Technology is being used more and more in classrooms. However, most teachers have not been trained on how to appropriately include it, and we have most definitely not done affordance analysis. To be honest, before reading this article, I didn’t really know what affordance analysis was, it is not a term that I have heard or used often. However, I do think it is extremely important when choosing the technology that my students will be using.
I believe we are all guilty of throwing our kids on the computer from time to time when we’ve had a long day or are just exhausted. We do that without thinking about the goals that can be achieved through technology. Most of the time teachers, myself included, use technology to substitute other tools rather than use them for their full potential. This is definitely something that doing an affordance analysis would help with! Taking the time to sit down with the tool and work through whether or not using this tool would enhance the learning goals is crucial. If the tool is not going to help move towards these goals, then there is not a good reason to use it. Affordance analysis is all about choosing and using tools appropriately. One tool may work for one goal while a different tool is better suited for a different goal, it is okay to try different tools! I feel as though many teachers get stuck using what they already know and don’t know how to find what else is out there!
Hello Jordyn,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you! I am guilty of putting my students on Myon or a website to play a math game or two when it's been a long day or I am not feeling well like this week. It always boils down to TIME which is something that we are getting less and less of these days. Our team has two CLT meetings a week and we have to spend them on Language Arts and Math. When is there time to discuss computer technology well maybe I should be the one to bring this up and plan an hour to do some affordance analysis. My team and I should be able to work together to look at some of the tools and decide which ones connect with our activities and goals. The SBITS in my school just sent out an email asking for someone to run a technology session on our professional development day next Monday. Well maybe I should do an affordance analysis with the teachers for one of the sessions. It wouldn't be too difficult since we just participated in one in class last week.
Betsy...what a wonderful idea and great step in modeling teacher leadership. You definitely should do this...and then let us know how it goes! I'd be interested in knowing how you modified the information to be more readily accepted by the teachers.
DeleteHi Jordyn. I actually don't find myself using the computers as an occupier when I'm exhausted. Instead I have the problem of being too scared to use the computers out of fear of using the incorrectly. I guess that could be a good or bad thing as we talk about affordances.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling you're right...teachers don't KNOW how to find what else might be out there for use. I'm always concerned about wrongly downloading something or not being able to understand the jargon of requirements needed to run the program/tool.
I had not heard of affordances either until I took these classes. I think that was one of the goals of this class is to give us new vocabulary and new ways to think about what we are already doing. I believe Myon or Prodigy all have affordances even if you might find yourselves using those tools in a different way. It is thinking more critically at the tools we are using and what they afford. As teachers we have a LOT to think about but I know that using the affordance analysis more often makes it easier the more times I use it. I find myself on overload when I get the new list of apps and websites each year at our state library conference - but then I try and go back and really think of each one and what it has to offer. Whether it is powerpoint or word each one has affordances but as you mentioned it is when we look at the goal that we can better determine what we need to use.
ReplyDeleteJordyn,
ReplyDeleteWe have all had our moments of utter fatigue. I find concert season to be the most exhausting as I have additional large group rehearsals that have to have equipment moved and then keep a large group of noise makers under control and focused. The day after each concert is the worst, as I am usually at a different school that day, and they didn't have a concert the day before and deserve my best. Sometimes it would be nice to allow the students to do some self directed work on the computers...now if only I had some in my room :<
Hi Jordyn!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it helps to have the one or two apps/websites ready and on the go to be able to use them for (a) a specifically designed activity or (b) those "I need a break too" moments that we all have. I have Dreambox and Reflex, and the kids know that I know these apps backwards and forwards, and that I am able to analyze the data that they are putting in, share it with them and their parents, or change setups. "Sra. Navas is the Queen of Dreambox", I heard one of them say. My confidence in using these tools come from my understanding them at depth. Affordances. They work!