Reflective Synopsis

This Managing E-Learning course has been a real revelation, in which it has taught me how many digital tools are out there in the technological world. I have only added a few digital tools on my blog, but I have only scratched the surface, and viewing some of these as made me wanting to look for more digital tools and gain more confidence in applying them in my classroom.

When I first started this course, I was very blasé about the different technologies, as I thought I knew a fair amount of ICT’s resources that I can use in the classroom, until I started researching and asking questions from my peers, that I had a lot to look forward too. Going through the Moodle site and looking into all the topics, I found myself becoming overwhelmed with all the information that was there, and started to procrastinate starting my blog. When I ask a few of my peers, they suggested working through each topic and seeking information through the news forum and the coffee lounge. I had not looked at the forums for a while, and when I did, there was a lot of interesting facts and information to start my blog. When I did get started, I was finding it very interesting and was having so much fun engaging in all of the different technologies, and was telling my peers from work how they can use these tools in their classroom, how it can transform, support and enhance learning.

The learning based theory by Greg Kearsley and Ben Shneiderman has assisted me in the learning of these digitals tools. “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). By using this theory, putting students together in a group and working through activities with ICT’s, students will enjoy the lesson and will have a more meaningful perspective to the lesson.

The digital teaching tools I will be using in my classroom to engage students will include creating a Blog/Wikis, Voki Avatars, Text2mindmap, and PowerPoint’s.

Many of these digital teaching tools can coincide with each other for a particular subject; for example, you could take photos with a digital camera of students making a banana cake, by taking a photo of each step you do. The students then upload these photos to a PowerPoint, with this they can present it to other classes of students or publish it on a Weebly. Other benefits with a PowerPoint are to be able to put music, images, or a video on a slide to add more of a professional looking presentation. Students can then copy it on a slide to take home or download it on their website, for future references or for anyone who wants to see how the students made their cake. Many Learning Managers look at different websites to obtain different ideas so they can engage their learners a different and interesting way.

As a hook for students at the start of a lesson, I will use a Voki/Avatar, as they are great interactive engaging tool. I would use a Voki at the start of the lesson as an introduction to the subject or use it to give out instructions. For my Embedded Professional Learning (EPL) class of Grade two’s, I gave them my webquest to complete, in this quest I used a Voki, as part of the introduction. Students watched in amazement the ‘real like’ person on the screen, talking to them, and giving them instructions on how to complete it. Kearsley & Schneiderman (1999) state that “Students must be meaningfully engaged in learning activities through interaction with others and worthwhile tasks”. Using a Voki in the classroom can “can facilitate engagement in ways which are difficult to achieve otherwise” (Kearsley & Schneiderman, 1999).
Using the text2mindmap is another great digital tool for students and for Learning Managers to gather information to use for their learning experiences. The teacher will be able to place the mind map on the wall or whiteboard and while posing questions to the class, the student’s answers then can be digitally typed in. This can create a collaboration of information from all students. Learning Manager can either print this mind map out and hang it up in the classroom, or leave it on the website and revisit the site every now and then, to add in more information. Once the students know how to add in information, students will be able to take a turn a bout and add in the information themselves.

Another digital tool I will be definitely using is a Blog or Wiki. Researching and producing my own blog, I think this could be valuable engaging tool for students to learn. Studies have shown from schools that students will tend to write more than they would be writing in an exercise book. Students will seek out more information by researching the different sites, than they would pick up an information book or an encyclopaedia. In addition, using a blog/wiki is good for students who live in a rural or remote area. Gone are the days where children would sit down, write a letter by hand, post it through the mail, and wait for the next two days or weeks to arrive. Posting a blog or a wiki is instance for everyone to see and therefore, saves time and paper to write a letter.

“However, not all children in rural and remote areas benefit from access to new technology and improved communications infrastructures. Australian researches observed that students and teachers in rural areas in Australia are suffering from inequities in access to and use of ICT’s. Excessive distances can make it difficult for students to access necessary ICT resources” (Krause, Bochner, & Duchesne, 2003).

As the future of ICT’s is increasingly changing with new ideas of technology, it is important for me as an upcoming Learning Manager to keep up with all of these digital tools. Prensky states “Today’s teachers have to learn to communicate in the language and style of their students. This does not mean changing the meaning of what is important, or of good thinking skills. But it does mean going faster, less step-by step, more in parallel, with more random access, among other things” (Prensky,2001). As a teacher, it is important to incorporate all forms of pedagogies to enhance your learners, and to add ICT’s in your learning experiences.


References:

Kearsley, G & Schneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning

Krause, K.-L., Bochner, S., & Duchesne, S. (2003). educational Psychology for learning and teaching. Southbank, Victoria: Thomson, Nelson Australia Pty Limited.

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. MCB University Press, October Vol, 9.

Blog Posts:

Toni said:
Hi Kellie, great photo of the water cycle. Another program a friend told me she has used for images is called Piknik. I have not looked at this website as yet, but will be soon. It is amazing what you can do with images and the benefits in the learning experience
August 24th 2010


Toni said:
I just love your Voki, Catherine, it is so cool, but I do not want to encounter this type of character in my classroom. They are fun to do aren't they. When I did mine for my webquest, the students loved it. We didn't have time to make one up for them as their computers were a bit slow
August 26th 2010

Toni said to Catherine:
That was an excellent suggestion about the children taking photos with the digital camera and uploading them into a PowerPoint. By doing this you are using many digital tools without realising it and the children will see the benefits of using both.
August 26th 2010

Toni said to Catherine:
Your Big6 diagram turned out really well. For some reason mine didn't. I like the Big6 Framework for ICT's as it is step by step list to work through, even though some you can change around to suit the particular topic. I will be trying this framework in my next prac class when they will be researching a topic, to see how it all works.
August 26th 2010

Toni said:
Hi Hannah, I found Prezi difficult and confusing to use. I think I need to play around with it more so I can become more familiar with the functions. I have tend to 'give up' on digital tools if I can't use it easily, but looking at yours, I will definately persevere with it. Thanks
August 26th 2010

Toni said:
Hi Selina, I am with you and Catherine. I had no idea what a blog was and what it can do. When I started my blog, I found it was exciting and interesting, amazing what a simple digital tool can provide for the public.
August 27th 2010