This was the topic of our #enviroed chat this week. Honestly, it is something I have thought a lot about. Since I'm living the life of an expatriate, there are many things I am unaware of regarding the environment. Back home I would know who to contact, or would have a more entrenched sense of community. Living abroad is fantastic for so many reasons, but this connection is something I often feel I am lacking.
My biggest wonder is how I can leverage social media to enhance my students' understanding of their learning goals. Personally, I have used twitter (my #enviroed group especially), Instagram, Skype and Facebook to learn more about how I can interact in my new community, as well as continue to develop my environmental awareness of what is happening in Canada. I am wondering how I can transfer these ideas to my students. There is a huge opportunity for students to collaborate effectively using social media in the classroom with people who are located at various spots around the world.
What we need, I think, is like minded-teachers who are willing to open up these possibilities. It seems that in Canada it can be easy to find a board nearby where you can interact with others who share similar learning outcomes. There are a million small reasons why my students and I have hesitated jumping into this digital world, but I wonder what's really stopping me.
My goal this year is to have at least some students from my school connecting with students in Canada regarding the environment. My hope is that is positive and hopeful, not doom and gloom. I have a community to work on this, just need to set aside time to actually get the students working on this. I would really love to have conservation photography as the centre of our discussions. Students selecting something they would like to conserve, take photos of it throughout the year, and learning more about that thing, and passing their knowledge along to others.
Side goals are establishing twitter accounts for the classes I work with as a tech coach. By having students further their inquiry through discussions with others, and then hopefully moving those discussions into blogs or wikis, we can create a world where my students are no longer just consumers of knowledge. I want them to be collaborators and creators. When working with others, and seeing learning as not something that happens solely within the classroom, we can start taking action that is meaningful for each of them independently.
Friday, 25 October 2013
Monday, 14 October 2013
Learning 2.013
What a conference. Seriously, it was great to be reminded of how important pedagogy is in any integration opportunity.
The big take away is purposefully create spaces for authentic conversations. Thanks to @paulaguinto for the wonderful moderation and all my fellow discussers for delving deep into this topic.
I get fairly concerned about the "real" world. I mean, what is this? How do we talk about it? After years of a masters program deconstructing myself, I really wonder, what is real?
I think often as educators we dismiss the virtual world as not real. Especially as an environmental educator I wonder how we can have students fully enriched in outdoor education while still using technology. Throughout the discussion I was constantly reminded of purposeful construction of space.
Regardless of how we feel about either the natural world or the virtual world, I think it's safe to say that most of our students travel in both worlds. So, in order to be relevant to their lives, we need to exist in both as well. I'm still struggling to find out how to do this best, but I rest assured that there isn't "one" answer.
Like most of what we do, we have to get to the students' level, and understand their personal needs. Students need a voice, students need to feel empowered to achieve their personal best. This means we need to create these spaces, with intent, to enable them to share their thoughts and ideas.
I want to do this more with environmental education. I've been talking to @rangerridley about sharing class blogs, but first I need to establish them with my students, and get them recording their feelings and emotions regarding the outdoors. I'm really thankful for iPads at times like this. They are easy to take outside, take photos, record thoughts, share their learning visibly (thanks Nicki Hambleton) and then make connections. I want them to use the virtual world to take action for the natural world.
More than that, I want people to realize there is no "real" world and that we have to work as a group to define how we can do the best for our shared world. Using the internet as a tool, means we can collaborate without travelling, meaningfully and with a purpose.
Anyway, I can't wait to go back next year.
The big take away is purposefully create spaces for authentic conversations. Thanks to @paulaguinto for the wonderful moderation and all my fellow discussers for delving deep into this topic.
I get fairly concerned about the "real" world. I mean, what is this? How do we talk about it? After years of a masters program deconstructing myself, I really wonder, what is real?
I think often as educators we dismiss the virtual world as not real. Especially as an environmental educator I wonder how we can have students fully enriched in outdoor education while still using technology. Throughout the discussion I was constantly reminded of purposeful construction of space.
Regardless of how we feel about either the natural world or the virtual world, I think it's safe to say that most of our students travel in both worlds. So, in order to be relevant to their lives, we need to exist in both as well. I'm still struggling to find out how to do this best, but I rest assured that there isn't "one" answer.
Like most of what we do, we have to get to the students' level, and understand their personal needs. Students need a voice, students need to feel empowered to achieve their personal best. This means we need to create these spaces, with intent, to enable them to share their thoughts and ideas.
I want to do this more with environmental education. I've been talking to @rangerridley about sharing class blogs, but first I need to establish them with my students, and get them recording their feelings and emotions regarding the outdoors. I'm really thankful for iPads at times like this. They are easy to take outside, take photos, record thoughts, share their learning visibly (thanks Nicki Hambleton) and then make connections. I want them to use the virtual world to take action for the natural world.
More than that, I want people to realize there is no "real" world and that we have to work as a group to define how we can do the best for our shared world. Using the internet as a tool, means we can collaborate without travelling, meaningfully and with a purpose.
Anyway, I can't wait to go back next year.
Tuesday, 1 October 2013
Conservation Photography
I've been thinking a lot about how to incorporate the iPad into environmental education. I've talked with others (and I think here) about using the iPad to record images of reflective spaces or magic spots. Taking the idea from Payne and Wattchow and linking the iPad to take photos made me think that you could make your magic spot visible. You could see how things have changed and reflect on the change either in your magic spot, or back in class.
For over two years I've known my friend Neil has been into the idea of conservation photography, but haven't made the connection.
He uses photography to highlight the importance of conserving our environment. Taking action happens in many different forms as an environmentalist. Neil chooses to create awareness and share his passion through writing and photos.
For over two years I've known my friend Neil has been into the idea of conservation photography, but haven't made the connection.
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| Copyright Neil Ever Osborne - used with permission |
I wonder how we can use this as educators. Can we engage students on a similar project, take photos of what inspires them and what they want to keep safe. By having students share their passions through images, we can help shape the future of how we view the environment.
What I'm looking for now is how people are using iPads to take photos. What media are students creating to help our world? Help me out please, and check out Neil's website http://www.neileverosborne.com/
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