I have not been in a classroom this year but I can remember my previous schools. My context is primary school aged students. I understand that today’s students are all ‘native speakers’ when it comes to digital language. They are born into and have grown up with technology and have developed a specific language and syntax when it comes to learning (Prensky, 2001). As part ‘native’ and part ‘immigrant’, I am now aware of these differences and the importance of how the e-learning tools are delivered within the classroom context. ‘The challenge[now] lies in shifting from teaching and learning about ICT to teaching and learning with and through ICT. This means rather than using technology to do old things in new ways, we want to do new things in new ways and use technology to enable and transform teaching, learning and the curriculum.’(Education Queensland, 2009). Teaching with technology also includes using higher order thinking strategies. ‘Higher-order thinking requires students to manipulate information and ideas in ways that transform their meaning and implications. This transformation occurs when students combine facts and ideas in order to synthesise, generalise, explain, hypothesise or arrive at some conclusion or interpretation.’(Education Queensland, 2004). Each of the frameworks built into their theory the higher order thinking strategies as well as engaging and authentic tasks. [link to framework post]
How I would use e-learning tools to transform, support, facilitate and/or enhance student learning.
I have looked analysed the different e-learning tools and believe many of them if not all could be used within the classroom to develop effective digital learners.
(Education Queensland, 2009)
I have chosen a number of tools that I personally could see myself effectively using in my future role as a learning manager that promotes creativity and intellectual curiosity for the students to learn and deepen their digital literacy, proficiency and knowledge. (Education Queensland, 2009)
Digital Tool 1: Blogs & RSS
I am really excited to use Blogs within my classroom context. Blogging is much more than journalling it is personal publishing (Educause, 2010). Teachers can use blogs instead of the conventional webpage. They can link websites and elearning tools to create easy access for students and promote the 'relate, create, donate' theme of the Engagement Theory(Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). Also what I said in my post on blogs, 'Blogs can be used in the classroom for many things. Such as a personal journal. Students create their own blog that is secure and are able to comment on their peer's journals and encourage each other. A reflective learning journal is also great as teachers can see what the students are learning in a particular subject also because it is engaging for the students.' (Q: Blog - Verb or Noun?) Or even writing a newsletter and updating it for their parents to see. The RSS Aggregator would also be great to use withing the classroom as it could reduce the chasing up of assignment submissions and make my teaching more efficient. 'Also for students to see what activities their fellow peers had been up to. RSS is time-saving but also engaging as students can collaborate with eachother more easily. (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999) '(Can't keep up?? Get yourself an RSS Aggregator!)
Digital Tool 2: Images
I loved learning about images and the different e-learning tools out there that can be used withing the classroom. When students can interact with what they are learning about, their learning becomes more authentic and is consolidated. (Educause, 2010). If students are doing an assignment or learning task that requires photos and the student has no way of getting them, instead of looking on google images and not knowing what images you can legally use, with Flickr.com the 'Creative Commons' give you what photos that can be used. Picnik.com then allows the students to edit, change, enhance the photos to make their point. These tools don't have to be used in the Arts subject, they can be used in any context. Finally, Schools love free and legal applications that all students can access, as it doesn't have to be updated by the administrators every time it needs to be updated. (Picture Perfect World)
Digital Tool 3: Wikis & Websites
Wikis and Websites are great for collaborative work. Students and Learning managers could work together to upload images, create links to useful sites, add questions and findings and compile this information about a topic to build a great class site. If students want they can work on it at home or in their lunch breaks. For safety and privacy, students and teachers can modify settings so only their peers in the classroom can edit, modify and view the content of the site.
(Wiki vs Website vs Blog)
Digital Tool 4: Podcasting
This was really fun as it was not just limited to audio files. My posts on Blabberize and Movie Maker involves using audio files. Podcasting is great withing the classroom as it can be an independent task or a collaborative task. Students can either listen to Podcasts on different topics they are learning about for example; in early childhood they can use the free podcast 'Hooked on Phonics' which consists of songs on the different letters of the alphabet. Teachers can use this as a whole class activity or if the students have iTunes at home they can practice their letters in an engaging manner. For older students they can listen to audiobooks especially if they are vision impared. Podcasting is not limited to listening but also recoding the studnets vioces. Students can do an impersonation of a character from a book and a reporter could ask them quesitons about the character, or students could do an audio book review. Some ways podcasting can be used within the classroom:
- Students can record their stories they have written.
- Students can role play being journalists for a favourite newspaper.
-Students can interview eachother about their book review.
-Students can learn by listening to fun educational podcasts
See my blog post on the skills students develop when using podcasts. (Podcasting...Testing 1, 2, 3)
As this picture shows, ICT's are the future and as Learning Managers we need to be reading. We may not be 'native' learners with ICT's but we need to be life long learner who can take the knowledge of the students' learning styles and behaviourisms and create engaging and authentic learning activities and assessments that work with and through ICT's
Cheers,
Michelle
References:
Education Queensland. (2009). Smart Classroom. Retrieved 25 August 2010 from http://www.learningplace.com.au/deliver/content.asp?pid=37816.
Education Queensland. (2004). Higher order thinking, Retrieved 20th August 2010, from http://education.qld.gov.au/corporate/newbasics/html/pedagogies/intellect/int1a.html
Educause. (2010). Educational blogging, Retrieved 23 August 2010 from, http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Review/EDUCAUSEReviewMagazineVolume39/EducationalBlogging/157920
Educause. (2010) Engage me or enrage me, Retrieved 20 August, 2010 from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0553.pdf
Kearsley, G., Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 5 2010 from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm.
Prensky, M., (2001). Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants. Retrieved August 25 2010 from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf.
Appendix for Comments:
People's Comments on My Blog
Blog on 21st Learners: http://mbuckle.blogspot.com/2010/07/21st-century-learners.html?showComment=1283110736123#c6184514451086746458
Blog on Blogs: http://mbuckle.blogspot.com/2010/07/acvokiembed20026719320f7cc5f8db0e0bb9a3.html
Blog on Bubble us: http://mbuckle.blogspot.com/2010/08/bubblus.html
My Comments on Other Blogs
Laura M with Podcasts - http://lauraselearningblog.blogspot.com/2010/07/podcasting-and-vokis.html
