Reflective Synopsis of my E-Learning Adventure!

This course has been a great eye opener to all kinds of new technology that I never even thought of using in the classroom or I had not even heard of at all. The journey I have taken has broadened my mind and made me stop and have a good think about how hard technology can be for some people.

Prensky divided learners into two categories when it comes to technology Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. But the most useful designation I have found for them is Digital Natives. “What should we call these “new” students of today? Some refer to them as the N-[for Net]-gen or D-[for digital]-gen. But the most useful designation I have found for them is Digital Natives. Our students today are all “native speakers” of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet. So what does that make the rest of us? Those of us who were not born into the digital world but have, at some later point in our lives, become fascinated by and adopted many or most aspects of the new technology are, and always will be compared to them, Digital Immigrants.” (Prensky, 2001, p.1-2) I class myself as a digital native, we did have one computer in year 1 and then from then on we always had computers. During this course I have spoken will Meryl, a mature student, through skype. I realised that I take technology for granted. I could easily follow instructions to gain access to websites and set up accounts. For Meryl and many more students it is not that simple! The same happened in my class at university, I could not understand why it would be so hard to log on Moodle or a website and download a file. Now I have seen how difficult it can be for those students and I know that I can easily assist them. When working in the classroom I have to ensure I think about the students they may not have a computer at home or they may struggle doing certain tasks and not take it for granted.

The ICT’s I have used during this course have amazed me and really made me think about how I can incorporate them into everyday learning. The learning based theory by Greg Kearsley & Ben Shneiderman has also assisted me in my new thinking. “By engaged learning, we mean that all student activities involve active cognitive processes such as creating, problem-solving, reasoning, decision-making, and evaluation. In addition, students are intrinsically motivated to learn due to the meaningful nature of the learning environment and activities. Engagement theory is based upon the idea of creating successful collaborative teams that work on ambitious projects that are meaningful to someone outside the classroom. These three components, summarized by Relate-Create-Donate, imply that learning activities: occur in a group context (i.e., collaborative teams), are project-based, have an outside (authentic) focus” (Kearsley,1999, p.1 ) This is by far one of the best theories I have read, it is exactly what students need. I remember being at school and thinking, when will I need this when I am older? Why do I need to know that? By using this theory and using ICT’s lessons will be far more exciting, meaningful and enjoyable for students.

I will definitely be creating a Blog for my future class. I believe this will be a great tool for students, teachers and parents. Each day or week as a class we can write about the things we have learnt. Pictures, videos, Vokis and many more things can be added to this. Parents will be able to read the blogs freely and actually see what their child is completing. When writing the blog entry, this can be a class activity and summary of their day or week. It shows progress and will immediately boost the students’ self-esteem as they are physically seeing their progress and they can show family and friends on a computer away from school. I believe it is a brilliant tool! The Wiki pages can be set up in a similar manner and can be used as a class notice board similar to a blog. The digital story telling is brilliant for younger students to sit and watch a story but also for older students to create their own stories. Obviously when doing such activities and posting items onto the internet it is essential for you to check school policies for privacy and security of the students. Also parental permission.

When introducing ICT work and activities to the classroom guidelines must be set out very clear for students. The learning manager (LM) must make sure that students are given the correct information about safety on the internet, cyber bullying and ensure that when doing activities on a computer that they are unable to disconnect from the main activity and procrastinate. As covered by Aldred (2010) there are many ways in which the internet can be abused but also many ways in which an LM can prevent this abuse. It is essential that when doing work on a computer with any aged students that the LM does the activity prior ensuring there is nothing wrong or that it can be abused in anyway. To ensure students use the correct websites the LM should compile a list for them to use. I found writing my own blog easy as it was just like writing a diary each day. I enjoyed looking and using the new technology ideas and reporting back. I did find myself on numerous ages being distracted by the many different ways you could create things for example the Voki, Picnik, Flickr and the blog itself. I realised that when using these technologies in the classroom it would be wise to set a certain timeframe in which students had to complete the activity. On my blog I allowed comments to be made but I created it so that I had to moderate the comments before they went onto my blog. This meant that I can control what is said on my blog. This is a great thing for use with students. It is important that the LM knows how to set privacy settings to ensure students are not abusing or being abused through the web. I also included three reaction buttons at the bottom of each of my postings. This allowed for people to submit a quick reaction to my post without writing a comment. I like this as sometimes you find it hard to write something negative on someone’s thoughts and ideas. This is when Netiquette comes into play. I had not known that there was an official word for being polite on the internet. This is another great thing for LM’s to teach their students.

From this course I have realised that we all need time to adapt and become the best at something. When using new technology in the classroom it is essential to consider all needs of students and ensure that you provide easy and clear instructions for use. Making sure that students know the correct way to act online allows for safety and less abuse on the net. When using the different ICT’s and resources we must use an open mind and allow for mistakes as these only make us stronger. I will definitely be using the theory by Kearsley and Shneidermann as I believe it is the true way in which students learn. We must make activities meaningful and enjoyable in such a way that they can learn new knowledge and skills. Students can work together in groups, just like we have in the construction of our blogs. As an e-learning class we have collaborated and commented on one another’s blogs. This assists the blogger in ensuring they are doing the correct thing, it boost their self-esteem as they are getting praise and positive comments but it also makes the reader stop and think about the new concepts and ideas put forward to them. My e-learning experience has been a great one during the time of my blog as I have been submersed in new and exciting technology and I have gained more ideas from everyone that I would never have thought of. Thanks!

Blog Comments - These are some of the comments I posted onto my peers blogs. I posted supportive and positive comments. I also ensured that I replied to all comments that were posted onto my blog from my peers. This showed that I had spent the time to read and reflect on the comments.

Laura said...

Hey Zelina,
What program did you use to do a recording of your powerpoint, I have always wondered how to do that! Very cool!!
Interactive whiteboards are so fun, I have had a play on a few back in England, we used to use ours everyday in the classroom they are brilliant. They really keep the children interested and they all want to have a go. You just have to make sure that all of the children have an equal turn.
Laura : )

6/4/10 3:55 PM

Laura said...

Hey Tanya
That is a good idea to keep Facebook as your personally life site and a different account like Flickr as a more professional sharing site!!
Laura : )

April 22, 2010 4:29 AM

Laura said...

Haha Peck-Peck got a mention!! I bet Alex loves your VOKI!!
The only problem is like you said you have to change some of the words so it sounds better. Otherwise you can always record your own voice onto it. Imagine all the young children at school recording their own VOKI, they would just love it. Obviously they would be using it for educational purposes, maybe to post onto their class blog or as a presentation!
: )

April 28, 2010 11.49 PM

Laura said...

Hi Dallas
Although you say your picture is a basic edit. Younger students may find it very challenging whereas older students could take it so much further. There is just a huge range of things that can be done with just the one technology and it can be used on a vast range of different aged students with many different learning styles!!
Btw, he is a cute little dog!! : )

May 5, 2010 11:05 PM

Laura said...

Hello
The 5 resources you mentioned truly are great!! There are just endless possibilities with them all. It would not be hard to incorporate these into everyday lessons.
: )

May 5, 2010 11:08 PM

Laura said...

Hi Tanya
I am finding Mahara a bit hard, I guess because it is a totally new concept although it does have similarities to other social sites. Once we have a good play around with it and practice it can only get easier!
Laura : )

May 5, 2010 9:42 PM

References

Aldred, S. (2010). Effective e-learning design. Retrieved from CQ University e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing E-Learning, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=44151

Kearsley, G,. & Shneidermann, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved March 25, 2010, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. On the Horizon. MCB University Press, Vol. 9 No. 5, October 2001.

Hooray Yet ANOTHER distraction!!

I have realised I can get distracted far to easily with all this technology!!!

Google Earth

Google Earth has just made my night. As you maybe or will know I am originally from England and I talk about it all quite a lot and try to show my boyfriend where I used to live but it would never zoom it that far. I figured because it is a tiny village in the countryside Google would not really bother with it, well! I was proved wrong tonight. I can actually walk down my old road and walk past my house! It is just amazing! Cannot wait to show and bore all my Aussie friends. It truly has amazed me and brought a tear to my eye!

The possibilities are endless with this software. You can tour the world all from a click of a button and project it onto the board. You can walk down the streets of Paris from the comfort of your classroom! It excites me what the next stage to Google Earth will bring.

YouTube!

This is just an ABC song I found. I think it is a simple video without too much animation for the children to focus and sing along with. I realise it is American therefore they may pronounce their letters slightly differently. To use this in an Australian school with young children I would try to find one with an Australian accent. Although I seem to be contradicting myself in some way, as I am from England and have an English accent, but I am not changing my accent for the young children (or so I think)

YouTube is full of videos, I have to admit I can spend literally hours watching clips and videos of shows. I enjoy watching English comedy shows from back home as they are just hilarious!! Although with all online sites if you were to ask the children to find a suitable video you would have to monitor them carefully. As I was just trying to find a video of Measurement for Math and much more things appeared than just measuring height and weight!! I have now learnt not to be so innocent when using such worldwide, public websites!!

"Having the video accessible online allows the students to watch it as many times as they like and where they like. This offers opportunities for students who missed your classes, as well as providing opportunities for deeper reflection outside of your classroom." (Aldred, 2010) Providing the children with the opportunity to watch the videos you use in class can easily extend their knowledge. They can also keep watching it until they fully understand. I am now a great believer in blogs and I know I will definitely be using them in my everyday classroom. Whether it is a daily blog written by myself to inform parents of what the class did today, display examples of work and the videos we watched. Or a blog that the student's personally contribute to. Either way the children (if they have access to a computer) will be able to re-cap and re-watch lessons! Fabulous!

References

Aldred, S. (2010). Applying digital pedagogies 4: videos. Retrieved from CQ University e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing E-Learning, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=53489

Flickr and Picnik

Yet another distraction added into the course content!!

I love playing around with different images and changing the whole theme of the picture. I created my Flickr site with ease http://www.flickr.com/photos/lauras-pics/ and then uploaded my pictures. I found it very similar to the social network site facebook. I then easily edited these pictures by using Picnik. I have left the original picture on my flickr so you can see the difference. I had to stop myself from doing too many pictures and to concentrate on the course!!

Flickr would be another way for students and learning managers to interact with each other online. They can easily share ideas and photographs at a click of a button. A privacy setting can be put onto the pictures allowing only you to view your pictures, your family and/or your friends and the setting allowing anybody to see your pictures. This setting can be changed if you were to change your mind. Picnik would allow students to manipulate their images to create new and original designs. It allows them to become creative. During a project students will view things differently if they knew they would be able to manipulate the image.

The only negative in using these image manipulators is that people can change their own image to how they want to be. Photoshop is a brilliant tool to use to change images. You can make yourself skinny, change the colour of your eyes, remove freckles, spots. Basically you can make yourself look ''perfect!'' This I do not like. When social networking sites are so so popular children can easily manipulate and change their own image to suit this online society. It is crazy but also I find it quite upsetting that they feel they have to change their image for other people and to gain positive talk from peers. It may make them feel happy at the time to see people commenting on their fake image but in reality that is not them. We have to teach children to respect and accept people in society no matter how they may look!!

Anyway back onto the subject which was Flickr and Picnik. They are great tools and would be easily adapted to a classroom environment. This technology is what our students are being brought up with and we must keep up to date and allow the technology to help us teach!!

Interactive White Boards

I Love These!!!

We had these in my high school in England and also when I did my placement in a primary school. They are just brilliant and really engage students. I remember in high school in our senior years we still argued and got excited about who got to draw on the board! It was such a novelty and new and exciting.
Seeing them been used in the primary school every day was great. It was important for us to note who used the white board, as you know with young children it is important they all get a fair and equal go with the board or they could be upsets and conflict. We used it during literacy, we found a great website that had a aeroplane that looped in the shape of the letter. The children were able to follow the plane with their finger and draw the letter. They used it to complete puzzles and activities we found on the internet. We watched stories and the children were able to jump up and press the next page without going to the computer.

I do remember having problems with it though. The screen would often need adjusting and the mouse or pen would not always click in the correct place. These were simple to fix, but if you did not do it before the lesson it became time consuming and the children would be restless.

The MIT sketching board looks amazing. I have not had the chance to use one of those. It looks quite simple to use to which is good. Imagine all the magical creations children draw onto paper could be drawn on the boards and brought to life!! During the scientific experiments instead of trying to visualise you can draw the car or balls going down the ramp! It is just mind blowing the different types of technology available today.

New Idea for Blogs and WIKI's

Coming from England only 1 year ago I obviously still have great connections and communications to friends and family.

Wouldn't it be great to use blogs and WIKIs to work and collaborate with different countries!! For example students can ask questions about each others countries, cultures etc through a WIKI!

I did have the idea when I first arrived about contacting my old English schools via skype in the classroom but realised the time difference is too great. But now I have learnt about blogs and WIKIs they would be a great tool to use.

Imagine the different perspectives and information you would gain. Also the students would be able to view schooling from a different countries point of view.
One thing I noticed when I moved to Australia is that many Australians have not even left their state!! What a shock that was to me!! But then I realised how small Europe and England are to Australia. It would be great for students to interact online with other students in a different country. The safety aspect for myself is that I would personally know the school in England and the students would be communicating through monitored blogs and WIKIs. I would also ensure that students are aware of web safety, and netiquette.

Just a thought! : )

Voki's

My Voki was simple to create. The only problem I had was that I was only allowed to type a certain amount of words for it to say then it stopped!

Get a Voki now!

Children would just love these. They could be used at any age. I think the best way would to record the child's voice rather than using the computer generated ones as they have trouble pronouncing the words correctly plus it would be more entertaining and personal with their voice on it. While creating their voki's or avatars the children are getting actively involved in their learning and doing it for themselves. Younger children would definitely need some guidance and assistance in the creation.

As quoted by Kearsley and Shneiderman (1999) "students must be meaningfully engaged in learning activities through interaction with others and worthwhile tasks" All the activities you plan for your students need to be engaging. For them to be engaging you have to know your students and how they learn best. You may have student D who loves computer work and can easily access information but then you may have student G who cannot work efficiently on a computer and struggles to find the correct information. You need to ensure you plan the activities so that all students benefit. Also providing activities that improve certain skills will allow for the students that struggle to practice and perfect the correct skills.

References

Kearsley, G,. & Shneidermann, B. (1999). Engagement Theory:

A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved March 25, 2010, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm