I have wished to see all the ideas, techniques and activities as opportunities to develop them in my country, but I can´t deny a reality, that whenever I will go back to Panama, our school system doesn't have even half of the material that Westwood has, we don't have technological devices (maybe we could have a projector) so what can I do to perform and conduct all this activities. I understand that the main purpose of this school visit beside to blog our reflections is that we could be able to adapt the activities and ideas to our reality, that unfortunately is very different.
Maybe, I´ll have to make a list of the resources that I do have, and the material that somehow I could need, and design lesson plans using what I have to work with the Panamanian kids have. Instead of powerpoint, I can write in poster paper the slides that I want to use to explain in class. For handcraft, the school won't provide me with materials, so based on the planning I can ask parents for the material and have some material for those students that never bring their own material (we have many of those).
I don't want to lose hope, so I have to continue observing and at the same time continue asking myself what can I do to adapt all the amazing ideas to be able to use them in Panama.
You're engaging in the hardest part, namely, seeing past the glitz and glamour of technology and materials, and thinking about how to create elements of what you see in your own context. That's challenging.
ReplyDeleteRegarding materials, you could also see if any local businesses or organization might be willing to donate some materials or money for materials. Think creatively about that. For example, your classrooms may not have carpet, so you might think it's impossible to sit on the floor. However, might there be a carpet store in your city that would be willing to donate extra carpet scraps so that you could make small carpets that each student could take and sit on? (See this example: http://colorinmypiano.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/DSC_20110910_140727-824x546.jpg)
Keep thinking about creative ways to accomplish the most important things. When in China, I also had little or no tech; I had to be creative.