General Reflection

It's been a couple of weeks since I have been immersing myself in the world of ICT's. It has also been a little frustrating as I just lost my entire blog post and I now re-writing it, even though this website has an auto save function, somehow I must of hit some button and it deleted all my post and then the auto save function kicked in and save a blank page.


This has got me thinking though about the possibility of having an entire lesson planned using ICT's and then for the computer to crash or the technology to fail somehow. Therefore I feel that every teacher incorporating any form of ICT's into their classroom need to have a backup plan in place. Technology can be unpredictable and very frustrating and you could find yourself wasting an entire lesson just trying to sort it out.

Flickr & Picnik

I chose this image because having previously lived in France for 6 months I fell in love with the country. The culture, the language, the food je adore ( I adore). This image is a great snapshot of the beauty of Paris.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brooklyn_museum/2486040187/

Creative commons Attribution means:
You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your copyrighted work - and derivative works based upon it - but only if they give you credit.

The picture I have chose you are free to use but you must give them credit for the image. The owner of the image even encourages you to drop in a line and let him know just how you have used the image.


How awesome is Picnik!! I cannot believe that i never knew about this website! This website enables users to upload pictures and edit them also. The options are endless and everything you can imagine can be created to make that boring old photo into something extraordinary.

Here is a photo of myself and my dog Archie that I have played around with.

Weebly SWOT

                              Strengths

• Would be the perfect tool in one of my teaching areas business, students could create a website selling a product and be judged by certain criteria such as number of website views, layout and functionality.
• Another opportunity for teachers and parents to connect.
• Can be controlled by a moderator.

Weaknesses

• Limited interaction compared to Wiki's and blog's
• No opportunity to provide feedback.
• Only the teacher or moderator can add information

Opportunities

• Could propel students into a career, as website design is a big business.
• Can help in adding multiply intelligences into the classroom

Threats

• Costs
• Information is open to anyone that wants to look at it.

The NEXT BIG HIT

Well I  have set up my first wiki you can check it at at
http://thenextbighit.wikispaces.com/


It was mostly a very straight forward procedure once I figured out what I what type of Wiki I was going to make. I decided on making a Wiki for talented people to show off there skills. Whether it be a musician an athlete or a business idea. I think that people, especially businesses and promoters have realise the power of the Internet. Justin Beiber and Cody Simpson where discovered on YouTube just to name a few.


So if anyone knows of any aspiring and talented people out there feel free to add to my Wiki.


For those that don't know what a Wiki is I will first explain A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser.


Any one can add ideas and edit, delete, information.  The wiki is not chronological like a blog page and so as different areas and pages are done, the work can be edited without worrying about the timing


Due to its open structure, the wiki does relies heavily on the good intentions of the readers and its users . In saying this the wiki has a history function where you can restore information so it doesnt get lost. 


As far as using a Wiki in a teaching context I think there is a lot of merit in the idea. Students could upload videos of themselves to the Wiki and classmates could critic there musical/athletic performance or whatever the students would like to upload (this would obviously need to be monitored). It could potentially be like a show and tell and would be a great tool in getting students to interact with each other. Wiki's could also be used for group assignments promoting a collaborative environment. The wiki allows students to increase interactions with both teachers and other students. Once all contributions are made class discussions can commence with the teacher quoting interesting observations and feedback


In my opinion, only students engaging in higher order thinking could grasp the teaching concepts . Due to this I feeel that this teaching tool would be suitable for students in advanced classes or from Grade 10 upwards.

Blog SWOT analysis

This being my first experience creating a blog, I have found it a very worthwhile and interesting way to reflect and learn. I am hoping in the future, long after this ICT course is finished, to continue on with my blog and reflect on funny, interesting or insightful things that happen. Both in my day to day life and in my work as a teacher.

In consideration of this I have done a SWOT analysis of the potential of blogs in a teaching context.

STRENGTHS

• Provides a great insight into students thoughts and feelings about everything from classmates to classroom content.
• Enables students to be creative and innovative in the way their blogs look
• Promotes a collaborative environment.
• Teacher can provide feedback quickly.
• Work has no chance to be lost or misplaced. Once it is posted it will forever live on in the digital world

WEAKNESSES

• School/ Classroom needs to have Internet access
• School/classroom need to have an adequate amount of computers for each individual student within the class.
• Untrained teachers.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Great way to promote the school
• School could attract sponsors to students blogs, to create funds that can be then put back into the school
• Enables cross class or cross school collaboration.

THREATS

• Cyber bullying between students
• Students releasing private information onto the world wide web
• Plagiarism

Assignment 1 Conclusion

(Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Prensky, 2001) states that, “today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach”. There has been many times throughout the past 3 weeks that I have thought that same about this course. That university has changed since I graduated in 2006 and that I am in over my head

So in reflecting upon these past 3 weeks of the ICT course, from learning about wiki's, creating a blog, making a voki, collaborating with a fellow student to create a PMI study on constructivism learning theory, taking questionnaire’s about my own learning style, negotiating my way around moodle, participating in mobile phone wiki using bono six thinking hat theory, discussing and evaluating Bloom’s Taxonomy, the engagement theory and Tpack learning frameworks. What can I say other than it has been a steep learning curve. A steep learning curve that at times has been really enjoyable learning, about new technologies, theories and programs that I will be able to implement into my classrooms to, frustrating at other times where I have found myself taking many hours, learning first how to use certain programs and then procrastinating about whether or not I am completing the tasks properly.

One example of this is when I had created my blog and was in the process of writing my first blog post when my computer went dead and at the time I thought I lost my all my work. So I diligently went back to re-writing my first blog post and upon completing it and pasting it to my blog wall. I was then negotiating around the site to see learn about  other functions that the site could offer and how I could make my blog more user friendly, only to find out that it  has an auto save feature and there was no need to re-write my blog post at all. Lesson learned the hard way this time, computer 1 Chris 0

Whilst creating my blog I found this interesting program called a Voki where you can create an avatar, alter there voice and appearance. I recently attended a seminar about Occupational Health and Safety in the workplace and the entire presentation was done by a similar program to the Voki. Using this program for the entire presentation, when you have a monotone computerized voice delivering information failed in this case to engage the audience. I notice many people around the room starting lose focus. I feel it could be very useful for introducing small sections of information or to initially capturing the audience’s attention. This has greatly reinforced my belief in using multiple intelligence sources.

In creating the PMI study on the constructivism learning theory. The activity itself had underlying elements of the constructivism learning theory. The theory states that “people construct their own understanding and knowledge of the world, through experiencing things and reflecting on these. It heavily promotes social and communication skills that emphasize collaboration and the exchanging of ideas.” (What Is Constructivism 2004 n.d).

Fellow GDLM student Michaela Garrett and I had to collaborate with each other and essentially construct our own understanding on the learning theory. Then categorize sections of information into pluses, minuses and interesting points. During this collaboration we used skype chat, txt messages and email. This made me reflect on the way that students in remote areas or home school students can use this technology to enhance their own learning processes. Skype could possible be set up where a teacher could teach an entire lesson or even an entire day via skype, the student and the teacher could interact virtually the same way as if he/she was in the room.

In evaluating the other PMI studies on the Wiki with regards to the different learning theories: Behaviorism (black box) and Cognitivism (brain-based) I feel that not one individual learning theory is the answer but teaching involves implementing a combination of all three.

I have recently been at the Queensland Fire and Rescue Academy participating in a recruit fire fighter course. On day one they handed out a questionnaire in regards to learning styles whether we are Auditory, visual or a kinesthetic learner. They use this information to help understand each recruits learning style and cater towards their needs. I found this very interesting and think it could be a useful tool to implement into my classroom at the start of each year to investigate how each student learns best and then construct my lesson plans around these results.

The Mobile phone wiki using bono six thinking hats also had a strong emphasis on the constructivism learning theory. Everyone collaborated with one another processed all the information, and then come out with their own theory. This is the basis of higher order thinking. Where you can critically deconstruct information and come up with you own opinions or theories.  

My own learning process throughout this course so far I believe has been based around the constructivism learning theory, where I have had to essentially become my own teacher especially because I am doing this via the flex option. Central Queensland University, Wendy Frasso and Rickie Fisher are providing the scaffolding but fundamentally I am processing the information and participating in my own constructivism classroom. This at times can be frustrating but it is setting me up to become a lifelong learner.

Reflecting back on all that I have learnt over the past weeks I believe that ICT's are going to play an ever increasing important role within the classroom, particularly in my two teaching areas of Physical education and Business studies. Technology is the new frontier in education. It is HERE and NOW but we as teachers need to underpin the use of technology within classroom with relevant tried and tested learning theories.

References

·        Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants Prensky. Marc (2001) Retrieved in the 12^th of March 20011  http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

·        What Is Constructivism (2004) retrieved on the 12^th of March 2011 http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html

Further thoughts on the mobile phone Wiki

When I first heard about the potential use of using mobile phones in schools as a learning tool, my mind was made up straight away that it was defiantly not a good idea, that it would have a negative impact within the classroom learning environment.

Upon further readings of every body's opinions  in Bono'six thinking hats wiki (Which I think is a great way to learn) . There we many uses creatively that I had never thought of , by reading other students thoughts my mind started to sway a little bit and it got me thinking, was there actually a place in schools for mobile phones to be used a learning tool.

I went back on forth on this for a couple of days but kept on coming back to the fact that whilst it could have many positive uses within the classroom there are just too many negatives (or black hats). I think that maybe in the not too distant future mobile phones might be able to be used in the classroom but as of now I think its too early and they will hinder students learning rather than enhancing it

The Glorious place

What is the best way to learn and more importantly for this subject, what is the best way to learn using ICT’s.

So far we have examined three main frameworks. Engagement Theory (1999) Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956) and Tpack (2006). After carefully considering all three frameworks I have decided that it is probably best if you take little bits from each framework to create, a framework that you can cater towards both your subject area (mine being PDHPE and business) and students needs.

Whilst reading about the Engagement Theory (1999) I found that alot of what is discussed, is what we as teachers must embrace for our students full engagement in the classroom. The use of technology is so widespread in today's society, so we must adapt and create as many technologically based learning opportunities as possible. The basic principles of the Learning Engagement Theory (Greg Kearsley & Ben Schneiderman) is that students must be engaged in tasks that are meaningful while also working together in a group context to achieve worthwhile outcomes. This can be important when working with students who are lazy or have poor motivation levels I have seen so many times in my previous job as a teachers aide students that had no motivation during a Maths lesson but come time for woodwork or P.E their motivation levels were through the roof. The students need to see a reasoning behind why they are completing a task, in order to feel that it is worthwhile and something that could be useful in the future.

Blooms Taxonomy (1956) Pinpoints three types of learning. Cognitive - mental skills/knowledge. Affective - feelings/attitudes and lastly the Psychomotor - manual/physical skills. Then one of bloom's student's in Lorin Anderson (2001) revised Bloom’s original Taxonomy. She used words like Creating, Evaluating, Analyzing, Applying, Understanding and Remembering. These words range from lower order thinking skills such understanding and remembering all the way up to creating which is a higher order skill.For example an sports science student in his first year at university will at first remember important facts and theories about health and nutrition and overtime will evolve into someone who can create his own theories and exercise programs.

The TPack framework talks about the glorious place, where pedagogy, content and technology come together to meet. This "place" is where effective learning can now take place. As a teacher we must have content knowledge  and know how to deliver this content effectively to his students.

So after reviewing all three frameworks I would start by creating lesson plans that engage students, implementing the use of technology where possible. Back up these lesson plans with Bloom's taking students from lower order thinking up to high order thinking and deliver the knock out blow by visiting this "glorious place" using the TPack framework.

Contributions to Mobile phone Wiki

Hi below are my contributions so far on the mobile phones wiki and also one's that I like or thought were interesting. ATM, mobile phone txt for, at the moment, I am still on the fence about the use of mobile phones in schools as an educational tool. Having worked at a school, I have seen first hand mobile phone's usage being abused. On the other hand I had never considered some of the educational use's that have been outlined so far in the Wiki

• Creative – Students in remote locations could have a teacher add a podcasted lesson on almost anything. (CB)

• Negative - Only one person can use the phone at any one time therefore it is a very isolating tool  (CB)

• Creative – Use of interactive and education games i.e brain training gets students engaged in learning without them actually knowing they are (CB)

• Negative - Potential for misuse eg. distractive texting, cyber bullying; Potential for Socio Economic divide i.e. some parents will not be able to afford a mobile for their child/ren (SMM)

• Negative - expensive to implement (need to purchase or make available phones for all students, server upgrades. Possible security problems ie access to pornographic websites etc. (CT)

• Positive - Students are using their mobiles in classrooms whether teachers like it or not so as 21^st century teachers we need to embrace the technology and utilise it to our best ability (MV)

Tribute to Technology

Now I don't know if I have stated this before but my wife is Canadian and 

being so far away from her home country, family and many friends she

sometimes has a hard time. Since taking this ICT course it has got me thinking 

about technology and just how much harder it would be if we weren't living in 

this day and age, where the world is increasing becoming a smaller place. 

So here is my tribute to technology which is keeping my wife sane and 

therefore keeping me sane, haha happy wife, happy life. 

Last Saturday was one of a few times, that she has been able to hop online and watch her little brother Alan play volleyball he was playing in the national championships which is a really big deal over in my wife's homeland.  It is so amazing that you can just hook up 12000 kilometers away, and practically feel like you are sitting in the crowd. We were extra grateful for technology as it bridges the gap between here and her homeland.  I know people complain about computers screwing up, or the anti-social robotic side of technology...but it does make our lives easier sometimes and today was one of those days. 

Along that theme, she also recently three-way skyped with her sisters connecting Canada, Australia and Hungary together in one sisterly reunion. So if I was drinking a beer I would raise my glass and say Thank you technology. 

Reflecting on how technology is making my personal life easier and more enriching. I am sure that I can carry that over into my classroom by embracing ICT's 

Week 1-Activities Reflection

 WOW, it is the end of week 1 already, and I have to say I am feeling the pressure. Since I haven't studied since 2005, it has taken me a while to get my head back into study mode. 


I always thought that I was fairly technologically savvy, but in starting this course I now realize I know next to nothing and have a lot to learn. Before this week, the only wiki I knew about was wikipedia. I now know that it is a series of interlinked webpages that can be edited (thanks Julie during res school). I even managed to make a Voki which was kind of fun. 


I learned through the Felder Test that I have a strong preference for sensory learning  and moderate preference for sequential and visual learning. Reflecting on this I can see that this test is pretty accurate in describing the way I learn. I am a very hands on learner, I am the type of person who will try and put together something first before reading the instructions. I am also a very logical person and rely heavily on logic to make most decisions in my life. I weigh up each option, then make a decision based on all the information at hand. 


I think that ICT is the new  frontier in education.  People are realizing this and we need to embrace it, it is  HERE and it is NOW. Kids of all ages, from primary right through to secondary school are all embracing technology at a rapid rate and if we as teachers don't evolve with them then we will be left behind. In my job as a teacher's aide I am constantly amazed at how technological savvy students are, including students with learning difficulties or disabilities. They all still seem to have a grasp on technology. 

This weeks' activities have really opened my eyes up to many different learning styles/theories and I hope to take different elements from each learning style and implement them into my own classroom. I am now excited about planning lessons to incorporate ICT's for students in my classroom.