#UWinDig 2020

Integrating technology in lessons as a teacher, is becoming a must. Technology is consuming itself into most aspects of our lives and the lives of our students. The Technologist Module gives teachers a step by step process on not only how to bring technology into the classroom, but also make it effective to our students learning. This module gives you an in-depth look into the process of making great technological additions to your lesson, that are based on the needs of your students. This module uses the Design-Thinking Approach. My infographic goes through each part of that approach. Using Canva to create my infographic gave me an example of what it would be like for me to test technologies to see if they would be good to integrate into my lessons. This was my first time using Canva. It turns out to be a very user friendly program, that lets you be very creative. An infographic was out of my comfort zone, but Canva made it really fun and painless.

My infographic summarizes the 5 steps involved in the Design-Thinking Approach. First there is emphasize, where you look at the learners needs and what the tech could add that could would not be there without it. I used this when I was looking at many students in my classes IEP’s during my placement. I looked at technology as a way to allow those students something that was missing from a normal lesson. The next step is define, this is where you define who your learner is and what you can do with technology to help. I learned that after a few weeks, you really get to know your students needs and are able to base your lessons around their needs.

The next step is ideate, which is centred around the planning of the integrating of technology. This is where you take a look at the challenges that some of your students face and make sure you found a technology suited for that. Sometimes it is hard for teachers to help all of their students who have many different kinds of challenges. If you use technology, something that a lot of students are accustomed to, then it will be more effective to them overcoming challenges in their learning. The step after that is the prototype, which involves designing your prototype, sharing it with others and redefining it from the feedback you receive. This is essential in teaching. Trying ideas out, getting feedback, and making it better from the feedback is essential in improving your technological pedagogy.

The last step is to connect, this is the implementation of the technology that you have created for your classroom. This is where you bring it to your lessons and see how students react. This is always the scary part for teachers. Wondering if something that you have worked on is going to be good for your students. It is also a struggle for teachers to figure out how to instruct students to use this technology. If this technology works out, then let other teachers know and spread the word through your Personal Learning Network.

I decided to do my assignment on Ashley Hinck’s “Digital Ghosts in the Classroom” article. This article focuses on the lack of creativity coming from students when it comes to Digital Pedagogy due to how they are taught in the school system. It talks about the fact that students are so afraid of failure, that they will not try something new or more challenging. For this assignment I decided to do a sketch note. I wanted to challenge myself. I usually stay away from anything pertaining to art, but I wanted to try something new.

The first topic I decided to add was the fear of failing and the process of just dragging and dropping. The Article explains how students always think to do the assignment that will be less creative, but will give the teacher what they want. Students are taught throughout their education that doing simple drag and drop tasks will get you the top marks. I put the logos of Facebook and Canva. Ashley Hinck goes into detail about how Canva and Facebook work together to bring the users a easy drag and drop experience. This makes people put aside their creative side and take part in a simple user experience that these platforms provide.

The next topics I visited were the amount of potential from no limit applications, the idea of “The New Worksheet” as Hinck calls it, and the importance of trial and error. The idea that people have so much potential when they use more complex applications, instead of drag and drop apps that they usually use. “The New Worksheet” idea looks at how the basic digital projects that students know well, is like giving out an old fashion worksheet. Like a worksheet, there is no creativity in a linear digital project. I put trial and error because the article expresses the important process of trying, failing and getting it just right. Without trial and error are world would be a lot different.

The last topics I tackled on my sketch note was the example of the lego, the linear thinking of digital projects in education, and the idea that we are all makers, creators, and speakers. The article uses the example of a lego to explain what kind of digital projects we should be doing in the classroom. Building legos with no instructions allows us to be open, creative and have agency. The article says these things should be in all digital projects throughout our schooling. The author feels that digital projects in traditional school culture only provide a linear approach to thinking, instead of being open, creative, and having agency. The article also tells that teachers should be giving students the tools to be makers, creators, and speakers. Instead of linear projects, there should be more complex projects that allow students to reach their potential.

Creating a sketch note allowed me to put the information from this article into action. I went out of my comfort zone and tried something I was not comfortable with. It allowed me to try some trial and error creating this artifact. It did not turn out exactly how I wanted it, but I will keep trying to perfect it throughout time.

This article provided me with a lot of information that I will take with me into my classroom. I will add some creative digital projects that will allow my students to use their creativity. I will try to give my students the tools they need to become makers, creators, and speakers. I will also continue to increase my Digital Pedagogy.