IWB- a weapon for education

Bringing Geography to the classroom have been made fitting for the subject. The easy access to maps , images have open the minds of our young learners.  It takes some time getting use to the IWB ( interactive white board) but when you get going , it is magic. Recently with the fishbowl classes the IWB was used to great effect, capturing the minds of the learners. Some of us found it tricky to use but within minutes we got the hang of it. Displaying maps, drawing , shading contour lines. Videos of earthquakes tsunamis. Your finger turning into a magic wand when touching the board.

I still wonder was it the white boards that made the geography classes interesting or the teachers? teachers still have to be prepared and use the whiteboard wisely. There was a case of one of the screens not working and the teacher didn't quite know what to do. So also have a back up plan.

How I will use the IWB , this IWB acronym does sound a bit like a weapon of mass destruction. Something they would say on the news " American soldiers have recovered all IWB from the enemy"  okay back to classroom. Using this in geography is quite straight forward , talking about a town you post a picture a map whatever, the trick comes with asking the right questions to guide the learners minds when looking at the IWB to let them feel they are in that image or map exploring that the secret to a great geography teacher.  Imagine a geography class where every students desk is a IWB that wil make geography interesting. 

Kairos - a propitious moment for decision or action.

"Blog 5: Consider Foley (2014) and Wills (2015) [SUNLearn] and meditate on the meaningful involvement of learners in your classroom."

Vision as a teacher is very important having expectation is important. You as teachers should lay the foundation for your learners to build on. Abby Wills, blog reminded me of the importance of vision. There was no stopping her trying new things to get Children involved in her classroom. She had a tog time no doubt, but as god leaders kept on going, her vision was there the energy now the only problem was the plan.

"As good ideas often do, this one landed like a ton of bricks -- it's the journey, not the destination."

Then with innovative thinking she turned a mundane routine task into a life lesson.

"KEEP THE FLOOR DRY, PLEASE" a simple instruction. Abby Wills realized  you have to take children out of their comfort zone you have to take yourself out of your comfort zone. Change the routine

"Novelty led to curiosity, mindful movement and peer cooperation."  Teaching the whole child, teaching life lesson is part of the job. Abby Wills created and environment of mindfulness and accountability. Life lessons that will aid these learners forever.

Abby Wills encapsulates what a effective pedagogue is , she has a pastoral view to teaching , every aspect is important even the way they walk into class and move tables. She also involved the min the process of learning a new habit , letting them write down the attitude with which they should do tasks. Activating their minds.

This simple task was made difficult with water bowls , leading to problem solving interactive classroom. I also noticed the time efficient attitude towards class trying to make every aspect of the class a learning opportunity even walking into class.
I actually think this Is a no brainer. Class is about the student. everything that happens is about him. We should ask why isn't the learner involved in everything in the class? The whole process of school should be a learning one. From the moment he or she steps on the school grounds a process of learning should happen. this will take innovative ideas. Leadership hard work and courage.


"The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things"- Ronald Reagan I think Abby Wills was successful when the learners realized they are responsible for their action. We all have influence in situations which makes us leaders , because leaders have influence. So teachers you are leaders, you don't have to be the best at everything get that thing that works for you and go flatout. Inspire, learn and teach.

constipation of the curriculum

Blog 4: Consider the Independent Project and Hamilton (2014). Argue the potential of tech-mediated self-directed distance learning.

What are we doing with schooling? It seems our schooling system is becoming  farce. Self-directed learning, you learn what you want to learn. This sounds amazing, studying History all day and reading? but wait can i teach myself to read and write? How about if our society doesn't pay you to study History? O wants vs needs.

What is tech mediated? using technology for learning. what really stands out for me is the self-directed.Can a child direct himself?  Well in a western society we want our learners ready for the world of work. Decades ago work was work hard labour for kids today, had to write stuff down not type it out on a tablet,  a world without computers, so in today society individualism and creativity is necessary to survive a few decades ago public service and patriotism. So Self-directed tech mediated is what the world requires, a global world requires people who are tech savvy.

So creating you own curriculum?  Where to start ? how to know what is basic needs writing reading ? Spelling and grammar. What are the basic needs? I could argue why learn spelling if I can google the spelling? What is important? So maybe the curriculum isn't that bad it is just given the wrong way. Inspiration and hunger. Words that come to mind when I see a KFC. But really now where is the inspiration to want to find the solution to a math problem?  I believe everyone is capable.It is just a matter of time. Maybe there shouldn't be a time limit to schooling. Who ever decided that at the age 18 you all will be ready for the world out there? Maybe the focus must shift to a lifelong hunger for learning? ( then I wonder if that is the purpose of school ? or are someone trying to keep us stupid?)

Aah I am reminded of the french revolution,  enlightenment and then revolution. I think maybe the same should happen a sort of enlightenment that hey wake up someone is taking away our hunger for learning. So back to the issue at hand self directed distance learning? what is that? the name says it all you direct yourself and the video on the independent project revealed staggering results of learners rediscovering their passion and self belief. Improved marks in subjects which is evidence enough that something is working. The school system is outdated a tool to oppress the masses but viva the educational digital pedagogy revolution. I belief the tech mediated self directed distance learning can change our society as we know it? No more robots human being actually discovering themselves again. i think this is what this is about discovering who you are and that you are capable of learning in your own unique way. If i learn maths the best under a tree playing with a rugby ball and you by playing tennis(examples) and we both get the answer then why put us in a box or classroom?

The geography of social media

Geography the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries. So when we consider this , o yes technology is must in geography for the sake of saving time. I really don't want to see what's on the other side of the earth traveling on a ship for 6 months, getting scurvy and what not. Then again those were the true explorers not happy with stories of other continents wanting to experience it for themselves. So overuse of technology can quench the first for adventure its the job of the teacher to just use the right amount of social media and technology to keep learners interested in exploring and experiencing the world.

So obviously taking photos of mountains rivers etc.. posting on Facebook creates interest in those places. I can try and describe the Caribbean to my class with my wild imagination, but a picture tells a thousand words so showing them the Caribbean on a screen does the talking far better than me.

Social media is also a field of study in geography. Studying the demographic of people owning phones etc.. So this makes social media in geography interesting. Social geography. Also my mind can't stop to wonder how easy social media has made communicating which makes exploring and mobilizing much easier.

But back to the classroom, sharing info, ideas and research in geography has become so easy through the use of social media which makes geographers lives much easier. Let's saying you are doing human geography about environment damage. You can drive see a landfill or whatever, quickly take a picture upload on social media, boom people become more aware of environmental issues. So social media in a sense took geography out of the classroom which is awesome.

Technology in geography can be used to take learners out of the classroom , to imagine to inspire them to actually go places. As teacher also have to be careful not to be overly reliant on technology.
It is my experience that the best geography teachers are the one who actually have first hand experience. So yet again a mixture of the old and the new would be perfect.

phenomenon of pedagogy

Pedagogy concerns itself with the instantaneous, momentary, vital exchange that takes place in order for learning to happen. Reading these post of decoding digital pedagogy can't help to think that these people are challenging a system of teaching. Almost like protesting , trying to be heard.

" "We are not ready to teach online"In a recent conversation with a friend, I found myself puzzled, and a bit troubled, when he expressed confusion about digital pedagogy. He said something to the extent of, “What’s the difference between digital pedagogy and teaching online? Aren’t all online teachers digital pedagogues?” "
I think digital pedagogy is such an uncontrollable phenomenon that certain individuals want nothing to do with it. Some individuals are pioneers, ready for a challenge to take on the status quo of teaching. I think digital pedagogy is such a new field that both teacher and student are learning when dealing with digital pedagogy.

i think digital pedagogy is movement summed up by the following words : "

Digital pedagogy is less about knowing and more a rampant process of unlearning, play, and rediscovery. So its almost a movement of rediscovering our inner child. To inquire to explore as some of our forefathers did. In a sense the world wide web is a new world that needs explorers like Da gama etc.

Digital peda"dodgy"

So there are your traditionalist who believe in stern discipline respect, bending the tree while it is young. This is the kind of citizen society required a view years or few decades ago as the world was a strange place full of danger lurking around every corner. War was not uncommon or conventional warfare was not uncommon, these days people attack a country and hide in another. So the education system prepared pupils for the world they would enter , men needed discipline and to respect authority because if the call of duty comes the young lads and ladies would be ready.

Then came the internet and multi-national corporations etc. War went from the battlefield to the web no more need for troops. We are in a information era. So this is were digital pedagogy comes in. The internet has more information than the teacher could ever be able to remember. So what is the role of the teacher then? I believe the teacher is there to make a disciple in a sense. To create environment of critical thinking, tapping into the potential of learners. To use the internet , twitter etc. to wage informational warfare in a sense. Core values still stay the same using these new technologies with integrity and respect for fellow man. So I believe the use of technology is necessary in the classroom, but not losing the core values of the past but enhancing them. We are still human being so the flipped classroom is good idea to get people interacting and sharing ideas , arguing , just learning plain people skills for when technology fails you. So to conclude I quote Albert Einstein "I fear the day that technology will surpass our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots."