Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Blog Post #5

Conversations With Anthony Capps

After watching the video conversations between Dr. Strange and Anthony Capps, I have to say that I have learned quite a lot about elementary education and being a teacher that I did not know before. The first 2 videos PBL Part 1 and PBL Part 2 were mainly about Anthony's teaching experience with project-based learning. What I learned from these videos is that doing project-based learning motivates students to learn. It does so by encouraging students to learn the material before they do the project. Anthony says that it also helps when you make the topic for the project open for the student to choose because kids always have more fun doing projects when it can be about something they are interested in. Capps noted in doing this the students went well beyond his expectations for the project.

In another video with Anthony called iCurio, I learned about an online tool called iCurio. This is an online tool which allows students to search safely for information that relates to their schoolwork. It has storage capacity for students to use so that they can save their information and have it for later use. iCurio is also beneficial in that it helps students to be virtually organized. This online tool also has a directory feature that makes it quicker for students to find the information that they need. iCurio also caters to students with disabilities by having a read aloud feature that students can use. Overall, the best thing about this tool is that it is safe. Students can find the information that they need and not have to worry about coming across sites that are not kid-friendly.

Along the same lines as iCurio, Anthony also talked about another online tool called Discovery Education. The whole basis of this tool is that it brings the text that the teacher is teaching to life through a very detailed video. The main subjects that it teaches is science and social studies. This is a great tool because as Dr. Strange said, "students have become more of listeners/watchers." In today's day and age students have become listeners/watchers instead of readers mainly because students learn better when they can visualize what they just read. This Discovery Education tool makes it easier for students to learn the material.

One of the questions that Dr. Strange asked Anthony was if he had any strange or interesting tips for teachers. (Strange Tips) What I learned from Capps is that as a teacher you should be interested in learning yourself when teaching your students. I also learned that teaching is very fun and very rewarding and to expect that surprises are always going to happen in the classroom so just embrace them and just go with it. Anthony also said that you have to be flexible, make sure all the kids are engaged, and to also take time to reflect on what did and didn't work for the day. All of these are very good tips to consider as a future teacher.

Finally Capps talked about technology in the classroom in the video Don't Teach Tech-Use It. I learned that you should not teach technology for kids that age but to simply use it for educational purposes. Anthony also encourages that you introduce technology in a smart manner to them. Capps explains that making children know how to use technology in the classroom is still controversial but that it is an essential tool for students to eventually know how to learn.

2 comments:

  1. Thoughtful. Interesting. So are you ready to be a PBL teacher?

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  2. Your blog is both interesting and thoughtful. I think you have done a great job of understanding what Dr. Strange and Mr. Capps where trying to get across in the videos. The one thing I feel that is missing is an opinion. I get the sense of a little opinion but I don't know whether you like this information or dislike it. I like that you have understood the content of what was in the videos and give descriptions of what is in them. I think you have done a wonderful job with your blog so far and I hope that you continue to do so. One last thing to note is that I don't think your alt or title modifiers are working on your images you may want to check them. Enjoy the rest of the semester.

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