Affordance analysis is used to evaluate technology. By looking at what a technology CAN do and what a teacher NEEDS affordances can be created… however, certain technologies are going to be a better fit than others.
If teachers follow this, they can use the technology they have effectively. More importantly, it can be used to evaluate possible NEW technologies that a teacher or school might wish to invest in to determine if it’s a worthy investment… or merely a new educational gimmick.
I’ve already seen this affecting my practice. On Friday, I recommended both Ozobots and Osmo for our school STEM lab to teach basic training. We’ve added them to the list of products we want for the STEM lab as this is our first year and we’re still setting it up.
I’ve also thought more about the tech I already use, switching from Google Forms to an open ended discussion question on Google Classroom for science homework. Also it’s caused me to think more deeply about what technology I want to use for upcoming projects.
I'm glad that you've already started tweaking things in your classroom! I've always known that I've needed to integrate more technology use into mine, but I didn't want to do it just to check a box. I'm glad that now I have a reliable vetting tool to check that what I'm using is actually helpful instead of just a flashy tech-entertainment. Are there any tech tools you use now that help you support your students to become designers/engineers? What are some projects your STEM program is developing? Our school emphasizes STEM-like concepts in our math and science classes, but we don't do anything specific. It sounds really cool!
ReplyDeleteOur STEM program is new so she's still getting used to the role, but I've taken an engineering for teachers course and one of the things we talked about is that "Technology" doesn't have to be electronic (which we discussed briefly in one of our earlier classes). The tech I find the most useful for engineering projects are KEVA planks, and plain old index cards or computer paper.
DeleteSame here. I have started thinking about the different technology I can incorporate into my classroom that would be the most effective. Now that I understand affordances I'm happy to effectively use them to find the best pieces to help me reach my learning goals.
ReplyDeleteHey Will! I love that you recommended the Osmo and Ozbots for your STEM program! I really liked the Osmo, but I can see how both of those technologies can really open students'creativity and enhance learning. Learning what affordances are and how to choose the best ones for my learning goal has me thinking about adding more technology to my classes also. I just created a Google Form to help with my IEP data collections. It's been a life saver, and I wish I had done it sooner!
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