Although, I would like to keep my blog going this year as I WILL be trying a podcast and trying some new ideas learned from the course! Just need to manage the workload a little better.
I am applying for study leave next year to complete my Masters in Education so fingers crossed.
I have found the "blogging" interesting although it would have been great to have more people post and interact on the course - its hard to comment on the blogs of others if they don't post anything or if they don't interact with the blogs I post! Live and learn!
My class has benefited with the addition of digistore activities in class time to add to the other programmes they use and I have found youtube is not for just weird and funny videos - we watched a great piece of NASA footage when learning about the sun earlier in the term.
Time is certainly an issue with ICT, but the benefits are worth it!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Virtual Learning Environments
Well, these are certainly interesting, but after doing an assignment on their use at our school, am not sure the one we have chosen is right for us... made it very hard to try to "sell" it to the BOT! There are some issues with editing and privacy and some great options are available on the website (like profiles) which can't then be transferred to individual caves. The layout and presentation of the site is also a little limiting - because of its name "caves" the only available set up is a black screen with white writing - a little difficult to see and not able to be changed.
It has also highlighted to me the truth in how if the senior management doesn't support good ICT use then it doesn't happen! In reality, I can't see the learning caves being utilised by staff as its not seen as an important part of learning which is disappointing.
I am still determined to continue setting up and using my learning cave and getting the best out of it. While privacy/editing issues have been a problem, I have been given some ideas to help solve these which I will try out. My plan is for the children in the ICT club to take their own photos and create mini profiles of themselves to share.
I think my next step will be to look at some other options I could use such as wikispaces, and I've heard of a VLE called Blackboard, which although it might not be suitable for me, sounds very exciting!
Onward and upward!
It has also highlighted to me the truth in how if the senior management doesn't support good ICT use then it doesn't happen! In reality, I can't see the learning caves being utilised by staff as its not seen as an important part of learning which is disappointing.
I am still determined to continue setting up and using my learning cave and getting the best out of it. While privacy/editing issues have been a problem, I have been given some ideas to help solve these which I will try out. My plan is for the children in the ICT club to take their own photos and create mini profiles of themselves to share.
I think my next step will be to look at some other options I could use such as wikispaces, and I've heard of a VLE called Blackboard, which although it might not be suitable for me, sounds very exciting!
Onward and upward!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Understanding and Links
I love it when things start to come together in my head and I can see links between other papers I have done and other readings from previous courses and essays. It was great to see Michael Fullan being quoted in Study Guide 7B - But Tony, its not in your references aaaggghhh!!
I think these links show me I have gained a better understanding of what I have learned and it becomes more "known" and understood.
I think these links show me I have gained a better understanding of what I have learned and it becomes more "known" and understood.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
TPACK and Integration of ICT
After some initial confusion as to what TPACK was (more teacher language!), found this little diagram which made it a little easier to understand.
http://www.tpack.org/tpck/index.php?title=Image:Tpack-contexts-small.jpg
After all my reading for assignment three, I have been pleased to see that, after finding pedagogy was an important issue in the integration (or even use) of ICT in an earlier paper, things have not changed. It seems to be a real issue - how do we get teachers to more fully and effectively integrate ICT into classroom practise?
I think Cuban (1986) describes the problems well (as Tony referred to in Study Guide 7b) "technologies went through a cycle: exhilaration, scientific credibility, disappointment and blame". How often do we have a wonderful new ICT innovation introduced by and enthusiastic member of staff, we fall all over ourselves to use it, works great for some but not so well for others, we don't have the time to really learn to effectively use it and then we blame either the technology (or worse the person who introduced it) for our extra workload, confusion or lack of results!
Too often we adopt all kinds of new ICT tools/software, etc - it fits our curriculum needs, meets the content requirements of the student, we know enough about the content to teach it but our own values and beliefs (pedagogy) on how we teach prevents us from doing so effectively. There are so many issues around using ICT - how do you manage the equipment AND the children, how do you ensure everyone has equal time (to learn and with the teacher), does the ICT you are using really fit the learning outcomes or is it "close enough" or "that'll do"?
What seems to be the key is "integration" and its definition - perhaps it needs to be defined so that educators, educational institutes and other interested parties are all on the same wavelength?!
http://www.tpack.org/tpck/index.php?title=Image:Tpack-contexts-small.jpg
After all my reading for assignment three, I have been pleased to see that, after finding pedagogy was an important issue in the integration (or even use) of ICT in an earlier paper, things have not changed. It seems to be a real issue - how do we get teachers to more fully and effectively integrate ICT into classroom practise?
I think Cuban (1986) describes the problems well (as Tony referred to in Study Guide 7b) "technologies went through a cycle: exhilaration, scientific credibility, disappointment and blame". How often do we have a wonderful new ICT innovation introduced by and enthusiastic member of staff, we fall all over ourselves to use it, works great for some but not so well for others, we don't have the time to really learn to effectively use it and then we blame either the technology (or worse the person who introduced it) for our extra workload, confusion or lack of results!
Too often we adopt all kinds of new ICT tools/software, etc - it fits our curriculum needs, meets the content requirements of the student, we know enough about the content to teach it but our own values and beliefs (pedagogy) on how we teach prevents us from doing so effectively. There are so many issues around using ICT - how do you manage the equipment AND the children, how do you ensure everyone has equal time (to learn and with the teacher), does the ICT you are using really fit the learning outcomes or is it "close enough" or "that'll do"?
What seems to be the key is "integration" and its definition - perhaps it needs to be defined so that educators, educational institutes and other interested parties are all on the same wavelength?!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Term 2 and Assignment 2
Wow, the term is rushing by, week 4 already and the next assignment is looming. Deadlines are tight - Assignment 2, long term planning and mid-year reports all due on the same day : Now there's a challenge!!
Have had an idea for Assignment 2 and have decided to move away from my first assignment. Our school has a website run by Spike@School which has "learning caves". These are a great online learning environment for the children which they can access from home but not utilised at all by staff. My aim is to report whether they are beneficial, reviewing the current situation and looking into why they are not used and whether there is a case for professional development, etc.
Feeling relieved that I have an idea for content - can now start READING!!
Have had an idea for Assignment 2 and have decided to move away from my first assignment. Our school has a website run by Spike@School which has "learning caves". These are a great online learning environment for the children which they can access from home but not utilised at all by staff. My aim is to report whether they are beneficial, reviewing the current situation and looking into why they are not used and whether there is a case for professional development, etc.
Feeling relieved that I have an idea for content - can now start READING!!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Assignment One
Okay an aspect has been chosen - e-learning in the early school years (namely year 1 and 2). Tentatively titled: E-learning in the first year of school - enrichment or entertainment.'
I'd like to look at how e-learning can assist in building children's literacy and numeracy skills. Ideally I love the children using the computer within the classroom and the two computers I have hum away all day with all the children getting at least 30-40 minutes each a week working individually on numeracy and literacy activities. I always worry about avoiding "playing" and try to aim for "learning" or "practising new skills". Not always easy to achieve!
Some key words searched are : computer assisted learning, e-learning, early childhood, literacy and technology... and more to try. Many thanks to Kirsty and her helpful library search notes. If only I had known in my earlier papers about logging into the library and search multiple databases!
I've thought about some definitions I'll need to include ie literacy, e-learning, computer assisted learning, multi-literacies... I'm sure this list will be added to. The main problem has been finding articles and readings specifically related to the first two years of primary school - there is a lot of information on older children (8 years and upward), and early childhood, but not much in the middle.
The search continues!
I'd like to look at how e-learning can assist in building children's literacy and numeracy skills. Ideally I love the children using the computer within the classroom and the two computers I have hum away all day with all the children getting at least 30-40 minutes each a week working individually on numeracy and literacy activities. I always worry about avoiding "playing" and try to aim for "learning" or "practising new skills". Not always easy to achieve!
Some key words searched are : computer assisted learning, e-learning, early childhood, literacy and technology... and more to try. Many thanks to Kirsty and her helpful library search notes. If only I had known in my earlier papers about logging into the library and search multiple databases!
I've thought about some definitions I'll need to include ie literacy, e-learning, computer assisted learning, multi-literacies... I'm sure this list will be added to. The main problem has been finding articles and readings specifically related to the first two years of primary school - there is a lot of information on older children (8 years and upward), and early childhood, but not much in the middle.
The search continues!
Monday, March 22, 2010
PDF Conversion
After finding some interesting articles tonight, I also taught myself how to convert them to a PDF and embed them in my blog. Unfortunately as it was about to embed the PDF file I noticed some small print as I waited for it to load... basically if it's not yours, you can't use it without permission! Woops! Delete! That was the second thing I learned (or was reminded of) tonight. Timely really as plagarism needs to be taken into account - another reason I dislike children cutting and pasting from the web for their own reports!
Lesson learned!
Lesson learned!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education
Something I plan to watch when my nearest and dearest is not trying to watch a James Bond movie - looked interesting without the audio, so looking forward to hearing what he has to say. Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education
View more presentations from SteveHargadon.
Diigo and Endnote
Am also pleased to report that as well as a blog, I am the new, proud (or perplexed) user of a Diigo Library, which even links back to this blog! I have to say, a great way to keep a list of all those websites, google scholar searches and links. Very easy to use so far, and comes with its own tool bar.
I also today learned how to use EndNote 3.0 - how have I done other University papers and not made use of this! The hours of trying to type a reference list is over. The only tricky part is choosing whether things are journal articles, edited books, etc and where to put the information so it's correct!
I also today learned how to use EndNote 3.0 - how have I done other University papers and not made use of this! The hours of trying to type a reference list is over. The only tricky part is choosing whether things are journal articles, edited books, etc and where to put the information so it's correct!
Campbell Reading
Am a little bemused by the reading by Nola Campbell (2004) "The Vintage Years of e-learning in New Zealand Schools." While it is an interesting history of e-learning, it appears to have an emphasis on e-mail and electronic communication and how schools could use this in their classrooms. It does however demonstrate though, that with the use of the term e-learning by Nola in 2004, how advanced she was in the use of computers and internet within the realm of education.
I was lucky enough to work with Nola in 1999, 2000 in the University of Waikato Professional Studies Department and remember talking to her then about 'online learning'.
I did like the idea that the introduction of email and the internet did (and still does) give children an opportunity to be part of a global community and Campbell also comments that "a teacher who was prepared to fill the role of the facilitator and was not afraid of change would find [electronic mail] a powerful tool." This links back to the EDPROFST 714 discussion started by Pomate regarding "No man is an island" and the need for teachers to work alongside or learn from students, rather than direct the learning (Westerland, 2010).
From this article, I think a further investigation and clarification into what e-learning is (in general and to me) is in order.
I was lucky enough to work with Nola in 1999, 2000 in the University of Waikato Professional Studies Department and remember talking to her then about 'online learning'.
I did like the idea that the introduction of email and the internet did (and still does) give children an opportunity to be part of a global community and Campbell also comments that "a teacher who was prepared to fill the role of the facilitator and was not afraid of change would find [electronic mail] a powerful tool." This links back to the EDPROFST 714 discussion started by Pomate regarding "No man is an island" and the need for teachers to work alongside or learn from students, rather than direct the learning (Westerland, 2010).
From this article, I think a further investigation and clarification into what e-learning is (in general and to me) is in order.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
To begin!
Okay so its been a few days since I began my blogging experience and I see I have a follower! Hi!
Due to work commitments (long term planning!) I haven't even began to get my head around where I am at and where I need to be so tonight is the night. First job, to read the assignment one requirements and to choose an aspect...
One of my lunchtime "duties" is to run a ICT club for approximately 25 year one and two children. My plan is to get them doing a variety of tasks using a range of technology so they can then go back and be the "classroom experts". I guess this comes back to the "No school is an island" thread - some of these children will be more capable than their teachers. I embrace the fact that these little 5, 6 and 7 year olds are confident in trying something new with no fear of the delete key!
Over the year we will be covering digital stories, photography, and creating our own video/news item. We will also be setting up a learning cave so that everyone else can see what we've been learning.
Now to find out if that is an aspect !!
Due to work commitments (long term planning!) I haven't even began to get my head around where I am at and where I need to be so tonight is the night. First job, to read the assignment one requirements and to choose an aspect...
One of my lunchtime "duties" is to run a ICT club for approximately 25 year one and two children. My plan is to get them doing a variety of tasks using a range of technology so they can then go back and be the "classroom experts". I guess this comes back to the "No school is an island" thread - some of these children will be more capable than their teachers. I embrace the fact that these little 5, 6 and 7 year olds are confident in trying something new with no fear of the delete key!
Over the year we will be covering digital stories, photography, and creating our own video/news item. We will also be setting up a learning cave so that everyone else can see what we've been learning.
Now to find out if that is an aspect !!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Welcome!
Come with me on my E-Learning journey... I have no idea what I am doing so be prepared for a wobbly ride!
This is my first blog, hang in here with me as a learn how to post, add other information and keep up with all those University readings :)
Should be fun!
This is my first blog, hang in here with me as a learn how to post, add other information and keep up with all those University readings :)
Should be fun!
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