Blog #3 – Technology in the Classroom!

                This week we talked about some ways to use technology in the classroom. We had Tyler come in from Vincent Massey and explain the different ways he uses technology in his everyday classroom. Some of these included using online study tools, using snapchat or Instagram to develop characters in a novel and using online polling to create an outside audience for class activities.

                My favourite idea from the presentation was having students create Instagram accounts for characters in a novel. This would give students an opportunity to develop an understanding for how the character would interact on social media as well as with other characters from the novels. While being in early years I was trying to come up with a way to use this in an early year’s classroom. I think I forget how young children already know how technology works and could do this task, the only concern I have is them having to create an email and an account so I would like to come up with some kind of alternative for early years.

                Another one I really enjoyed was the best word competition he created online. I have already done picture of the day in my classroom but to make it so students could write for an outside audience, and encourages students to do their best writing. You could even send the link how so students parents could read through them and vote on which word they liked!

                This was an awesome presentation that gave many awesome ideas!