Our focus this week was on TPACK (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge). In his discussion on TPACK, Dr. Punya Mishra focuses on the idea of repurposing technologies in education. He points out that rarely are technologies made with education in mind, however as educators it is our job to find new and creative ways to have students use the technologies to enhance learning.
With that in mind, our challenge this week was to complete a task using tools that might not be designed for the task. I began by having my fiance pick out a bowl, a plate, and a utensil. His choices were a small mixing bowl, a large dinner plate, and what I call the “meat masher”. It is a more specialized tool that we only use to break up ground meat when cooking. After that he choose a task, and I got cutting cheese for a cheese plate. Take a look at what happened:
With that in mind, our challenge this week was to complete a task using tools that might not be designed for the task. I began by having my fiance pick out a bowl, a plate, and a utensil. His choices were a small mixing bowl, a large dinner plate, and what I call the “meat masher”. It is a more specialized tool that we only use to break up ground meat when cooking. After that he choose a task, and I got cutting cheese for a cheese plate. Take a look at what happened:
The “meat masher” was clearly not designed to cut anything, only to break it up. It did however have slightly sharper edges. I used those edges to slide down the edge of a block of cheddar cheese. The result was not pretty, but it worked. In the end I actually realized that the smaller pieces were easier to cut and I could give them more defined edges, making the cheese “prettier”.
After this activity I found myself thinking about the ways I repurpose technology in my classroom and ways that I can push my repurposing. While it is helpful to have tools for specific purposes, part of the fun and challenge in the classroom is to find ways to integrate new tools. It pushes me to be more creative and helps my students to become even more creative in their learning.
References
Mishra, Punya. (2012, March 26). Punya Mishra - Keynote Speaker @ 21st Century Learning Conference - Hong Kong 2012. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bwXYa91fvQ
After this activity I found myself thinking about the ways I repurpose technology in my classroom and ways that I can push my repurposing. While it is helpful to have tools for specific purposes, part of the fun and challenge in the classroom is to find ways to integrate new tools. It pushes me to be more creative and helps my students to become even more creative in their learning.
References
Mishra, Punya. (2012, March 26). Punya Mishra - Keynote Speaker @ 21st Century Learning Conference - Hong Kong 2012. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bwXYa91fvQ