lasted 6 weeks as it was not a strong box.  Many students enjoy working in The Box, as it gives them privacy/a space to work by themselves. 

Low Bench seat:  An old bench seat was left outside, so I grabbed it for our room.  It gives the students another place to sit off the floor – but lower than a desk.  They can also use it as a very low table if they sit on the floor. 

Under the tables:  The students (boys especially) like to work under the library and topic tables.  It gives them an illusion of privacy (I can still see and hear them) and 2-3 students can work under them.

Using iPads to gather information/evidence

Both students and myself have used the iPad to record students, as a tool for reflection and to gather evidence for behavioural purposes.

For Calf Club we learned how to make harakeke flowers.  Two students interviewed students using the iPad/iPhone as part of reflecting on their learning. Evidence of recording.

Also at the end of Term 3 the iPad was again used for recording.  I asked one of the students to record students during our potato harvest.  This student was not one of the “techie” students, the resulting video is on our blog.  This recording was not directed by any teacher, the students were just talking to each other in a conversational way.  The next step is for the students to learn how to upload such clips to the blog independently.