Interactive White Boards as a resourceful tool!

When I was first asked to write about interactive whiteboards I was quite confused. Obviously it can be used to benefit the learning of the students but I just assumed that this was so. What I didn't consider was the fact that many teachers have this tool in their classroom but choose not to use it. Perhaps this is because they are so used to teaching on a blackboard or maybe they do not know how to use the tool but the fact of the matter is, if it is there, why not use it?

I can imagine that interactive white boards cost a lot of money as they enable one to operate from the computer onto a board which can be used interactively by being able to touch it. Thus, for schools that are able to afford this technological tool, surely they are taking advantage of their resources?
I would definitely consider using an interactive white board in my classroom if it were to have one. Why? because it encourages my learners to engage with the lessons, and it provides a way for learners with different learning styles to interact and comprehend. The visual representations which are able to be used interactively can benefit the learners who remember information by these visual representations. Also, this allows learners to interact with the rest of the class, encouraging confidence and the ability to answer questions in front of the rest of the class. As I have mentioned before, technology is the future so we should encourage learners to make use of these technology tools in meaningful and informative ways in order to prepare them for the future. Technology is continually evolving and developing into better and easier ways in which to interact, communicate and stay connected so we need to include these tools in the classroom in order to develop constructive ways in which to use these that add to their lives and their future.

The Voices that Go Unheard

As Wills (2015) stated in the article, creating good ideas is part of a journey, which I believe makes the destination sweeter. Meaningful involvement does involve mindfulness in the learners, which is essentially in order to encourage creativity and successful learning environments but I would like to mention the importance of the voice of learners because that is something that goes unheard of and it's something that has been close my heart this week due to the protests.

It is necessary for teachers to give their learners a voice in the classroom. Kids are not given enough opportunity to speak out, and therefore learn to keep quiet. Teachers should be asking their learners questions because these kids are clever, highly intellectual beings with the desire to learn but effective learning only takes place when interaction and involvement of the learners occur. I think that is also the difference between learning online and by learning in a classroom. People learn best if they are able to relate, and to speak up. This is the way in which our minds are organised. We need visual representations, as well as various 'memories' in order to effectively engage and learn. Kids just want to be heard and acknowledged and if teachers give them the opportunity, they will be amazed at how incredible these young minds operate. Kids are not "blank slates" but individuals who remember and understand similar things in different ways, according to how they are best able to engage and learn. Life is not always going to be comfortable, so allow the learners to engage in difficult discussions and worldly issues. Allow them to debate but respect each others views. Get them to engage and ask questions because what does this allow? This allows room for the development of critical thinking and that is what teachers should strive for. Not to read out the curriculum to the learners but to really take the time and effort to get to know the learners and challenge them. Allow them to challenge themselves and you will bear witness to their growth into mature adults who are able to think and argue critically about specific issues.

How do teachers encourage their learners to do this? By treating them like they are special, unique, valued and appreciated for who they are. Learners need to feel worthy in order to achieve success, so why not facilitate and encourage self-efficacy and self-confidence? Teach them more than what is expected of you-go beyond the curriculum and see into their souls. That is what the core of teaching is about. It's about how to cope in life, how to be successful so that the metaphorical train of life doesn't drive over you. Pay attention to your learners and allow them to ask questions and to get involved because teaching is about experience, and you want your classroom to a place of experiential learning, where minds can be challenged and molded so that when the learner leaves your class to enter the world, he or she is fully equipped with the most important skill to avoid being driven over by the train called life, and that is the ability to think critically. Thinking critically involves asking questions, respecting the views of others but it also involves morals, and that is something to be valued because by creating your own voice, you know who you are and what you stand for.

Bridging the Gap Across the World

I think the issue, as mentioned in the article by Hamilton (2014) is the fact that due to such a diversity of contexts and languages, it is difficult to construct a learning tool in which learners from all over the world can use and benefit from in order to achieve success and communicative competency. We see people communicating with each other online globally but there are certain limitations when it comes to obtaining a particular digital pedagogy to determine what information is processed and understood by everyone.

The other limitation to the tech-mediated self-directed distance learning is also mentioned by Hamilton (2014), which is the inability to access the technology not only materially but practically being able to use it, be able to make the decision to use it and the ability to use it within his or her context. I personally think that, as future teachers, we have the responsibility to equip people with the necessary tools in order for them to be able to use these tools in their context, to further their knowledge and understanding of the world. These tools could be the direct teaching of skills without the implementation of teacher-learner power relations, as well as the will to encourage the production and practice of technology worldwide. Technology is here and it is the future-so why not encourage the use of these tools globally? It should become a priority that we as teachers reach parts of the world with the knowledge we have accumulated through our own peers through the years in order to rid the world of illiteracy, poverty, racism, gender-inequality and discrimination to give everyone a fighting chance regardless of where these people are or what their prior knowledge is. There will always be contextual differences but teachers need to encourage computer literacy otherwise equality is going to never be achievable. This could possibly be achieved by making leaders in positions of power aware of the importance of the implementation of technology in areas of the world that lack these resources, or attempt to include organisations which will financially support the implementation of these resources to further education and technological literacy.

Also, we as teachers also need to find a way to bridge the gap amoung people around the globe by exposing them to knowledge regarding to different cultures rather than being exposed to one (which is their own). Yes, we need to respect each other’s views and opinions but how will we really get to know and respect each other if we are not educated on other people’s cultures and traditions? This is one of the ways in which education communication can be provided, and I really do think that education attempting to be reached and taught globally as a self-mediated activity needs to start on a personal level, encouraging inclusion and interaction on a global scale. This can now be achieved by the development  and use of technology which enables us to communicate to people in almost every area of the globe so why not go for it? 

Social Media: The Most Useful Tool in the Shed Today

I would definitely use social media in my classroom, as well as outside of my classroom. It is important that we stick with the times-and today social media is the way forward. These are not only tools which expand and encourage learning inside of the classroom but also outside of the classroom. Obviously it is important that the teacher familiarise himself or herself with the different tools apparent on social media, and to check with the school whether it is acceptable to use these tools in these particular ways. Therefore, using social media is a way in which the learners can practice their writing, reading and communication skills in other forms online.

Blogging online and encouraging commenting is a useful tool to use, particularly in English as it will encourage creativity and effective communication which is essential for gaining and voicing your own opinion on a particular matter. I would use blogging as a tool for learners to engage in discussions regarding the themes of the lessons, and it would be useful for me as the teacher to identify whether they are on track or if they are not quite getting it. I find that people tend to open up more online, as if it has become a safe space in which to share their thoughts on the matter, and to be as imaginative and as creative as possible. However, this isn’t always a good thing, therefore there has to be particular rules or guidelines in order to ensure that the conversations remain on topic, inoffensive and respectable. Nevertheless, if the learner respects you as a teacher, and fully understand the rules of social media in which you have explained clearly there should be no issue. Also it should be made clear that if any of these rules are broken, social media will no longer be a privilege in the classroom. 

 Journal entries are also a great idea for learners to create online, providing a way in which the teacher can personally access these journals without anyone else seeing them. This can encourage colloquial or more informal styles of language online as well as getting the teacher gaining insight into the lives and individual personalities of the learners. Also, teaching learners how to access their emails and how to use them to engage in formal speech is fundamental in using communication effectively in particular situations and with different groups of people.

I would also use it to teach them how to access and engage in current events in the world, so by encouraging the use of Twitter, the ability for them to read current world events is made available. Thus, reading and engaging in current world events online will allow them to understand what is happening in the world and to conduct their own understandings, views and opinions of these. Twitter will also be a great place in which to discuss certain topics or themes discussed in class, and to communicate what work there is for them to do after class.

Essentially using social media in the classroom today can make the class more fun, exciting and engaging for the learners. Without this, the information will not be remembered and then what is the use? The teaching has to be applicable to their day and age so why not do just use it? Using social media is just another resource in order to make teaching more interesting, so whether it be for projects, communication competency, reading and writing development or simply for engaging in interesting and educative topics, I say go for it!

Teaching Life in the Age of Technology and the Internet

What do we value most about education that cannot yet be reproduced on the internet? I'm not talking about education in the sense that knowledge is just meant to be absorbed by learners in hope that they are able to pass the class test. I'm referring to teaching in which the learning is remembered long after it has been taught, whereby learners are able to understand not only that particular topic but a broader understanding as to how this topic fits into their understanding of what is important to remember.

In terms of pedagogy, which concerns itself with instantaneous, momentary and vital exchange that happens in order for learning to happen, this is what I am referring to above. It honours the experience of learning that is life-long, and that meaningful and sustained in the learners. That is what is missing in the attempt at creating digital pedagogy or even just teaching online and that is why the attempts of learning has been unsuccessful online. And for meaningful and sustained learning to take place, the teacher has to be present. Call me old school but I would prefer to be educated directly, experiencing the personality of the person who is meant to be my mentor and my guide, equipping me for tools needed for the rest of my life, I may be a tad over dramatic, but I speak from experience. Perhaps I am from a generation whereby the internet was not a part, an actual part of society, and I do realize that times have changed, I witness it everyday. I am a part of it! All I am saying is that if it wasn't for the physical presence of the teachers in my life and the way in which I was given the chance to banter, argue, joke and be educated and challenged by them, I probably would have lost all motivation to get an education. These teachers love to interact and engage with their learners directly as well, so maybe there can be a balance? Perhaps after school digital pedagogy activities by which the use of the internet can encourage further learning and understanding, but I do not like the idea of digital pedagogy online as taking over the role of teachers, because then what's the use of having them around besides the fact that they are needed to produce videos which can merely be reproduced?

Life is based on moments of experience, but experience that is physical, in the here and now and not in the world of technology. I am finding now more than ever that people are struggling to tell these two apart, and are being engulfed in a world that is not real, but a mere representation or even a distorted representation of the world in which they live. So call me old school, but the person that I am today is partly due to the memorable and meaningful friendships made during the interactions between myself and my teachers.

Goodbye libraries, hello future!

Unfortunately it's a sad truth but in order to keep up with the times and the rapid advancement of technology and the rise of social media, old methods of teaching need to be 'refined' and adapted to suit the new age. Libraries are not being used as much, being replaced by faster, more advanced ways to access the same information. The truth is that life is moving faster than ever before due to the surging and successful production of electronics and technological tools and devices .But if we include technologies, how do we make sure that these instruments do not limit the horizon of our pedagogical creativity? Teaching in itself is a hands on task, and it comes with its joys and its difficulties, but to add technology or electronics into the equation, how do we implement these tools in a way that is beneficial to our pedagogy?

To include digital pedagogy into the teaching profession it is essentially to hack the pedagogy by adapting, manipulating and making productive uses out of the given technology. But how do we do this? It first starts with the teacher and the personal realization that people today will be at an extreme disadvantage without the knowledge, experience or the use of the given technology. Although teaching itself needs to be effective and educational based without the crux of technology, the new day and age relies and expects the use of particular electronic tools to further the age of the 'rise of technology'.

For a technological context or platform to occur and to prosper, there needs to be clear guidelines and rules in order to further the knowledge of these devices for educational purposes. Learners are going to bring their cellphones and other electronic devices to class whether the teacher agrees with it or not so why not embrace the new age by making learners able to use technology responsibly? Firstly, teachers can be the examples by using their own electronic devices to add interest to the lecture, and to relate to learners who base their knowledge on what they already know in the real world: technology and social media. Secondly, where can the learners be taught how to use technology responsibly if not in the classroom? It's simple, if teachers really care about their learners, and are there to equip them for life outside of the classroom, surely the teacher will learn the relevance of technology alongside teaching and to educate them accordingly? There is always room for adaptation and manipulation in a world encapsulated by change and possibility. So instead of dragging behind, lets look beyond by learning to integrate all current methods of teaching, whether it be by using technology or by showing the learners how to use technology and social media in a way that would benefit their careers one day.

Food For Their Minds

So learning to teach is a lot different from actually teaching. This PGCE is definitely enlightening and beneficial for a future teacher but does it actually prepare you to be the best teacher you can possibly be?


The challenge I have had in these last two weeks is the constant questioning of my own abilities. I am knowledgeable and educated but am I going to be influential enough for my future learners? Do I know enough? Have I the ability to mould minds, to encourage and influence others?


But I've realised that I have been asking the wrong questions. It isn't about me and my ability as a teacher. I want to be a great teacher yes but the learning process is about the learner. It is about the individual. I need to set aside my own doubts or insecurities and focus on the lives of others. These adolescents are human beings with innumerable capabilities and I will be privileged enough to be a part of their development: whether it be intellectually, emotionally or physiologically, I will be witness to the change of perspective, minds and the growing hunger for knowledge and success.


People have the inherent need to learn, and we need to keep that in mind as educators... We can either feed their appetites so that the learners are able to thrive in all aspects of their lives now and in the future or we can starve them of what we know, through our own knowledge and experience. But to starve them of exciting and passionate learning is extremely sad to comprehend, and that is why so many schools are failing. I want to feed learners, and through constantly learning the ways of teaching and what it means to be a great teacher, I will accomplish this. Life is about the making of moments, and I want to make their schooling lives about receiving these moments whereby the lessons which are taken away are those which are to be treasured inside the learner throughout the rest of his or her life. It isn't about me obtaining a legacy, but about them learning to enjoy and treasure their moments as a learner.