EDC 665--Blog 8

Melissa asks: "In your ARP are your learners engaged in their learning? Why or Why not?"

According to dictionary.com engagement is defined as "to be busy or involved in." Being engaged in any learning activity is important because the student will understand the full meaning of the concept being taught. Students being engaged in the learning process will not only be able to actively guide their learning, and work collaboratively to solve technology missions.

Each class period is designed around a mission my students need to complete with teammates. The missions are student-centered and are discovery based, meaning that the students work together to learn the central concept for the day.

During the second meeting the students had a mission to work as a team (groups of 2-3) and operate a camera/video camera and perform various tasks. These tasks included deleting pictures/footage, zooming in and out, and using some other functions like taking pictures in black and white or sepia toned. Upon taking pictures and filming, the students needed to connect and watch their footage on a television and a computer. Very minimal instruction was done for these components, but an "expert" (the teacher) was always available if questions arose.

Over the course of the next few technology club meetings, the kids will be creating and designing their own videos and brochures of pictures they have taken throughout our city. It is my hopes that my students continue to learn through discovery. As the concepts have gotten harder, I can sense some frustration and I might need to have a mini-lesson on a particular concept, so they did not get discouraged.

In the end, I feel that my students have really been engaged in what they are working on in the technology club. I have a consistent turn out of club members and each meeting they come prepared to be challenged. My students love these challenges and are learning more about how these various technologies work, while having fun! I have had confirmation that my students are engaged when they tell their actual teachers what they have learned and show enthusiasm when doing so!