Reflection 6

november , 9-10 , 2017

Technigration

During this week we focused on two (2) different aspects. Firstly, we looked at integrating technology into writing. As the lecture advanced we realized that the usage of technology is important in advancing and improving students writing. We never viewed technology in this spectrum but as we reflected on our progress with this assignment we could not deny the fact. Secondly, we looked at persuasive writing, what it was, what it entails and how it can be  introduced and taught in the classroom. This made the sessions for this week enlightening, educational and refreshing . As trainee teachers, it is pivotal that we retain such information and use them effectively in aiding our students in becoming better writers and overall competent students of the language.

Moreover children work collaboratively when technology is used in the classroom to advance writing. As mentioned previously we had our own experiences in the writing of these reflections for this course. Due to the fact that each group member has an individual voice we keep revising and editing each other's work continually via the use of technology. Therefore without recognizing it we are working together to ensure that the finish product is of the best quality. Similarly students will work together an assist each other, those students who are more advanced can assist those who are slow in using the technology in aiding their writing. For instance, how to backspace, enter, indent and space just to name a few. Therefore as the students work together using technology,social interactions are fostered because they have to communicate with each other as we usually do when we are writing up our reflections.

Technology must be used in the classroom to complement the lesson and not to teach the lesson. We agree that technology within the classroom is very important. We are living in a technological era and our students embrace technology, they are born into technology. Therefore, using what they love to enhance learning is certainly not a bad initiative. However, any form of technology used in the classroom must aid in the delivery of the lesson. Often times teachers use technology within the classroom with little to no explanation of what the technology is highlighting. As teachers in training we understand that we must always explain what is been taught to our students. In order for them to comprehend effectively they must be taught. For example, projecting a sample of a persuasive writing using a projector and a laptop, then instructing students to write their own after without emphasizing what the technology was advocating is not a good initiative. Therefore we pledge to use technology effectively in our classrooms to advance the writing of our students, on a larger scale in any subject area.

Furthermore, as teachers it is important the we model to our students how persuasive writing should be formulated. As teachers we must never assume that our students know and mark their work base on what we think they know. This is not right, as teachers we understand that we must only account for what we teach. Therefore we must not allow our students to engage in writing unaware of what they are writing about. When writing persuasive pieces students must utilize rhetorical devices of which there is a set structure. How can students be knowledgeable of this if we do not teach it to them ? As teachers in training we are aware of what is happening in some classrooms pertaining to writing because of our experiences with writing. Therefore we will make the difference when we enter the classrooms. Again, we emphasize that persuasive writing must be taught if students are to become competent or close to competent at writing persuasive pieces.

In addition the main aim of persuasive writing is to convince and appeal to the emotions of the audience. At times students may forget this and stray when writing persuasive pieces however one (1) activity that stood us to us which can aid students in remembering what persuasive writing entails is the oreo opinion writing activity. In this activity each letter in oreo emphasises persuasive writing. Therefore the activity emphasises what a piece of persuasive writing should entail. We believe that in using this activity the actual oreos should be brought  to the classroom and distributed to students while the teacher explains why they are using the oreos.

Students are more likely to remember what was taught because the teacher used material that they are familiar with and moreso what they liked.

  

In concluding this reflection we think that  a model of a piece of Persuasive writing should have been placed in the lecture. This would be refreshing to the students because as the lecturer explained they can easily follow and identify what is being thought. Additionally, since it is a part of our assignment to write a Persuasive piece for our portfolios students could have easily viewed this model if they got lost in their writing.