Lesson: Creating a Life Map

Details

Subject: Religion and Ethics
Grade: 11
Tools: Padlet *; Mapfaire
Focus Question: Where did the significant events in my life happen?

The Lesson

The concept of one's personal story being a sacred story was addressed in a previous lesson using the "Moments" Youtube Video by Everynone. This lesson was designed to get the students thinking about the significant events in their lives.

First we used corkboard.me*to brainstorm what kinds of things could be considered significant moments in a person's life.

I then showed them a life map I had created covering my life up to leaving school. I used this to introduce the students to the tool.

The students then logged onto Mapfaire using their Google accounts (each student at the College now has one). Once logged in they started adding locations on their map and writing notes about what happened at that place.

At the end of the lesson I encouraged them to ask their friends and families for details of more stories.

Follow Up

The beginning of the next lesson, students shared their maps in small groups. Each student was encouraged to share at least one story.

* corkboard.me has subsequently changed it's pricing therefore I'd recommend using Padlet instead

Just another technology

"Low-tech Texting..." by Jon Mott (licensed CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The introduction of new technologies into the classroom always presents new challenges in behaviour management, but maybe the adjustment is not as big as it first seems.

Technology may continuously change, but student behaviour remains constant. Therefore, use the skill you have developed over the years to address the behaviour not the technology. This frame of mind enables you to approach ICT use in your classroom with your normal classroom management techniques.

Draw Parallels

The way I apply this methodology is is to draw parallels between the ICT behaviour and the non-ICT behaviour. Since I was far from a model student, I may have the advantage of personal familiarity with the non-ICT behaviours, but I'm sure that you will recognise them from your time in front of the class. Below are some examples.

• Texting - Passing notes
• Online chatting - Passing notes
• Playing computer games - Playing tic-tac-toe or dots-and-dashes
• Watching YouTube - Staring out the window
• Surfing the web - Reading a book
• Cyber-bullying - Bullying

Once, the parallel has been draw between the behaviours, then it's a short step to applying your classroom management techniques.