Category: EdTech (Page 2 of 3)

I have been thinking about the question Micheal posed about how to use audio to support learning. With the hectic pace of learners lives in the classroom along with increased proliferation of anxiety and non engaged classroom learners in the digital age, it would be beneficial to integrate simple mindfulness exercises to calm students at the beginning of class. Providing students with a moment to arrive in the classroom through a few short minutes of observing breath or their mind in silence can help to ground students in the space and facilitate learning.  Here are some resources to help develop a classroom mindfulness practice.

http://www.mindfulteachers.org/p/mindfulness-resources.html

https://www.etprofessional.com/10-mindfulness-activities-for-the-classroom

http://www.meditationinschools.org/resources/

I have also noticed relaxing music being played in the Impact room at Belmont where I am doing my practicum, this classroom has learners with learning exceptionalities and  different disabilities. The music seems to help the students feel relaxed and ready to learn. Creating focus through proper ambient music curation could also be of huge benefit to students. Here are some suggestions for calm grounding music.

https://rhucle.bandcamp.com/

https://mforsleep.bandcamp.com/music

https://mnemonic45.bandcamp.com/music

https://shop.poemme-ambient.com/

https://lucettebourdin.bandcamp.com/

Here is a wonderful resource I have chosen to provide antiracism resources and lesson plans specifically about Islamophobia. The lesson plans will help students explore and share multiple perspectives, while also demonstrating how toxic ideologies can harm inter-cultural harmony. The British Columbia Teacher’s Federation has listed many useful resources around this issue and has also provided two great lesson plans. By integrating these lesson plans students will be more aware of Islamophobia, this will help deconstruct assumptions about Islam and help students cultivate compassionate understanding in the classroom. With diverse immigration to Canada it is essential that learning environments and students are educated on Islamophobia because of racist misconceptions in various forms of media.

The two Islamophobia lesson plans are great resources to integrate into Humanities subjects especially as Social Justice 12 is now offered as a high school course. These resources are organized to be adaptable while also providing a solid framework for a lesson. The lessons will help students think about how stereotypes are manufactured and what they can do as critical thinkers and creators to dismantle them. With increasing overt racism in “Canada” and systemic racism such as Bill 21 in Quebec targeting Muslims, it is essential to raise awareness around Islamophobia so that Muslim students to feel safe from racism These lessons plans provide spaces for students to learn about Islam and to make sure that Muslim students are welcomed. The lesson plan is multimodal as well incorporating physical activity icebreakers, analyzing quotes, watching videos, engaging in deep conversations and writing as well as creating images or videos. This multimodal integrative approach allows students to think critically about information they receive about Islam and Muslims. The resource will also reflect the core competencies of communication, thinking and personal & social responsibility.

By the end of the lessons students will be able to make reasoned ethical judgements about a controversial topic and the role of personal responsibility. They will also be able to recognize and identify the role of personal, social and cultural contexts, values and perspectives in texts. These curricular competencies will be focused on along with writing and designing engaging texts to define Islamophobia which has no place within a socially just human family. These are useful lessons plans because they allow students to express themselves and learn new ideas in a safe environment that encourages sharing personal understandings to build healthy communities. These skills will be very useful for all youth’s interpersonal skills for future interactions, careers and creative passions.

Key understandings these lesson plans offer students are; understand stereotypes, how racist understandings can lead to discrimination and how without critical thinking stereotypes can influence perspectives. This lesson plan also offers a link to other broader social justice movements to show that if you are an antiracist, feminist, LGBTQ ally, environmental justice and believe in equality then you should also be an ally to various religious communities. Students will understand that to be an advocate for social justice they must support all these issues which have the potential to be united. This lesson plan offers a framework to link Islamophobia to other social justice issues as the climate crisis will lead to increasing immigration in a globalized world. Overall this resource also demonstrates the big idea of how social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems by awareness through education.

Here are the specific Islamophobia resources

https://www.bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=39278

And also a link to broader Antiracism resources

https://www.bctf.ca/SocialJustice.aspx?id=17632

The Film Most Likely To Succeed, offers positive insights into the benefits of multi-modal and cross-curricular styles instead of traditionally segregated subject learning. The new BC curriculum also encourages cross-curricular collaboration for collaborative multi-disciplinary learning. The potential to nurture higher level learning through these fresh approaches is positive if integrated appropriately. However, the film does not truly grapple with the failures of neoliberal capitalism as workers become increasingly disposable through globalization dynamics. The desire of employers to have inventive learners is evident with the film interviewing tech CEO’s from Google that emphasize the importance of creative and collaborative labour. I am concerned about the constant push for flexible skilled labour, that reflects the capitalist desire to create a cheaper workforce that is constantly competing for jobs. I do agree that engineering an education system supportive of inquiry and collaboration is wonderful, but business also thrives on having modern workers that are flexible and dynamic under increasing income inequality. There are enourmous educational benefits for this type of learning but I am concerned about the power of business to manipulate labour. I did appreciate that the film showed how the power of collaboration has the potential to subvert destructive global systems of profit driven capitalism. The showcasing of work through public exhibition shown in the film, is a great idea to empower students and create excitement around their educational process. The growth mindset fostered through more in depth projects also reflects the new BC curriculum that has the potential to encourage learner engagement. Overall I thought the film provided positive pathways for increased engagement in education dynamics for both students and teachers.