Podcasts and itunes are strangers to me!! I have never really had the opportunity to use either of these technologies. I have heard a lot of people talking about itunes and more recently our lecturers talking about podcasts. What i have gathered it that they are a video that can be saved and watched later at your convenience. This is a great tool to use in the classroom as you can view it when it fits into your day.
I think it would be a great idea to get students to create their own podcasts, this activity would be aimed at the upper primary level. It would provide them with a real audience and would be more relevant to the world we live in. Students would then be using technology to creat a real, rousing and relevant task. I look forward to learning more about Podcasts and using them in my teaching.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Youtube & Teachertube
YouTube and Teachertube are two websites that allow you to share, view and upload videos. Teachertube is based on Youtube but has more of an educational focus. Both sites are a great way to engage learners and make a task more relevant to the learner. According to professor Joan Cybela, variety is an essential ingredient for learning. By using a variety of teaching tools and methods it will add to the stimulation of the leaner. By including visual, auditory, reading-writing and kinesthetic dimensions in the learning experience, it will help generate learning! Youtube and Teachertude are both great ways to engage learners.
I think Youtube and Teachertube will be used world wide for a very long time. There is so much information we can get from these sites to use in the classroom. The clip i have chosen would relate to a SOSE unit. I would probably use it in the middle to upper levels of a primary school. The clip would be used as a 'hook' for the unit of work relating to - who helps us in our community with a focus on the emergency services.
The URL is :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-P3bGN6uDk
References:
Engaging Learners in Learning:Cited on August 17, Retrieved from: www.uwex.edu/erc/Word/EngagingLearners.doc
Youtube. Cited on August 17, retrieved from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-P3bGN6uDk
I think Youtube and Teachertube will be used world wide for a very long time. There is so much information we can get from these sites to use in the classroom. The clip i have chosen would relate to a SOSE unit. I would probably use it in the middle to upper levels of a primary school. The clip would be used as a 'hook' for the unit of work relating to - who helps us in our community with a focus on the emergency services.
The URL is :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-P3bGN6uDk
References:
Engaging Learners in Learning:Cited on August 17, Retrieved from: www.uwex.edu/erc/Word/EngagingLearners.doc
Youtube. Cited on August 17, retrieved from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-P3bGN6uDk
Friday, August 14, 2009
Quizzes
Hey everyone
What a great way to individualise a class test for your learners. Not only can you make a test relating to your learners needs but it is a fantastic way to check for learnings. Classmarker is very simple to use and allows endless opportunities for the tests you want to create for your class. A spokesperson from Monash University states 'if we believe in TESTING WHAT WE TEACH it becomes obvious that current online automated testing devices, designed to teach objective knowledge are largely unsuited for the purpose of testing what the students have learnt in the processes above.' A lot of people disagree with sit down formal tests, but if we can individualise the test type and format why not use it as an informal way to see what students have learnt throughout the larning experiences. There is so much hype and attention about assessment and the tests we use in schools that we need to come up with a better way to test the childrens understanding of the knowledge they have been learning - so why not spend a little more time and create an individual test linking to the curriculum for your own class.
I have used this tool to make a short answer test for my current Year One class. We have recently been looking at the different occupations within the community and comparing both the similarities and differences between them. As a conclusion, so i can check for general understandings i will have my class complete this test. Being Year One it is only a five question, short answer test but it will give me enough information so i can check for the learning. For my lower literacy skill children i will ask them to have a go at reading the question but allow them to verbally give me their answer and i will make notes in the area for the answer. I think this is a great tool and will definitely be using it within my classroom as a form of informal assessment. Maybe one day we will be able to generate our own test, relating to the Queensland curriculum and the needs of our learners.
Here is the URL to my test - let me know what you think, remember this is targeted at Year One!
http://www.classmarker.com/quiz/intro.php?test_id=58526&class_id=32415
References:
Authentic Assessment. Retrieved on August 15. From:
www.monash.edu.au/groups/hepcit/.../authentic_assessment
What a great way to individualise a class test for your learners. Not only can you make a test relating to your learners needs but it is a fantastic way to check for learnings. Classmarker is very simple to use and allows endless opportunities for the tests you want to create for your class. A spokesperson from Monash University states 'if we believe in TESTING WHAT WE TEACH it becomes obvious that current online automated testing devices, designed to teach objective knowledge are largely unsuited for the purpose of testing what the students have learnt in the processes above.' A lot of people disagree with sit down formal tests, but if we can individualise the test type and format why not use it as an informal way to see what students have learnt throughout the larning experiences. There is so much hype and attention about assessment and the tests we use in schools that we need to come up with a better way to test the childrens understanding of the knowledge they have been learning - so why not spend a little more time and create an individual test linking to the curriculum for your own class.
I have used this tool to make a short answer test for my current Year One class. We have recently been looking at the different occupations within the community and comparing both the similarities and differences between them. As a conclusion, so i can check for general understandings i will have my class complete this test. Being Year One it is only a five question, short answer test but it will give me enough information so i can check for the learning. For my lower literacy skill children i will ask them to have a go at reading the question but allow them to verbally give me their answer and i will make notes in the area for the answer. I think this is a great tool and will definitely be using it within my classroom as a form of informal assessment. Maybe one day we will be able to generate our own test, relating to the Queensland curriculum and the needs of our learners.
Here is the URL to my test - let me know what you think, remember this is targeted at Year One!
http://www.classmarker.com/quiz/intro.php?test_id=58526&class_id=32415
References:
Authentic Assessment. Retrieved on August 15. From:
www.monash.edu.au/groups/hepcit/.../authentic_assessment
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Image Manipulation
Hi all
Ever thought gee that is a bad photo?!! Well what can i say, image manipulation is the answer to all those bad photos we never want anyone to see!! It is easy and i found it very quick to upload photos onto my Picnik acocunt. What a fantastic tool to use for anyone. I think i could spend hours on this site creating a new photo from my already existing photos and actually feel like i have accomplished something at the end.
This tool could be used many ways in the classroom. I would love to try it out as i'm fairly sure you would have the full attention of the students. It is a fun and interactive way for students to become more creative, feel like an artist and enage with ICT's in the classroom. The more familiar children become with ICT's and the more ways we can engage them through the use of sites such as Picnik, the more a child will gain and extend their knowledge. Improving student learning is the one things we as future educators need to be aware of and ensure this is happening in the classroom. According to Hennessy etal 'Teachers need to emphasize both the use of ICT to enhance and extend existing classroom practice.' Picnik is a great way to introduce students to the world of image manipulation!!
References:
Teacher perspectives on integrating ICT into subject teaching: commitment, constraints, caution, and change. Viewed on August, 14. Retrieved from:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/reci/2002/00000002/F0020002/art00002
Ever thought gee that is a bad photo?!! Well what can i say, image manipulation is the answer to all those bad photos we never want anyone to see!! It is easy and i found it very quick to upload photos onto my Picnik acocunt. What a fantastic tool to use for anyone. I think i could spend hours on this site creating a new photo from my already existing photos and actually feel like i have accomplished something at the end.
This tool could be used many ways in the classroom. I would love to try it out as i'm fairly sure you would have the full attention of the students. It is a fun and interactive way for students to become more creative, feel like an artist and enage with ICT's in the classroom. The more familiar children become with ICT's and the more ways we can engage them through the use of sites such as Picnik, the more a child will gain and extend their knowledge. Improving student learning is the one things we as future educators need to be aware of and ensure this is happening in the classroom. According to Hennessy etal 'Teachers need to emphasize both the use of ICT to enhance and extend existing classroom practice.' Picnik is a great way to introduce students to the world of image manipulation!!
References:
Teacher perspectives on integrating ICT into subject teaching: commitment, constraints, caution, and change. Viewed on August, 14. Retrieved from:
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/reci/2002/00000002/F0020002/art00002
Flickr
Wow, another great site to help manage and store information. Flickr is a fantastic place to store photos and share them with friends and family. It would be a good way to monitor the photos you wanted people to have access to by only allowing the selected category - family/friends to view your photos. I am not sure if this privacy setting would allow use within our schools -can anyone answer this for me??!!
Flickr allows you to set up friends and groups on the site. Educators would be able to set up their own groups and have discussions on matters that are concerning them. Or alternatively this is another great social site to communicate with friends. Flickr is a great tool for communication and collaboration. Collaboration, according to the National Staff Development Council, 2009
'some of the most important forms of professional learning and problem solving occur in group settings. Organized groups provide the social interaction that often deepens learning and the interpersonal support and synergy necessary for creatively solving the complex problems of teaching and learning.' By forming groups and broadening our knowledge bank, we are able to gain more information and expand our own understandings of the related topic.
Flickr is a starting point for anyone to get connected to the Cyber world and communicate with others. I can't wait to have more time to explore Flickr.
References:
Collaboration Skills, retrieved on August 13, 2009 from:
http://www.nsdc.org/standards/collaborationskills.cfm
Flickr allows you to set up friends and groups on the site. Educators would be able to set up their own groups and have discussions on matters that are concerning them. Or alternatively this is another great social site to communicate with friends. Flickr is a great tool for communication and collaboration. Collaboration, according to the National Staff Development Council, 2009
'some of the most important forms of professional learning and problem solving occur in group settings. Organized groups provide the social interaction that often deepens learning and the interpersonal support and synergy necessary for creatively solving the complex problems of teaching and learning.' By forming groups and broadening our knowledge bank, we are able to gain more information and expand our own understandings of the related topic.
Flickr is a starting point for anyone to get connected to the Cyber world and communicate with others. I can't wait to have more time to explore Flickr.
References:
Collaboration Skills, retrieved on August 13, 2009 from:
http://www.nsdc.org/standards/collaborationskills.cfm
PowerPoint
It is the year 2009 and lets admit, a powerpoint is one of the most common tools we see used these days. They can provide a great backup for presentations but they can also become very boring if they have too much information on them. I would say it is safe to say most children, especially younger years would switch off with a slide full of writing! However if used correctly and this will depend on each person as an individual a powerpoint is a great way for students to receive information. My grade one class is in the process of making a powerpoint for the second time this year and they are loving it. Some students become very easily frustrated but when they can see what other studetns have created they then become determined to learn about making a powerpoint. This is a great lesson to focus ont the Habit of Mind, to persevere. By encouraging students to persist and continue to use this tool they become aware of how fun and exciting ICT's can be to use. Marzano & Pickering state that 'when you persevere, you re more likely to gain knowledge and skills that at first may seem too difficult to understand or master.' I think this not only reflects how a student can feel about using ICT's in the classroom and how we need to provide positive reinforcement for them to keep going at a task but is also something we as adults need to think about. Do we give up too easily..........??
References:
Marzano,R. & Pickering, D. 1997. Dimensions of learning teachers manual. Aurora, CO:McRel
References:
Marzano,R. & Pickering, D. 1997. Dimensions of learning teachers manual. Aurora, CO:McRel
Voki
What can i say - i have found a new e learning tool that i feel comfortable using. Actually what i'm really trying to say is a tool i can use!! Voki's are a great way to communicate and interact both in the classroom and on a personal level. Just recently in a group assignment we used a voki as the hook of our presentation, i felt this was a great way to engage the audience and get their attention. Siemens, 2003 suggests that learning is viewed as multi-faceted and particular tasks define which approach to learning is most appropriate to the learner. We need to incorparte a variety of ways to accomodate the learning process. A voki could be used in many different ways to benefit the learning potential of students. It is a great way to introduce a lesson or use throughout, it can disguise a child therefore enahncing a shy students learning in the class and i feel probably one of the most important uses of a voki would be for students who have poor reading skills. According to Becta 2001 'the use of ICT's in the classroom have the potential to enhance learners' academic achievment when effectively integrated into the curriculum.' A voki has all the dimensions needed to maximise students learning, it caters for most learning styles and most of all students will have fun creating and using a voki.
References:
Becta. (2001). The secondary schools of the future: A report to the DIEE by Becta. Retrieved 13 August, 2009, from:
http://www.becta.org.uk/news/reports/secondaryfuture/intro_conclusions.html.
Siemens, G. (2003). Learning ecology, communities, and networks: Extending the classroom. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from:
http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/learning_communities.htm
Get a Voki now!
References:
Becta. (2001). The secondary schools of the future: A report to the DIEE by Becta. Retrieved 13 August, 2009, from:
http://www.becta.org.uk/news/reports/secondaryfuture/intro_conclusions.html.
Siemens, G. (2003). Learning ecology, communities, and networks: Extending the classroom. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from:
http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/learning_communities.htm
Get a Voki now!
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