Example of Tools to be use in the Classroom:
Linked below is my journey through online spaces:
The link below is the movie I put together using Movie Maker:
Tool 2 - Video using Images
Below is a link to my blog using the PMI method to compare PowerPoint and Prezzies:
Below is a link to my blog using the PMI method to compare PowerPoint and Prezzies:
Below is a link to my blog displaying my attempt at using Mind Mapping:
Also below was a group task regarding ‘Behaviourism’ and these are my views below:
Reflection Synopsis – Assignment 2
Learning Information Communication Technologies (ICT) has shown me how beneficial this tool can be in a leaning environment when implemented appropriately by the teacher. I imagine as a teacher it is essential to nurture the different styles of learning (log post, Learning Styles & my approach, 2011) and E-learning has shown me ways in doing this. Digital Pedagogies are to be implemented into students learning so that they are able to engage fully in today’s technological world. It will facilitate and build on their knowledge and skills. I believe it is necessary to be embedding this tool into the education of the twenty first century. It is essential that teachers engage their students with ICTs.
Studies show that students are using some sort of technology on a daily bases, for example, they messaging friends and parents via mobile phone or social web sites, research for homework, play music or movies on their iPod and so on (Web Aware 2010). As a future educator I believe we must link technological tools to all classrooms so that students can remain engaged in their learning. Prensky (2005) claims that students have certain interests and they are mainly in technology; this generation needs stimulating through where their interests lie. I believe if we embed such technologic gadgets into our classrooms we will engage students in learning. For instance, I took part in a wiki discussion that involved ‘Debono’s six thinking hats’; the forum discussion was about the use of mobile phones in the classroom and we had to come up with positives, negatives and so on. Initially I was negative to having mobile phones being implemented into today’s classroom, however, following this forum I began to see lots of positive for the use of tools such as the mobile phone being a part of the classroom. Reading the article ‘Engage me or Enrage me’ by Prensky (2005) got me thinking. So I got my younger brother who is in year twelve to fill out a quick survey. Here are some of the questions I asked him:
Q. Do you think a mobile phone would benefit you in the classroom?
A. Yes, because when I don’t understand a word I can look it up on my dictionary app.
Q. What other things could you do on your phone that may benefit your education?
A. I can surf the net from my phone while I am in class.
Q. Do some students miss use their mobile phones in class?
A. The teacher thinks we are, but we think we can be responsible users.
I believe there needs to be guide line in place for the use of mobile phones in the classroom. There are lots of benefits using this tool in the and yet there are some negative as well.
With the use of De Bono’s yellow and blue thinking hats I examine the use of mobile phones being used in the classrooms. Here is a link to my conclusion on the use of mobile phones in the classroom. http://dominicag.wikispaces.com/Mobile+Phones
There are legal and ethical requirements that schools must adhere to in ensuring that we are maintaining the safety of each child under our care. One thing we as educators need to consider when implementing mobile phones and other technological gadgets into the classroom is safety, for example, the safety of students using the internet from their phones is of great concern. Students can be very vague when it comes to the use of the internet and how to stay safe especially when using social networks. It is the schools responsibility to provide guideline and the teachers are required to monitor students use of the digital devices. Web Aware (2010) has provided some information on how to teach children about being safe on the net these are just some of the things they cover:
Cyber bullying
Marketing aimed at kids
Sexual risk and harm
Pornography
Violent and hateful content
Gaming
Excessive internet use
Summing this all up it has become quite clear to me how ICTs can be a wonderful learning journey. As a teenager I went through many challenges whilst using these tools in my education and social world. However, E-Learning has helped my rediscover how significant ICT is in today’s educational arena. I look forward to intergrading ICT into my classroom and with excitement show students how it all works.
Reflection, Analysis of the Tool:
I will use the PMI (plus, minus and implications) to discuss the use of ICT tools and how I could incorporate them into a learning environment.
Tool 1 – The Blog
The first tool I will be exploring is online communication using Blogger. Grant (2011, p.27) believes, ‘Social media – loves it or hate it, it’s the future of communication’, I believe I could effectively incorporate the use of Blogger into my classroom as I have found this tool useful myself and it has benefitted my learning through this course. Furthermore, I am becoming a much greater reflective thinker through my postings on my blog pages. This can be a valuable tool for teachers and students to use in their classroom. As they begin to interact on the blogger page one can begin to see the progress of each child. Furthermore, it enables teachers to see where they may be having difficulties.
Here is an example of where I can incorporate blogger into the classroom, throughout the year after each topic is studied students would post reflections and analyse what they have learnt on their personal blogger page. This would show the students learning journey throughout the year. The teacher, student, peers and parents can easily access it. Furthermore, students can discuss with each other the blogging topics, which can reinforce learning and develop wider perspectives on such information. In addition, students who reflect upon their work are using a higher order thinking process thus they are transforming their knowledge.
Tool 2 – Images using Movie Maker:
The next tool that I found interesting and proved to have some challenges was using images to make a movie through ‘Movie Maker’. Higher order thinking processes would be engaged while tackling this task. Students will need to consider what images they will use, how and where to place them in the film sequence, what sound to use the effects and script required to complete the movie. This would be a great art, language and mathematic unit of work for the children to undertake. The children will have a range of topics to choose from. They will then write a story to go along with it. Following this they will design and make the characters to go with their script and so on. Once they have made all the characters and props they will begin taking photos and creating sound effects and so on to complete the task. On completion of the task the students can celebrate by show their movie to a selected audience.
Tool 3 – Power Point
PowerPoint is a creative tool that can be used by both the student and the teacher to present information to an audience. This tool can help students with oral presentations, as it can be very daunting for some individuals to stand in front of an audience. The tool allows individuals to embed visual, sound and animation to make their presentation more appealing to their audience. PowerPoint’s can make lessons more appealing to students, thus, retaining the student’s attention and keeping them engaged and focused on the lesson. For example, when having a lesson on insects the teacher can have insects with the sounds they make on slides so that they know what sound each insect produces.
I spent time making a PowerPoint and discovered new techniques such as, using my voice to record words. The way I would use this tool in the classroom is through getting students to write a poem on a particular topic then record the poem and place it on a slide. After that, the class can view the PowerPoint and discuss the topic using the ‘See, Think, Wonder’ concept. See, Think, Wonder (Pz Harvard, 2011) allows students to ask themselves:
What do you see?
What do you think about that?
What does it make you wonder?
Doing this activity with the PowerPoint presentation caters for a number of learning styles. Students are also practicing higher order thinking through reflection.
Tool 4 – Mind Mapping
The last tool I want to explore is ‘Mind Mapping’ using ‘Bubbl.us’ (2011) let me begin by saying I had never heard of this concept before I started this course. I had no idea how this tool could possibly help me as a teacher. However, once I explored bubbl.us I was surprised to find how helpful it can be in a classroom setting. Once you have done a little research on your project you can put this information into bubbl.us that can then help link your subject matter together and create a mind map. This is also a great tool for your initial brainstorming. Mind mapping is a very helpful tool for visual learners.
To conclude, there is an overwhelming trend with all these tools and that is they each can capture the learner and keep them engaged in their learning.
References:
Churches, A. (2009). Blooms digital taxonomy. Edorigami wikispace. Retrieved from
Comber, B., Nixon, H., and Reid, J. (2007). Literacies in place: teaching environmental communications. Newtown, NSW:
Primary Teaching Association.
Grant, A. (2011, July). One chick geek. Profile magazine.
Magazine, p. 27
Fasso, W2011, Readings: Group 2 technologies, CQUniversity Australia,
Retrieved 10 August 2011
Visible Thinking. (2011). See think wonder. Retrieved from
Web Aware, (2010). Media awareness network. Challenging cyberbullying. Retrieved from
