Visual Learning

visual-learning2This pod cast discusses the article visual-learning2

Source: http://www.kcec.co.uk/images/photo_3.jpg

Building Softwear Beats Using It

This article proves that students have a greater interest in creating their own software rather than using someone else’s where they have to answer questions or blow up the right answers.

The article gives a defination for constructionist learning - ’children learn best when they use computers in a way that puts them in the active roles of designer and builder. ‘ I too like Jodie, agree with this definition as it empowers the students to become life long learners.

During my prac I saw many opportunities to apply this constructionist approach to teaching, especially in the area of story writing. Some kids really struggled to put pen to paper when writing a story, but when you spoke to them about their ideas they flowed out and this is where computer software and pod casting can come into play building confidence in students abilities to write narratives.

Source: http://www.discoverycube.org/upload/computerLab1.jpg

The digital portfoilo

This article discusses the benefits of students having a digital portfolio of work examples rather than their abilities being judged on a report mark. 

The Digital Portfolio is a “hypermedia” document. This  means that the portfolio is a set of screens much like a website. The home page of the digital portfolio would identify the student and give some basic facts of their school, year etc. When a student begins school they would be given a blank portfolio and then over their school life build up examples of their work.

While this article is more focused on High Schools I can see a real benefit for this in primary schools as teachers could also put pod casts and vod casts of the students progress in reading and motor skills. This is a tool that could benefit teachers when students change from grade to grade as well as when students change schools. The portfolio would be a much better indicator to teachers where a student ability lies rather than just looking at last years report card.

I look forward to being able to use these digital portfolio’s in my teaching career.

Source: http://www.essentialschools.org/images/resources_pics/dp/pvc1.gif

Geo-Literacy: Using technology to Forge New Ground

This is a podcast on the geoliteracy1 article

Relevant links to websites

The Geo-Literacy Project

Th classes website

Interactive Whiteboards

I had the opportunity on prac to use an Interactive White Board (IWB) and I was curious to do some more reading to find out how other teachers used the IWB in their classrooms.

The article ‘Not just all play’ included some interviews with teachers about their experiences with IWB. Both teachers commented on IWB being an unlimited resource in the classroom, that empowers the students to become active learners as the teacher is more of a facilitator. It’s a great tool for non-English speaking children as it’s so visual and good for problem solving activities as the screen is so big. Using the IWB had made huge improvements to classroom management as the children were more focused and on task when the IWB is used.

An obstacle that both teachers faced was the fear of technology but they soon realised that it’s about having a go rather than not using it at all.  They also commented that if they got stuck generally one of the students would be able to help them out!

I found that I too had a very similar experience with using the IWB and realised that it was there for the students to use rather than the teacher because as soon as you invited them to use it the level of engagement went to a new level.

Source: http://www.edtech.co.nz/Store/6/47/images/smartboard.jpg

5 Weeks without internet!

This posting is to explain the HUGE gap between posts as well as a revelation I had about the internet.

Our internet went down at home due to some technical difficulties for five weeks. Whist this was extremely frustrating it was an eye opening experience for me, as I had no idea how much I actually depend on the internet.

Firstly, it was really difficult when planning for prac and also completing my assignments, as I didn’t have the world at your fingertips. Secondly, I found it really difficult to keep in contact with people and organise our life socially. Thirdly, I discovered just how much I depended on the internet for simple things like directions, recipes and general information when looking for phone numbers.

If you had asked me two months ago if I was someone who depended on the internet, I would probably have said, that it’s helpful but not essential. Once it was taken away though, I qiuckily realised that like electricty and running water the internet has become a huge part of our daily lives and without it we struggle to get things done.

This experience has opened my eyes even more to using technology in the classroom. If technology is apart of a normal child’s life at home, it is important to be developing their skills and knowledge of technology in the classroom.

Source: http://bellezaguatemalteca.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/sorry-no-internet-today-1.jpg

Seeds of learning – my thoughts on e-learning

Seeds of learning is a cartoon that Jodie and I created together to explain our views on e-learning. We believe strongly that a variety of technologies need to be used in classrooms so that students are exposed to different ways of creating, producing and celebrating their work and research.

Students in today’s world need to have more than knowledge when they enter the world after school. By introducing different technologies throughout their schooling from K-12 it builds their skill base and enables them to become more confident and creative in their use of technologies in everyday life.

Engage Me or Enrage Me

This article discusses three kinds of students

1)     The students who are self-motivated and love school

2)     The students who go through the motions of school and do well

3)     The students who tune out and believe that what they are taught in school has no connection to the real world.

Our schools teach the first two types of students really well but more than often fail when teaching the third group. The difference between the students of ten years ago and today is that the students today tend to be more creative, passionate and engaged in activities outside of school.

‘In my view, it’s not “relevance” that’s lacking for this generation, it’s engagement’ (Marc Prensky) As a new generation of teachers in training we need to be thinking and strategising how we can engage this current generation in the lessons that need to be taught. Like Jodie, I too agree that we need to ensure we are covering all aspects of the curriculum when introducing technology, especially computer games into the classroom. Mindsets in schools are going to have to change dramatically over the next few years, as instead of banning the technology students love so dearly, we should be bringing it into the classroom and encouraging them to push it to it’s limits. By embracing technology and encouraging students to explore its limits, we will stretch and challenge their thinking, engaging them in the content we want them to learn.  

Source: http://www.joaquinmiller.org/classes/groome/archives/Kids__Computers_0005.gif

The Hybrid Course Model – Soluition to online learning

Here is my podcast hybrid-model1 on the a-hybrid-course-model article

Why online tasks for children?

This is a mindmap I created on why online tasks for children are better than pen and paper.

Here is the link to view the mindmap in more detail

online-tasks-emmap.jpg