Process Reflection

Reflective Practice:

Learning new things can be scary and intimidating but also exhilarating. My experience learning about different technological tools to use for the purpose of gathering, synthesizing, and especially presenting information have had a transformative impact on my approach to technology. This realm that was overwhelming and intimidating for me in the past has shifted my thinking to seeing the benefits of making global professional connections with like-minded individuals. 

The image below is a useful visual representation of the different inquiry process that I have been learning to use on the online medium.

Plougmann, L.Anita Brooks Kirkland, Apr 12, 2012. The Discovery and Guided Inquiry Model Diagram. [Online Image] Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/site/titanicinquiry/lesson-plans

While there are still times when I feel overwhelmed and restricted in time to complete various technology related tasks, I feel like my learning is expanding my thinking of education processes.

Here are some tools that I have recently learned how to use, and some of the educational benefits of each:

1) Scoop-it: great source of information, and resources. In relation to my genius topic topic of assessment, a great place to find resources. Ways of assessing genius hour.

2) Google slides: fabulous resource for making PowerPoint presentations. Best part: being able to embed the final product onto Blogger.

3) PowToon: MIND BLOWING!!!! What a great tool to make presentations more interactive by adding animations and cool live features. The ability to manipulate the time frame for each animation allows for differentiation for students with special needs, such as processing delays. 

4) Bubbl.us: this web-based tool for making timeline representations. The possibilities for student use of this resource in the classroom across various curriculum areas are endless!  

I am excited to continue this learning process, as well as to implement some of these resources in my work with students! I am very curious about their feedback and response to some of these wonderful resources! I will continue to use my blog as a tool to communicate the roadmap of my learning process.

Ana 

Welcome to My Genius Hour Project!

Welcome to my blog! Do you share a passion for empowering students to learn in meaningful ways? Are you interested in entertaining ideas about how teachers around the world have created innovative assessment for learning techniques? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, then I am thrilled to be sharing my research in this area with you!


Genius Hour is a tool for teachers to use to answer all of those questions, and help students bring their passions to life.


One of the things that is interesting to me as a future educator falls under the umbrella term of assessment. In particular, ways of utilizing assessment in a way that is not intimidating or overwhelming for either the students or teachers. Rather developing assessment that advances learning and is individualized for each student.

Genius Hour Portfolio Blog

Learning and teaching Copyright

Plougmann, L. (2011, January 20th). At the computer. [Online image]. Retrieved from https://www.flickr.com/photos/criminalintent/5403052781/

Children are immeasurably proficient in utilizing technology in their day-to-day lives. This medium is both relevant and fun for children. It becomes our responsibility as adults working with children to teach them to be safe and accountable when  accessing resources on the Internet. One of the main ways of doing this is to teach students about copyright.

Copyright gives ownership of ideas and materials to their rightful owners. Much like Taylor Swift's open letter to Apple regarding streaming of music, copyright serves to recognize and give respect to creators of materials in order to prevent exploitation. When using more than 10% of someone else's work, credit must be given to the original author.  

It is crucial to teach students the importance of copyright as it protects themselves, as well as other authors. Encouraging students to create their own images creatively (taking photographs or creating images using different mediums such as paints or computer software) is a hands-on approach to teaching students about the processes of copyright.  In addition requiring students to embed images created by other, and meeting copyright procedures by properly citing the photos could make for a rich cumulative project.

Enokson. (2011, May 26). Learning is required. [Online image]. Retrieved from http://bit.ly/1UJzkgp

About me

Hi everyone!

My name is Ana Vintan, and I am currently completing my teaching degree at Brock University.   I am passionate about innovating teaching practices and developing students' 21 century skills, which are some of the topics I will be discussing in my blog. Happy reading!