Category: Professional development

#edcampuvic 2020

My teaching cohort were very fortunate to be invited to #edcampuvic 2020. This was  a different kind of learning experience compared to other professional learning opportunities.  Basically, we had the opportunity to meet with other teachers and teacher candidates and talk about experiences, questions, and ideas towards using technology in the classroom. The flexible structure of this event allowed for conversations to naturally wander to all aspects of the topic leading to a well rounded discussion.

I participated in the “using cell phones in the classroom” breakroom, and our conversation spanned many different aspects around the topic. In order to summarize our conversation, I felt that I needed to incorporate a visual component.

What I found the most important about our conversation on the use of cellphones in the classroom is  dependent on the teacher and on the students.

As the teacher, you can either use cellphones as a learning tool or banish them. Using cellphones as a learning tool, allows you to address the fact that students want to use them and that it can help engage students in the room.  Cellphones can be a tool to produce the diversification in learning with the use of app that help students with reading or writing. Cellphones can also be used as a tool for students to play review games (like  Kahoot) or make flashcards. Lastly, they can be a way to poll the room, and allow students to anonymously respond to how they are feeling about the content.

What I really enjoy about these uses of cellphones in class, is that they provide a medium for students that are shy, quiet, or uncertain about their answers or are embarrassed to say they don’t understand to in a way voice those opinions. I also think, at the start of a year or semester, it may allow for a way for students to start feeling connected in the classroom.

On the flip side of this, cellphones can also be a teachers worst nightmare- depending on the students present in the class. Sometimes cellphones will completely distract students in the class, can be a source of bullying, and a source of social elitism. They can even be a problem when a teacher is trying to incorporate them into the learning experience. For example, when there is  the opportunity to type in answers while remaining anonymous then some people develop the idea that they can make inappropriate comments with no consequence. Therefore, I think that teachers need to pre-face the use of cellphones and set up clear expectations and guidelines in how they are to be used.

Now, how would I bring cellphones into my own classroom…

From what I have learned today, I think that I would allow cellphones to be used. What I would want to approach at the start of a term, is the idea of self-regulation. I feel that it is essential for students to learn when to, and when not to use their cellphones. I also want to give students resources that they can use on their phones that can benefit their own learning, and help individualize their learning styles. However, what I will also say, is that I have not actually tried to teach a lesson and try and control cellphone use, so maybe this method of listing my expectations is not going to be enough for grades 8-10 students.

However, the use of cell phones is also dependent on the school that you are working in. Is there wifi that students can use?  If not, then asking students to use data is not producing an equal learning opportunity, because some students may not have the same access to data plans, or cell phones like other students. So, if cell phones are being incorporated then I think you also need to be offering the use of mobile computer/ tablet lab if it is accessible in the school. Or else, by using cellphones you are just providing an even larger gap in learning between the people that have and the people who do not.

I found the keynote speaker at our indigenous day of learning enlightening. Dr. Dustin Louie showed his passion about reconciliation, de-colonialization and indigenization. He gave the audience a very structured approach to what teacher can do to apply this to their classroom. Dr. Louie explained that we need to start with de-colonializing, which involve 3 main ways we need to reshape our mindset and our educational system.

First of, we must let the indigenous people shape their own identity and share it with the world. Currently, the picture of “what it means to be indigenous” has been shaped by colonials, and that affects the ways that indigenous people see themselves. So, to decolonialize we need to allow Indigenous people to rediscover and define their authentic identity. Secondly, we need to break down the white supremacy built into our society. This idea he explained is that every system, including the education system has been built to benefit white people. So, to try and produce equality in an unequal system is not going to work. Therefore, we need to start breaking down these supremist structure and bring in other perspectives to make it an equal playing field. Lastly, he explained, to do these two things we need to first get rid of the idea of western neutrality. Western neutrality is a concept of western methods are the best way of doing and that it benefits everyone. For example, if we are using Western neutrality, and someone presents a new perspective, it won’t be heard since anything different is viewed as wrong, too much work, or just not how thins are done. So, we need to do a lot of cognitive work to interrupt biases and truly listen and see the value in other viewpoints.

I found these three ways to approach de-colonializing important to understand going forward in the teaching program, because we have to understand that these three embarrassing cognitive processes have been built into us (being part of the people raised with western/colonial views), and actively work against it. The hardest part is going to be recognizing the unconscious biases that we will find yourself sinking into because it is “easier”. So, what we must do is introspection and really question the purpose of our education system, lessons, assignments, and think if there is another way of doing this. I think at this point is when we can do something meaningful and start working towards de-colonizing.

One idea that Dr. Louie mentioned that I hope to apply to my teaching practicums is that non-aboriginal teachers and teacher candidates don’t have to be scared to teach indigenous knowledge for fear of doing something wrong. He recommended building relationships and approaching it with humility. And if you make a mistake, then apologize and make a mend. We are all human and all make mistakes. But being too scared to teach the content isn’t going to get us anywhere.