Blog Post #4: Digital Media Final Project

Blog Post #4: Digital Media Final Project Ideas and Direction 

Currently, I would consider myself a techno-traditionalist. I use technology to store and create lesson plans, grade, access curriculum, communicate with families, and everyday school tasks. I am looking to push myself to the techno-constructivist level for this final project. I want to try to deepen my understanding of a digital platform that is both for me and for my students to engage with.

I am inspired by previous CURR 501 student work. Specifically, my initial ideas are stemming from the work of Allison (2019) with classroom community and Alina's (2021) work with identity/blogging. Allison showed a passion to reach the students in her classroom and showed a desire to let kids explore ideas of failure, growth mindset, and community. Alina's powerful story of her own highlights the importance of letting students share who they are in the classroom. Even though I am a science teacher, setting intentional SEL and moments for students to be personal is essential for building a positive classroom environment.

I found that this past year, while my relationships with students was a strongpoint of my classroom, there was still missed opportunities for social emotional learning moments when it comes to student-to-student interactions and the class community as a whole. Yes, I want students to link the science content they are learning directly to their lives and to engage with it. But more importantly, I want students to become more comfortable with conversating with one another and creating a community that will be remembered and be felt years after they leave my classroom. I want to foster growth and collaboration. The two inspirational projects are highlighting that I align with the belief of the importance of student's reflecting on who they are and how they can bring that to the classroom. As we keep referring to in class, teaching is a social and heart-based job.

Therefore, I am going to try to push myself to a techno-constructivist for this final project by creating something I can use to bring students closer together. I am thinking of picking a specific day of the week (probably a wed or a fri) to use this digital tool. This choice would be for feasibility of implementing this change into my classroom while still balancing normal science class items we need to focus on.

To put it more within the CURR 501 framework: 

What do I want to change? I want to provide time in-class for social emotional learning experiences instead of rushing to finish each lesson by the end of class.

What do I believe? I believe the best classrooms function off of social emotional learning because it can connect the classroom to make it feel more like a true community. This is where true learning and collaboration can occur and where the longer lasting learning opportunities remain.

What can I create using new media technology? This is where I am still drafting ideas and could use some help narrowing them down. I am considering using Padlet. While I have used it before in RIC classes and in TFA, I do not know the truth depth of how this can be used. I am wondering if this is a way I can create a class "blog" type of system where students answer SEL questions or a small journal prompt each morning as part of a warm-up routine. Some of these questions could tie in the science component too, and others would just be to open up opportunities to chat! Maybe a "Monday mindful moment"? If anyone knows any other apps that would be better, I am open to ideas.

I know I want to bring more community opportunities to my classroom for the 26-27 school year!