a taste of the Calgary Science School...

I think that Neil Stephenson's presentation was both interesting and motivating. I feel like he opened my eyes and introduced me to a different kind of inquiry that takes place within a school. His examples of his work and the magic that can take place in a classroom kept me engaged and intrigued as a future teacher...

"Lift the roof off of the school"

Neil used this phrase a few times during his presentation. His explanation, in my opinion, underlies the foundation of a wonderful school community. To lift the roof off of the school means to do whatever you can to open up to opportunity. It also means to share. Classroom discovery, inquiry documentation, presentations, workshops, connections, etc, are all things that "lift the roof off of the school". I realized how  important it is to keep connected to the education world and what it has to offer you. Exposing new ideas and sharing thoughts with other schools, teachers, etc. allows growth and to grow as an educational community is a beautiful thing.

YOUR ATTITUDE MATTERS---This is something that Neil spoke about and emphasized as something that is very important when it comes to inquiry. I realize that a positive attitude towards learning is necessary however the way in which he spoke about the teacher ALWAYS having the right attitude towards the topic content being taught excited me. Inquiry is a disposition. How you position yourself as a learner and how you bring your kids into a topic is what inquiry is all about.

**Inquiry needs to be LIVED out in the classroom...not just in the lesson. 

Guest Speakers on Jan 21st...what i learned...

Signing up for this Sips class was a great decision. I am not implying that I ever thought otherwise, I am simply saying that I am already learning a great deal and it is only two classes in.  The presenters on Friday taught me a great deal and brought up a lot of interesting topics and juicy conversation regarding technology.

I didn’t know a whole lot about GoogleDocs and what they had to offer. It’s my fault for not exploring them further because I have been missing out a great deal. This presentation opened my eyes to a new little world of exploration.  My work can be done in simple and interesting formats using GoogleDocs. I also didn’t know much about Google Earth. I can use this application for not only my benefit but for my students.  GoogleDocs is a great resource that I will now take into consideration when it comes to making projects and getting organized in and outside of the classroom.

Listening to what D’Arcy Norman had to say taught me quite a bit. His take on Digital Storytelling and Informal Learning opened my eyes up to what can actually take place in the classroom. Digital storytelling is such a fun way to either introduce a topic or further explore one in the classroom. I think that digital assignments are engaging and that students have a neat opportunity. Digital Storytelling and Informal Learning are going to be used to a great extent in our future classrooms. I was inspired when watching this presentation because it in someway pushed me to think outside the box and come up with creative ideas that revolve around digital learning and exploration.  

and so it begins.....

I have had the privilege of working and volunteering in a number of schools. After being in another school for my third semester of practicum, it really dawned on me; how different schools are from one another. Teachers, staff, students, and parents stand out the most, but what really caught my attention was the access and use of resources. I volunteered in a couple schools where the computer lab was practically a storage unit. I’ve also been in a school that purchased over 70 ipads over the summer for classroom use. HUH? I’ve compared the positives and negative list in terms of technology in the classroom and there is a fair argument. However, I want to be a teacher that is good at technology and loves to use it in the classroom. I think that I am a fast learner when it comes to technology (hopefully I didn’t speak too soon haha). I am familiar with both a pc and mac.  I get an odd kind of satisfaction when I accomplish something or educate myself on a computer. I think of technology as entertaining, practical and it gives me a feeling of security. I want to give my students the wonderful opportunity of exploring technology in their classroom. I am excited and confident to introduce technology into a classroom. I want to come to my class prepared with technology based lessons and activities that are not only intriguing but enriched with curriculum. I look forward to this new step in my educational career because I feel that learning about technology and inquiry in the classroom is taking one more step towards accomplishing my goal of being a great teacher.