Semester Reflection

For this reflection I decided to look back at our semester and share some thoughts in to the class and my experience this spring learning about technology in the classroom.

This course was a great over view of the many different aspects of technology. We looked at many different angles. Many different tools as well as a wide range of opinions about some of these technologies.

A few of the things that stuck out for me were the discussion with Jesse Miller, one of our guest speakers. He was a fast paced TED TALK style presentation about technology, its uses, and where AI was going to take us in the future.

One of the things I learned from him was the discussion on The four C’s of Digital Literacy: Critical thinking, Creativity, Communication, Collaboration. With these elements we learn to evaluate AI Generated content, refine ideas, practice our interactions with AI and do group activities with AI. In other words we are learning to deal with machines. We are creating relationships with machines and according to Jesse we are helping train the machines. According to him, as I have not researched it myself, every time we click on one of those cyber security boxes that asks if we can spot all the boxes with a car in it we are training future AI bots to drive for us. We are teaching the AI…So, doesn’t that mean that the more we have a discourse with AI the more we are training it and the more we are training ourselves and our children to be accustom to AI, to need AI and to be okay with AI in every aspect of our lives. I personally don’t agree, don’t see the need and don’t think it is going to end well. I don’t need to have an auto uber show up at my house so I can go grocery shopping.

I enjoyed learning about different ways of using images and creating our own images and work sheets. As a teacher this is very useful, very fun and is something the students will enjoy. This is one my favourites. I call it “Cow Puffin Pyramid”

The BCEd Access class was very eye opening and our speakers Tracy and Kaori had me hooked right away. I am looking forward to learning more about how to engage and help students so that they learn to overcome and navigate some of their problems. Big and small.

I found it reassuring to find out that some of my classmates although being younger than myself, are not so enamoured with too much AI and unnecessary technology. I wrongly assumed that younger more techy people than myself would depend on it and rely on its use in the classroom and for themselves. It gives my old school mind some cause to relax knowing that our next generation of teachers as some old school left also.

I would have liked to have learned more about how to store and share files in this class. I think much of what we talked about is great and amazing but for myself I am disorganized when it comes to storing files and although we talked about in class we didn’t get the chance to practice it. This will be something I need to learn going into practicum and moving forward professionally.

Thank you for a great semester everyone!!

I call this one, “shark eagle sunset”