Innovative Learning Approaches and Digital StoryTelling

In this course I have learnt that I can transform my learners from being knowledgeable to being knowledge- able by engaging them using the technology and social media. I have learnt that learners need to be in charge of their own learning and do things themselves. They need to be engaged in order to do this. They need to collaborate and add to the existing knowledge. In order for them to become knowledge-able, they need to practice. They need to embrace real problems that they do not know the answers to. They need to be able to harness and leverage the relevant technology tools. They need to work collaboratively on tasks. They need to learn the art of critical thinking and go beyond just seeking meaning. I have learnt that through critical thinking and problem-solving the learners build knowledge.

 

Although the learners are addicted to social media they have not been using it for Educational purposes. I have learnt that introducing the social media as a tool for learning would be beneficial to the learners because they are already very interested in it  and would therefore be inspired to search and research on given topic. It would also make the lessons more interesting and take away the boredom that is exhibited in the traditional classrooms.

I have learnt that with innovative approaches to learning with technology, my role as a teacher  would change for the better. I would no longer be the giver but the partner.  I would be the guide to the learners as they explore, research, recreate and put together using technology. My task would be to ask the right questions, trust the children, and Set the goal high and let them reach for it.

I have learnt that Game-based learning is one of the best ways to teach because it brings fun into learning process. Games help the learners to increase their fluid knowledge which is used in problem solving.
I have learnt that technology can support other forms of learner engagement through; Adaptive methods, Transformational, Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analyzing, Evaluating and Transferring.
I have also learnt that Digital Storytelling  helps learners to develop critical thinking, report writing and media literacy.

Game-Based Learning

It has not been an easy task to design a game as a team bearing in mind that my team members belong to other subjects and we are in different locations, with different responsibilities and work load. Let alone the challenge of internet accessibility. Getting everyone to work at the task at the same time is like taking a horse to the well and forcing it to drink.   
Games are very exciting to play and each time I would fail a step I would become desperate not to fail the next number. The games keep you on edge and give you adrenaline rush as you strive to get everything right. Like in the kahoot game in the course, there were times when I just had to guess what the answer would be and at times I would get it right at times not. I felt the pressure to get all answers right.
Games are good at knowledge building as they force one to analyze and think critically before making a decision. It is equally important for learners to play as well as to create games because this boosts their creativity as well as their problem-solving skills. They even make the learners smarter because in most cases as they play there is maximum multi-tasking. ie They chat voice, chat text, operate character, manage short term objectives, manage long term objectives, and manage interrupts.
Game-based learning brings so much into the learning process. It brings;
·         fun and entertainment
·         passion and Motivation
·         engagement and involvement
·         Creativity
·         experiencing
·         interactive entertainment/Collaboration
·         Problem-solving skills
·         Decision-making
·         Research
·         Learner-centered
Ways in which games address curriculum standards;
·         maintaining a balance between fun and learning
·         Making academic content integral
·         planning the role of the learners and that of the teacher
·         not divorcing de-contextualized components from fictional content
Games can be integrated into the Literature subject through;
·         Quizzes
·         Word play/ Puzzles
·         Role play etc

Social Media as a Communication Tool for Learning

Social media are tools that allow people to share information. They depend on mobile and web based technologies to create interactive platforms.  Social media would be a good communication tool for learning especially twitter, Face Book and WhatsApp that seem to be the favorite of the students here at my school. It could help in the following ways;
·         For students to discuss questions or assignments given to them.
·         Teachers could post questions with hash-tags and the children answer directly to him/her and to each other.
·         There would be increased participation from the learners as it helps them to find their voice.
·         Students post their responses on in class readings and discuss aspects of a topic without so much as disrupting others who are reading.
·         Can be used to keep students up to date on tests and due dates.
·         It would give time to the students to discuss even outside class.

It is however, not without its pitfalls some of which include;

·         Addiction
·         thought fragmentation
·         distraction
·         suffocates face to face interaction
·         mindless banter
·         hinders critical thinking etc.
My learners have been using WhatsApp and FaceBook for chatting mostly, apart from a few who have used it for discussing assignments that have been given to them, sharing notes, playing brain teasing games and asking questions of what was studied at school in case one has been absent/ away from school.
I would use Facebook and WhatsApp for posting questions that learners can discuss collaboratively. I would also post images that they would have to analyse and interpret. WhatsApp would come in handy when it gets to video clips of literature text books.
The learners would have assignments to look for resources online and if they found a valuable one they would be tasked to tweet it to the group.