Everybody speaks about the wonders of technology and how our lives have changed since we had access to internet. But the moment we enter our classrooms we go back to the quiet past. And so one day I wondered what I could do to profit from this wonderful technological tool, without either being unfaithful to the textbook or making use of precious minutes we needed to practise for the coming term test.This is how the idea of the Into The Future Design Project came to me. The project was an optional task given by the textbook. Traditionally, the kids would have done the pictures, then, we would have glued them to some cardboard and, finally, the poster would have been hanged up on a classroom wall to be seen by the authors themselves and some other bored student in the middle of some other class. Instead, I picked up the pics and made use of an hour's time at home scanning and uploading them to the lcb-childrenandjunior wiki , which I had previously introduced to my students and their parents.
How many times do parents come to the classroom and see what their kids have done? How many times do they question why there is nothing written down in their kids' copybooks? How can they show other relatives and friends what their kids are doing in English?
All these questions were dancing in my mind while I was working at home. Now parents, grandparents and other relatives - maybe living far away - would be able to see these kids' production without moving from home and with just a click.
And even more rewarding it was to see these kids' faces at the prospect of having some work published and shown in a public site just like adults may do.
To me, the experience was like making a poster, though with the prospect of having a wider audience. It meant using a traditional technique and enriching it with new technology. A blend of the past and the present.
This slideshow sums up the whole process. Enjoy!
Educational Project
SlideShare Link
Pat Maceda from Barrio Norte
7 comments:
What a complete report, Pat! And, if you don't mind saying so, I believe you're an inborn blogger, quite poetic!
Focusing on the project, I really enjoyed your learner's "wild" creativity. In future courses, this could be a great starting point for the new students (see what last year class thought of, vote for the best), and we could even hold competitions where other classes vote for the best invention in that school year... What do you think?
You rock!
Gladys
Thanks for your kind words, Gladys!
I love the idea of using this in the future for it is directly connected with the "audiences". We use technolody to widen our audience by letting parents, friends and other people see what we do in the classroom. And now we are speaking about widdening our scope not only in space but also in time. I do love the idea!
And thanks for your ideas and support.
Innovative work!!! Congrats Pat.
Hope technology keeps on being integrated into our classes.
LOL,
Sonia :)
Your work made me change my mind about the difficulties of uploading student's works. I'll try it (hope I succeed too)
what a great idea to have kids enter the world of today using English and making them feel it is really useful and not just a list of words and grammar rules to be memorized and eventually forgotten for not being used.!!!!!!!!!
GREAT PAT!!!!!!!!!
I believe that your project of uploading the children's work is really much better than just hanging up their work on the classroom wall. Not only the children but their whole family get involved in it. Great work!
Giselle
The project is really great! Students' productions are creative, and it shows they really enjoyed it!! That's simply wonderful teaching!
Carmen
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