As is Miss Coulson, I too was concerned as to how I will go about integrating technologies in my future classroom . However after having Glynis as a guess speaker in my tutorials she assured us that it could be done, just like Sliverton Public School. I was one of many (or all) of the class who sat at the edges of their seat watching how innovative this school is. Glynis had a horde of hands up asking questions with excitement. Like Miss Coulson I had never before seen or imagined a school that has one learning place and now want to do a practicum in this or a similar school. The way in which Silverton have integrated technology is truly ground breaking. I thought the Principal to be revolutionary how instead of buying IWBs for every classroom, they used the money to buy a variety of technology like iPads, Wiis, and a radio station, which you could clearly see how engaged that children were in their project based learning. This video is thought provoking on how as pre-service teachers can create successful meaningful learning environments with integrating technology!
Tuesday 31 May 2011
A Learning Space Truly Special! No, Innovative!
As is Miss Coulson, I too was concerned as to how I will go about integrating technologies in my future classroom . However after having Glynis as a guess speaker in my tutorials she assured us that it could be done, just like Sliverton Public School. I was one of many (or all) of the class who sat at the edges of their seat watching how innovative this school is. Glynis had a horde of hands up asking questions with excitement. Like Miss Coulson I had never before seen or imagined a school that has one learning place and now want to do a practicum in this or a similar school. The way in which Silverton have integrated technology is truly ground breaking. I thought the Principal to be revolutionary how instead of buying IWBs for every classroom, they used the money to buy a variety of technology like iPads, Wiis, and a radio station, which you could clearly see how engaged that children were in their project based learning. This video is thought provoking on how as pre-service teachers can create successful meaningful learning environments with integrating technology!
Sunday 29 May 2011
The Teacher's Budd:e
This week we were introduced
to the issue of cyber safety in and around the classroom. The Australian
Government has designed the Budd:e website to help students make informed decisions about their actions and
behavior when using the internet. I can relate to Miss Kate’s blog about how
thought provoking the lecture had been and how it also got me thinking that a
website is all well and good but there needs to be a carefully designed school
program in order to keep the kids safe. We both agree, Miss Kate and I that it
is a team effort between parents and teachers for full coverage of safety in
cyberspace. I don’t think we should wrap our kids in cotton wool be make them
aware of associated dangers and what sensible behavior they should have, in
relation to cyber bullying.
I thought I all my social
networking sites were set to private and that only friends I accepted could see
my details and photos but after the tutorial I was shown that you need to vigilant
with cyber-privacy and the video we were shown is concerning and thought provoking…
Thank you:
Australian Government for Budd:e and the image used above.
http://www.staysmartonline.gov.au/
Thinkyouknow.co.uk for the video.
'Jigsaw: Assembly for 8 to 10 video'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o8auwnJtqE
Monday 23 May 2011
To the frontiers... AND BEYOND!!
I have found the
‘Learning Conversations’ blog by Matthew Kearney to be full of useful advice
and thought provoking ideas. After leafing over Miss James’ blog I was curious when
she talked about Gardner’s MI, gaming and by the link from Learning
Conversations to Dawn Hallybone’s ‘Learning without Frontiers’ video.
Hallybone, an innovative thinker working to revolutionise the way we educate
our 21st century students by not following traditional
pedagogies but one of her favourite past times, video gaming. Hallybone
describes how integrating video game technology into her teaching practices is
not only a positive but motivational experience for learners as well as
improving outcomes and continues by supporting the new teaching pedagogy, of
‘the guide on the side’ that was originally introduced to me by my lecturer.
Before watching this stimulating video I never thought Nintendo DS could be
anything but babysitters, once again I was wrong. With select games, Hallybone
describes playful learning that allows students to develop competencies like
teamwork, numeracy, and literacy and of course problem solving and so much
more. The benefits are abundant, it enables students to collaborate,
investigate and communicate with classmates as well as with the wider online
audience.
 |
| Unlimited Opportunities! |
It is unsurprising
when normally unenthusiastic students are suddenly engaged and grades are
improved with the integration of familiar (and fun) technology. We have come so
far already with video game development, future educational opportunities are endless
and exciting. As a self confessed gamer that always believed games were not
just silly time wasters, I want to thank Miss James, Hallybone and Kearney for
highlighting the benefits and power of educational gaming!
Image: 'Streetfighter
360'
Image: 'PAL (European)
SNES'
Friday 13 May 2011
Pop it in the Blender!
On
a side note, I can recommend to have images pre-selected for the students to
use as a foundation. I discovered that if you allowed the children to look
through hundreds of images then it would take forever for them to make their
minds up… Now I am not saying that choice is a bad thing, on the contrary I
think it is great but for a quick lesson having a starting point is vital. The
concept of using others images could be a stepping-stone to creative commons
resources too.
I
look forward to seeing what they have produced using their digital
paintbrushes, the creations looked promising from the first lesson.
Images Attributed to Flickrcc:
Images Attributed to Flickrcc:
Image: 'technicolor dreamcoat'
Image: 'wallpaper - The ISLAND'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42352950@N07/4452367725
Friday 6 May 2011
Email Me, Email You!
So my very first technology lesson
went off without a hitch or a hacker! My prac students were all very engaged
into what emails are and the different ways in which we can use this wonderful
tool for connection. Unfortunately the lesson fell on un-allocated computer
time so I had to last minute change the lesson and run the lesson on the IWB
that was not what I had planned for... this is the life of a teacher I am
quickly discovering. However, having the 'experts' jump up and show the rest of
the class what they knew was really encouraging and let me tell you, even the
students who shy away from these things were jumping at the chance to show
their skills.
Practice makes perfect. When we did
have time in the computer lab I had the class compose an email, attach a file
and send it to their parents. This was not only for the students to go through
the motions of sending an email themselves but to notify their parents that
they are now online. The student had to have permission to use emails and other
online activity.so this was a good opportunity to kill multiple birds with one
stone. Accompanying the parents’ permission was a policy or contact that the
students needed to sign to agree upon appropriate use of computers, Internet
and cybersaftey. I was surprised of the extent of prior knowledge the students
had when it came to computers and emailing in particular. Some had nothing, others
had been emailing since they we knee high to a grasshopper and these students
were a challenge when it came to listening. I explicitly gave instructions as
to what the email would contain, the layout and before sending it my CT or
myself would proof read it. I wasn't sure how to work with my 'experts' in this
scenario, some left their listening ears at the door and did their own thing
which was ok, just as long as they followed the instructions to notify their
parents, some did not and got flustered when I asked them to go back complete
what was asked of them, others were more than willing to help others, “GREAT!”
I thought only to realise that they were doing the work for the beginners that
didn't advance their skills...
A revelation of the lessons on
emailing was that the majority didn't know what domain names were and why we
had to put the @place.com.au after our names, they could not fathom the idea,
if not the amount of other would have the same name as them. Also with
passwords and security reasons for the accounts, which was an eye-opener to
them and a reminder to me, that prior knowledge people hold are so vast and for
me not to make assumptions... lesson learnt!
Thank you Flickrcc for the imagery!
Image: 'Interopérabilité @ J&Bisc family'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11445550@N00/2456767724
Tuesday 3 May 2011
My first day!
As a student teacher I have been allocated a lovely class
of 25, yr5 students. My cooperating teacher is a self-confessed stranger when
it comes to technology and integrating it into her class. When asked what I
would like to teach out of the possible topics, I was excited to see that
emailing was one of these options and I quickly volunteered to my CT’s relief
as she fears the digital unknown. I was however, very impressed to find out
that last term the students were introduced to Blogging but this was guided by
one of the more techno familiar teachers. Teaching the students about the
wonderful world of the web and its uses is alone very exciting, but I can see
my self coming to the aid of my CT and am very happy to share and help her in
anyway I can, in order to promote the possibilities I have discovered whilst in
my Professional Experience class.
I am lucky to have an IWB in the class and will be using
it as much as I can, as I have been told that my techno timid teacher has only
used it a few times. My class shares 5 PCs with the adjoining yr5 class and has
an allocated 1hr on Fridays in the computer lab. So I will be making the most
of my resources and building upon prior knowledge of the students (and my CT) so that the unfamiliar becomes familiar. So as I sit here finding new
e-resources for my lessons, I get butterflies of excitement in my tummy just
thinking how much I can integrate technology into my yr5 lessons (whilst on
prac) as well as what my own future classes!
Thanks Flickrcc for the Image: 'Sunset over Pearl Qatar.'
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8264376@N03/2199471245
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