5 ms·
In my opinion, the issue here isn't virtual learning (the what), the issue is how we are doing virtual learning (the how). We can't use zoom the way we use a ph
by actfrench 6y ago
In my opinion, the issue here isn't virtual learning (the what), the issue is how we are doing virtual learning (the how). We can't use zoom the way we use a physical classroom. It's a totally different medium. I teach a group of kindergarteners online every morning for 3 hours. The first thing we do is make sure their space is set up to allow for movement. They can jump up move, around, wiggle, whatever they want. I also take huge advantage of the screen share feature. If kids have a question about bugs, we look on youtube together for a great bug video. Every morning they get to pick a video on cosmic kids yoga, and then we do cosmic kids together. Considering she's the best kids yoga teacher in the world, we're taking advantage of the online medium to give them the best possible experience. When I read to them, I also screen share, so they can follow along (a much better way to get kids to read a long than in a classroom where I have to hold the book up.). Are there advantages to a physical classroom? Absolutely. Do we live in an age of technology? Yes, this is absolutely true. Let's learn to use these incredible tools well with our kids, rather than just dismissing them because they don't replicate the classroom experience.
- actfrench 6y agoThis is how my class is structured and the activities we do. https://www.modulo.app/manishamodule https://www.modulo.app/manishamodule Feel free to share with other teachers if it could benefit them. I"d also be happy to talk to your teacher or anyone else's teacher if they need support on making zoom more engaging. Also, if other teachers have ideas of activities that worked well for them, I'd love to hear! I'll just add that one thing that's been helpful in my group is to try to focus the zoom on social-emotional learning and then do an "independent study" together period where kids work on mastery-based learning apps independently, but with their friends and a teacher there if they get stuck (Math tango is our favorite!). I find kids learn a lot better with the apps then when I teach them a lesson verbally and give them a worksheet. Zoom represents a really interesting challenge for teachers, but there is a lot of gold to be found if you look!
- zelphirkalt 6y agoZoom does not belong in any classroom, regardless of virtual or physical. It is proprietary software, which has a back track record on privacy and security. It is not free software respecting children's and teachers' rights and freedom. I find the this reliance on proprietary shitty software annoying and absurd. Often teachers barely know manage to cobble together virtual classrooms. They lack information about alternatives and support for setting things up properly.
- actfrench 6y agoI tried a lot of different web conferencing apps and zoom was the only one that had good enough audio and visual to make it remotely possible to teach effectively. Google meet was a total disaster with a group of more than 5 kids. But, I was lucky to have parent in my group who were informed about options and could give me advice in getting going. I think it's great if teachers can take advantage of emerging and established technology if it helps them teach well.
- dorchadas 6y agoSeriously. I'm a high school teacher and we had a Google Meet training today and it's just lacking so much compared to Zoom. It's frustrating as hell.
- ghaff 6y agoWith respect to open source, there is Jitsi which I have seen exactly one person use for a small gathering. So shall we make things more difficult by requiring the use of open source (which I generally support)?
- zelphirkalt 6y agoJitsi is free software afaik, so a higher ethical standard than open source, although it classifies as open source because of this automatically. Aside from that, I think we should require free software and only switch to "merely open source", if there is no free software alternative. Of course we should not simply require such a thing, but we should instead try to help, by making tutorials for easy setup of tools, for example Jitsi. We should create a guide, which any computer class teacher should be able to follow. Not an easy to meet criteria though. Perhaps people could also offer support for teachers for setting things up. Whatever we do, we should support teachers as well, not only make a requirement and we should not tie this support to any costs for the teachers.
- ativzzz 6y agoIt's great that you are a technology-savvy teacher who is capable of taking advantage of these tools. Unfortunately, a large number of teachers and school districts do not have the skills, resources, or leadership to support this kind of experience for their students and teachers. Most school districts would need 1. the desire to transform the way they teach 2. the leadership capable of driving this change 3. the teachers who are tech-savvy or capable of learning these technologies/skills (many aren't!)
- actfrench 6y agoA lot of teachers tend to have really high emotional intelligence which makes them great caregivers, but may not have great tech skills. I'd love to see school districts provide more professional development to teachers in effective strategies using online teaching. I don't think this is even taught in teacher's college. But hopefully now with the world changing, this will change as well. I'd be happy to provide training to any teacher who wants tips on using technology to teach. The great news is a lot of teachers are really highly motivated to learn and really highly motivated to teach well so I am sure they would pick up these skills quickly given the opportunity. I knew virtually nothing about tech, but one day I got the idea 5 years ago for a tech startup that could help kids. I was forced to learn about technology to make it work and benefited from a lot of great mentors along the way. Even 5 years later, I have a sharp learning curve, but a lot of the parents in my group are engineers and have helped me come up with good activity ideas and technology ideas and been really patient with me as I learned to apply them. I bet a lot of people in this group could help their child's teacher. If you reach out, I bet your teacher would be really grateful and eager to learn too.
- jnwatson 6y agoThis would have been a fine excuse in the spring, but the school district and teachers have had all summer to catch up the technology side. I know my school district pushed back the start date just to put teachers through 2 weeks of intensive tech training.
- sparrish 6y agoThis is usually the first mistake new homeschoolers make - trying to recreate the "school" experience in their homes. It nearly always fails. Homeschooling is much more flexible and dynamic. More breaks, more following the rabbit down the hole, more fun. My kids can often be found reading in their makeshift forts behind the sofa, watching ants in the backyard, and clicking through the youtube videos following the curiosity from something they learned in their regular studies.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- xigency 6y agoKudos to you. My son’s Kindergarten is starting in one week and I hope he gets an experience like this.