What I have learnt in regards to e-learning in K-6 education

Below is the mind map I created when I begun the course.

And here is the one I have completed now that I have finished the course. I have learnt a lot over this semester and I hope what I have learnt will hopefully improve me as a teacher.

Inspiration is a fantastic piece of software and I would recommend any teacher to use it in their classrooms as an integrated tool for a learning experience. 

P.S If you cannot read the maps click on them and they will go a bit bigger

How raising money can be a valuable learning experience..

I have just read Zisow’s (2000-01) article ‘Fundraising with technology’. Over the semester I have read an array of excellent articles which have shown me the endless opportunities for integrating technology into classroom activities. This article extended on those possibilities. I would never thought to incorporate a fundraising event into learning experiences. 

The article discusses how a class was studying the history, geography and ecology of their local area and how they used this knowledge to design a fundraiser for Mothers Day. They decided to sell plants to raise money.

I believe this would be an effective activity as it would allow the children to use decision making skills in real-life, authentic learning experiences. As Zisow (2000-02) states ‘integrating technology into the curriculum is best accomplished when it involves problem solving related to real life situations’.

Integrated into this learning experience was a number of subjects and KLA’s. The children explored mathematical and scientific problems, whilst also dealing with social studies, art, language and technology. They used technology by creating spreadsheets and graphs using Excel. Overall I believe, as Zisow (2000-01) states, ‘when technology is used as a tool to enrich instruction, it enables useful, meaningful and transferable learning for the students who employ it’.

Zisow, M. (2000-01). Fundraising with technology. Learning and leading with technology, 28(4), 36-41

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Developed and Developing Countries using laptops.

I have just read Loren’s post ‘One laptop per child, what an exciting concept…read on to find out more….’. I found this post really interesting. Over this semester I have considered using technology in my future classrooms, however I have also considered how those less fortunate could access technology. I have always wanted to go to a developing country and teach there. However I had never considered teaching them using technology. I think that it is great that the OLPC team have created the XO laptop that is affordable and thus more accessible for all. Because this laptop is more affordable you would think that it wouldn’t be as good or wouldn’t offer much, however it does. It allows children to play, learn, explore, exchange and much much more. Like Loren I think that this affordable piece of technology could be effectively integrated into Australia’s Indigenous communities.

Retrieved from Loren’s Blog

http://lorenpwatson.edublogs.org/2008/04/09/one-laptop-per-child-what-an-exciting-concept-read-on-to-find-out-more/

kids and games…is it a good mix?

I have just read Emily’s post Games as learning tools…? Even though i think games could be used to tap into kids interests in an educational way, I am still skeptical about using games in the classroom. This is because I believe that kids in this day and age are spending too much time playing games, such as PlayStation, Nintendo etc and thus becoming overweight or obese. Should we been encouraging the use of using computer games in the classroom? Overall I believe that games should be used in the classroom minimally and only when extremely appropriate.

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Futurelab. (2005). Vision: Looking at the Future. Vision, 1, 1-20

Microsoft School of the Future

I have just watched a interesting video on Microsoft’s School for the Future.

Or find it here

In this video it explores a school in Philedelphia that gives its students endless opportunities for learning with technology. As stated in the video, I believe that this type of learning can be more relevant to real life. Every child is given a laptop and a smartcard to use and every classroom uses an interactive whiteboard. Also stated in the video, I believe that you should ‘use technology to teach and not just teach technology’. The learning chief believes that because kids have access, which they would not likely have otherwise, to all this expensive equipment and because the school has spent so much money on the school, the kids feel a stronger need to suceed. As discussed in the video, I believe that kids can learn more efficiently with technology. However I believe that all learning experiences need to occur in moderation, and thus I do not believe it is effective that kids are using laptops and technology in all their learning experiences. I believe that they are losing some fundamental skills. Such as writting, using the library to find information, socialising in groups, etc.

Reference:

Microsoft School of the Future. Retrieved November 11, 2008, from http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=2Mug66WnoSk

Constructivism Vs Constructinism

I have just read Larissa’s post Constructivism vs Constructinism: What should we teachers strive for? I found this post very helpful in determining the difference between the two terms and the implementation of constructinism into learning experiences. Like Larissa I am familiar with the term constructivism, however until class a few weeks ago I had not even heard of the term constructinism. Conmstructinism builds upon constructivism and I believe that it is an effective theory to base learning experiences around, especially in ICT classrooms. As Larissa stated ‘Students learn through themselves, through each other, and through experiences’ so we as teachers need to allow for and support students through these types of learning. Based on the theory of constructinism, we as teachers need to be facilitators in learner-orientated environments.

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Han, S., & Bhattacharya, K. (2008). Constructionism, Learning by Design, and Project Based Learning. Retrieved October 28, 2008, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Constructionism%2C_Learning_by_Design%2C_and_Project_Based_Learning

Is It Just Child’s Play – Sand Castles Go Digital

I have just read Harel’s (2003) article ‘Sand Castles Go Digital’. Like Harel (2003) I believe that kids learn through playful experiences. The computer can be as a tool for this that appeals to children. I believe that when children are on the computer exploring or in other words ‘playing’ they are connecting their learning and knowledge to the experiences. The use of computers and technology create opportunities and contexts for constructionist learning. Unlike building a sandcastle children can take learning further, add to it, reflect on it , share it and extend it. As Harel notes the internet is benefical as it allows children to  ‘explore the world, express themselves, save their creations, revise and refine them over time and exchange ideas that were simply not possible in the past. Although the technology we use in creating the learning experiences is important, it is the way we use technology that is most important. Overall I believe that it is important to allow children to learn through play and the computer can be effectively used for this.

Hoffenberg, H., & Handler, M. (2001). Digital video goes to school. Learning & Leading with Technology, 29(2), 10-15.

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Creating Life-Long Learners in the Digital World

This week we have begun creating a digital story so I saw it appropriate to read up on the use of digital video in the school. I read Haffenberg and Handler’s (2001) article ‘Digital Video Goes to School’. Even though camcorders have been around for a long time I had never used them my classroom at Primary School. As Haffenberg and Handler (2001) state, this may be because ‘video editing and student control of the final video production has not been an easy task in the past’. I believe that this was a shame. I agree with Haffenberg and Handler (2001) when they discuss the use of digital video in the school as a powerful motivation for students, an energizing way of teaching and a way to link the school and students to the community. If this piece of technology is used in the classroom appropriately, ‘curriculum driven’ (Haffenberg & Handler, 2001), then this tool can effectively expand the learning environment.  As we all know this generation of students live in a visual world and I believe we need to cater to this. Even though we do still need to teach in traditional ways, we need to incorporate computers into the learning environment as they can be powerful tools. Through creating a digital story students can practice and learn many skills. As Haffenberg and Handler (2001) state, children are able to learn and improve their technical skills, visual literacy skills and demonstrate higher order thinking skills of analyzing and synthesising information. To achieve this these children can be involved in an array of exciting task/activities. They could be create video newscasts, documentaries, infomercials and video clips, as if children would not be excited to do these activties? The use of digital video can bring the school and community together and as stated in previous posts, it is important to be able to share work or administration issues to a wider audience. For example students could showcase their work to a grandmother or a family member overseas.

Overall I believe that digital video’s could be used as meaningful tools in the hands of students to create lifelong learners so that they can be prepared for the challenges of the 21st digital world.

Haffenberg, H., & Handler, M. (2001). Digital Video Goes to School. Learning & Leading with Technology, 29 (2), 10 – 15.

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my-first-digital-story

‘Practitioner Friendliness’ of new technologies

I have just read Matthew’s post ‘Learning Designs‘. In this post Matthew discusses the current concern of ‘practitioner friendliness’ when using the evolving use of learning designs. Currently I am involved in creating a LAMS task and as a first time user I have found this learning community to be very user friendly. I am not a computer whiz and I have learnt how to use this learning design through exploration and some guidance. The LAMS task I have just made engages children in the discovery of ‘our environment’. I think by using this type of technology in the classroom a teacher can create many beneficial learning experiences for students that pen to paper exercise cannot. Therefore I would recommend the use of learning designs in the classroom and I would especially recommend teachers to use and explore the LAMS community.

I believe that in today’s society teachers cannot use the excuse of ‘practitioner friendliness’. As Matthew pointed out in his blog there are many support systems out there for teachers to explore. The two projects that Matthew gave are excellent examples of this: Phoebe Project and the Cloudworks Project.

BubbleShare: Share photos – Find great Clip Art Images.

NOTE: click here if you cannot preview the slide.

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Make an effort and accept todays technological society!

I have just read a blog, Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?, by Karl Fisch that I found intriguing. The thing that stood out to me the most was his main comment ‘If a teacher today is not technologically literate – and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more – it’s equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn’t know how to read and write’. I totally agree with this comment. In todays day and age technology is unavoidable and so if we are technologically illiterate then make an effort to change this. It will benefit you in many ways, especially if you are a teacher.

Fisch states that in an interview he conducted for a student struggling with maths their parent stated that they too were bad at maths. Their attitude was like its ok I was bad too. I have heard this before and I hate when I hear it. What kind of signal does this send to their son or daughter. As Fisch states ‘not knowing math was socially acceptable, not knowing how to read was very unacceptable’ and it seems that technology is taking a similar path to maths. I think that in this day and age this view should be wiped and all of society should be literate in technology and maths. 

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Fisch, K. (2007). Is It Okay To Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher? Retrieved October 9, 2008, from http://thefischbowl.blogspot.com/2007/09/is-it-okay-to-be-technologically.html