How does one manage E learning in the classroom? I began to appreciate the answer to this question as I followed the course work throughout the term. Blogs, Wikis, embedding images, Learning Management Systems, Movie Making, The Big Six, and Podcasts, have gone from being a foreign tongue to a local language for me in the last few weeks. It took me some experimentation to discover the inner workings of internet resources. I discovered that the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) can add weight to a unit of work and extend a student’s creativity. Thus allowing students to inquire, evaluate, analyse and communicate, which in turn, brings about higher order thinking (Frangenhiem 2007). I also feel that these technologies help to meet the needs of digital native students (Prensky, 2001) and co-operate with the Learning Engagement Theory (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999), and the Big Six. The use of ICT’s is so important in schools that it is mandated and given a cross-curriculum priority in the Essential Learnings (Queensland Studies Authority, 2007). When implementing learning experiences with my students who require to use these technologies and the internet, I will always facilitate class discussions about netiquette and internet safety, as this will be beneficial for the students’ learning, safety and social development.
I find the use of Images particularly helpful when presenting knowledge to an audience. I discussed the usefulness of images with Kim in her blog (Discussion with Kim). Images can be embedded into any internet resource which is why I believe they are one of the most useful tools. I discussed with Hamish (Discussion with Hamish) the amazing amount of images available and ease of access on the internet and the power of these images. I discovered for myself that images are more than just pictures as they can be interactive as well. The image on my blog (Image on Blog) is an example of how images are more than mere pictures. They can actually induce higher order thinking by subtly questing students which extends a student’s learning. In my teaching I would opt for images such as the one embedded in my blog to aid all learners particularly visual learners.
Whilst researching the use of images in the classroom context I found that some images have not been used effectively. JICS Digital media (2008) comments that particular attention must be given to the quality of the images and how they are delivered to the user. This comment will make me consider carefully when selecting images I use in my teaching, what information will they provide? How will they be delivered? Will these invoke higher order thinking?Research suggests that images can enhance learning by illustrating concepts and providing visual memory cues (JICS Digital media 2008). In line with this, I intend to embed them in my lessons.
Learning Management Systems (LMS) as I commented in my blog (Scroll down to view) are a useful system for the student to gain and access information. LMS can assist in assessment management as well as being an effective way to communicate between peers and the Learning Manager. LMS’s are a great a way for students to be more in control of their learning as well as helping them prepare for future education such as High School and University. My peers agree that there is a place for LMS’s in schools and that it enhances learning (Comments on my blog). I find it useful for my current University studies, hence I can see a place for it in my classroom, particularly upper primary. LMS’s also have the capacity to provide support for distance learning or for students who are not able to get to school for a long period of time.The Australian Flexible Learning Centre (2004)suggests that LMS’s can be an integral part of the learning and teaching experience. It also suggests that teachers need to understand LMS’s so they can create meaningful online content and use them as appropriate developmental tools.
Movie making has the ability to transform information and develop new understandings if used as a tool for students on which to compile information. This is why I believe it would be an appropriate tool at the end of a unit to consolidate learning or as an assessment piece. Scaffolding is required to teach students how to work movie making tools but the information they convey to the audience is of the most importance. I discussed the making of scripts for movies by students with Sadi (Comment on Sadi's blog). Together we discovered that using a podcast or a short movie to introduce a unit and inspire students as to what they can make as an end product is a great way to engage students from the start. I made my own movie with Windows Movie Maker which was quite a learning journey as I have never done this before. In fact I had not even been aware that I had the Windows Movie Maker program on my computer. The movie is available on my blog (Scroll down). The movie I constructed is intended to be a story starter to enrich students’ creative writing. I discussed its use in the classroom with Kim (Link to our discussion) who agreed that it induces higher order thinking among students.
A tool that consolidates and refines information that I can see would have potential in the classroom was concept mapping. I knew what a concept map was but I never knew that there were programs on the internet that helped you produce one. Concept maps develop critical thinking, help with analysis and evaluation and synthesise new ideas. I was amazed at Paul’s podcast about concept mapping so I commented (Comments of Paul's blog). Paul included a podcast by Tony Buzan who claims to be the leading author and top lecturer on Mind Mapping. Tony Buzan calls Mind mapping the “swiss army knife for the brain”. Upon my explorations of a few different mind mapping programs I came to the conclusion that Text2Mindmap would be best for usage in my classroom because it is the most user friendly (Scroll down to concept map entry).
Seven weeks ago I had never used a Wiki and had only heard the name because of Wikipedia. Now I have an understanding of Wikis and am already using them in my own learning. In a group work assessment for another course we collaborated our ideas and wrote a script for a play using a Wiki (Script). It was a time-saving success. I agreed with Paul (link to discussion) that Wikis enhance student learning. Within my own blog (scroll down) I praised their ability to aid collaborative learning. I believe that students would be engaged when collaborating on a Wiki, which leads to less time being wasted trying to get students to behave and more time being spent on learning. The potential of Wikis in the classroom is phenomenal as can be seen in theKorean International School Wiki. There is no doubt that I will use Wikis as a tool to aid learning in my classroom, particularly for middle and upper Primary education.
Another point worth mentioning is The Big Six framework which I knew nothing of at the beginning of this course. It is a framework that warrants usage within E Learning. It is a framework that I would use as an information problem-solving strategy because with the Big Six, students are able to handle any problem, assignment, decision or task by following six simple steps (Eisenberg, 2007). Not only does the Big Six bring about higher order thinking by asking specific questions, but it also helps students use time effectively by assisting them with the next move when they are stuck. I will be implementing The Big Six framework into my class for these reasons.
Technology is an ever-changing facet within society, and new technologies are continually being developed. It is possible that the software and skills required for ICT tasks today may be obsolete in a couple of years. As a lifelong learner I look forward to continuing to develop my operational skills and explore knowledge in relation to current and new technologies. I believe that it is a requirement of a teacher to stay ahead of technology and in doing this, I would maintain successful facilitation of E Learning. I strongly believe that in my future role as a Learning Manager I could incorporate each of the technologies covered in this course into my students’ learning experiences, throughout all grades in the primary school setting.
I believe that the use of the technologies discussed in the preceding paragraphs will make my teaching more efficient and more effective. The students would be engaged and would want to participate because of the simple fact that technology is involved. I am committed to giving students the best possible learning experience and this involves the heavy use of ITC’s .In addition I would like to ensure that real world application is used where ever it is appropriate
References:
Australian Flexible Learning Centre (2004) Learning Management Systems: A Teacher's PerspectiveRetrieved August 18, 2010 from:http://community.flexiblelearning.net.au/TeachingTrainingLearners/content/article_4840.htm
Eisenberg, M (2007) What is the big 6? Retrieved August 22, 2010 from:http://www.big6.com/what-is-the-big6/
Frangenhiem, E (2007)Reflection of Classroom Teaching Strategies (9th ed.)Loganholme QLD:Redin Education Publishing. Brisbane
JICS Digital media (2008). Using Images in Learning, Teaching and Research Materials. ReterievedAugust 12, 2010 from:http://www.jiscdigitalmedia.ac.uk/stillimages/advice/using-images-in-learning-teaching-and-research-materials/
Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement theory: a framework for technology-based teaching and learning.Retrieved July 16, 2009, from
http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants.Retrieved August 10, 2010, from:http://web.me.com/nancyoung/visual_literacy/site_map_and_resources_files/Digital_Natives_Digital_Immigrants.pdf
Queensland Studies Authority. (2007). Information and Communication Technologies.Retrieved August 20, 2010, from:https://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/downloads/early_middle/kla_sasg_ict_05.pdf
Waterhouse, S. (2003). The power of elearning the past, the present, and the future.Retrieved June 15, 2006, from:http://ritim.cba.uri.edu/wp2003/pdf_format/Wiley-Encycl-Internet-Diffusion-v12.pdf
Links to a selection of discussions, comments, and comment reply are as follows:
http://elearninginaction.blogspot.com/2010/08/images.html#comments
http://learning-manager.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-put-all-blog-posts-on-one-page.html#comments
http://learning-manager.blogspot.com/2010/08/so-how-do-we-use-blogs-and-wikis-in.html#comments
http://s0173788.blogspot.com/2010/08/podcast.html#comments
http://jesselearning.blogspot.com/2010/08/making-movies.html#comments
http://sadimyers.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-tube-video.html#comments e
http://learning-manager.blogspot.com/2010/08/mind-mapping.html#comments
http://learning-manager.blogspot.com/2010/08/mind-mapping.html#comment
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/07/digital-tool-8-photographs.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/07/digital-tool-7-learning-management.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-shaking-movie-making.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/07/digital-tool-5powerpoint-plug-in-to.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/07/digital-tool-7-learning-management.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/07/learning-tool-9-podcasts.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/08/lets-see-how-this-works-very-exciting.html#comments
http://cameronelearning.blogspot.com/2010/08/ground-shaking-movie-making.html#comments
