Today we had to design a frog that jumped! We were given a list of materials that we could use and had to use critical thinking (and engineering skills… or lack thereof in my case!) in pairs to try and make a paper frog jump. This was a very fun activity, and also had many benefits for developing children’s problem solving and critical thinking skills, which Greg outlined before we attempted the task. My partner, Abby and I may need to work on these skills a little more as our concept was not as inventive as some of the other groups. However the task was still lots of fun, and everyone in the class seemed to really enjoy it.
The last part of this week’s workshop was devoted to using the online program Quia to develop our own personal quizzes. This could be an extremely valuable tool in the classroom, as you could not only develop your own quizzes as the teacher for the students to complete, but also allow the students to create their own quizzes relating to the classroom topic. This tests their knowledge on the subject in a fun and inventive way that also focuses on a ‘gaming’ aspect to technology which is a large part of the modern day learner’s association with technology.
On a more personal note, I loved going around the room to my classmates’ computers and completing their quizzes. It was a great way to find out what is important in their lives, and promoted a greater sense of community, as everyone was very positive. This made for a fun learning environment. Although technology is not a strength of mine, I am really enjoying learning how to use these different programs, and can see how all of them could be used in the classroom.
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