Introduction to Learning Technologies
In the first week of ICT, the learning focus was on the "Introduction to Learning Technologies". In the workshop, I learned about how to set up a blog and also learned about the inspiration software.
Concept mapping and Inspiration Software
First I will talk about the inspiration software. It is a useful tool for concept mapping and will definitely help me in teaching new concepts to my students-to be. I will definitely incorporate such thinking curriculum tools into my teaching and lessons. Attached below is my inspirational task on the classification of animal kingdom by classes.
Here is a link explaining the importance of concept mapping and the use of inspiration software in enabling people to generate graphic organizers like concept maps : http://www.docstoc.com/docs/33223780/Concept-Map Mind mapping and mind mapping softwares provide an excellent way for dylexic children to learn, according to this article: http://www.theschoolrun.com/node/1605 "ICT is widely used by teachers to address student's specific needs, while still meeting curriculum requirements. Using tools such as Inspiration and Kidspiration, teachers are able to offer a solution where students use concept maps and mind maps to help them think and process information visually". Source: http://www.inspiration.com/sites/default/files/filemanager/file/Mapping%20your%20class%E2%80%99s%20learning%20disposition.pdf
The CollinsConsults White Paper prepared for Inspiration software showed us how inspiration software can help to prepare students for the 21st century by teaching students "to visually represent ideas, information and data in a way that improves their ability to identify or formulate problems, think critically and draw conclusions": http://wikis.milkenschool.org/@api/deki/files/2673/=How_Digital_Tools_Prepare_Students_for_the_21st_Century.pdf
Blogs
Blogs are becoming increasingly important these days. For example in Singapore, we have the Singapore Blog Awards to honour tireless "new age wordsmith" who devote much time and energy in maintaining informative, regularly updated and innovative blogs, often out of interest rather than for personal gains.http://sgblogawards.omy.sg/
Uses and Importance of Blogs
Even schools are using blogs for multi-purposes including education and advertising. http://www.berwicklodgeps.vic.edu.au/
Some schools use blogs to rate their teachers: http://au.ratemyteachers.com/thomas-mitchell-primary-school/3913-s
Individuals use blogs for a number of purposes including:
1) As a personal online diary. http://zhubeiwenpeggy.spaces.live.com/blog/fakehandlerpage.aspx?wa=wsignin1.0&sa=618411016
2) As a log of professional interest.http://www.hendralauw.com/
3) To post an online resume, which is an interesting way for user to post resume and may sometimes result in getting head hunted. http://www.darowski.com/tracesofinspiration/2007/03/06/the-blog-is-the-new-resume/
4) As a photoblog to post photographs of individuals or groups. http://www.oureverydaythings.com/
5) For podcasting and video presentations. http://abc.net.au/am/rss/amrss.xml
6) As an academic blog for research purposes.http://scienceblog.com/
Many teachers are using blogs for various purposes. Susan Tapp is an English teacher at Upwey high school and has been blogging regarding web 2.0 and teaching for over a year.
http://www.andanotherthing-sue.blogspot.com/ Bill Kerr is a teacher at Woodville High School in South Australia whose interests include using Game Maker and Squeak in schools.http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/ Grant High School's blog shows how the school operates the "Community Computer Recycling" to provide free computers (including software and basic training) to community organisations and people in need in our community. Students in the computer technician class gain practical skills through this program. http://ccrscheme.blogspot.com/
As for businesses and organisations, blogs are used in various ways:
1) As a corporate website which is an alternative way to creating HTML pages.http://www.sevencorporate.com.au/
2) For publishing newsletter – many not-for-profit organisations use blogs to publish newsletter. So do clubs and companies.http://www.latrobegolf.com.au/contents/3303-pro-shop
3) Companies’ CEOs used blogs as communication platforms to communicate with customers directly.http://blogs.sun.com/jonathan/
4) As an instant publishing site to make money.http://techcrunch.com/
5) For project logs where a blog is used as “project home page’. Blogs are also used for project development and status announcement.
From a business point of view, blogs are no different from audio, video, print or presentation but they are about establishing a stronger relationship with the target customer groups. Blogs are also used by the media for compilation and broadcasting purposes. Telecommunication companies and IT gadgets companies are using Blogs as Device Blogs. Some blogs are even used as a discussion forum.
Here is a video on the importance of a blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njTy1QK2Xjc
Each day new uses of blogs are being devised. Blogs will definitely be an important tool for my teaching and assessment purposes as well as for self-reflection.
Impact of ICT on Learning
Lastly, I shall look at how technology prepare students for the 21st century and the impact of ICT on learning. This site looks at 21st century skills and question whether our students are prepared:http://www.techlearning.com/article/13832
6 key elements of focus for the 21st century learning has been identified, namely:
- Core Subjects
- Learning Skills
- 21st Century Tools
- 21st Century Context
- 21st Century Content
- New Assessments that Measure 21st Century Skills.
Another site also looks at preparing students for the 21st century: http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/EducatorResources/YourLearningJourney/EnvisioningtheFutureofEducationandTechnology/Preparing_Students_for_the_21st_Century.pdf However, it prosposed the focus on 4 impressive list of skills clustered in 4 areas, namely Digital- Age Literacy, Effective Communication, Inventive Thinking and High productivity. Finally, teachers should model and apply the National Educational Technology Standards for Students (NETS.S) and meet the standards and performance indicators provided by ISTE: http://www.iste.org/content/navigationmenu/nets/forteachers/2008standards/nets_T_standards_final.pdf
The impact of ICT on Learning and Teaching is being explored in this review article: http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/downloads/pd/impactreview.pdf
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the first week of ICT I have enjoyed the introduction to Learning Technologies and learned a lot about ICT and the importance of its induction into the curriculum.
The impact of ICT on Learning and Teaching is being explored in this review article: http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/downloads/pd/impactreview.pdf
Conclusion
In conclusion, in the first week of ICT I have enjoyed the introduction to Learning Technologies and learned a lot about ICT and the importance of its induction into the curriculum.
No comments:
Post a Comment