Category: EdTech Inquiry

Tech Inquiry – CAI Benefits and Challenges

Today Jessica, Jess, Madi, and I presented our research. We created a source for our class that they are able to access here. 

Before putting the research together, I looked into the benefits and challenges of Computer-Assisted Instructions. CAI allows for self-paced learning. Learners can move as slowly or as quickly as they like through a program; they can repeat some task or review material, as well as skip over topics if the information is already known, making the learning process more efficient. CAI is also self-directed. Learners can decide what they want to learn and in what order they want to learn it. Every student has a different learning style and uses different strategies. When learners can use strategies that suit them, and improvements in the effectiveness of the learning process normally ensue. When students are able to direct their own learning motivation is increased and their autonomy in their learning strengthens. CAI exercises various senses; humans are multi-sensory animals and the more senses through which we receive information, the easier it is to remember class material. Computers have the ability to exercise various senses and present information in a variety of ways.

There are also a few challenges of CAI that I came across. Computer programs can be overwhelming for students. They are left on their own with information and recourses available, and if not properly guided through the programs, they can become overwhelmed. There is also a tendency to use multimedia “gimmicks”. Teachers need to pay attention to current theories and resources, and ensure that they are benefiting their learners, and not just acting as a distraction. Meaningful multimedia practices are possible, but more work. In addition, malfunctioning equipment can waste time and become frustrating for both teachers and students, leading them to give up faster.

EdTech Inquiry – Further Research

This week I have been working hard on researching my topic. Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) is the use of computers to provide and enhance instruction in the classroom. CAI can rand from simple programs to teach typing to a complex system that uses the latest technology to teach new keyhole surgery techniques.

Through my research, I found that CAI can help all students in and outside of the classroom. In terms of students with disabilities, CAI helps students with physical and learning disabilities, as well as deaf students.

Compared to the other assisted technologies that my other group members researched, CAI is one of the cheaper options of incorporating software in the classroom. Students and teachers find that CAI, especially in terms of educational games, are fairly accessible. Where text-to-speech and speech-to-text are typically over a couple of hundred dollars per student, CAI programs are sometimes free, and far easier to find.

There are two basic types of CAI: tutor and tool. Tutoring is split into four different categories: Drill and practice, tutorials, simulations, and games. Drill and practice use the behaviourist model where the repeated practice is focused on lower-level cognitive skills. Drill and Practice are typically frowned upon as it follows the old school models, and is not adaptable. Tutorials are the most common type of tutor in elementary school. Tutorials allow students to practice different skills and assess their learning. Simulations are not usually seen within schools as it is used for working with real-life tools, such as training to be a pilot or surgeon. Games are one of the most motivating for younger students. They incorporate and competitive element with other students and reinforces the knowledge that the learner is assumed to already have. The second category of tools enhances the teaching process, usually by focusing on one particular learning task and aims to improve it. Tools could look like highlighting different math symbols or bolding important terms.

Next, I am going to look into the positive and negative effects of CAI.

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EdTech Inquiry – Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI)

This week our group determined who was going to present what information in our presentation. There is a multitude of technology to assist students with disabilities in the classroom, and everyone is the group was fairly passionate about a few. We decided to focus on SMARTBoards, Text-to-Speech and Speech-to-Text software, as well as Computer Assisted Instruction. While doing research for my seminar inquiry, I came across Computer Assisted Instruction. My inquiry is on how teachers and schools can adapt classroom in order to better support students with ADHD. Computer Assisted Instruction is beneficial for students with ADHD because it is stimulating, gives immediate feedback, and can allow students to adjust what information they are recieving, and how they can recieve it. I am looking forward to going more indepth and finding out what other disabilities CAI targets, and the benefits and challenges that come along with it.

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Vegan Potato Curry

Tonight I made some Vegan Potato Curry. I looked up some recipes on Pinterest for some curries that looked relatively easy. Its definitely starting to feel like winter is coming already, and I thought that some warm-comfort food would be a great idea.

I took a much better picture of my food this time, and I am pretty happy with the results.

Through doing this recipe, and given the fact turned out so well, I have started to wonder how many vegan/vegetarian meals I could make throughout this Inquiry Project. Although I don’t think that I will be able to make all of the recipes veggie, I think it would be an exciting thing to try and get more comfortable with some recipes that are better for the planet.

Below are some adjustments and tips n tricks that I learned through the night.

  • Start off with boiling potatoes
    • Peel potatoes
    • Cut into cubes
    • Boil for 15 minutes
  • Then cut the onion
    • Leaned how to cut an onion properly and with more precision
    • Messy and crying, but best I’ve done it
  • Then put the onion in a pre-heated pan
  • Put together all of the spices while you are waiting on the onions (which need to be stirred every two minutes so that they cook evenly)
    • Pretty much double all of the spices except for cyan because I can’t handle too much spice
    • Rae always adds garlic and onion powder to add a little extra flavor
    • And turmeric for extra color and health benefits
  • Add minced garlic to the onions in the pan
    • Learned to carefully crush the garlic to get the skin off of it
  • Add spices and coat the onion and garlic in the mixture
  • Next, I learned how to peel ginger with a spoon and grate it
    • Add this to the pan
  • Add a can of chickpeas and a can of diced tomatoes
    • You want to squish to tomatoes before adding them to the pan to help them absorb more flavor
  • Strain the potatoes and rinse with cold water
    • You always want to rinse starches with cold water because it helps them stick to the pan less
  • Add in frozen peas and currents
  • Added in coconut milk earlier than normal because the ingredients were looking a little dry
  • Learned how to make real rice (and not 5 minutes rice)
    • Rinse the rice
    • 2 cups of rice and slightly less than 4 cups of water
    • Let the rice boil, stir, and move to a cooler element (low) and leave for 20 minutes

Fish Tacos – Breading Fish

Today I embarked on learning how to bread fish… and make fish tacos! I usually make pretty simple tacos with veggie meat that is pre-seasoned, but today I thought I would try something new. I found the process far easier than expected, and they ended up tasting amazing. My partner walked me through the steps of breading fish and taught me how to fry it as well.

Below is the recipe that she taught me, with some tips and tricks on the side.

I found that I liked writing out the steps in point form because I know it will help me in the future when trying to recreate this recipe. I also don’t have any pictures of the tacos because the ones that I took are quite awful. That is another thing I am hoping to add to my repertoire, how to take some more appetizing pictures of my creations.

BREADING THE FISH

  • Start out with getting the pan nice and hot
    • Set at medium so that it cooks all the way through, and not just the outside
      • What happens when its too hot
    • Set oven to 170 in order to keep fish warm while getting everything else ready
  • Set up station of eggs –> flour —> panko
    • As soon as the fish is breaded you want it going into the pan so that the breading doesn’t get soggy from the eggs
    • Two eggs
      • Wisk eggs together in order to mix the whites and yolks together
    • Add spices to the flour (sticks best to the fish)
      • Garlic powder, pepper, salt, paprika
      • Wisk them together
  • Right before breading, you want to heat the oil in the pan
    • And you know the pan is hot enough for oil if you put a tiny bit of water in your hands and flick it in the pan and it sizzles
  • Dip the fish into the egg, and then the flour
    • Make sure the flour is covering completely
    • Then back into the egg and then into the panko
    • And then into the pan
  • Fish is ready to flip when it is golden brown around the edges
    • Fish will feel a lot more firm and then you know that it is completely ready
  • You don’t want to overcrowd the pan because it gets too steamy and it makes the breading on the outside soggy instead of crispy

SAUCE

  • Juice two limes
  • Sprinkle of garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup dollops of sour cream
  • 4 tbl spoons decent squirt of mayo
  • A tsp of siracha
  • Wisk together

RANDOM OTHER ASPECTS

  • Red peppers
  • Avocado
  • Lettuce/coleslaw depending on your preference
  • A little bit of fetta

 

 

 

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Introduction – Technology Adaptations for Children with Learning Disabilities

For our Educational Technology Class, we have been tasked with creating an Inquiry Project related to Technology use in an Educational context. We have been put into groups to work on this, and will therefore be collaborating, researching, and posting together! Our group is, Madi, Jess, Kayleigh, and Jessica. We will each be taking on different aspects and responsibilities of the project, but will be amalgamating our research and learning together to create joint weekly blog posts, which you can follow along with on any of our individual blogs:

http://jessoneducation.opened.ca

http://madibains.opened.ca

http://jessicaludwig.opened.ca

http://kayleighdawn.opened.ca

We will be collaborating on this project throughout the semester. We have chosen to focus on how technology can be utilized in the classroom to make adaptations for children with learning disabilities. We will work together to explore and research this topic, which will culminate at the end of the semester as a presentation to the rest of our class.

We look forward to sharing our learning with you,

-Jess, Madi, Kayleigh, and Jessica

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Free Inquiry

When this project was first introduced I was feeling both excited and nervous for the opportunity to create my own learning process. I have grown up in an education system that is full of set guidelines and rubrics. I have always been a perfectionist, and although this system gave me a lot of anxiety, it also gave me a lot of structure, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Having so many classes this semester with inquiry based projects has proven to be a challenge, as I am not the most self motivated person. In addition to the struggle of multiple projects and assignments to keep track of, I am not even close to being a technologically savvy person. We have been assigned multiple TedTalks, documentaries, and YouTube videos to watch about the growth mindset, and how inquiry based projects are wonderful ways for children to learn, I am definitely trying to keep an open mind about how I will succeed this semester.

I have had a lot of difficulty coming to a decision of what I want to do for this assignment. Although I am passionate about photography, I only have access to a film camera. The process of buying and developing film takes both a lot of time, and money. I was trying to think of something that would be interesting and also make a positive impact in my life, and I have settled on cooking. I am not the best cook, and if I am cooking for myself my plate is typically a brown buffet: pasta with butter, rice with soy sauce… you get the gist. My partner on the other hand is an incredible cook and very creative in the kitchen. Given the fact that she is always the one cooking, I end up with the task of doing the dishes. I thought that for a change I would like to learn how to cook for her, as well as get out of doing the dishes multiple times a day. Though cooking is something I get a lot of anxiety doing (I don’t like being bad at things), I am excited to try and see what I can learn and bring to the kitchen.

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