Reflection over module

When teaching in primary school it is important to motivate and encourage children to learn. One resource that will help you make your teaching relevant for the children and thereby encourage and motivate pupils would be popular culture. When they are at home popular culture has a huge impact on their learning (Arthur, 2005). So why not support that and bring something with meaning to the children into the classroom.

The role of technology also needs a larger place in the teaching, but a lot of schools still don’t have the economy to support that role. The school where I do school practice just bought 10 IPads this year. And if you look at the statement from Steven Higgins report upon the use of technologies:

‘Technology can be as powerful as a short but focused intervention to improve learning,

particularly when there is regular and frequent use.’ (The Impact of Digital Technology on Learning: A Summary for the Education Endowment Foundation, 2012)

This is difficult to do with ten IPads and 370 pupils. The use of technologies must be well planned by the teachers so this frequently use can be made across the Years and be beneficial for all pupils.

This module supported great programs on computers and apps on IPads which can be used in future teaching in literacy. What is important is that:     

‘technology is best used as a supplement to normal teaching

rather than as a replacement for it.’ (The Impact of Digital Technology on Learning: A Summary for the Education Endowment Foundation, 2012)

This can for example include making a multi modal book using Power Point or Book Creator and practice literacy.

When you are using technology in the classroom you need to know rules for copyrights and internet safety. This could be an event where you include the parents as they have a responsibility as well especially about the internet safety and the parents are not digital natives like the children (Palfrey & Gasser, 2008) so here is a job to be done.

Using comedy books and graphic novels within the classroom can be a great support of reading skills. When year 2 pupils where asked what their favorite reading was, histories was their first answer and comics the second answer (Marsh & Millard, 2001). That is why they need a role in literacy. It is important to the children to introduce what a graphic novel or comic book is. (Stafford, 2009) They need to know how to read it and in which order.

An example of an evaluation system to use while you are teaching could be a blog. Here you can upload all the products the class is producing and you can also use it as a diary about your learning. Parents can be invited so they can see what the children are working on. 

Bibliography  

Millard and Marsh (2001) 'Sending Minnie the Minx Home: comics and reading choices' Cambridge Journal of Education, 31:1, 25 - 38 (pdf)

Stafford, T (2009) ‘Teaching Comics’ in Duncan, D. (2009) Teaching Children’s Literature: Making stories work in the classroom Abingdon:Routledge (pdf)

Arthur, L. (2005) ‘Popular Culture: views of parents and educators’ in Marsh, J. (2005) Popular Culture, New Media and Digital Literacy in Early Childhood Oxon: RoutledgeFalmer (pdf on LN)

Palfrey, J. & Gasser, U. (2008) Born Digital: Understanding The First Generation of Digital Natives New   York: Basic Books (Introduction p. 1 – 15) (pdf on LN) 

2012, Durham University. (The Impact of Digital Technology on Learning: A Summary for the Education Endowment Foundation) [pdf] Durham: Durham University. Available at  http://learn2.winchester.ac.uk/pluginfile.php/286045/mod_resource/content/1/Higgins%20et%20al%20Impact%20of%20Digital%20Technology%20on%20Learning.pdf [Accessed 30 March 2014].