REENFORCING OLD SKILLS AND TEACHING NEW ONES PRACTICALLY IN MY CLASSROOM

For a while, I have been writing on the need for teachers to be in tune with technogical trends because it stands as one of the key tools to being outstanding in the 21st century. Some may begin to say that in the past, they were taught by very good teachers and still did exceptionally in examinations.

Furthermore,there are extremely brilliant teachers who still teach without technology, they can boast of teaching students who have gotten scholarships and exceptional results. So, what's the fuss about technology?

The world is definitely running at a pace so fast that all we keep doing is to try and catch up. You know what? Technology stands right at the centre of this and it automatically affects every sphere of life, includng you and your classroom.

Africans are generally known for their large appetite for inventions from the western world. We are heavy users of technology  and the children we teach are not left out. Here's my thought, we need to be smart enough to begin to teach our chldren that they can also become creators/inventors/innovators.

I am privleged to have a classroom where children can bring in their devices for learning. So, a thought came to my mind as they were about to embark on their termly project. These are mostly eight year olds who had been using their laptops for only a few weeks. 

"Listen up everyone, we are starting our project today and would be using Microsoft PowerPoint." I quickly connected my computer to the projector and began to show them how to create slides, install page designs, insert pictures and symbols,draw tables, add animation, time their slides and finally do a voice over - all these happened in 10 minutes. It was a spontaneous decision and I was eager to see how everything would turn out.

A few hours passed and everyone was actively engaged, excitement filled the air and I am guessng it was first because it was a totally new experience for them in my class. You cannot imagine the pleasure I felt when I saw them taking turns to input data, how arguementative some groups were and how quiet others were. Mind you, I was not expecting a perfect job but trying to develop new skills(creativity in technology) and strenthen old ones(collaboration).

I scaffolded minimally and encouraged group members to remind each other of the steps they needed to take. At the end, I was pleased with the outcome everyone did the major things except for a group. The group felt really bad that they couldn't get to do their voice over like the others. The group leader had made herself a boss over them and refused to do what others suggested. Continuously, I intervened and made them aware that time was running out but sadly they still could not meet up.I ceased the golden opportunity to explain to the pupils how impportant teamwork is and what the lack of it could cause. That learning cannot be forgotten in a hurry.

There's no doubt that there's a transformation going on in my classroom, yours can be so too. 

Note 

This work was randomly picked from all the submitted presentations.

Consent was duly given by parents of the children whose  names and voices  are featured in the video above. 

Collaboration 1 #doingitright

When it comes to tasks in class, every child has a role to play.

Always make sure you understand every child and assign responsibilities to them according to their strengths.

That way, teamwork will be better understood.

Always emphasize the fact that they need one another to make the task a success.

#teaching
#teacheridara
#education #educationng #teamworkmakesthedreamwork #pupils #tasks#instadaily #lagos #nigerianschools #africa

Teacher's Truth Series 4

Teacher's Truth Series 3

THE TECH TEACHER

BANG! BANG! BANG! The beginning of beginnings was like a big bang on my head. I had sponsored myself to a camp in the United Kingdom just after finishing one in Nigeria. I really wanted to learn more, how to train girls, the camp was a blast. I met women and girls of different professions from several countries, including Singapore. There were so many new things to learn and I told myself that every holiday was going to be a new learning experience. I was full of excitement which was soon cut short by this monstrous thought of mine ‘How much time and money do I have?’

Time and Money stood tall before me like raging demons but as you ought to know, there’s no hindrance to one who is set to achieve, every problem has a solution. I knew I couldn’t spend every dime of my ‘newbie pay status’ to give myself the amount of training and exposure I desired. One day, on my way back from work, I bought a Visafone modem; I believed that the internet could solve the problem.

SO MUCH INFORMATION FOR FREE!!!  I read something everyday, asking questions and getting answers for free. My search was vast, learning how to teach certain subjects, topics and then getting appropriate resources for my lessons. Before this time, I would spend hours creating my slides not knowing some of them were available for free online. Teaching started becoming a lot more fun and nobody needed to tell me I had become a better teacher, I knew it.

In 2013, I had advanced so much that I wanted to share my own resources to other teachers online. I visited some websites and felt so happy that I had become so resourceful. Just recently, a colleague that I respect a lot showed me some platforms where his work had been downloaded more than a hundred times. This is a vital topic I would love to share very soon because it alarms me to know that some teachers would rather keep their resources than share even in their local school community. Such teacher already shows that he /she lacks a very vital 21^st century skill that he /she is supposed to pass to the students he/she teaches.

I joined an online based academy in 2013, European Schoolnet Academy, I learnt new things. I participated in a number of their courses (free) of interest to me and for the first time, I understood what collaboration really meant in practical terms. From that platform, I discovered a website that changed the face of teaching Spelling in my classroom. There’s so much information out there, sitting in the comfort of your classroom and school makes you a very local champion. When you sincerely begin the quest for knowledge and development, you will admit that you don’t know enough.

The skills (critical thinking, problem solving, creativity...)our students need to become outstandimg individuals transcends academic prowess and morals. Do you even know about these skills? Do you know how they can be incorporated into your daily lessons? These skills are not to be recited to the students, the teacher must understand them, own them and then disseminate tactically. There’s so much to say on different things we must do to improve on our present status, we will take them one at a time in upcoming posts.

  

Summary

• Understand your present status
• Admit your weaknesses
• Seek help by researchng online
• Collaborate with your colleagues(you are not limited by the school you work in)
• Learn to share and receive resources, you would be shocked that there are better resources than yours all over
• Join educational communities ( Google has alot)
• You can use Google Drive to preserve your files forever 
• Practise the things you learn, don't just be a recipient
• Learn new trends in technology, you can't run away from it.

Teacher's Truth Series 2

This is a really tough one considering our personal strengths and weaknesses which could even be the product of our backgrounds.

One thing I know is that  being a teacher is a growing process,we should be unwavering in our quest for perfection. I always take a peep back at when I started teaching;it's a long way from where I am right now. The little baby steps have walked a pretty long way.

Remember the popular saying ' It's tiny drops that make a mighty ocean.' However, the journey never ends.

Teacher's Truth Series