And that is the end!

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!

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!

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.