Obviously this year we have been forced into the online learning platform. Our school district uses Zoom as the way to stay connected with our students. I have also used Instagram and Google classroom as the student enjoyed those platforms. I am a teacher that likes to make the personal connection, and I can tell you I have really felt drained the last could of weeks. I am tired of putting on a happy face and jumping on zoom. I want to see and interact with my students again in a meaningful way. This is not to say that online learning cannot be successful, but I have learned it is definitely not the platform for me.
As for moving forward with some of these other ideas, I have been thinking about introducing VR into my media classroom, not just watching it, but maybe making our own. I am thinking about making a video tour of our school. This is going to take some learning on my part, but I think it would be a pretty cool project. I think this type of learning can lean towards the connectivism in which they use the previously learned skills and place them into a new learning experience with a constant feedback loop.
A huge challenge in high schools is budget; some of these new tools require a lot of money to get started. I feel time can be a little bit of a restraint as well. But if I chip away at the learning over the years I believe I will be able to streamline it for the students.
Hello Kirk,
I like your idea of making a video of school tour for children using VR. It is true that teachers have to take extra pain for making learning more meaningful and engaging for children.
Hi Kirk,
Building a personal connection and face to face interaction with my students are also really important to me as a teacher in order to build a classroom community. I haven’t been teaching during this pandemic since I’m on mat leave, but I’m already worried about what it will look like in September, especially since I teach primary students. Your idea of making a VR tour of your school with your students sounds really meaningful and engaging. I think it could help students to continue using VR even outside of the classroom, such as making a tour of their neighbourhood or house.
Gurreet
Hi Kirk and Gurreet,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I agree with your viewpoint that online learning can not take the place of face to face classes.
However, we can make a face to face classes interactive and engaging with the help of educational technology. There are lots of challenges that teachers and students need to face to implement an alternative way of education. It is easy for teachers with technological backgrounds to apply such techniques and make in-person classrooms more fruitful.