Blog Post #11 First graders in Ms Cassidy's Class

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvPZtTej0jQLittle Kids Big PotentialLittle Kids Big Potential
Ms Cassidy teaches a first grade class in an elementary school in Canada. She has developed a very effective way of using technology in her classroom. It wasn't clear, but I don't think Ms Cassidy is using any traditional methods at all. Her primary reasons for teaching using technology is, it improves their reading and writing skills, improves their spelling, and they are learning proper etiquette in writing. Listed below are some of the ways she is using technology to teach a first grade class.
Her class has a class webpage which contains a choice of lessons of various subjects. The key to this being a effective way of teaching is that the children can choose what it is they want to learn. This further proves the theory that children enjoy learning, it's what sparks their interest we, as teachers, need to be aware of.
Wikis is a system of collaborating with other students in creating particular projects.
Making group videos also is used in her classroom, and once again, the children are collaborating, and working as a team to learn. She also incorporated collaborating with subject matter experts through research and blogging.
Lastly, the use of Nintendo DS was used for sharing and problem solving through words.
Basically, Ms Cassidy has shown that the use of technology creates the ability to reach far outside the classroom to gain knowledge. By giving the children choices of what they are most interested in and allowing them to be creative while doing so, makes this a total success.
To start, I would choose creating a class webpage of various assignments and objectives. I would not require that all assignments are completed, but a percentage, thus giving the children a choice. This would inspire them to do their best. All of the assignments would require research, lots of reading and writing, group work, and the meeting of deadlines. Although, my subject would be focused on Health, I would often cross the curriculum by incorporating mathematical word problems, to stimulate group collaboration with their fellow students and teachers.
My largest pitfall would be having enough computers in my classroom for this to be a routine atmosphere, therefore, most of my assignments found on the webpage would be special projects. I would plan for special projects and group collaboration to be done in the classroom 3 days out of the week. the other two days would be for lecture on a particular subject area.
My thoughts:
Ms Cassidy has really set the bar for the classrooms of the future. I truly believe that by teaching using the techniques in which we were taught, we are some how loosing our children's interests and stunting their growth in their ability to learn. Their little brains are functional, but in a much different way then ours. We as teachers have to get on board this educational train. Ms Cassidy is certainly already one of the conductors and well on her way.