For the second time in the Beyond Technology project, we have met now towards the end of the school year to exchange experiences, ideas and think about where to go.
We have discussed ideas to do with affect and digital technology, programming, media consumption, and when at the confluence of on-and offline technologies students can become navigators of their own learning.
The year started with a great get together! After having worked for a few weeks on their investigations to do with astronomy, more specifically ‘rotations and the universe’ the 8th graders at Sofiendalskole presented their projects to their interested parents.
Presentations included one in a stardome, set up in the school’s library.
Topics included how the Earth’s rotation and its relationship to the moon influences the tides.
The parents were paying full attention to each group’s presentation.
We continued the evening with looking back at the achievements of 2017 and our plans for the new year. Parents and students were also asked to review their consent to participate in the project.
Teacher Bjarne Poulsen and researcher Kathrin Otrel-Cass were sharing their plans and the focus of this year being technology use in the classroom.
The plans include:
Video observations of one full study unit over several weeks, and
joint video analysis of selected episodes by students, researchers and teachers.
The evening finished with lots of empty pizza boxes!!
Participants from Finland
During year 2016-2017 the participants were 26 students on the 6th class and their teacher Katariina Stenberg in Viikki University Training School
The project will continue with Kata and her new students who are on their 5th class.
Viikki Teacher Training School of the University of Helsinki
http://www.vink.helsinki.fi/index.php?del=0&id=911
Researchers
Dr Minna Ruckenstein, University of Helsinki, Department of Political and Economic Studies, Consumer Society Research Centre
Dr Katariina Stenberg, Viikki Teacher Training School of the University of Helsinki
Dr Riikka Hohti, University of Helsinki, University of Oulu
The purpose and idea behind the “Beyond technology in primary school”-project and the latest findings was presented by Bjarne Poulsen at the Big Bang-conference in Odense. The audience was science teachers and researchers from most parts of the country.
Kathrin Otrel-Cass and Eva Hartell presented an overview of our project at KTH research school QUEST meet-up in Mariestad on the 15–17 of March. We shared with teachers and other researchers what we had done so far, including surveying the classes where we established that all of the students in our project own a smartphone.
The 15th of November 2016 parents of first and fourth graders at Ribbybergsskolan were invited to an introduction meeting to our Nordplus junior project Beyond technology.
Besides the teachers of the classes, one researcher from KTH Royal Institute of Technology were attending in person and one via Skype from Ireland. Sharing aims and purpose of project.
Great discussions over a cup of coffee regarding project and pros and cons regarding mobile devices in school.
