Reflective Synopsis

Introduction

Technology is fast becoming a way of the future and a necessary resource for all. As the reliance on technology becomes greater so to does the amount of exposure required within the classroom. Technology is now an integral part of the curriculum. The use of computers within the classroom has changed greatly over the past decades. Computers are now a part of everyday life and used within many curriculum areas. In the past computers were used in isolation and seen as a special privilege. Schools today have access to computer labs, i pads, laptops and often there are enough computers for every child during a lesson. Blackboards and even white boards are being fazed out and replaced by modern interactive whiteboards advancing the technology within the classroom even further.  Students now may be asked to present assessments on blogs, wikis, you tube clips, PowerPoint and movie maker resources instead of submitting a hand written piece. The curriculum has added Technology as a Key Learning Area (KLAs) giving teachers a whole range of opportunities to showcase ICTs (Information Communication Technology) to their class. The use of technology aims at keeping students engaged and foster individual creativity.

The Oxford Dictionaries (2013) defines e-learning as "learning conducted via electronic media, typically on the Internet". E-learning is a combination of digital content, online applications, digital pedagogy and software tools that can carry out the learning outcome. E-learning provides students with the use of ICTs to create, enquire, communicate and collaborate through the use of digital tools and resources. Students must be engaged in meaningful activities that can be individual or collaborative learning experiences. We as teachers need to understand the content, pedagogy and apply appropriate technology. 

As technology and the world wide web become more accessible to students and teachers a number of regulations need to be put in place to ensure that the content being viewed is appropriate. In educating students on legal, safe and ethical standards responsibilities need to be taken. The Australian Government website called Cybersmart  has a wide range of information and resources available to explain the safety requirements of teachers and students when using the Internet.

Group 1 Technologies- Blogs, Wikis and Websites

The first groups of tools are blogs, wikis and websites. After analysing the three technologies I found that each contain strengths and weaknesses in regards to classroom implementation.  

Blogs are available and can be used for all school year levels. Blogs allow students to embed other technologies like images, YouTube clips and links. Blogs give students the opportunity to be creative and enables them to write in different genres and styles. Education Queensland (2013) states that blogs are ideal for communicating and reflective writing task. Blooms Taxonomy allows students to use higher order thinking through analysing and evaluating. Students may write individually or in groups when working with Blogs. Blogs can be scaffolded through the collaboration tools, for example, De Bono's Thinking Hats, PMI (Plus, Minus, Interesting) and swot (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis. Blogs enable feedback from students and teachers.

See Appendix A, Appendix B and Appendix C

Group 2 Technologies- Digital Images, Podcasts and Ditial Videos

Digital Images, Podcasts and Digital Videos can be used to engage learners in the classroom. The topic I have chosen for analysis is Digital Videos. Digital Video allows for the use of digital images and audio voice recordings.

Students today live in a multimedia world and need to be exposed to a variety of technologies within their learning environment. When teaching a mixture of text, still images, sound and video may be more engaging for the student. Digital Video creates opportunities for students to engage in higher level thinking when producing their own digital video clips. When producing digital media there are huge opportunities for learning within a school and for global collaboration between students and teachers via the Internet. Even small video clips can be very powerful.

Teachers and lecturers have found short digital video segments very useful in customised e-learning activities. Students find videos motivational and enjoy greater control over their learning (it is easy to start, stop or replay video segments). Validated digital educational tools can provide teachers and students with significant additional learning resources. This is helpful for teachers concerned about the work necessary to provide students with more customised learning.

Students may use Digital Videos for the curriculum area of Geography. Students can create visual presentations using images and audio to explain natural disasters, catchments, weather patterns and/or habitats. 

See Appendix D, Appendix E and Appendix F

Group 3 Technologies- PowerPoint, Prezi and Glogster

PowerPoint , Prezi and Glogsters are all applications that use communication and presentation tools to produce an interactive work sample. PowerPoint is the most common technology used in the classrooms for presentation and this is the topic I will focus on.

PowerPoint gives students and teachers the opportunity to easily organise information. PowerPoint also offers the students and teachers the ability to share, store and modify information on a given topic. PowerPoint can be interactive and engaging for students through the use of multimedia.  YouTube clips, images, Audio Voice Recordings and video recordings. By utilising the multimedia, for example, YouTube clips, images, Audio Voice Recordings and video recordings, students may become visually engaged and a positive learning environment may be created.

PowerPoint applications can be used in all KLAs and allows teachers and students to control the flow of information. An example of this would be if a class displayed difficulty understanding a particular a slide the teacher would be able to focus on the information for an extended period of time ensuring that the students understand the content before moving on to the next slide.PowerPoint could be used as an assessment tool for studnets when presenting an individual or group assignment.  

See Appendix G, Appendix H 

Group 4 Technologies- (Animations and Simulations) Google Documents, Google Earth, Google Maps,  Zooburst, Concept Mapping and Online Timelines

Group 4 tools incorporates Google Documents, Google Earth, Google Maps,  Zooburst, Concept Mapping and Online timelines. My focus is Online timelines.

Online timelines allow students to create content for others to use and learn from. They  and provide opportunities for collaboration. While traditional paper timelines were confined to the classroom Online timelines can be published, embedded and linked within a class blog or website, allowing students to view and learn from each other’s creations.

The tool that was used to create the Online timelines was Dipity.  Dipity allows users to enter events, descriptions, images, embed videos and locations. The resulting Online timeline can be viewed as a linear display, a flipbook of events and a title list of entries. Dipity timelines  for the integration of social media. Dipity timelines may be made collaborative by making a timeline public or creating a group login. Dipity requires a login with an active email account in order to be accessed.

Online timelines would be beneficial to use in all KLAs so students can highlight the key events for their subject areas. Online timelines would be particularly useful in the area of History where the recording of events assist students in the understanding of the past. 

See Appendix I

Conclusion

Technology has become an integral part of teaching and learning. As teachers engaging students by incorporating the appropriate ICT in a legal, safe and ethical standard is vital. The use of ICT requires teachers to monitor student’s activities as well as give constant guidance and feedback to ensure the technology is used in a meaningful and engaging manner. There are a number of different technology tools that can enhance the classroom and deepen a students learning. Providing students with the opportunity to use technology within the classroom will allow creativity, independence, collaboration and meaningful discussions to take place. Changing the way we view and deliver our teaching content through the use of technology will benefit the students and strengthen our own teaching practice.

Appendix's

Appendix A-  http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/blog-reflection.html
Appendix B- http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/creating-wiki-reflection.html
Appendix C- http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/creating-website-reflection.html

Appendix D-http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/image-resizing.html
Appendix E-http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/hi-all-todays-topic-is-podcasting.html
Appendix F-http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/movie-maker.html
Appendix G-http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/powerpoints-and-prezi.html

Appendix H-http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/glogster.html
Appendix I-http://tbalderson.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/online-timeline.html

References

acara, 2013. Curriculum. [Online]
Available at: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/e-learning
[Accessed 8 4 2013].

Commonwealth of Australia, 2013. Schools.Cybersmart. [Online]
Available at: http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Schools.aspx
[Accessed 4 4 2013].

Oxford Dictionaries, 2013. Defintion of e-learning. [Online]
Available at: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/e-learning
[Accessed 5 4 2013].

Queensland Government, 2013. Queensland Studies Authority. [Online]
Available at: http://www.qsa.qld.edu.au/
[Accessed 9 4 2013].

 

Online Timeline

Hi All,

Today's topic is Online Timelines. I  explored the online timeline tool that is called Dipity. Dipity is a free tool that can produce timelines for individual or group projects. This tool allows for videos, images, links, audio and text to be added to the timeline. I  have attached an example of a timeline from Dipity.

I found the timeline to be visually stimulating and would use it in the classroom. Dipity has settings that allow the timeline to be selected as private. This would be ideal for schools settings. I would be able to utilise this tool in the History and Health and Physical Education classes I will be teaching.

Trent

Mobile phones,ipads and iphones within classrooms

Hi Everybody,


Today's topic is the use of mobile phones, ipads and iphones within the classroom. I have created a PMI analysis to assess the devices.


Plus

• Students are familiar with mobile phones
• Can connect to social media, Internet, emails, photos and videos
• Can make calls
• Government incentive for class sets

Minus

• Cyber bullying
• Costly for parents
• Parents may not agree with the approach
• Health issues with radiation
• Battery length

Interesting

• Can create blog, glogsters and prezi
• Researching for assessments can be done on all devices

I think it is inevitable that every child will have an ipad at school as there are so many options available on the devices. I look forward to seeing how students and teachers interact on ipads as the school I am doing my pre-service teaching experience with requires every child to have one.

Trent

Glogster

Hi All,

Today's activity was to create a Glogster. I have created a basic glogster in the limited time available. I have gained an insight into all the features that a glogster can provide for teachers and students. I have developed a PMI analysis for the glogster.

PLUS

• Lots of Features
• Students and teachers can be creative
• May engage students more than a PowerPoint
• Every one can use it

MINUS

• Time consuming
• Glogster can look visually busy if too much information is on it

INTERESTING

• Appealing to the eye
• Amount of features available

I would have to gain further knowledge and become more confident in using this tool before I would be comfortable implementing it into a classroom setting.


Trent

Trent

Powerpoints and Prezi

Hi All,

Today in my topics i will be reflecting on PowerPoint and Prezi.

PowerPoint
I have used PowerPoint in a number of assisgnments when in high school and in my previous university studies. I have found them to be very effective for oral presentations wiht and without the use of voice overs. They allow creatvity and a lot of information, from images to quotes, to be presented in a user friendly way. PowerPoint can touch on all levels of blooms Taxonomy.

Prezi
I enjoyed making the Prezi and feel it would be a very useful classroom tool. The Prezi is slightly different to a PowerPoint because the Prezi allows you to invite other people to edit your work. However if the wrong person was invited the Prezi may be used inappropriately. I have created a Prezi for you all to have a look.

Trent

Movie Maker

Hi Everyone,

Today's topic is Movie Maker or  imovie. I am familiar with the process of imovie because I was required to make two movies for my Human Movement course last year. I have created a new movie by using images and placed a voice over on them. You can see my video on my website.

I have created a PMI analysis for a movie maker.

Plus

• You can upload them to youtube, websites and wikis
• Students can be creative
• Students can summarise and anlayse a set of images.

Minus

• Students get caught up in making the movie with music instead of producing relevant content.

Interesting

• Each student will have differing views on the same set of images
• Students can be creative 
• Easy to make

I think students will enjoy the movie making process and it would be something I would like to incorporate into my classroom.


Trent

Podcasting

Hi All,

Today's topic is podcasting. According to podcasting news (2010) "podcasting is the delivering of audio content to ipods and other portable media players on demand, so that it can be listened to at the user's convenience." I have created a podcast for everyone to look at. I have also created a PMI analysis about podcasting.

Plus

• Portable
• Convenient
• Can be very informative
• Hands free
• Engages students 
• Able to listen to important information multiple times

Minus 

• Students may not commit to listening to the podcast
• Teachers need to have a good pedagogy to keep learners engaged

Interesting

• Ability to communicate with peers all around the world

Everyone can in enjoy podcasts as there are many podcasting sites, for example Podomatic and itunes, that offer a whole range of different topics.

Reference

Podcasting News,2010. What is Podcasting. Podcasting News. [Online] Available at : http://podcastingnews.com/articles/What_is_Podcasting.html [Accessed 7 04 2013]


Trent

Digitial Audio Recording

Hi All,

Today's task was to create a Digital Audio Recording and upload it to the web. My recording is located on my website. It is a recording of my PMI analysis below.


Plus

• Can be recorded on many devices like mobile phones, laptops, desktop computers, portable recording devices
• Can be listened to more than once and be paused when needed
• Can be uploaded to the Internet
• Can be attached to Power Point presentations and movies
• Students can record as many times as it takes them to get their recording correct 

Minus

• Long audio recordings without Power Points attached may not engage the students
• Time consuming for students if they are continually making mistakes on their recordings

Interesting

• Able to communicate with people all over the world via the Internet

I have found in my previous studies that digital audio recordings can be an important part of university life. I have completed 4 or 5 PowerPoint presentations with a voice over attached.

Trent

Image resizing

Hi Everyone,

Today's activity is about multimedia and in this blog I will be focusing on image resizing. At the start of the activity we were asked to download software called Mobaphoto. I had difficulty downloading the correct software. I had to read other students blogs to find out where I was going wrong and corrected my actions. I finally downloaded External Mirror One Option. Once it was downloaded I was able to progress with the resizing of my images. I used a 5 batch resize in MobaPhoto remembering to change the settings to "uploading online". This program changed the image sizes from 19.9MB to 1.79MB. I have uploaded these photos onto my blog.

Plus

• Use of image resizing can support great learning
• Shorter time to upload photos onto wikis and blogs
• Using photos on interactive whiteboards and presentations to keep students focused
• Public displays of students work

Minus

• All Internet users have access to the photos uploaded to a blog
• Using photos properly
• Permission to use student's work samples or photos
• Legal, safe and ethical requirements

Interesting

• Sharing of photos with people all around the world

Overall image resizing is a great tool to as it speeds up the process of uploading photos.

The kids slippery slide

Our pool

Another of our pool

The house getting built out the back

Another of the house get built out the back



Trent





Creating a website reflection

Hi All,

Today's topic was creating a website. I have previously created one website for my Sport Management  university class a few years ago. It was a fun and enjoyable thing to do although time consuming to make. I will now use a PMI analysis to reflect on the new website I have created.

Plus 

• The webpage is owned by one person or a small group of people
• Outside people cannot change the page
• Allows the person to be creative with the content and design

Minus

• First time users may find it difficult and get frustrated causing negative emotions and a reduction in learning

Interesting

• Anyone can make them 
• Easy step by step process
• People can express themselves in any way they like 

Attached is a link to my webpage for you all to see.

Trent

Creating a wiki reflection

Hi everyone,

Today's topic requires students as teachers to learn an innovating way to interact with children in the classroom. I created a wiki page using PMI (plus, minus and interesting) analysis.


Plus

• A wiki is a safer environment than a blog
• It is a private communication area 
• More than one person can interact at any given time
• Students and teachers work together to contribute information
• Accessible anywhere not just at school
• You can remain anonymous
• Everyone is entitled to their opinion 

Minus

• Not everyone has reliable Internet or access to the Internet at home
• You can delete other people's post by mistake 
• Time consuming
• Other people can make changes to your wiki
• Can be confusing if you have not done it before

Interesting

• Students can learn from each others content
• Learn a new collaborative tool
• Students can work from home

This exercise was difficult as I have never created a wiki before. There are many benefits to the wiki however i will have to wait until I become more proficient before implementing it within a classroom setting. To have a look at my wiki click on the address

Trent

Blog Reflection

Hi All,

Today I need to create a reflection on the use of blogs within my teaching areas of Health and Physical Education and Geography.

SWOT analysis:

Strengths

• Blogs can help students learn from other peoples opinions
• Blogs assist students in communicating with their peers in an online conversation 
• Creates self learning
• Helps students compare running/swimming times with similar aged peers around the world
• Helps students learn and compare climate with students in other countries

Weaknesses

• Cyber bullying
• Inappropriate content and comments
• Time management for students

Opportunities

• Allows students to interact with students from other countries
• Students can be creative in their blog designs
• Students can learn from each other
• Students can link movies, pictures and clips 

Threats

• Blogs are accessible to all Internet users making them potentially unsafe

The use of blogs are a good way for students to learn and communicate with each other. 

Trent

Working in Wiki

Hi All,

Today's activity was using a mobile phone wiki in a classroom. The students had to use the learning tool De Bono's Six Thinking Hats. This strategy allowed the students to communicate through a series of questions focusing on a particular topic.

Today's topic was the use of mobile phones within the classroom as an effective ICT learning tool. The wiki site offered an easy way for people to communicate from any location. The wiki page also allowed for participants to voice their opinions on particular questions by using De Bono's thinking hat concept. People's opinions on each of De Bono's Thinking Hats were presented in a clear manner that made it easy to understand. The wiki allowed students to add and expand on the views and topics of others.

This learning strategy is something I would consider as part of my teaching.

Trent

First Blog

Hi Everyone,

This is my first ever blog. It is all very new to me and I am learning as I go. I have created this blog site as the starting point to my ICT University course.The following blogs will be dedicated to my jounrey in becoming a teacher.

Trent