Social Media as Science Communication

Social Media as Science Communication: The good, the bad, and the ugly. TLDR:  Science is complex and confusing if you’re not familiar with it. There are many social media accounts which share science information in an accessible way. Unfortunately, this knowledge can get changed in translation and incorrect information can get passed around instead. We…

Thiagi 35 Activity

Today I tried out a new formative assessment tool called the Thiagi 35 Activity with my level four general science and technologies classes. Let me begin by saying, if you're a teacher who likes quiet in the classroom, this activity is not for you. How it Went Students listened to my instructions with perplexed looks on…

QPAT – Formative Assesments

On November 24th, 2017, I attended the Quebec Provincial Association Of Teachers (QPAT) Conference where various workshops were being held to bring Quebec's teachers up to date on the latest and greatest techniques being used in the world of education. One of the workshops I attended was Empowering Learners Through Formative Assessment held by Natasha Bellows and…

White Privilege in an Educational Context

The Reading In a Global Education and Social Justice (EDEC 249) class (as well as in EDEC 262 course) I read White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh. The reading details the effects of white privilege McIntosh has observed in her own life, which she believes are relate-able. All the way throughout the reading, however, she is…

Auditory Learning in a Visual Classroom

The Reading In a Media, Technology and Education (EDEC 262) class, I uncovered a framework for teaching and learning called Universal Design for Learning. In short, this framework is about restructuring your classroom so that you offer many different ways for students to be able to engage in the classroom, to make sense of information and…

Embracing Individuality

The Reading In a Media, Technology and Education (EDEC 262) course, I read Gargia's (2002) Swimming against the mainstream: Examining cultural assumptions in the classroom. Gargia explored the struggles of being ethnic and its implications on educational practices. She stated that we as educators, instead of placing students into categories based on their races, “must focus on…

Collaborative Video Production

The Reading The study Video Production and Youth-Educator Collaboration by Michelle Stack explores the relationships between high school students and university professors and the impact when they are asked to collaborate on a public service announcement video clip production. One idea that really resonated with me in the study was that video production projects promote democratic pedagogy because "video…

Universal Design for Learning

The purpose of education has shifted away from content knowledge and towards the ultimate goal of "the mastery of the learning process," according to the Universal Design for Learning (UDL)'s website.  Education's goal is now to prepare students for lifelong learning. What is Universal Design for Learning?  UDL is a method of teaching and organizing your classroom to present…

Teaching Media Literacy – Lesson Plan Analysis

The Reading A style of goal-oriented teaching which has resonated with me was brought to my attention in Teaching Democracy: a Media Literacy Approach. The reading brought forth many interesting and creative ways to engage our students in democratic learning. I believe that it is the teacher's role to prepare student's for democratic life, and Teaching Democracy brought…