Brittany's Education Blog

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Post 1: Learning, Theory and Motivation

May 18, 2020 / / 1 Comment

Share a story about your best learning experience (could be a formal course or something more personal). Why did you enjoy it?

My best learning experience would have to be anytime I was learning at the dance studio. This took place in various forms as I was both a student and instructor. As a student I was learning new choreography and dances, whereas a dance instructor I was sharing my knowledge and passion for dance with younger students. Therefore, I was able to learn through my own dance classes as well as by adapting and learning from the diversity of students within the dance studio. There are multiple reasons for why I enjoyed this, and I believe one of which is that we were all motivated through a shared passion (dance), as such in the teacher role I acted as a role model to the students. As a result, students are practicing and enticed to learn, and that drive, and passion is something I strive to support in my future classroom. Learning is all about the journey it takes to get there and I believe this created steps and enticed students to practice skills to improve.

In relation to the reading around behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism

  • Behaviourism is deemed to have learning be derived by a “stimulus and a response” such as a reward and punishment model. Behaviourism, however, has shaped our understanding as it allows us to understand the importance of the context of learning and how past experiences motivate or demotivate us to learn.
  • Similarly, cognitivism focuses on the role of what happens within the black box and how it influences behaviour and learning. However, this theory “moves the idea of manipulating stimulus (behaviourism) towards a focus on the idea of thinking and mental processing”.
  • Finally, constructivism is” learner centred” and generates the idea that the classroom is a collaborative model where we can all learn from each other as we each share diverse experiences and opinions.

Below are some key theorists in regard to the previously mentioned learning theories.

  • Behaviourism: Pavlov (classical), Thorndike (classical), Watson (classical) and Skinner (operant conditioning)
  • Constructivism: Piaget (individual) and Vygotsky (social).

In summary, I believe that the reason dance was my best learning experience is because it was not only my passion but also it was “student centered”; where the students are able to explore and be creative all while learning. As a result, I think this model is important to strive for as it motivates students by putting learning in their own hands. Similarly, this model could be used in regard to an inquiry project as the teacher guides and learns alongside the students. As such facilitating this model can help foster a dynamic and collaborative classroom. Also in order to motivate all students each student can then have an individual and more specific goal related to that lesson, thus making the learning more personal.

All in all, I believe that a mixture of various styles of teaching and learning is beneficial as all students are different and one situation or one student may result in using one style over another.

References

Ertmer, P. A., & Newby, T. (2018) Behaviourism, cognitivism, constructivism: Comparing critical features from an instructional design persepctive. In R. E. West, Foundations of Learning and Instructional Design Technology: The Past, Present, and Future of Learning and Instructional Design Technology. EdTechBooks. https://edtechbooks.org/lidtfoundations/behaviorism_cognitivism_constructivism

ED-D 301 Class notes

James , H. N.  (2020a, May 13). Learning theories. EDCI 335 Learning Design. https://edtechuvic.ca/edci335/learning-theories/

James, H. N. (2020b, May 13). Motivation and learning. EDCI 335 Learning Design. https://edtechuvic.ca/edci335/motivation/

Intro Blog EDCI 335

May 18, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Hello,

I am so excited that I am enrolled in this class ! Last term when I completed EDCI 336, I really learned to value the importance of technology in the classroom. As such, I am looking forward to continue to blog all while deepening my knowledge around technology and cannot wait to start this learning journey.  As an education major, I am looking forward to learning with and from others! Some of my interests include dance, gymnastics and performing. I am lucky to be able to teach dance and help grow a small local dance studio. The following is the website I created for the dance studio using Wix site template https://epicdancestudio.wixsite.com/website

Final Music Blog 6

March 27, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Hello,

For the past week I have been able to do a little bit of xylophone practice at a time. I was able to practice in small increments in order to lead up to the final product. Due to my injury, I was only able to use one hand and so I made amendments accordingly. Therefore, something I realized along the way is that A Thousand Years needs to use both hands in order to be quick enough for it to flow and sound connected. Therefore I decided to accept the fact that the chorus of the song was slower when I played it with one hand. Throughout my practice I played around with various parts of the song and realized that the chorus was the most effective to do with one hand. I also decided to add in and play the introduction of the song. I am super excited that I was at least able to play and sing the chorus of the song, however I do believe that it could be more fluid and more on tempo. I found it rather difficult to sing to the speed I was going while using one mallet; therefore I believe that the singing did not flow as well as I would have liked, even after I had practiced numerous times.

All in all I am very happy I was able to at least to part of this song! I think the xylophone is a very useful and fun tool to use in the classroom and I was so grateful to be able to experience it and learn a few songs. I wish I could have been in class the day we did the xylophone but things happen. Thanks for an amazing term! I really enjoyed creating and blogging about my xylophone learning journey!

The following is my final video, hope you enjoy it!

Dance Experience

March 24, 2020 / / 0 Comments

To conclude my inquiry project, I just wanted to bring the focus back to why I chose this topic. The reason I chose this topic is because I am a dancer and now I teach dance and so I value how dance helps students succeed in their everyday life. This transfers to the idea that dance supports the creation of valuable life skills as well as a balanced learning atmosphere where the child is at the centre of their education.

I as a future teacher, believe in this educational pedagogy and arts mindset as there are many affects emotionally and cognitively. Performing Arts is a subject area that should receive more attention and in my classroom this will definitely be my goal!

Something I believe is beneficial and that I learned is to understand is that educational dance in schools and studio dance is different. However they still do share common outcomes and benefits related to health and development. Here is a link to a blog further discussing this topic. https://www.danceteacherweb.com/en/blog/blog/2016/11/7/dance-education-vs-dance-training-whats-difference/. 

The following website, https://epicdancestudio.wixsite.com/website is from the dance studio my mom and I opened and created the  website and I manage all social media.
I have also added a photo of myself when performing in Disney World in 2017!

Final Kahoot Post Resources

March 24, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Group Inquiry #8

Key Readings and Resources

Topic: How can Kahoot be used as a resource in the classroom & how does it connect to formative and summative assessment?

Throughout our Ed-Tech Inquiry project, we researched on our topic, and found many resources, whether it be, scholarly articles, educational videos, news articles or research done by others, all of the resources used are stated below. Also, we included a few extra resources and articles linked to our topic that are definitely worth checking out!

From Blog Posts

Additional Resources

(Post by Arnelle and Brittany)

Zoom!

March 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments

As we move away from face to face classes and experience the fun of virtual classes. I got to learn a little bit more about Zoom today.

In relation to education:

Some Pros could include:

  • Allows virtual instruction
  • Can screen share
  • Can save and record the video
  • Has a whiteboard feature, polling feature
  • Has an online chat option
  • Can mute and unmute
  • Can host up to 100 people
  • Has a free option

Some. Cons could include:

  • Its features are difficult to use
  • Not great video or audio quality
  • Not all students have access to laptops, digital surfaces
  • Not all internet is strong enough for this

In a university setting, I found this too be quite useful given the circumstances. However, I do believe that the face to face instruction and teacher presence is much more beneficial for all learners and various grades. Yes some students may thrive from online learning, but Zoom is difficult as you can only ask private questions through the chat. As such, it doesn’t allow children to get all learning styles of instruction and that one on one aspect that classroom can provide. In desperate measures this is an option and who knows maybe schools will result to this depending on how this continues. However, even with online school such as SIDES for example, there is the option to meet or Skype one on one, which I think is more beneficial than a video conference with everyone for instruction. I do believe this could be a useful resource in certain circumstances. For example, for specific projects this could be very interesting to learn from other teachers or have students ask various teachers from various places or do a collaborative interview where everyone weigh in on your inquiry topic for instance. However, I think for the most part I think it benefits the middle school and high school years as students are further elaborated in regards to communication skills and listening. However through Zoom we as teachers lack seeing the body language and ability to go around the room and help with the process of learning. We also do not know what is going on and if students are actually listening as they are all in different learning environments. As such it may be more beneficial for it to be 1 student and various other people or teachers for learning purposes or projects. As mitigating a classroom of say 25-30 students and taking turns (everyone not talking over each other) is something that is developed through time.  As such, it worked for us as university students, however I would see many more obstacles in the elementary to high school years. It could be possible, but much more preparation would be required.

Building an Art Model

March 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Throughout this term, I have talked about the specific benefits of dance and music. However, these extend beyond just dance. The performing arts category and arts model can thus be a way to include various cross curriculars such as dance into the classroom.

According to the following article, Article Arts Method a teacher can follow a specific teaching method such as the Art Model. This model was created by Jacqueline Autard and is based on three characteristics CREATING-PERFORMING-APPRECIATING. This supports the idea of student driven system where the child is at the centre of their learning as they are given the opportunity to explore and create all while learning from others performances and compositions. Children will also learn observation skills and various styles which will lead them to learn communication, collaboration instead of competition and constructive criticism rather than judgment.

Dance and an Art Model can thus help students learn about themselves (teach self awareness) through the idea of emotional literacy. It can also help students understand their body, mind and imagination. This model suggest that teachers don’t just have their students follow but instead they must allow children to explore and create through the idea of modern theory.

Through this model, there is suggestions how to teach dance for example.

Here is a breakdown of a lesson that supports the Art model “Create, Perform, Appreciate”

  1. Welcome
  2. General Activation
  3. Exploration
  4. Composition
  5. Conclusion

 

 

 

The above diagrams and pictures are taken from the research article (Article Arts Method)

 

Group Inquiry 7

March 17, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Group Inquiry #7

Overall, we believe that Kahoot is a fun and interactive game based digital platform that allows students to be intrinsically motivated and successful. The Create, Play, Share motto fosters the idea of collaboration and competitiveness all while supporting learning and using Kahoot as a tool in your classroom. Throughout our inquiry research, we have discovered some of the key aspects children like about Kahoot and how Kahoot can empower our learners and learn from each other as they can also make and share Kahoots among each other. Listening to the students needs and modifying and adapting Kahoots as well as revisiting Kahoots helps learners succeed and grow. It is a platform that helps the diversity of student learners as it includes various features and styles of learning. Please enjoy the Kahoot we have made below! 

How to Create a Kahoot (Step-By-Step) Tutorial: 

Teacher steps / How to Make a Kahoot!

  1. Go to  https://kahoot.com or download the Kahoot app
  2. Pick your role (teacher / student) 
  3. Create an account username, email and password 
  4. Then to create a new Kahoot, press “Create a new Kahoot”
  5. Choose and customize  the style of your Kahoot, puzzle, slide, spelling etc. 
  6. Now choose your style of  question and answers (true or false, poll, closed question, multiple answers, open question etc. 
  7. Then add an image (optional) and insert up to four answers for students to pick from. 
  8. One this is complete, click “Done” and title your Kahoot

Students steps

  1. If students do not have an account visit https://kahoot.it and enter the game password provided by the teacher
  2. If students also want to make their own Kahoots, they will need to follow the steps outlined above (see teacher steps).

Summary: Here is a link of a Kahoot we made based on group inquiry posts 1 through 6: 

https://kahoot.it/challenge/0739897?challenge-id=9dc2f5db-72ba-4a73-8dd6-1fa550f28bcf_1583520213588

(Post by Arnelle and Brittany )

 

Music Blog 5 Preparation for Final

March 16, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Hello everyone,

In preparation for my final blog and video submission, there has been many factors that have been obstacles in the post midterm progress of my learning plan. Therefore this blog, I decided to practice singing and confidence instead of playing the xylophone for the time being. I believe I will try and learn at least the chorus to A Thousand Years on the xylophone.

The following video will demonstrate my progression towards confidence, I also believe that the classroom dynamics change and I would be much less nervous than in front of a video. Anyways, throughout these practices I think that I learned the importance of practicing and scaffolding before putting the 2 playing and singing together. Last time I learnt the song before I added singing. This time I am focusing on the confidence aspect and singing of the song, before learning to play it. That way the song will just come more naturally and I can focus on playing.

Although this was not the original plan, learning in two different ways (starting with singing the song and starting with playing the song) are two ways that could be incorporated into the classroom. One way may work better for a student than another, as such these amendments are very transferable and very much so a learning opportunity.

Please see the following

Music Blog 4 Preparation for Final

March 11, 2020 / / 0 Comments

Hello everyone,

I am back to blogging! After almost one whole month off of blogging, we are back. Unfortunately I would love to say that I have been constantly practicing my xylophone, however some unforeseen circumstances arose and I am was unable to play due to an injury. As such, I will have to make a few adjustments to my plan. This situation is important as it is beneficial to understand how to make amendments for your future students in order for activities to be accessible and inclusive to all.

In regards to my learning plan, I have had to make a few adjustments as I will only be able to play the xylophone using one hand. I would have liked to practice playing the xylophone while alternating mallets even more. However, I have had to make an amendment due to an injury.  Following my midterm update, I was on track with my learning plan and ahead of schedule, this will help since I have now fallen behind schedule. As such, I will still try to learn to Play “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri and possibly accompany my playing with singing as well. However I may only be able to play part of the song due to the time factor involved and my pain tolerance. In order to practice more confidence while singing, I think it is a good idea to switch my focus to that a bit while I recover. As such, in my next blog I will post a video of me practicing singing the song as if I was singing it to my students and then for my final post I will try to focus on playing at least the chorus and singing along.

Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!

 

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