Inquiry-Based Learning: Creating Critical Thinkers

An inquiry is any process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem.   

Inquiry-based education is the perfect method for educating students. (period) In inquiry based learning the teacher becomes the provocateur in which they model how to contribute and extend ideas, how to introduce ideas and subject matter of inquiry potential, how to question and how to carry out an investigation of an individual's ideas. Inquiry is play, as John Seely Brown notes, play is the creative tension that exists between rules and freedom.  To be effective there needs to boundaries and rules established. After a period in an inquiry based class student's begin to move out of the traditional industrial school notions into a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere where inquiry and learning can take place in a free exchange of ideas in a community. Students take ownership over their learning and for the material they are responsible for within the group. Through experiential learning students can find existential justification. Performing outdoor and indoor experiences, developing skills, researching questions, students become more complete individuals. Check out the inquiry method (Natural Curiosity) related to education, for young children but applicable for older students. For a quick overview and essential questions to ask about inquiry-based learning from Ontario education, see this. Not all aspects of inquiry are based outdoors, instead numerous aspects are conducted through technology and products may be presented digitally. Check out the Vsauce video below to see first hand the possibilities of self-discovery and research, which inquiry allows you to do. 

Sources and Sites:

http://www.teachinquiry.com/index/Introduction.html

Infographics: the Infinite Possibilities!

If we choose only to utilize text in order to comprehend and analyze complex information, the task is incredible difficult. Naturally we devised an easier system of interpretation, INFOGRAPHICS. Infographics are simply a method of reducing text size and intricacy through the use of visual explanations.Visual tools allow the creator to explain enormous amounts of data relatively clearly with immediacy. Conceptual, infographics are far more engaging then traditional text for both student and adult. The reader is able to see the key ideas, often the relatedness, and complex information summed up in a quick graphic. Graphically the associations between text and images allow students to forge connections in their minds more readily and increase information retention. The infographic also gives students the ability to acquire complex concepts quickly, so they in turn can disseminate the information to other students. Giving them Ownership over information! Now imagine if they created their own inforgraphics based on large amounts of information that they would need to sift through and summarize and edit with visual representations. Oh the possibilities! Why inforgraphics see below:

Below are two infographics which I have used in classes in the past to give students the information in a understandable and convenient format. When I used these graphics they were hugely successful, impart because students could understand these enormous concepts visually instead of just through the use of numbers and text. Infographics are especially perfect for philosophical concepts, different perspective, and religious ideas which are often difficult to visualize in the mind's eye through text.  

Finally this is my first infographic, which I created using the site Piktochart. The site was rather easy to negotiate with a plethora of video tutorials, I was quickly an expert. The site has a number of blank templates which can be readily personalized with icons, images, video, font, bounders, colours, etc. I choose a philosophical idea for my first one and one which closely relates to academics, epistemology. The actual research, editing, and perfections took me a total of four hours. Despite the time spent, I was engaged and learning a lot of new information, which I can directly see working well within a classroom. In a classroom setting all students or groups can take sections of information and condense them into infographics for the rest of the class to have, perhaps even followed by a presentation of what they learned, why they choose certain sections of text and graphics, and they would enjoy learning in the future. The basis of Inquiry. Fun!

Thank you and feel free to leave a comment or suggestion!

As an aside:

Source:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/50-informative-and-well-designed-infographics/
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/infographic-design-kit/
https://magic.piktochart.com/

Using On-line Videos in the Classroom

The following videos displayed are related to the subject of geography and some of the associated problems with geography, especially in regards to map projections and country status disputes. These videos will give students the chance to explore some of the more dynamic and interesting aspects of geography. Vsauce and CrashCourse are excellent YouTube contributors, check them out! Throughout my brief stint as an educator I have been a heavy advocate and supporter of the use of multimedia within the classroom and especially student constructed multimedia presentations and general usage. Multimedia offers students a creative and interesting format to construct their concept knowledge and explore new ideas and display the resulting information with the aid of images, music, or video. If my school allowed and with parental consent, I would upload classroom videos on You Tube or another site for sharing. This would allow students to feel the work and knowledge their gaining can be applied to the real world. Aside from the extra refinements and time they would spend perfecting their videos, parents and other students would be able to view and comment on their videos. 

Links for Multimedia Production Sites:

http://animoto.com/

http://www.slideshare.net/

https://storybird.com/

http://prezi.com/

Twitter: It's all About the Tweets

Social media is here, never fear. My personal journey into Twitter, took me further down the rabbits hole then I originally intended. #LewisCarroll #ThroughTheLookingGlass I first found the social media enterprise to be a stylized version of Facebook, although I knew rather little about Twitters broad abilities. After explore the infinite possibilities the hash-tag opens I was hooked. Through the use of a hash-tag followed by relevant text anyone can see your post by searching for key words. #HashTag With a 140 character limit, Tweets or updates need to be short, informative, and concise. This style forces a new line of summative thinking essential for students in the classroom. Twitter always user, such as myself, the ability to "follow" (subscribe) people or corporations, so that followers have the ability to see new entries made by these individuals on their news feed. Aside from the inconsequential babble from some of the people I am currently following, there existed numerous entries which were witty or informative, or in some instances both. As the image below suggests, one should write something more than pointless dribble. Numerous famous and important figures have accounts they active use, sharing critical pertinent news. For entertainment I am following a few notables such as George Takei (#Sulu) and Steve Martin (#Jerk) who often post clever remarks or hilarous links. For news and information I decided to follow al-Jazeera, BBC, and Wikileaks. #OpenGovernment The main benefit, which I can see, is the face that this tool is so conducive to professional networking. Through following and hash-tags people and organization can connect meaningful to share information in a revolutionary manner. The collaborative nature of teaching is definitely facilitated on this site. #I4ed Not to dote to heavily on this tool, there are drawbacks. #SadFace You are limited to 140 characters and the features take time to learn. Overall though, I would rate this tool as invaluable in the professional field. Follow me @J8M8R

Image Sources:
http://crystalwashington.com/social-media-overload-make-social-media-more-manageable-three-minutes/
http://www.twitrcovers.com/twitter-covers/mnimalistic-funny/

#Copyrights

Online Oraganization

In terms of on-line organizational skills, or on-line curation, students need to develop reflective habits of the real world in a virtual sphere. Organizational skills is a key asset for students as they develop and achieve feats of increasing complexity where organizing information and websites of utility will be essential. Bookmarking sites such as Pearltrees, Symbaloo, and Diigo are perfect platforms on which to store and organize one's on-line life. Personally, I find the site Pearltrees to be the superior platform for on-line organization. One can simply create new webs of information around one central topic which can branch off further from there if necessary. One can collect, organize, and share any URL and upload photos and notes as well. Aside from this Pearltrees has a futuristic layout, which just feels James Bondish, both sleek and stylish. The site is perfect for teachers looking to separate subject areas and then further divide into units and then even further into lessons, which can all be shared with the students. Let me know your respective thoughts and feelings in the comments below.

Image Source:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/50-informative-and-well-designed-infographics/

Copyright and Pirates Bay

After a classroom discussion with John Finch regarding copyright law and an educators responsibilities, I was provoked to delve further into the seedy under belly of piracy. Surprisingly, as I soon discovered, the Harper government is taking yet another series of covert Conservative manoeuvres to destroy what is deemed Liberal. The recently passed Copyright Modernization Act (Bill C-11) forces internet service providers into releasing the identities and details of their subscribers. The bill was overwhelmingly rejected by NDP and Liberal representatives but the Conservatives pushed and on June 29th, 2012 the bill received royal ascent. In order to hunt the notorious Canadian pirates, Canipre has been hired. Canipre is a Canadian forensic software company, which estimates pirates in Canada at one in thirty. Ten million Canadians engaging in a taboo activity or is it the norm? Once you have downloaded content illegally, companies with your IP address must first inform your internet service provider, who in turn will send you a cease and desist order. If you do not comply, then you will be in trouble. The fine is a five thousand dollar maximum, compared to 25,000 plus in the United States. Internet anonymity could be at an end, yet another governmental perversion of privacy. The utilitarianism of Jeremy Bentham will certainly be a justification. Perhaps we should all follow the ideas of radicals such as Julian Assange, journalist and founder of Wikileaks, who believes that governments should be open about information to ensure honesty. Or of radicals Peter Sunde, Fredrik Neij and Gottfrid Svartholm who founded The Pirate Bay, where music, images, movies, and programs are shared free. The Pirate Bay (commonly abbreviated TPB) is a website that provides torrent files and magnet links to facilitate peer-to-peer file sharing using the BitTorrent protocol. From a moral, non-Capitalistic standpoint they are providing entertainment for millions to freely enjoy and share. From a legal standpoint they are guilty of copyright infringement and so are all the down-loaders who utilize this site. For educators this is important, we must obey the law. There are many sites that offer free and legal information for use by the public without breaking the established law. For informative and entertainment sake check out this video: 

Sources:

http://rt.com/op-edge/dutch-court-pirate-bay-457/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/tech-news/anti-piracy-firm-targeting-canadians-who-download-illegally/article11877622/

http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/207534/Copyright/Bill+C11+Canadas+New+and+Improved+Copyright+Act

http://www.techvibes.com/blog/bill-c-11-canadian-copyright-pirates-2012-12-20
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/50-informative-and-well-designed-infographics/

Gaming

The presentations made by Tyler, Tiffany, and Kirsten in class about difficulties and ways of using technology in the classroom, made me think about what most modern children enjoy doing, video games. Throughout the discourse of my posts, one topic keeps coming to the surface, in relation to a potential negative aspect of information communication technologies and technology in general, that is video games. As with numerous aspects of life, video games should be enjoyed in moderation. My past argument was excess is dangerous and their advent pales in comparison to other technologies. Their is also a real danger of cyber-bullying, especially through trolling. Aside from entertainment aspect, gaming can also be educational through the use of serious games such as problem solving games. Their are numerous games that seriously engage students in positive critical thinking, even games with a less serious nature can led to inquiry about information or ideas presented within the game. Several occasion during student teaching placements I was asked intellectually well-thought-out questions about games students were playing. Also I was able to impart information more readily when I could relate that material to students. For example, the Assassin's Creed video game franchise utilizes a fictional protagonist in often historic settings, following historic events, using historic technologies and perspectives, with the assistance of historic characters, making this game perfect for History class. I found this excellent Ted Talk video which explores some of the benefits of gaming, especially in regards to mental health.

1. Video games are therapeutic for children with chronic illnessesThe University of Utah released a study last year that examined the effects of regular gaming on children diagnosed with illnesses like autism, depression, and Parkinson's disease. Kids who played certain games, including one designed just for the study, showed signs of improvement in "resilience, empowerment, and a 'fighting spirit.'" Researchers believe the games' ability to act on "neuronal mechanisms that activate positive emotions and the reward system" helped improve kids' demeanors as they faced the daily challenges of their illnesses.

2. Video games improve preschoolers' motor skillsLetting a 4-year-old sit in front of a TV with a game controller might not seem like the most productive use of her time. But researchers from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, would disagree. Their study examined the development of 53 preschool-aged children, and found that those who played "interactive games" had better "object control motor skills" than those who didn't. It's not clear, though, whether children with better-than-average motor skills tend to gravitate toward video games in the first place.

3. Video games reduce stress and depression2009's Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine included a study that found that gamers who suffered from mental health issues such as stress and depression were able to vent their frustration and aggression by playing video games — and showed a noted improvement. The study hypothesized that games gave certain "Type A" personalities time to relax in "a state of relative mindlessness" that allowed them to avoid reaching "a certain level of stressful arousal" as they tried to relax.

4. Video games provide pain reliefVideo games don't just provide relief from emotional pain. They can also help those who are suffering from physical pain. Psychologists at the University of Washington developed a game that helps hospital patients suffering from immense physical pain by using an age-old mental trick: distraction. The virtual reality game "Snow World" put patients in an arctic wonderland in which they throw an endless arsenal of snowballs at a series of targets, such as penguins and snowmen. Military hospitals found the experience helped soldiers recovering from their battlefield wounds. The soldiers who played "Snow World" required less pain medicine during their recuperation. 

5. Video games can improve your visionMom may have warned you that sitting in front of the TV wasn't good for your eyes. But one developmental psychologist found it could actually be beneficial to your vision. Dr. Daphen Maurer of the Visual Development Lab of Ontario's McMaster University made a surprising discovery: People suffering from cataracts can improve their vision by playing first-person shooter games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty. She believes these games are so fast-paced that they require an extreme amount of attention, training the visually impaired to view things more sharply. They can also produce higher levels of dopamine and adrenaline that "potentially may make the brain more plastic," she said. 

6. Video games improve your decision-making skillsMost video games require fast reactions and split-second decisions that can mean the difference between virtual life and virtual death. Cognitive neuroscientists at the University of Rochester in New York found these games give players' brains plenty of practice for making decisions in the real world. Researchers suggest that action-oriented games act as a simulator for the decision-making process by giving players several chances to infer information from their surroundings and forcing them to react accordingly.

7. Video games keep you happy in old age
Researchers from North Carolina State University looked closely at our aging population to see if there was a link between playing video games and mental well-being — i.e. "happiness." They found that senior citizens who said they played video games — even occasionally — reported "higher levels of happiness, or well-being," says Rick Nauert at PsychCentral. "Those who did not play video games reported more negative emotions" and were more likely to be depressed. It's unclear what exactly is behind this link — or if the relationship is even causal.

Sources:

http://theweek.com/article/index/241121/7-health-benefits-of-playing-video-games

http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/amp-a0034857.pdf

For those gamers interested: