I chose to take a course on Integrating Technology in the Classroom because I was interested in learning about the different ways that technology can be used to enhance learning in a meaningful way. The Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework (discusses how educators use content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, technological knowledge and the interactions between these knowledges to successfully integrate technology into their teaching. This framework outlines how technology can be used to enhance learning, rather than as an “add-on” (Koehler & Mishra, 2009). We had the opportunity to experience virtual reality. In my opinion, the affordances ofthis technology within the classroom directly relates to the TPACK framework. Virtual reality (VR) provides educators with teaching opportunities that could not be reproduced in any other way. These tools allow students to visualize and experience content such as the inside of a cell or a location that would be either impossible or too expensive to regularly experience in class.
In class I used Google Cardboard and apps such as Google Expeditions and NYT VR (New York Times VR) to virtually explore the Acropolis in Athens, Greece and a redwood forest in Northern California. While exploring with these tools, I thought about ways that this technology could be used in a primary or junior class. Virtual Field Trips VR allows educators to bring their students on field trips to a number of destinations while remaining in the classroom. In addition, there are expeditions that students can take in virtual reality that allow students to experience past cultures. Visualizing Abstract Ideas VR can also be used to explore abstract ideas. Functions can be explored and manipulated in 3D. Students can enter into the human body similarly to how Ms. Frizzle’s class did in The Magic School Bus Inside the Human Body by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. There are many ways that virtual reality can be used in education, and as it becomes more popular and more affordable it will be easier to integrate into teaching and learning. References Koehler, M. & Mishra, P. (2009). What is Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK)?. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 9(1), 60-70. Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorBrittney Camus is a Teacher Candidate at the University of Ottawa. This blog discusses technology use in the classroom. ArchivesCategories |