Author: bharkin

Learning  about Ozobots was a cool experience for me as even thinking about coding is enough to make me want to run for the hills. Ozobots are an awesome way to introduce students to basic coding whether you are experienced with coding or not. It is a fun way for students to engage with problem solving by way of trial and error with immediate effects and feedback. The possibilities seem endless with these cute little bots. In one hour, we bowled with our bots, navigated a maze, and created our own tracks. In doing all these engaging activities, we had choice and were able to be creative with how our bots were moving around.

The thing I like most about the Ozobots is that they can used from K-7. In primary grades I would scaffold the skills needed to use the Ozobots across several lessons and in intermediate grades I would use the Ozobots in the beginning of a coding unit before moving on to using a website like Scratch or Tinkercad.

Sandra said something that really resonated with me and that was “don’t challenge kids by giving them the next grades work.” I think all too often kids are given harder work, rather than more interesting or creative tasks. Students who finish work quickly should not be punished with more or harder work to do, they need to be challenged in a more creative way and that’s why I think Sandra’s work with iPads is so interesting. Students are much more engaged in tasks when using technology and the iPads and apps used allow students to personalize their work in ways that paper and pencil may not easily allow. This technology is useful for students to both access learning and to demonstrate their learning. This technology is also beneficial to students on the other end of the spectrum; the students who are quite often seen as lazy or difficult. With iPads students who might not normally engage with classroom tasks are much more inclined to participate and even complete tasks when they are able to use technology.

I really found this presentation in line with Shelley Moore’s idea of bowling for the edges in order to hit all the pins in the middle.

Ian Landy spoke to us about e-portfolios and how they are customizable and personal ways of showing who you are as an educator. With the freedom to pick and choose what you showcase, potential employers can see what you would bring to the table.

E-portfolios can also be a great way to engage in reflection practices. They can be somewhere to keep all of your thoughts and ideas in one place that can be accessed anywhere, rather than holding on to paper artefacts that can be cumbersome, messy, and easily misplaced.

With the ability to personalize your e-portfolio and present yourself in your own way using photos and blogs, you can continually look back at what went well, or perhaps not so well, and take old ideas and make them new again. This timeline will show you, and others, how you’ve progressed and what is important to you as an educator.