Before our school visit this week, we had already learned and practiced how to create stop-motion videos in our previous technology class with Allie, which made me feel much more confident going into a classroom. Our in-situ class was held at a local elementary school, I was a little nervous knowing it would be my first class with students I know personally and teaching technology, which isn’t my strongest suit. However, it ended up being one of my favorite learning experiences so far. Together with two other student teachers, I worked with a group of four students to create a stop-motion video using their desk pets as the main characters. The students were so excited and full of creative ideas. We used an animated story planning sheet, which really helped them organize their thoughts. It was a great way to guide their brainstorming while still letting everyone contribute.

We used the school iPads, which already had the Stop Motion Studio app downloaded, making the process so smooth. I was impressed by the students’ creativity with the story, and that they had already been exposed to stop-motion videos—something I never experienced at their age. The most challenging part was reminding them that each movement needed to be very small, so their animation looked smooth. Once they saw their first few frames come together, though, they were hooked. It was very rewarding to watch them collaborate and problem-solve together. Seeing how excited they were while using their creativity was a joy to watch.

The school seemed very organized when it came to managing technology. Each iPad was numbered and kept in a secure charging cart, ready for use. The classroom teacher had everything set up ahead of time, including pre-installed apps, which saved a lot of time and prevented distractions. You could tell there was a system in place for maintenance and sharing devices between classes.

Seeing all the technology in today’s classrooms really made me think about how different things were when I was in elementary school. We didn’t have Wi-Fi back then, and the only computers were bulky desktops in the library. I am pretty sure they all used Dial-Up Internet. I can still remember typing up an essay on dolphins in Grade 6 after doing all my research from books, it felt like such a big deal at the time! Aside from that, my experience with technology in school was minimal.

Now, as both a student and a mom, it’s incredible to see how much things have changed. My own kids are already more tech-savvy than I was well into high school. They use iPads and online learning tools almost every day. Technology has become such a natural part of the classroom, not just for academics but for creativity, collaboration, and communication. Seeing digital tools fit so seamlessly into the classroom really opened my eyes to how much more interactive and engaging learning can be today. Overall, this experience reminded me how powerful technology can be when used intentionally. Not only does it engage students, but it also gives them creative ownership of their learning.