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Category: EDCI 336 (Page 1 of 3)

This is a category for the EdTech course. Please add this category in addition to the relevant edtech assignment category(ies).

Inquiry Project- Week 10

Through these beginning stages of learning ASL, the biggest things I have learned are:

  1. That ASL has its own grammar
  2. Using your dominant vs non-dominant hand/arm matters

As of now, here is my list of ASL terms that I know!

  • Hi
  • My name is___
  • Eat
  • More
  • All done
  • Want
  • Water
  • Bathroom
  • Play
  • Toys
  • Ball
  • Help
  • Stop
  • Go
  • Wait
  • Yes
  • No
  • Please
  • Pencil
  • Question
  • Read
  • Quiet
  • Listen
  • Thank you
  • Mom
  • Dad
  • Grandma
  • Grandpa

Plus more! I also learned the whole alphabet- which I think has been very beneficial for when I do not know a specific sign.

Inquiry Project- Week 9

This week’s post was suggested to me by Michael! During our semester reflection meeting, he asked if I had found any text-to-sign resources, which I had not! Until that point, I had not even thought about it! Michael sent me this app called “Hand Talk” which I downloaded from the App Store.

Screen recording of the Hand Talk App translating “Hi my name is Mya”

This app allows you to type in a word or sentence and it animates the sign for you. You can also move the character so you can see the sign from different angles and slow the animation down. I am curious to know how accurate the app is. From my knowledge, it looks pretty reliable but my foundation is limited. This resource would be super beneficial in a pinch.

Class Reflection- Week 9

This week was our Tech Pod Presentations! It came up so quickly! The topics covered were Teacher Influencers, Technology to Promote Wellness and Learning, Movement Breaks, Assistive Technology, Gamification, and the Ethical Components of Technology and Screens. All of the groups had unique topics but they all seemed to tie together- meaning there were a lot of resources shared and ethical conversations had. Majority of the groups did podcasts, which is an easy form to share research and information with others. My group did a video as that made sense for our topic of movement break videos because it allowed us to demonstrate our resources.

For Elena, Tasia, Taiya, and Olivia, and I’s presentation, we highlighted how we communicated, the technology we used and the information our video covers. Using Google Docs, Google Slides, and WhatsApp allowed us to do majority of the work independently. Our meetings in person were mostly done to make sure we were all on the same page on the content and vision of our project. Communication via texting is great but it also leaves room for misinterpretations, which we experienced.

An action shot of our Tech Pod doing voiceovers for the video

I am very excited to go through the other group’s final projects and hear how the podcasts turned out!

Inquiry Project- Week 8

This week I took a look at some resources that can be put in classrooms to get kids curious about ASL.

This poster can be bought on Amazon but there are many sites that sell similar ones. I even saw some free ones for download on Teacher Pays Teachers! This could be put in a classroom to build curiosity and awareness.

I also found some flash cards that could be put in a classroom game area for students to explore! These flash cards have words and pictures so it will also help with vocabulary, reading, and spelling!

I had an idea that Bingo could be a fun way to learn ASL. The boards could have letters or other signs written down and the teacher does the sign so they have to recognize the sign!

Class Reflection- Week 8

This week we were joined by Tracy Humphrey and Kaori Lau (via Zoom) from the BC Ed Access Society which was very exciting for me. I am very passionate about disability inclusion and what that looks like in education right now. I am currently doing an inquiry project on it so the timing was great! BC Ed Access serves families of students with disabilities and complex learners across BC. The volunteer-ran organization uses a private discussion board to illustrate the daily challenges that family’s encounter while constantly advocating and fighting for equity in BC education.

They started the presentation by doing an activity using pieces of paper. Some students received either pink, orange, or green paper, while others did not receive any. Each colour represented a level of inclusion (ex: pink paper meant you were allowed to be present for the entire lesson, while students who did not get a paper were not allowed to attend). This exercise got people thinking about how they felt based on their level of inclusion. It was a very powerful exercise to get the class to open their mindset and microscopically begin to understand what some individuals go through on a daily basis. We then learned about intersectionality and identity. Personally, I identify myself as white, straight, privileged, educated, middle-class, a daughter, sister, friend, and women.

As we got into the main content of personal stories, designations, funding, and ableism, Kaori said, “You may start to notice in your time in education that some systems are broken.” This really resonated with me because of the frustration and overwhelming feeling that has come along with researching inclusion in education. The system is incredibly broken and the amount of work and education that needs to take place is astonishing.

Something that really irritates me about the system is how hard it is to get a diagnosis and how damaging that is for an individual. No diagnosis means no designation, which means no funding and way less support. Then, educators always emphasize the importance of early intervention but this is not possible without designation and a plan.

It was very interesting to hear the perspective of parents and what they have hoped for their kids. This really emphasizes the importance of IEPs and designations because it allows the education team to come up with goals that work for both the families and the people involved in the kid’s education. This is obviously easier said than done, but it is a start.

This presentation was incredible. This topic really means a lot to me and it honesty makes me angry- I could talk about it all day. I really appreciated the time and vulnerability that Tracy and Kaori displayed today and it will be very helpful for my inquiry project!

Inquiry Project- Week 7

I used GoodNotes to create this finger spelling name graphic!

This could be a fun activity to do in a class room. The teacher can print out the appropriate amount of letters and have students cut out, glue, and decorate their name. This would get students learning their own name as well as their classmates!

The original black and white outlines can be found on Wikipedia!

Inquiry Project- Week 5

Today I am going to highlight different ways sign language can be used in the classroom.

Alphabet and Letter Sounds

Using and learning ASL while developing or reviewing letter sounds provides a visual/kinetic aspect for kids to understand.

Non-Verbal Communication with Teacher

Students can communicate basic phrases like “bathroom” or “water” so teachers and students do not have to communicate verbally. Teachers are often swarmed with questions so learning sign language can help negate the overwhelming environment that teachers deal with.

Expand Students’ Learning

ASL is a language that is not talked about in schools. Incorporating real signs, rather than made-up symbols, expands student’s world-views.

Communication and Self Regulation

Students can use ASL to communicate non-verbally to communicate feelings. Sometimes verbal communication can be too overwhelming and difficult. If students know basic signs, then they can communicate without having to speak.

Class Reflection- Week 7

We started class this week with a visit from Kristine from UVIC’s Science Venture. It was great to hear about local opportunities that create chances for future educations, scientists, and engineers to expand their knowledge. Science is not my favourite subject, but it still may be a good opportunity to work on and explore this space. I did not know that they run programs year round, I thought it was only a summer program!

As for the rest of the class, we talked about AI and ChatGPT. AI is incorporated in many more softwares and resources than I thought. Google Maps, Spotify recommendations, Grammarly, Social Media Algorithms, and Alexa and Siri are just some of the sources that use AI to function. As for ChatGPT, it can be a very beneficial tool for brainstorming, summarizing, elaboration, formatting, and ideas. As we had time to play around with ChatGPT, I asked to: “Please create an introduction to basketball PE lesson plan for a 30 minute grade 4 class.” This is what I received:

Title: Introduction to Basketball Skills

Grade: 4th Grade

Duration: 30 minutes

Objectives:

  • To introduce students to the basic skills and rules of basketball.
  • To develop hand-eye coordination and basic dribbling skills.
  • To promote teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship.

Materials:

  • Basketball (one per student)
  • Cones or markers
  • Whistle
  • Whiteboard and markers

Introduction (5 minutes):

  • Welcome the students and gather them in a circle.
  • Briefly explain the objectives of the lesson: learning fundamental basketball skills and understanding basic rules.
  • Discuss the importance of teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship in basketball.

Warm-up (5 minutes):

  • Lead the students in a light warm-up routine, including jogging in place, arm circles, and jumping jacks, to prepare their bodies for physical activity.

Fundamental Skills Stations (15 minutes):
Divide the class into smaller groups and rotate them through different skill stations. Each station should focus on a specific fundamental skill:

  1. Dribbling Station:
  • Set up cones or markers in a line.
  • Instruct students to practice dribbling the basketball around the cones using their fingertips.
  • Emphasize the importance of control and coordination while dribbling.
  • Rotate students after a few minutes to ensure everyone gets a chance to practice.
  1. Passing Station:
  • Pair students up and give each pair a basketball.
  • Teach the chest pass and bounce pass techniques.
  • Have students practice passing the ball back and forth to each other.
  • Provide feedback on proper form and encourage teamwork.
  1. Shooting Station:
  • Set up a hoop at an appropriate height for the students.
  • Teach the correct shooting technique, including how to hold the ball and follow through.
  • Allow each student to take turns shooting the ball into the hoop.
  • Provide positive reinforcement and tips for improvement.

Game (5 minutes):

  • Gather all students back together and explain a simple basketball game, such as “Knockout” or a mini 3-on-3 game.
  • Divide them into teams and let them apply the skills they’ve learned in a friendly competition.
  • Encourage teamwork, passing, and good sportsmanship during the game.

Cool Down and Conclusion (5 minutes):

  • Lead the students in a cool-down routine, including stretching exercises to relax their muscles.
  • Gather the students and ask them about their favorite part of the lesson and what they’ve learned.
  • Emphasize the importance of practice and perseverance in improving their basketball skills.
  • Remind them to apply the values of teamwork, cooperation, and fair play not only in basketball but also in their daily lives.

Assessment:
Observe students’ participation and progress at each station. Provide individual feedback and encouragement to help them improve their skills. Focus on their ability to follow instructions, demonstrate proper techniques, and work well with their peers.

Note: Be flexible and adapt the lesson based on the students’ skill levels and progress. Provide additional guidance and support to students who may need extra help with the skills.

This is a very great basis for a PHE lesson! It is a little vague but it provides structure, a timeline, and skill options.

We finished class by talking about the negatives and logistics of ChatGPT including questionable accuracy, focuses primarily on western ideology, lacks humanity, primarily english, and accessibility differences of premium vs regular version. There are so many things we do not know about AI but it is a very interesting tool!

Inquiry Project- Week 4

Hello! This is me signing Hello, My name is Mya, Yes, No, and Please! These signs were all very simple and make sense when thinking about the word. “Yes” is like nodding your head, while “Please” is like rubbing your heart!

On another note, I had an exciting ASL experience last week at work! My participant did not come to the swim program I work at so I was just standing on the pool deck. My coworker was across the pool and finger spelt “C-L-E-A-N” to me to ask me to clean up our equipment. I was able to understand her and it was very exciting for me!

Thanks for reading!

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