Reading Reflection #1:
Graduate Students Find Elementary Observations Online
Cynthia Vavasseur, a passionate professor instructing the elementary teachers of tomorrow came up with an ingenious way to bring much needed on-the-job training to her graduate students while impacting the lives of struggling fifth graders. The most amazing part of this program is it’s quick success and almost limitless potential. What seems like a no-brainer idea schedules bi-weekly 15 minute video-chat sessions between fifth graders and a corresponding graduate student tutor. Colonal Chat was born and was extremely beneficial to both parties. Southern Louisiana fifth graders were apethetic about vocabulary and reading comprehension so tutors devised a set of teaching exercises and tools like oversized flashcards and slideshows to use during instruction. Preservice teachers logged precious practice hours with real elementary students while the technology and excitement of interacting with graduate students brought the fifth grader’s comprehension and vocabulary back from the brink. The relationships built through these online interactions made learning on both sides of the screen a better experience.
As I was reading this article I immediately thought how awesome it would be to employ a version of Colonal Chat for CSUSM preservice teachers. Logging really useful time observing elementary classrooms can be very tedious and not 100% effective, while a Colonal Chat program would definitely let CSUSM teaching students get their feet wet with elementary-teaching style interactions. One of the biggest reasons I want to become a teacher is to provide a safe learning environment for my young students. The relationship building aspect of this tutoring program can help children without a great deal of structure in the home look forward to learning in a creative way. Video chat tutoring is technologically savvy and cutting edge, something the young generation can appreciate while teaching styles and methods can be tested first-hand for effectiveness.
The use of technology to teach in the modern world is meant to inspire students to be creative while making them familiar with computers. The earlier students are immersed in technology the better repaired they will be for the digital world we live in. Modern teachers are required to have a closer understanding of technological teaching techniques and the early testing of methods can relay which kinds of lessons and advice are working well. Elementary students also have the responsibility to log onto their sessions according to a schedule. These benefits model the set of ISTE standards in many ways and can make video chat tutoring a uniquely modern way to teach the next generation.
Vavasseur, C., Hebert, C., & Naquin, T. (2012). Preservice Teachers Tutor K-12 Students. Learning and Leading With Technology, 40(1), 28-29. Retrieved from: http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learningandleading
Erik,
ReplyDeleteI had not heard of Colonal Chat before I read your reflection about it. I think it is such a genius idea that can really be used in today's education system. I think something like this could also be used to show students how to implement internet safety and prevent cyber bullying. They would be working with someone who could be like a mentor to them, who could show them the ropes regarding appropriate internet etiquette.
I also think that we as future educators could really benefit from a program like this. It allow us to have a more personal classroom experiences than differs from just observing.
What age group do you think would benefit from a concept like this? If you could do something like this as a teacher, how often would you implement it into your lesson plan? Monthly? Weekly?
I learned something new, great post!
Comment by: Jessica Roldan
I had never heard of this program before I read your article but like you said it is a very logical, no-brainer approach that benefits future teachers and students. The subjects that we have covered of cyber safety could and would be used and be more informed. But not only that students need extra help all the time that school time restrictions do not allow this allows them to gain this help, while student teachers are always going to need more interaction and field experience and this gives that to them. So its a win-win situation for both that has great impact on education.
ReplyDelete-Nelson