Reflecting on this week’s blog prompts, the SAMR theory of technology adoption framework and how sketch notes can help schools and teachers all around to implement a more engaging and meaningful way to use technology within the classroom.
Technology has only grown bigger as educational institutions are furthering away from the traditional use of learning and teaching in classroom environments. It should be viewed as a safe and resourceful tool for students, specifically in the elementary grade levels – of course, the effectiveness heavily relies on how each model is used. Regarding looking generically into each model, the overall benefit for students is that it can be modified to a more accessible introduction to technology recourses (commonly used ones such as any google affiliated software, youtube and online tools). This framework also supports modifications to those classroom environments that need more technology support for specific students. Technology is not about redefining how a student will learn and be equipped to it in the classroom, but how modifications and simple technology strategies that career to each student as well as have additional benefits create thus a more interactive and safely introduced technology usage in the classroom – this being the ultimate goal of using technology in elementary schools.
Concerning the use of sketchnotes in the classroom, using sketchnoting in the classroom can be an effective way to encourage learning and engagement among students, with the use of using sketchnotes to identify concepts in a more comprehensive way that students can adjust to their learning style, with the added benefit of fostering their creative outlook. For a grade two/three classroom, using sketchntoes can be a reflective tool to use when going over different concepts in math, science, socials or anything that has a “big idea” that students can expand on in their own imaginative way in showcasing what they took from the lesson or what still needs to be taught. Sketchntoes can be a resourceful student and teacher skill that increases student engagement with content and a great way to find an early start to how each student learns best (ex., with more words, more pictures, fewer words, bigger pictures, organized and spread out, technique wise) – there are endless possibilities to how each student can make their own sketchnote.
Here are my examples from this week’s use of Canva and my own interpretation of sketchnote!
