As I continue in my ICT learning adventure I am constantly amazed at the opportunities available to expand and enhance my learning. I will focus and reflect on four main technologies those being, Wiki's, PowerPoint, Picnik and Podcasts. I will also briefly discuss the importance of netiquette. As a “Learning manager” I.E a teacher, to be effective we must create a learning environment in which learners can achieve their potential. I will discuss how these technologies can be implemented into the classroom to enhance students learning to help them achieve their potential.
From the very beginning of the course I was a little nervous yet rather interested in seeing what technology I was yet to discover throughout my brief involvement with computers and the internet. Not only was it the technology but also the principle of Netiquette which was new to me. Netiquette as I found out was the term used for electronic communication and involved a system of rules which unofficially govern the way in which we share information amongst one another. This was definitely an area which I needed brushing up on. Netiquette is something which students need to be aware of and in my classroom I will endeavor to ensure that every student is aware of this. Netiquette has been frequently brought us as a weakness or threat in both SWOT analysis for blogs and weebly on my blog page (It’s a jungle out there blog swot & weebly swot. Beasley. Chris, March 20th 2011). Unfortunately not all students have the same maturity levels, as a learning manager we need to be mindful of this and ensure that all students are adhering to the principle of Netiquette.
After reading the article by Greg Kearsley & Ben Shneiderman titled 'Engagement Theory - A framework for technology-based teaching and learning'. I realized that this learning theory is basically the driver for the entire course so far. The 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. Wiki’s and blog’s have a heavy emphasis on collaboration, feedback can be posted on blog postings and students can add, edit or delete information in Wiki’s.
(Kearsley & Shnediderman 1999) talk about 3 key components Relate: emphasizes team efforts that involve communication, planning, management and social skills. Create: makes learning a creative, purposeful activity and Donate: stresses the value of making a useful contribution while learning. As learning managers these 3 key components should be the underpinning of all our lesson plans involving ICT’s
AWiki is a piece of server software that allows users to freely create and edit web page content using any Web browser (What is a wiki, June, 27th, 2002). The power of a wiki is due to the fact that any one can create, add ideas edit and delete information. The wiki is not chronological like a blog page and so as different areas and pages are done, work can be edited without worrying about the timing. Due to Wiki’s open structure, the wiki relies heavily on the good intentions of the readers and its users. This is principle of Netiquette, I spoke about previously.
Creating a wiki was a relatively straight forward process, as I will be teaching in Secondary School’s, within the areas of Business and PDHPE subjects. I have been reflecting of ways in which I can successfully implement the use of Wiki into a teaching context. Students would be able to participate and utilize a Wiki for assignments, group work and discussion forums. PDHPE students could share training plans and various health and fitness information much like many website that are all ready on the internet and many of which are profitable. Websites such as www.bodybulding.com, this website is run to provide various tips and techniques on how to build muscle, nutritional advice and advice on general health. Students could create their own online catalogue instituting their own training programs and personal tips about health and nutritional. Then in true wiki form students could add to it or make comments.
We are often under time limits constraints as a teacher and this sometimes leaves little time for detailed and avid discussion, a wiki could assist with this as students could add the pro’s and con’s of different exercise theories whenever these thoughts pop into their heads. The use of Wiki’s are not subject specific and could be used in a range of different topics, for example business students, could link their work into documents and even begin working on a business and or business plan together, the opportunities are endless and this is why I feel that the use of Wiki’s into the classroom can have a positive impact of students learning, as stated in my blog posting (The next big hit, It’s a jungle out there Beasley. Chris March 20th 2011)
Instituting wiki’s in the learning environment is relatively easy, as the teacher simply gives wiki-oriented tasks or assignments linking up with the concepts they have covered. This being said, it is important to be aware that that only students engaging in higher order thinking could grasp the teaching concepts that the use of a Wiki offers. Because of this I feel that this teaching tool would be suited for students in advanced classes or from Grade 10 upwards”
Picnik allows the user to manipulate images to create new and original designs please see my blog page for an example (It’s a jungle out there Flickr & Picnik Beasley. Chris, March 25th 2011). Earlier I spoke about the need for students to be engaged in order for them get the best out of their learning and Picnik does just that with its interactive features the learner is able to relate create and donate. It allows students to become creative during projects and potentially view task differently if they knew they were able to manipulate certain images. This can be easily adapted into a classroom environment. Business students could use this in a variety of assignments, in blogs, business plans, PowerPoint presentations or Wiki’s. Picnik would not be an essential tool for my other learning area of PDHPE but could be a nice way to enhanced presentations or assignments.
“Death by PowerPoint” is a phrase I have heard my times and I myself have had the pleasure of experiencing “death by PowerPoint.” After enduring this I now have a greater understanding of the importance of creating a PowerPoint presentation, which is not only informative but also engaging. Just getting through the information is not enough as students need to be given opportunities to discuss what is being presented and time must be given for the students to comprehend the information.
PowerPoint presentations have become a way of life for most people, and are used throughout in many industries. PowerPoint is a very easy program to learn and very easy for children to operate yet in my opinion can be difficult to master. It is a comprehensive tool, and imagination seems to be the only limit to PowerPoint. There are so many options you can add images, videos, music and an array of different screen options. At times I have found myself wasting hours changing the way words or images appear. PowerPoint is used by most corporations and any student going into the workforce with the knowledge of how to use will have a definitive advantage, this again comes back to theory of relate, create and donate (Kearsley & Shnediderman 1999). In particular the create component of the theory is important, students need to feel like what they are learning is a purposeful activity and something that they will use in the future.
I really like the fact that within PowerPoint you can implement multiple intelligence sources. For example during a PDHPE lesson on fitness components, the teacher could list the various fitness components, show a video of each fitness component in action and then show an image of a sport where you will require this fitness component, all within the PowerPoint program. As mentioned earlier the only limit to PowerPoint seems to be your imagination and it has so many uses within a teaching context.
“The basic advantage of podcasting in education is the portability and convenience of listening to learning resources anytime and anywhere without requiring extensive technical knowledge.” (Using podcasts as audio learning objects, Cebeci and Tekdal 2006) Students often have time on their hands when commuting to and from school. The portability of podcasts is a major plus in my eyes as learning can take occur at any time and any place. So this got me to thinking about how to use them in the classroom. In PDHPE podcasts can be used as an icebreaker, students could be asked watch a sporting event to then create a podcast analyzing that event much like the various sports shows on radio already do, who knows we might just find the next Alan Jones or Ray Hadley
As I have previously worked with students with special needs, I realize that everything doesn’t processes in their brain as quick as others. With the use of podcasts they could go home that afternoon and listen to the concepts again. They would also be able to rewind and play it back, enabling them to work at their own pace
The only two downside's I can see for implementing podcasts into the classroom is that visual students might struggle with the oral method of delivery and copyright issues
As an avid podcast listener, I had never thought of using them within a teaching context, until taking this course and WOW. Once I started giving it some thought the applications for this tool in teaching just seemed to grow.
Overall as seen throughout my blog it is rather noticeable how great an effect technology has had on my way of thinking particularly in regards to teaching. Gone are the days of the old school chalk and talk techniques and now the focus is on Kearsley, G, & Shneidermann, B. (1999), Engagement Theory, focusing on learner engagement. The process as discussed earlier of Create, Relate and Donate is essential in creating a learning environment which is full of enthusiastic learners. I know that there are many more resources out there which would be of great benefit to myself and my learners so and I feel that it is essential that I persist to be a life-long learner and embrace the many advancements in technology.
References
· Kearsley, G,. & Shneidermann, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved April 7, 2011, from
http://home.sprynet.com/gkearsley/engage.htm
· What is a wiki (June 27, 2002) retrieved on the 28th of March 2011 from
· Blog SWOT analysis It’s a jungle out there (March 20th 2011) retrieved on the 28th of March 2011 from
· Using podcasts as audio learning objects(2006) Retrieved on the 4th of April 2011 from
· Weebly SWOT It’s a jungle out there (March 25th 2011) retrieved on the 28th of March 2011 from
· Flickr & Picnik It’s a jungle out there (March 25th 2011) retrieved on the 30th of March 2011 from
· The next big hit, It’s a jungle out there (March 20th 2011) retrieved on the 4th of April 2011
http://cbeasley83.blogspot.com/2011/03/next-big-hit.html
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