Posts in Category: EdTech
Waste Land: A Climate Anxiety Haunted House
Waste Land: A Climate Anxiety Haunted House is a public art project curated by myself, Kate Brooks-Heinimann, and Kay Gallivan . We turned a pre-demolition house into a pop-up haunted house art exhibition themed around climate anxiety. The project was organized by students in the University of Victoria’s Teacher Education Program in collaboration with students at Esquimalt High School. It was open to the public and involved many artists from the Victoria community.
The purpose of Waste Land was, and still is, to raise awareness about the climate crisis in an accessible, creative, and artistic way. Participating artists were encouraged to use reclaimed materials for their work and have it relate to the theme of climate change and climate anxiety.
Social Media Links
Website https://www.wastelandclimateanxiety.com/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wastelandclimateanxiety/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wastelandclimateanxiety/
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Virtual Reality!
What a crazy thing!
I had tried virtual reality (VR) once before at Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry. The process involved putting on a pair of goggles and then proceeding to convince myself that the plank I was standing on was not actually on top of a sky scraper and if I were to fall I wouldn’t actually fall to my death. Even though I knew that to be true, it still felt terrifying. The only way I could walk the plank was by going down onto all fours and rolling off. Yes, my classmates laughed. My heart was 
racing and my palms were sweaty even after finishing the challenge.
UVic Experience
My experience at UVic last week was not as intense. It was lighter introduction to the VR world. However, I did become nauseous and had to put the device down earlier than I wanted to. Apparently women are more likely than men to feel motion sickness in VR. Here’s a related article that argues motion sickness in women to be caused by posture –> https://www.newscientist.com/article/2115648-posture-could-explain-why-women-get-more-vr-sickness-than-men/ .
Photo by stem.T4L on Unsplash
At UVic, I flew around Google maps, exploring European castles and tropical beaches, and occasionally shooting off into outer space. It was pretty neat but unfortunately (fortunately?) lacked the “thrill” of my first experience. This time around my VR experience was more about enjoying the scenery and learning about different geographic locations, rather than pushing my physical and mental body to the limit.
VR in Education
I could see VR beingused as a educational tool. However, I did learn that anyone under the age of 13 years old should not use VR, and those between the ages of 13-15 can use it but should do so sparingly. I could see VR being used in an art room to help render 3D models before they’re actually brought to life, and could also provide a space for students who want to work B I G but don’t have the capacity to due to lack of funds, time, etc. These students could build their work in VR and then show the class what their work would look like if it were in real life!
Photo by Matthew T Rader on Unsplash
Learning Code
Today we learned a bit about coding by Rich McCue (website: http://richmccue.com/)! There’s a few different sites that help first-timers learn the basics of coding. Some include:
Scratch – https://scratch.mit.edu/
Grasshopper – https://grasshopper.codes/
Hour of Code – https://hourofcode.com/ca
Code BC – http://codebc.ca/
My Focus
I explored Scratch, which is known to be a more visual and intuitive way to begin learning code. While easy to navigate, being a total beginner with code, I did find there was a learning curve, and I think in order to advance in this program I would need to either spend time watching instructional videos or consult Rich or Val. Here’s a photo of what I did today!
I developed a character, and had a lot of fun doing it. However, I didn’t get around to making the character move or speak. I would need some more help with this.
Overall
I could see this being a great introduction for students wanting to learn more about code, and for those who show interest in animation as there is some cross-over.
Learner Sharing Sessions
Today’s Class
Today in Ed Tech we learned how to utilize technology to facilitate meetings if one or more people were not able to be in the room. This also extends beyond the university setting and can be applied to high schools.
Hypothetical Situation
As a class, we discussed the benefits of having access to this technology in a high school. Most high schools do have this capability, which is of huge benefit to students who may not feel comfortable coming to class for whatever reason. Say a student is sick, or has an injury and is unable to get to school on that day, they could access the classroom via camera technology. The same goes for an educator. If the educator is unable to attend the class, they could teach the class this way. This technology allows for a more accessible educational environment. It also provides an alternative option for students who may have long commutes to school and would prefer to only attend a couple times a week to mitigate the travel time.
Overall
I would use this in my classroom. Its a great way to have students and educators engaged and made to feel welcome in the classroom setting if they couldn’t be otherwise.
Plant Snap Review
For the Tech Inquiry project I am, along with my group, researching plant identification apps. The first one I have tried is called Plant Snap. It’s free and pretty reliable. Here’s a bit more about it…
What can I do with PlantSnap?
🌿 take photos of unknown plants, flowers, cacti, and succulents, and discover their names
🌿 upload a plant photo from my photos to use in the app
🌿 put “snaps” into “my collection” folder on the app
🌿 search within a database of 585,000 plants
🌿 search for gardens, and people/accounts
🌿 scroll through a “feed” page that has recently posted PlantSnaps by the app’s users
🌿 add “friends” by following other PlantSnap users
Pretty sweet! What don’t I like? Well…
🍂 limited to taking 10 snaps a day as a non-premium user
🍂 have to view advertisements as a non-premium user
🍂 my feed is filled with people I do not know and I can’t stop that
🍂 there’s a lot of extra stuff I don’t need; like the “feed”, explore function (allows me to view plants around the world), and I also keep getting posts asking if I am learning a new language
🍂 sometimes the PlantSnap calculator is incorrect; it mistakes the plant I’ve uploaded for another plant, and I have to do a bit of digging to see if each plant I have photographed really is what the app tells me it is.
🍂 when I post a photo to my collection it automatically attaches my photo to the plant’s page. For example, the photos below are mine, and were added to the plants page without my permission. I don’t actually mind this, but someone else may be bothered
Some of my own snaps!
Loved learning this berry is edible! I ate one the other day thanks to this app!
This was a test to see if the app could identify the common snowberry. It did!
Final Thoughts
I do like this app. Its pretty user friendly, despite the ads, and I don’t have to engage with the explore function and feed if I choose not to. These functions might also be very useful to another person unlike myself. I also bet that if I purchased the premium (which is $12.00 for a lifetime), many of the minor annoyances would disappear and be replaced with some perks. For me,10 snaps a day is definitely manageable, and I’m not using the app to connect with other users but merely as a way to figure out which plant I have discovered!
If you’re curious about trying PlantSnap, I’d say go for it. Its free and does the job if you’re just looking to learn the name and some brief information about a plant you’ve stumbled across.
Website Link
https://www.plantsnap.com/
Ed Camp Reflection
In today’s EDCI 336 class we had the chance to do a mock version of an Ed Camp. Ed Camp is a teacher-created discussion session, formed by the interests of the people in the room. In Ed Camp, there everyone is one the same level and there is no main presenter, and no slide shows. These group discussions are meant to be learner driven by those in the room who share their experience and expertise on the discussed topics.
Here’s a link to the Ed Camp website —> https://www.edcamp.org/
Our Mock Ed Camp
Our group discussed who our favourite teacher was in high school and why. There was a common thread amongst our group; that our favourite instructors were those who…
1) did things differently/weren’t afraid to break out of the traditional mold of teaching
2) were kind and genuinely believed and supported our growth and success as both a student and an individual
Personal Thoughts
These two attributes were things that brought us closer to ourselves and our teachers, which in turn created a more inclusive and diverse learning environment. For myself, school was a struggle. I didn’t enjoy the day to day routine, long days, and never ending homework load. Added on top of that was, for the most part, boring class time caused by teachers who didn’t include creativity or unconventionality in their classrooms. Being a creative and slightly unconventional person, I felt unsupported and crushed by my high school environment. The teachers that stood out to me were those who brought elements of theatre in their classrooms and weren’t afraid to think outside the box and encourage their students to do so, too. This made me feel like I was welcome somewhere; that my different way of thinking and being was accepted by at least someone in the school environment. It made me feel less alone and awkward, especially when I saw how well received the teacher’s teaching was taken by other classmates. It gave me the self esteem I needed to fell comfortable in my own skin.
Climate Strike Week 2 (The BIG one!)
Global Climate Strike: 20,000 Strong!
On Friday, September 27th, I had the opportunity to attend the main Global Climate Strike event. I attended, with an estimated 20,000 other people, to march in solidarity for the environment and its inhabitants. Having attend the first climate strike in Victoria last Friday, I can say the turn out this time had a much wider reaching effect as far as size and energy goes – not that the last strike wasn’t effective, it was just much smaller. I also ran into at least 10 familiar faces, half of which were from my UVic cohort. Yes!!! I had been disappointed last week when none of my cohort showed up at the strike, and had my fingers crossed to see some at this event.
What it Meant to Me
This strike really opened my eyes to the amount of people who are concerned about the climate crisis. It felt really good to be around like-minded people in that sense, and know t
hat something very important to me was shared with thousands of others. I feel like it is not uncommon to feel as though talking about climate change is a taboo subject that shouldn’t be discusses with everyone – kind of like politics (and it is political!). This strike made me feel supported in my belief, and it gave me great hope that we can pull through as a society if we can come together to create change.
So Many Young Ones!
I was also really taken aback, and may have shed a tear or two, when the amount of youth/child attendees registered in my brain. When I was in high school, ten years ago, most of mypeers AND MY TEACHERS scoffed or laughed at me when I passionately addressed the topic during class discussion. I was labelled as “the hippie” and “the activist”, not just seen for caring about something very important to all beings. This left me with a great amount of anger and feeling of disconnection to those around me, but it also fuelled me to keep educating myself and having difficult discussions with others who had different beliefs. To see so many youth involved and passionate about climate justice / environmentalism really gave me hope that we are moving forward as a society. However, I still do have a great deal of climate anxiety, and much of this is the result of very real, sad truths.
A Final N
ote on Loss and Educating Climate Deniers
I take climate change very seriously. As inspiring and exciting as this issue was, it also came with some sadness. I made the decision to un-friend a friend of over 10 years because of their denial of climate change and decision to support the Conservative leader Andrew Scheer. While I feel great loss because of this, I just cannot understand how someone could deny climate change as it is a very real, and happening crisis. In the near future I will reach out to this friend and see if a conversation about the issue is possible. I have to go prepared, however, as the conversation will be a long one and likely heated. Has anyone else been in this, or a similar, position? How did you approach it? did you approach it?
Climate Strike Week 1
First Climate Strike
On Friday, Sept 20th, I attended the first climate strike in Victoria of the global climate strike week! We blocked the intersection at Belleville and Government to peacefully protest for the earth and its many inhabitants. We were there to support the global climate strikers worldwide, the environment, and indigenous peoples who’s communities and ways of life are being affected by this crisis.
Why I Attended
As a participant and an observer, I was able to see the reasons for activists showing up and spearheading the event. There were different speakers who expressed their desire, and the dire need, to move away from fossil fuels. They did so through theatre, music, traditional speech, poetry, and dance. There were first nations speakers who expressed their concern about the impacts of a pipeline being built through their communities, and how this will negative effect some food sources they rely upon. I attended this strike to educate myself and stand in solidarity. As an environmentally conscious person, I had to be there. I really love this earth; its landscapes, animals, and most of the people who inhabit it. I want to be a part of the change towards a cleaner world, and if we can’t get there I can be content knowing that I tried to make it possible.
I wish I had seen more people from my cohort there. Although, many folks didn’t realize the strike had started. I think many people thought it was only on Friday, September 27th. As an educator, I really believe that it’s my duty to show up as an ally for the environment, and any one else who needs support in this crisis.
A Note on the Haters
While at the protest I was also able to create a little chalk art piece. Creating this gave me insight into some opposing views of climate change, and the types of aggression that accompany it. Some people walked over my chalk art piece, stomped on it while I was working, scoffed and swore at it and myself, and whispered passive aggressive phrases at me under their breath while walking by. It really is interesting how much hate some people have towards those who are trying to make the world a better place. I would love to have the opportunity to discuss with them why they have such anger and hatred towards environmentalist types. In the past when I’ve tried this, I am often met with hostility, so I didn’t engage this time. There was also a man who was wearing a shirt that read, “I LOVE FOSSIL FUELS”. He marched around the protest, smiling, challenging mostly younger students on their beliefs. Metaphorically, this man represented what we are fighting in the world – the insertion of ignorance and denial into a peaceful gathering of live beings.
- Verbal consent to use photos for this online class blog was provided by those in the photos
Professional, Unprofessional Online Presence
How Do Teachers Host an Authentic and Professional Online Presence?Â
Photo by Victoria Heath on Unsplash
The Presentation Made Me Wonder…
Today’s presentation with guest speaker Jesse Miller provided me with some valuable information regarding online safety, security, and presence as a teacher. It was both informative and unsettling. While I learned useful information, I’m left feeling unsettled and irritated that teachers are still held to a puritan standard. I wonder how we as teachers can hold an online presence that is true to ourselves and professional?
Oh, The Irony… And I rant.
I wonder why, in a time where we’re trying to teach honesty and transparency to youth, teachers are asked to essentially be flawless. Teachers cannot be witnessed in a photograph doing something legal and completely harmless, like having a glass of wine with a friend. As a teacher in training, I find this to be a potential invasion of my personal life. Not that a student sees a photograph of me drinking a glass of wine, but that I have been asked to not enjoy that glass of wine in the presence of anyone who may have a camera and post that online. To get persnickety about this, that would mean that I am not able to go anywhere where a camera and alcohol is present, on the chance that I may end up online with a glass of wine in hand. Same goes for other joys in life. What if I enjoy laying on a beach with my top off? While it is legal, and women have fought for centuries for equal rights and the end of objectification to women’s bodies, would I be reprimanded for doing this? Using the current logic, If a person decides to take a photograph of me without my knowing, places it online, and a student somehow sees it, I am the one who will be reprimanded despite my actions being legal.
How to (Hopefully) Ensure Privacy
Turn your privacy settings ON. What I gathered from the presentation is that in order to stay safe as a teacher in the world of online presences is to turn all social media settings to private. Never have a student as a contact/friend. Use an alias. Don’t tell other co-workers about your online presences. What other precautions could teachers take to keep their work and social life separate?
Final Thoughts
How do you see being able to express yourself honestly in social media, if there are parts of your life that have to be censored? Do you see this as being valid, given that teachers are teaching other peoples’ children? Do you think the censorship of teachers lives is outdated and needs to change? If so, why?
Here is a link to a CBC article about social media and its effects on teachers reputations –> https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/why-social-media-can-be-a-minefield-for-teachers-1.3219179
Thank you to Jesse Miller for the thought provoking presentation and being available to approach with questions regarding this issue.
Sources
unsplash.com
Unsplash Review
Unsplash: A Free and Fair Photo Sharing Resource
Photo by Ben Kolde on Unsplash
What Is It?
Unsplash.com is a website that provides users with free and high quality photographs, with an aesthetic similar to Pinterest (links at bottom). Unlike Photobucket or Flickr (links at bottom), Unsplash’s images are free for the public to use – no need to worry about copyright issues here, friends! Unsplash provides users with the freedom to choose from a variety of professional quality images that have been okayed by the artist to share.
Photo by Anete LĂĽsina on Unsplash
How Can I Use It?
Literally anyway you want. These images are essentially a visual dictionary that you can choose from and use however you like. It could be through blog posts, posters, slideshows, videos, printing onto a t-shirt, or any other way an image could be used.Â
A Note on Giving Back
While you don’t need to worry about copyright issues when you use a photo from Unsplash, there is the option to credit a photographer. Crediting a photographer is not required but it is a way to say thank you to the artists who are allowing their work to be taken and used for free by the public. Noting the photographer of an image you use is also a way of giving the photographer some publicity – again, a thank you to them for sharing their image with you.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not necessary to give credit to the photographer of the image you are using, would you consider it? If not, how come? How would you feel about sharing your own images on this site? Is it something you would consider doing as a means to provide free, high quality photographs to the public? If not, why?
Links