I'm glad that there are so many resource out there these days with games that are already made that you can have your students play. Since gamification is such a new concept to me, I struggle trying to create my own game. It's convenient to just find games that are already made and you can seamlessly integrate them into your classroom. My goal is to one day create some kind of game in my own classroom. (I really liked the cooking teacher that we read in our Gamify Literacy book and how she emulated the Master Chef show).

I really love this sentence because to me, this is another way to promote a growth mindset. I think gamification is a great way to make problem-solving fun! Moreover, in the gaming world, it usually involves collaboration to solve a problem which is also teaching kids how to work together-- a very important life skill to have!

Just another great benefit to gamification--allowing opportunity to apply material learned in class to the real world. In another TIP class I took, I remember reading an article about icivics and playing a game on the website. It was so much fun and I remember liking it so much because it showed how the laws were used. You got to be a lawyer and people would come in and tell you their situation and if you could help them you did but others didn't apply for their help. Ultimately, my point is that it was a very meaningful way of learning!

One thing that usually crosses my mind when I think about media literacy is the benefits that gamification has especially when it comes to assessing. I think we can utilize gamification as a way to have embedded assessments without the standardized test. Gamification allows us to check for understanding in a more efficient way--for students and teachers!

It's crazy to see the evolution of pedagogy. The original pedagogy that was used when school was first a thing is now completely the opposite of what we would consider an ideal pedagogy. The didactic pedagogy is a very passive approach to learning and to me, it seems synonymous with the teacher-centered pedagogy. As time and science have shown, telling things "rather than finding them out yourself" (lecturing and worksheets) is not effective.

When I read the word "Literacy," I think of what it used to mean to me--old, dusty books written by white men. I had a very negative experience with ELA growing up in school because I truly disliked what I was taught in class which just so happened to be the canons. It's almost comical that I did become an English teacher because I really disliked the subject in school. Thankfully, the word literacy has broadened! I think this new definition of literacy embodies my love and magic for reading!

To me, multiliteracies is addressing the multiple modes and forms people learn best. In a way, it reminds me of the curriculum I use (Lucy Calkins Workshop Model). We transitioned from novel studies to allowing students to read any book they want (as long it was the same genre). I know the comparison seems far fetched, but when boiled down, multiliteracies and Lucy Calkins differentiate and take individualism into consideration for the best learning outcomes possible.

I really enjoy that these assignments are more fun and engaging as opposed to the generic paper I would have to write in my other grad courses.

I'm really looking forward to this as well! As I mentioned in another post, when integrating technology in the classroom, there's often a struggle to keep students on task and not wonder off to Sketch Book or YouTube.

I wasn't aware that there were "national standards" for technology integration. I'm looking forward to learning more about this.

This is my third TIP class and my favorite courses! I'm looking forward to learning about new technology instructional strategies that I can implement into my class this upcoming academic school year!

Technology in the classroom has been proven to be an incredible tool in the classroom. It's obvious that our students use technology outside of the classroom thus, being presented with the opportunity to teach our students about the pros, cons, dangers, and etiquette about the internet in the classroom seems like a very productive and meaningful use of time!