education | technology | ai & NOT A.I. | design | ICT-DESIGN.ORG | AI | DR. THOMAS JOHNSON

Does Hands-up Damage Classrooms?

Great post!

I just worry here: “There should be no place to hide for kids that are unwilling or presently unable to engage in their learning.”

What if the student is emotionally not ready to participate for reasons unknown to the teacher? For example, I remember watching a movie, years ago in teachers college, where a student was not participating in class, but was still coming to school. What the teacher did not know was that he was going home every day to a mother and sole caregiver who had died and was still in his home.

This is an extreme case.

But I think of myself as the student. On certain days, I do not want to be called on and I am not emotionally ready; Maybe I was dealt bad news, maybe I am extremely tired and not ready to engage, maybe there is some other emotional reason that I have.

In any case, I offer this solution:
An adaptation to popsicle stick – with a check-in method where students walk into class and and if they cannot participate they can take their popsicle stick out and put it in the “stop” or “please don’t call upon” holder.

If the educator notices a trend in the move of the popsicle stick, they can have a conversation with the student about why or refer them to a counsellor. It could be a win/win for educator and learner.

Education Rickshaw

I recently watched BBC’s Classroom Experiment with Dylan William (YouTube video above). While the program is interesting on so many levels, I was especially drawn to William’s first intervention that effectively bans hand-raising from the classrooms he works with, and replaces the practice with popsicle sticks. You can also read more about it in, “Where Hands-Up In Class is Banned”.

While watching the segment on hands-up (from about 5:20 – 16:16), I jotted down notes about my beliefs on student engagement and participation. I think they’re pretty standard:

Every child deserves a level playing field that is not dominated by those that demand the teacher’s attention.
- Students that monopolize the conversation need to give way for participation from other students.
Teachers need to hear from students that do not participate.
- There should be no place to hide for kids that are unwilling or presently unable to engage…

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Posted by Dr. Thomas Johnson | ict-design.org on March 9, 2018 in Technology

Developments in Tech / Education

29 Sep

Some important developments in technology and education include:

The growing use of educational technology in classrooms and its impact on student learning and teacher practices
The rise of online and blended learning, with a growing number of schools and universities offering online courses
The use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in education for immersive learning experiences
- AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) are both technologies that use computer-generated images to enhance or replace a user’s physical reality. However, they differ in the way they present this information to the user.
- AR adds virtual elements to a user’s physical environment. This can be done through a smartphone camera, for example, which displays information or images on top of the user’s real-world view. AR is often used for navigation, product visualization, and gaming.
- VR, on the other hand, replaces the user’s physical environment entirely with a computer-generated environment. This is typically done with a headset that covers the user’s eyes and ears, immersing them in a completely artificial world. VR is often used for gaming, simulation, and training purposes.
- In summary, AR enhances reality while VR replaces it.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, including the use of AI-powered tutoring systems and personalized learning
- Personalized learning: AI was being used to personalize learning experiences for students based on their individual needs and abilities. This could involve customized lesson plans, assessments, and feedback.
- Intelligent tutoring systems: AI was being used to create interactive tutoring systems that could provide students with real-time feedback and support. These systems could adapt to a student’s learning pace and style, and provide personalized guidance.
- Adaptive testing: AI was being used to create adaptive testing systems that could adapt to a student’s abilities and provide more challenging or easier questions as needed.
- Chatbots: AI-powered chatbots were being used in education to provide students with quick and accessible answers to their questions.
The growing concern over student data privacy and security in the digital age, and the need for schools to have appropriate policies in place to protect this data

Overall, technology and education have been rapidly advancing and becoming increasingly integrated in this field. The focus has been on using technology to improve the student learning experience, while also ensuring the safety and security of student data.

PODCAST: #RunYourLife

23 Jun

13495163_10157116396435445_2761635682743991100_n This is my first-ever Podcast experience. Andy Vasily, an educational consultant, co-author with me, former colleague, and friend of mine involved me in this. At first, I was leery, nervous even, but Andy made me feel at ease with his questioning and banter.

The range of conversation covers ideas about: perspective and cognitive dissonance; rethinking SAMR; differentiation and personalisation; reframing educational experiences; blended learning; findings from John Hattie, Richard E. Clark, Seth Godin, and others; and even God.

Find out for yourself why I might even Podcast again, if asked in the far-off future:
http://21clradio.com/?powerpress_embed=2629-podcast&powerpress_player=mediaelement-audio

Design and Presentation Checklist

20 Apr

Screen Shot 2016-04-21 at 12.30.50 PM I have seen too many mishaps and boring presentations. Because of this, I decided to make a checklist that can be freely shared to help those who might be getting ready for their presentation. Find it below as a PDF and .Doc: