What we did in 40 minutes.....

If students of a mature age, some more than others, can accomplish what we did in 40 minutes then the opportunity for adolescent students is quite dumbfounding really. Our objective this week was, working groups, to select a ITD and apply to it to certain criteria. Much to Ellen's relief, I too have a great amount of respect and friendship with my fellow classmates so working in group is always a positive exercise. Upon completion we were to write this blog as a summary of that experience for that particular class.

To begin, it easy to see why Miriam has a reputation at the CQ University as a great lecturer and in conversation, a great person. There is always an open and honest approach to her pedagogy and her nature carry's no ego or judgment when dealing with the diversity in our group. Over the past 5 weeks I have seen the classroom develop into a relaxed, engaged and in a way honest environment with who we are (teacher in the making), what we are learning, who is teaching us, what our teacher knows and the desired outcomes in class, in the course and in life; refreshing really. And although that very teacher will be reading and marking this, this is not a suck up, brown nosing or teachers pet attempt as it is simply an observation and admiration. Reassuring, that although as teachers we grow, learn, develop and in many ways change, we can still be our true selves and be bloody good teachers

The class was put into groups, well it was supposed to be groups but Jack, Mac and Brodie obviously can handle their liquor ;). Instead Ellen and I were paired  (as were the others) and we selected PREZI, a mind mapping site that neither of us has had ever seen or used before that class. The lecturer gave a quick presentation into the course content then prepared us for the classes activity. We had approximately 40 minutes to experiment, design and present the efficiency, compatibility, diversity, accessibility and so on about this ITD called PREZI and how it could be applied to educating students. Make that 20 minutes as it took Ellen and I 20 minutes to get online, even when the lecturer gave us access to their computer it still wouldn't work. So a call was made to the IT department to get access to the course material, thankfully they have a vastly better understanding of technology then we did and we successfully got on line.

Once online Ellen and I took to this site like a duck to water, obviously it was new, so our interest was focused but on top of that it was easy to sign up and navigate. Like many of the tools we have engaged in, the idea that in 40 minutes we created a presentation based on that site is amazing, the site itself was outstanding with engaging in visualising the thinking process. It was refreshing to work in a group and get outside perspectives to ways of which would never of been discovered. The opportunity to present made for another angel of cognitive and creative thinking. Developing our skills to connect with an audience, understand our content and deliver it in a manner that made it interesting, informative and down right hilarious, cause Ellen and i are so funny. Don't laugh.

All in all the lecturers approach to this class was clever, creative and knowledgeable. Indeed she was using elements of Bloom's Taxonomy and every level of the SAMR. With the challenges of technology not working, students not being there, having to leave early ;) and even this blog's change was simply effortless. Highlighting the fact that with the right attitude, approach, understanding and effort and can have on your teaching.

Thank Mim