Repurposing in a TPACK framework
Most teachers are highly creative and innovative. Yet anyone trying a novel approach will attest that the idea flashing like lightning in one's creative moment of brilliance, is not easily formed into three dimensional reality with the tools at hand. Instead it is fraught with snags. Existing tools are frequently insufficient to unexpected new tasks.
Yet as a teacher fashions a new brainstorm, existing technologies can be harnessed in ways not naturally intended. This is called "repurposing." Notice this slightly lame example of "repurposing" common kitchen equipment for preparing a fruit salad in this following video:
Just as in this video it was a struggle using the instruments provided, even so the teacher in a classroom wrestles available technology. In this case the fork mangled the apple slices, while being tolerably useful in cutting the banana. Obviously the fork was "repurposed" to finish the task better accomplished with a knife.
A similar situation occurred with a unit assessment checklist I made recently. I needed a five column framework to display my checklist, but most forms in Word or Excel had too many or too few columns. But finally I discovered a five columned "Baby Shower Form," so I "repurposed" it for the checklist. And actually, I will probably utilize this checklist form in my future classroom. It will be an aid to help my students prepare for, and thoroughly complete their assignments.
So this, and other "repurposings" of existing technologies should benefit our next crop of budding students. Bending technology to new purposes transfers creative ideas to three dimensional reality, bringing new freshness, and discovery to the TPACK mix of content, pedagogical skills, and technology. This creative repurposing will help revolutionize classrooms in a fresh, exciting, and effective manner.
A similar situation occurred with a unit assessment checklist I made recently. I needed a five column framework to display my checklist, but most forms in Word or Excel had too many or too few columns. But finally I discovered a five columned "Baby Shower Form," so I "repurposed" it for the checklist. And actually, I will probably utilize this checklist form in my future classroom. It will be an aid to help my students prepare for, and thoroughly complete their assignments.
So this, and other "repurposings" of existing technologies should benefit our next crop of budding students. Bending technology to new purposes transfers creative ideas to three dimensional reality, bringing new freshness, and discovery to the TPACK mix of content, pedagogical skills, and technology. This creative repurposing will help revolutionize classrooms in a fresh, exciting, and effective manner.
James,
ReplyDeleteI like how you described repurposing as "bending technology to new purposes." This is an interesting analogy, and one that I think can help teachers wrap their minds around ways to reimagine how to use technology in the classroom. Instead of thinking of or finding brand new uses, new strategies, and new tools, we can "bend" our existing strategies and tools for new purposes.
James I hope the fruit salad was delicious! It was slightly painful to watch you butcher that apple. The blog itself is written very nicely. I laughed when you mentioned re-purposing the baby shower form for the checklist. I ran into a similar issue with making the checklist so I split it up into smaller categories which actually made it less daunting to the reader.
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