How to create magic

I know this blog is aimed at how we use technology to aid our teaching in the classroom. But I re-watched this Ted Talk and I decided I wanted to share it. Christopher Emdin talks very passionately about teaching and how it is all about delivery and the connection you have with your audience / students.  I use technology all the time to teach my students and I definitely think it's one of most powerful teaching tools out there. But it is just a tool.

Reading theorists for my assignment opened by eyes to how one day the majority of teaching may take place online. I think that would be a big mistake. I know the advancements with video communication, virtual learning environments and exams online make it possible to teach many more students than you would fit in your classroom, but I would see it as a great loss. Having a connection with your teacher can make your education. Everyone remembers the teachers that believed in them, that pushed them. No-one remembers the books they wrote in or the software they used. They remember the personality of the teacher and how that teacher helped them develop and grow. 

I aspire to be a teacher that can make students follow the path they want to go down. Encourage and inspire them to work to their best standard no matter what that is. I want to see my students and get instant reactions from the workshop activities or discussions we have. I don't believe you can deliver as much passion over an internet connection. 

Grow Curiosity - Ted Talks

Ramsey Musallam : 3 rules to spark learning 

 

I have seen quite a few Ted talks about all different ways that teachers inspire students or students inspiring teachers. But not many people give you actually advice for doing this. Then I saw Ramsey Musallam's 3 rules to spark learning. His subject is chemistry, very far away from photography, but he used it in a very clever way. He talks about growing students curiosity and how the quality of their questions is an important part of learning. Instead of giving your students a load of information to digest, show them something or do something to grow their curiosity. Do something that will spark the questions, then they will want to know the information. 

I think this is an amazing way to teach. I tried to reverse a very common way of teaching Photoshop on Thursday. Usually in a Photoshop class the teacher will demonstrate the tools and give instructions on what they want the students to do, step by step. I hated being taught like this, it can be really boring and I would always switch off half way through. So I reversed it. I knew the students had basic Photoshop skills so I gave them a photograph with 4 main faults and asked them to correct it. It was great, the activity was received very well by the students. When they couldn't figure out how to do something, this made them ask the questions I wanted them to ask, so I could show them how to do it. The students said that I had trusted them and gave them independence, so they could really see what they knew and what they wanted to know. 

I was definitely inspired by this video!