Week 3

Technology within the classroom

In this weeks workshop we learnt about designing activities based on the following four step method:

Investigate

Design

Produce

Evaluate

We were given a task to create a jumping frog, using minimal materials. By using only cardboard, a paper cut out frog, a rubber band and some sticky tape, we needed to make the frog jump. My partner and I had a few attempts to make the frog jump by folding the piece of cardboard in various fashions with minimal success. We then taped the cardboard to the table, folded it over, and held it in place with a rubber band. We placed the frog on top of the folded cardboard and let the rubber band go. The frog did jump to some extent, however it was fairly unsuccessful. Whilst we may have not succeeded in the task, it was very enjoyable that got our creative minds thinking.

By giving students a similar task it will help them to think about ways in which they can solve problems. The hands on approach is a very successful method and I believe that students will benefit greatly from it. I also think it is important to make sure that you can show them a successful result for the experiment. In this case it will be a way to make the frog jump.

Online games

We then used technology to create our own games. Most students loved to learn using technology because it is exciting and challenging. By asking the students to create their own games online, they need to use a clear thought process in the creation of the game. I created a Hangman game using words that were all fruits. If a students was to do this task, they would need to think of as many words as they can that relate to the topic, and also use correct spelling for them. Whilst it might seem to the child that they are just creating a task, they are actually learning just as much in the process!

Hangman

We then learnt how to create online quiz using the same program. This was a lot of fun and I also found it to be quite challenging as you really had to think what questions you wanted to put in your quiz. This would be an excellent activity to use in the classroom. Students could be given the task to create quiz's about a topic of their choice. Once the quiz has been created an assessed by the teacher, students could then take each other's quiz's, and research the answers. This is a great way to promote classroom interaction and it also enables students to find common interests.

Online quiz creation

Their are numerous benefits for students creating their own games. Firstly, it is a creative way to express themselves. It gets the students thinking of the tasks they have created and why it is important. It is also fun and challenging for the students and a great way to make the classroom come alive with active involvement from all students.