Keepy-Uppy with your formative assessments!

 Active learning as a whole: 

As Bandit would say, "active learning is the bee's knees!" (typical Aussie dad moment), Not only is active learning fun, but it also helps kids (and adults) stay engaged and interested in what they're learning!

Just like playing a game of "keepy-uppy," active learning keeps your brain bouncing and your curiosity piqued. Plus, it's a great way to practice teamwork and communication, just like Bluey and her friends do when they play together. The show altogether has many keen examples of what it means to be actively learning! So next time you're feeling bored with traditional learning methods, channel your inner Bluey and get active!

Formative Assessments:

Formative assessments are like checkpoints in a learning journey that help both learners and teachers gauge their progress and adjust their approach if needed. These assessments provide valuable feedback to learners about what they're doing well and where they need to improve, helping them stay on track toward their learning goals. Additionally, formative assessments give teachers insight into how well their teaching methods are working, so they can make adjustments and provide more targeted support where necessary. As Bluey's teacher Calypso would say, "a little check-in can make a big difference!" By incorporating formative assessments within a lesson, learners can feel more confident and motivated, while teachers can ensure they're meeting the needs of each student.

For some more learning entertainment, Here is an episode that features a classroom setting where formative assessment and active learning is used :)

https://www.bluey.tv/watch/season-1/calypso/

Technology is so cool noh?

 Assistive Technologies

Assistive and adaptive technologies are actually SUPER COOL. The other day we had a professor who teaches computer science here about how they've created certain assistive technologies to help blind people navigate difficult and changing terrains with the assistance of sound, and I was BLOWN away by his research and creativity and how much it has helped. What became the most interesting aspect of it is that this Professor, who has a Ph.D. also is highly dyslexic. So in figuring out how he overcame his challenges, He talked about the most beneficial Assisting technologies which included text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and AI chat boxes that allowed him to put in the jumbled information that he cannot physically process and produce an entire dissertation that revolutionized assistive technology for blind people. It helped me reflect on the times I've had to use adapting and assisting technologies in my work, which I realized, I use it every day! Microsoft Word's spell check and Chat GPT have been some of the most helpful tools for me to gather thoughts together. Heck, I've been using Grammarly just so that this blog post makes sense! 

In the future...

I envision myself using these aids more sparingly than expressively. I am one that wants to see the limits of students and how far they can go before they need help. Once they are at their limits, I think that is when I would start to introduce the aids and tools. If any students in my class are struggling more than others, I will help and provide such assistance to the class. Likewise, I plan to personally use these aids that I've used in the past, to continue supporting my lesson planning, and preparation to teach students. 

Sometimes assistive technologies are effective. Here is a really fun and short Bluey episode that I think is the perfect example of how assistive technologies can sometimes not work 

https://www.bluey.tv/watch/season-3/explorers/

Personal Thoughts on the Pandemic and Multimedia theory

I'm taking this moment to breathe and talk about my experience with education through the pandemic because it was weird and, for me, a little too lax. My first semester was at Northern Arizona University, which was literally... wack. Because life was online for nearly all of my classes, I could work an overnight job at the local gas station where I worked, then just log onto the class, turn my camera off, and sleep... The classes flew by, and it didn't feel like I was in college. I was just at home or work, with the occasional online meeting where I completed assignments online and just sent pictures for my professor to grade.

Transferring to BYUH, my first 2 semesters were still online learning. Still, thankfully I had some in-person learning because of our isolated location on the island and the strict safety guidelines that our university followed to ensure that we were always safe no matter where we went. Even though it was only 2 of my 6 classes those semesters, I noticed a significant improvement in my academic learning (not just grades, which were the same consistently) where I could retain more information. 

Multimedia Theory

Multimedia theory is one of the un-tested theories that prove to be *Not false based on ethics and logic. It makes sense. from a psychological standpoint, memory works better when multiple factions of the brain are activated simultaneously instead of just one. This is where interaction works. When presenting information, have students search for the answers and engage all their senses when teaching by moving blocks, audio samples, moves, songs, and more. Guaranteed higher retention in learning and support to intrinsically motivate and incentivize students to do better, learn more and achieve goals. The best motive is to have an all-family pillow fight in the most spontaneous moments of presenting information in class. This is the most effective way to remember things you learn.

*I can't say that it's true, given it's a scientific theory, which only exists to prove what is false and not false, never what is true

Khan and Google Classroom

Khan Classrooms 

So I have one simple meme that I think works perfectly with how Khan is viewed by many educators:

https://www.tiktok.com/@jojo.chackal/video/7193442541138611462?_r=1&_t=8aLYSLjd7Gt 

Simply put, Khan made an outstanding program for self-guided learning for public use and domain. I appreciate his effort and those who donated to his program to give us the learning material we needed to understand the basics of many topics across the board. It can be confusing to navigate sometimes, and its material while going through each lesson can seem a little mundane to listen to the same style of teaching every time. Because of this, I think it is also important to use other material that is similar but also just as effective to teach. Programs such as Crash Course, Vi-Hart, and more on youtube and online (make sure they are authentic and credible) provide variety in how they teach the material to the general public and depending on the student, it could provide a better avenue for them. giving them options is ideal. 

GOogLe ClAssRooOMs

TBH I prefer canvas more than Google Classrooms. It might be more because I am just more used to using Canvas, but Google Classrooms seems less than a classroom and more of just a glorified google form. It's a little tacky, and unappealing in terms of creative structure, and navigation. BUT I will say, if you need a free platform to teach an unofficial classroom setting, (I.E. Non-Profit, or a simple public domain class) Then this is a really good option to teach. I would highly suggest it. I don't really have much more to talk about regarding google classrooms though. 

Off to go learn something new :) 

Credibility and Importance in web-searching.

Contrary to popular belief, Kids are 
not the most reliable source, although they are fun!

 Often times....

we come upon a super fancy, fun link that takes us to learn some special and valuable information about literally... anything! The internet is really cool because of that (I can attest to it, I'm sometimes into that trap of internet consumerism that leads me to be on youtube for hours on end learning about the most random things). When navigating and making sure that sources are credible, I would focus on a few things just to make sure that things go well in the long run. 

What is the Websites Purpose? Is it Reliable?

If their purpose fits in your purpose, then BAM thats already a good start. Often times when we are researching things on the internet, it is for very specific purposes such as "why do giraffes have long necks" or "how come Bluey is such a good show?" Thankfully, Websites usually provide a generalized purpose in which not only would answers to your niche questions be found, but it also helps you find other unique answers that stick around the topic. so questions about animals, you can possibly find in a website like WildLife Magazine, or National Geographic, or PBS, who specialize in diverse but confounded topics. These are a way to understand and find credibility. I bring this up because sometimes when you find a source and they only have your one answer, or may not answer the question exactly, but go off on one subject or course of topic, then the source often leans more opinionated, and the purpose of the website may not genuinely lean correctly into your purpose for finding the answer through the internet. This is why I see value in websites that are well developed and provide multiple avenues, viewpoints, and credibility. 

Much like Chili, who's viewpoint is often
limited to that of her kids imaginations

  

Are the websites reliable?

Well, to make things easier, just refer back to my last question! To add on top of that, if the website is well updated through time, including updates, information like the author, editor, and publisher, then you can be guaranteed some more reliability in the source you are interested in. Is the website being updated with new information? we all know for a fact that in real essence of the scientific theory, nothing is proven to be true, only factors to be proven false. because of this, things that are perceived as facts and truth, sometimes are proven to be false over time! For example, we all accepted (including reliable sources on the internet) that stress can cause stomach ulcers! But when theorized and tested upon, it was proven to be false! The true data that came from multiple case studies from various doctors** that stress only is cause for very few stomach ulcers, and that most are actually bacterial infections that can be treated very easily with an already common antibiotic. 

**I learned this from Dr. Christine Lee, who shares this information on a reliable website run by the Cleveland Clinic: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-stress-give-you-an-ulcer/ ** 

WARNING ON AUTHENTICITY: 

Yes authenticity matters. you want work to be original and authentic always, after-all, cheaters cheat and presumably eat pumpkins raw. but also remember what authenticity means! Simply put, all you need to do is be True to your own personality, values, and spirit (Mind Tools Content Team). This doesn't always mean that the information is correct or true. Do not be deceived! 

I made a video for my next blog post.

 Here it is :)

You can put it at 1.5 bc I kinda just ramble on and let my ADHD roam. this will be the last time I do this tbh.

https://youtu.be/UcHyyrWhMzs

Did You Know that I'm in a Technology in Education Class?

I could talk about the personal and private things in my life, but I've reached a point where I don't want to do that. So... I'm not going to. 

Char lol

    Here are a few quick thoughts about Online Privacy and Cyberbullying. 

1. Cyberbullying is quite prevalent in the online world, and if you don't teach kids young about it, they will struggle with it both as the victim and the abuser. The best approach is simply to show them how to see it, understand that it is bad, and how to avoid, prevent, and speak out about it to *adults. 

*I say this with caution because adults sometimes do more damage and cyberbully kids than other kids. There have been multiple accounts in which parents, teachers, and other adults don't filter their words online, not realizing that when they post something indirectly on social media sites like FB or IG, most kids in the developed world can still see it. I highly suggest that adults of any kind, parents, teachers especially, and alike, should understand that their words online will be seen. There is a Digital footprint. It will never leave once you say it. Like the saying goes: "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all." 

2. Following my comment on adults not being aware of what they post, FERPA is a huge liability when discussing online privacy. Parents are okay to post pictures and faces and whatnot; of course, they are their kids and family. Going into the teaching field, even if you have the best stories in the world, make sure to leave boundaries between yourself and your work. This goes for kids too. I'll share a story of something that happened in the 10th grade that taught me a lot and also went on my record as the first and only time I got suspended, and for reasons that I realize are HILARIOUS now but really can be seen otherwise as dangerous. 

Long story short, I hated my English class. Homework in there sucked. Immature me went on Twitter and simply stated, "I hate this homework. It makes me want to *Female emoji* *Gun emoji*" a combination of emojis to express the desire to *un-alive* ones-self, which at the time, I legit wanted to do (but through other methods than *pew pews*, because I was afraid of *Skirt Squirt*s. But someone didn't interpret it that way. Rather, they saw the female emoji as my teacher, and me particularly shooting the *wah wah*. 

Yeah, I got suspended for 4 days. 

I learned my lesson. Be careful of what you say. Be cautious with your words. Kids and teachers should be very cautious, courteous, and mindful of their words. 

Sorry, no Gifs. I'm too tired to look. 

Bluey is still an awesome show.  

Here is an episode for you all to watch in the meantime: 

Actually... This show has an episode that talks about Bullying. 

Season 2, Episode 41. It's called Bin Night. 

Watch it on Disney plus :) 

besides that, You can watch this episode in the meantime :) 

https://www.bluey.tv/watch/season-3/fairytale/