Week 2- Opening Learning

Before we dive into this weeks topic I wanted to give a reminder of what open learning is. According to an article on open source.com open education is a "philosophy about the way people should produce, share and build on knowledge." Supporters of open education and learning believe everyone in the world should have access to high-quality education experiences and resources.
In my research I found that I completely agree that the goal of every school should share resources, experiences, curriculum, and lessons with other schools.
In her article about open learning Lauren Landry open pedagogy allows educators to take the concept of openness one step further by engaging students in real work that they can share beyond the classroom. In this article the author suggested that schools transition from assignments that students throw away after they get their grade and assignments that challenge students to create materials that can be shared with the public.
According to Graham there are eight key elements of opening learning:
1. Learning and knowledge rests in diversity of opinions
2. Learning is a process of connecting specialized notes or informations sources
3. Learning my reside in non-human appliances
4. Capacity to know more is critical than what is currently known
5. Nurturing and maintaining connections is needed to facilitate continual learning
6. Ability to see connection between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill
7. Currency (accurate, up-to-date knowledge) is the intent of all connectives learning activities; and
8. Decision-making is itself a learning process. Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality.

As someone who isn't working in a classroom my experience with open learning varies a little different than my classmates who are teachers in a classroom. For me I have found open learning really valuable. As the director of a child care center with kids aged 6 weeks to 12 years there is a lot to take into account including find developmentally appropriate activities/ curriculum for all our different classrooms.
I found a really great curriculum on Teacher Pay Teacher and have found one of the most useful resources is actually a facebook page of around 63,000 other teachers who use the same curriculum. It has been really useful to post on this facebook page and ask questions and get advice from teachers all across the country who may have more experience.

Here is a really cool video about a school in Eminence KY that operates with an open learning design.
EDhub: Building a 21st Century Space to Transform Learning . (2017, December 7). Retrieved February 6, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFyaZtW2iAY

Graham, L., LaBonte, R., Roberts, V., & O'Byrne, I. (n.d.). Open Learning in K-12 Online and Blended Learning Environments.

Landry, L. (2018, May 29). Open Learning: What is it and how can we benefit. Retrieved January 30, 2020, from https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/what-is-open-learning/

Week 1- What are emerging tech?

The biggest thing I learned this week was that emerging technology is not necessary the newest technology. Maybe it is using a simpler piece of technology in a new way. When I first looked at emerging technology I immediately thought about the latest, high tech, and probably expensive piece of technology which initially prevented me from exploring a huge amount of the technology that is available. I am so curious to see what types of new technology students get to explore and use in their classrooms in the coming years.
When I think of emerging technology I always am reminded that when I was a freshman in high school one of my classes was the first in the district to have a Promethean board (smart board). It was so much fun to be able to learn with the teacher how to use it. During my practicum work I remember seeing these boards in every room. It is amazing how such a new technology only a few years ago is now found in every classroom.
I found education escape rooms and 3d printing really interesting. While escape rooms are not new I never thought to use them in the classroom. According to a blog by Lock Paper Scissors by they are really great to use as a way to increase engagement in the classroom. Escape rooms require students to use critical thinking skills to escape and solve a variety of puzzles. They also are a great tool to build team work skills in all age.

Escape Games: The Boredom-Crushing Classroom Tech you students NEED. . (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2020, from https://lockpaperscissors.co/school-escape-games

Test

This is a test of my new blog for EDET 678