Reflective Synopsis

The Reflective Synopsis 

Image Link

It’s time to reflect on my learning journey and examine the significance of ICT’s in the modern classroom. Firstly let’s touch base on e-learning. E-learning is such a broad term that has been defined by AADM Enterprises Inc. as

“The use of any electronic technology to aid in the acquisition and development of knowledge and understanding in order to demonstrate and positively influence behaviours.”¹

Personally e-learning is a set of electronic educational applications such as the web, computer programs, virtual classrooms and digital collaborations which can deliver many interactive activities to students. E-learning is now becoming a highly used theory within the classroom. Unfortunately I hadn't really thought about using ICT’s in a classroom till I started this course. 

There are many reasons why e-learning has become an important element within the classrooms of the 20^th century. Technologies have allowed learning to become an exciting, compelling and engaging experience. A great example is Shakespeare. You can read the book and gain images in your mind but it can then be brought to life through video.² Learning has now been transformed into an active experience with a large emphasis on interactivity. E-learning has allowed for students to manage their own learning and this is effective as each student can modify it to their personal learning style. Coming from a rural district I can see the positive effect e-learning can have for those students who are disadvantaged by distance and isolation.¹ How do I know this about e-learning? Well over the past 5 weeks I have undertaken research in this particular area. Many articles and websites have been analysed to produce a compelling blog which you can look at by clicking here.  The following reflective synopsis will provide you with a brief refection of a number of e-learning tools which have revolutionised the way teacher teach and learners learn. These tools can be very effective when used in the classroom of many key learning areas. These tools include blogs, videos, Glogster and Google earth.

 To start with I would like to talk about the Wiki activity which was undertaken over the past couple weeks. Personally I wasn’t a fan of using wikis but they can be a very engaging activity. Initially we were asked to create a wiki of our own and you're able to see my individual one by clicking here. We were asked to contribute to a DeBonos wiki discussion on mobile phones too. Click here to see the final piece. A wiki supports learning through a collaboration of many students opinions. Michael Richardson has brought up some great points about wikis within his blog (Thursday 14th March) which you are able to see by clicking here. Its a tool which could be very successful within the classroom is used correctly. In week 2’s blog I discussed that fact that it’s not about the technology but more about the digital pedagogy. Teachers these days must decide on the content and then make a decision on the types of technologies which can be effectively utilised. This relates directly to Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK). 

Tool 1 – Blogs

Blogs are known as an easy way to share thoughts and discuss hot topics.³ They can however be used for many other things, one being able to collect and share digital resources or chronologically arrange information in the form of a diary or journal.⁴ This tool can be implemented into classrooms to allow students to interact in engaging activities with their colleagues and teachers. There is an option on blogger which allows you to create a team blog. This could be a great tool to use in an HPE class where all students can give feedback and ask each other question. I would be thrilled to use this tool within my classroom. As a HPE teacher I could use a blog for students to reflect on what they have learnt each week as well as ask any questions they have in relation to the topic or upcoming assignments. To check out a PMI that I performed plus my thoughts  on Blogger click here. This all sounds really exciting but there is a serious side to blogging. It’s crucial to make sure that the working environment is ethical safe and secure. As a teacher it’s critical to educate your students on safe practices. Evaluate the service before starting to find out its privacy settings and how to turn on password-protected blogs.⁵ Click here to read more about safety when blogging. Keep your students safe!   

Tool 2 – Video

Video is a very powerful tool that can be used in the classroom when taught with the right pedagogy. For students who are visual learning this tool is perfect! Video can be seen as future for education as our classrooms are now wired and connected.⁶ Chris Anderson: How web video powers global innovation embraces the power of video. Over the 5 weeks I have read reviews on TeacherTube and most say the power of videos in education is amazing.⁷ It’s understood that using video to teach can help students understand concepts and retain information. Research has indicated that using the digital tool video can improve learning.⁸ A direct quote from the article says “teaching methods that include the use of video and audio will, in effect, reach more students and provide more opportunities for neural development and learning."⁸ To read the article that goes into more depth click here. Using video in a HPE would be worthy as students could present and analysis biomechanical moments in their sports. This could lead students to identifying faults and modifying their technique for improvements. Just like blogging, videos need to be ethical safe and secure. If students are wishing to upload their presentation to blogger for example, they must get parental permission and avoid using student’s names as if this information was in the wrong hands it could be used inappropriately. Teachers should refer to the schools Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) when using digital images and videos in the classroom.⁹      

Tool 3 – Glogster

Glogster is an online education platform which I believe is very creative and engaging for students. This is a tool I will be using for a future HPE assignment for sure. I think of it like an interactive online poster. Students can get so much excitement and motivation when creating a Glogster. It can also encourage creative problem solving, can expand digital literacy, promote independent problem solving, demonstrate understanding of curriculum objectives, enhance formative and summative assessment pieces, and provide differentiated instructional activities.¹⁰ As a HPE this is a great tool to present as the students can add images, videos and audio to back up their report. The question is though, how safe is it? Well I’m happy to inform that Glogster has many safety features. Teachers are able to register and generate safe and secure passwords. These accounts are able to be made without the use of email address or contact information and the teacher can access all students projects/activities.¹⁰ Teachers can be faced with the problem of students using copyrighted material on their Glogster. Fair use allows for a limited use of copy righted material without gaining permission from the holder. For in depth information on using copyrighted material click here. 

Tool 4 – Google Earth

Google Earth- The digital world at our fingertips. This is a digital tool which is able to explore the world from anywhere. Google Earth allows you to discover 3D buildings, imagery and terrain, cities and local businesses. This tool also allows you to travel back in time and look at historical images. With great pedagogy teachers can utilise this tool to engage students. A science teacher would be able to use this technology to explore the earth biomes and habitats, explore rich resources and look at under water terrain not only in Australia but on all other continents.¹¹ The main key learning area which would benefit from this digital tool is geography. Teachers would be able to get students to compare different types of geographic representations and even look at a variety of different cultural landscapes around the world. The amazing things about this tool includes that fact that it’s free, It can be used for all grade levels and subject areas and it can bring new perspectives on old subjects. Without good pedagogy students may lose interest and become bored so yet again it’s not about how good the tool is but how good you utilise it in the classroom. For some examples of projects and classroom ideas using Google Earth click here. 

Conclusion

Teachers are now using technology more frequently in the classroom than we have ever seen before. Technology will be forever evolving and I believe we need to adapt or prepare to be left behind. As I established earlier we need to look beyond the technology and into the effective pedagogy. Research has discovered that technology has many positive impacts on education. Teachers are now getting students to explore the world beyond a textbook. It's fact that students no longer sit and listen to their teacher but get actively involved and excited to learn via exploring the possibilities of technologies. Yes there is bound to be challenges and I have witnessed some while discovering these tool but they will help us interact with the world and allow us to learn 24/7. The one really important thing I got out of this learning experience was that when you use ICT's you must be organised and have back up plans where possible. Using ICT's in the classroom was a daunting thought at first but now I can see that the possibilities are endless. I look forward to discovering more educational tools in the future.

References

¹AADM eLearning. (2009).What is eLearning? Retrieved 1^st April, 2013, from http://www.aadm.com/moreinfo.htm

²Knight., J.(2003). Why is E-Learning so important? Retrieved 2^nd april, 2013, from https://www.google.com.au/url?

sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Flabsel.pesarosviluppo.it%2FModules%2FContentManagment%2FUploaded%2FCMItemAttachments%2FWhy%2520is%2520e.doc&ei=w7hoUYOXO_GTiAeXmYDYDA&usg=AFQjCNHsrohKeUjCcvc2FKXnWZ0JjF-_AQ&sig2=tR1qA4_uuVsDBhi2Ixe0Sw&bvm=bv.45175338,d.aGc

³Google. (Updated). Blogger Features. Retrieved 1^st April, 2013, from http://www.blogger.com/features

⁴Department of Education. (2013). Blogs in Education. Retrieved 13^th March 2013 from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/weblogs/

⁵Microsoft Safety and Security Centre. (2012). Safety Tips on Blogging. Retrieved 2^nd April, 2013, form http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/security/family-safety/blogging.aspx

⁶EnglishCentral Schools & Teachers.(n.d.). Using Video in the Classroom. Retrieved 2^nd April, 2013, from (http://ddeubel.edublogs.org/files/2011/06/Using_Video_In_The_Classroom-20mn397.pdf

⁷Jodie, TeacherTube- Teach the World. (2007). Why Use Video in Education. Retrieved 20^thMarch, 2013, from http://teachertube.blogspot.com.au/2007/03/why-use-videos-in-education.html

⁸Library Video Company.(n.d).No Child Left Behind: Scientific Research Indicates that Using Video in the Classroom Improves Learning. Retrieved 20^th March, 2013, from http://www.libraryvideo.com/articles/article18.asp

⁹Teachtoday.(2008). Using Digital Images of Students. Retrieved 2^nd April, 2013, from http://www.teachtoday.eu/en/Teacher-advice/Using-ICT-Equipment-at-School/Using-digital-images-of-students.aspx

¹⁰ Glogster EDU. (2007). Create New Glog. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://edu.glogster.com/

¹¹ Google. (n.d.). Google Maps – Education. Retrieved 2^nd April, 2013, from http://maps.google.com/help/maps/education/learn/index.html#tab=science

Week 5 – Digital Technologies 3 & 4

Welcome to Week 5!!

The last week of blogging before assessment 2 is due. I will admit I was packing myself when I first started this course because I knew nothing but I can now say that I have enjoyed learning about all the different tools which can help create effective pedagogy. I feel a tad more confident going into school now after gaining an understanding of a variety of different tools which can be used in the classroom. Let’s get into it!

Creative Ways to Use PowerPoint

Microsoft PowerPoint is a slide show presentation software which is used a lot by educators, students, trainers, business workers and many other people.1 Surely we have all used PowerPoint at least once before. It can be developed into a very engaging activity within a classroom due to the fact that they can include educational videos, music, animations, images, graphs and charts.² These can then develop into talking books and in class quizzes for example.¹ There are a number of benefits to using a PowerPoint in a classroom:

•  Can summarise a lesson
•  The main points can be emphasized
• Key questions can be displayed
• Adds flair to content
• It’s on nearly all computers
• It’s a fast way to present
• It’s easy to use

Time to create some basic PowerPoints! I made a short Health and Physical education PowerPoint on healthy foods using some simply techniques plus an image powerpoint. I dont think the animation copied over unfortunately.

Heath and physical education from lizzyegerton

Presentation1 from lizzyegerton

Prezi – A Zooming Presentation Tool

So until this week I had never heard of Prezi and now I’m in love! This tool is so awesome! I had so much fun playing with it. I think it’s very engaging for students and teachers. I think students would really enjoy creating a Prezi because you design it the way you want. It’s very rewarding being able to watch what you have created. Here’s a YouTube clip on using Prezi in the classroom.

Prezi is a great tool for the classroom as student are able to create non-linear presentations which allows the viewer to identify relationships, comparisons and identify patterns.³ Using Prezi allows teachers to present engaging presentation to students and also for student to present material to their classmates in a creative way. There has been research performed on a year 8 English and SOSE class which resulted in 58% of students saying they would like Prezi if they had more time to practice.³ 65% of the class also said that they would prefer Prezi over PowerPoint and 78% would recommend it to others.³ To read more about this research click here. Below is my attempt.

My Prezi

Glogster: An Online ‘Scrapbooking’ Tool

This is another tool I had no idea about. A Glogster is known as a social network which is used to create interactive posters or graphical blog.⁴ Glogster has been designed to engage students, inspire curiosity, excite learner and create visible relationships. This technology can expand digital literacy, promote independent problem solving, demonstrate understand of curriculum objectives, enhance formative and summative assessment pieces, and provide differentiated instructional activities.⁴ Glogster is also great because it can be private and safe. Teachers are able to register and generate safe and secure passwords. These accounts are able to be made without the use of email address or contact information and the teacher can access all students projects/activities.⁴ This tool could be very rewarding as a student as they can see the progress in their work. As a teacher I could see myself using this tool for a HPE assessment piece. My attempt is below.

My Glog

Hope everyone enjoyed week 5! Best of luck to everyone for Assessment 2! Smash it!

References:

¹ The University of Sydney- Faculty of Education and Social Work. (2002). Powerpoint.Retrieved 27^th March, 3013, from http://sydney.edu.au/education_social_work/learning_teaching/ict/skills/powerpoint.shtml

² EducationWrold. (2013). Creationg Classroom Presentations. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech013.shtml

³ McLean, J. (n.d.) Teaching with Prezi. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://www.somerville.qld.edu.au/sites/default/files/Final%20Prezi%20article.pdf

⁴Glogster EDU. (2007). Create New Glog. Retrieved 27^th March, 2013, from http://edu.glogster.com/

Week 4 – Digital Technologies 2

This is an exciting week for me as I love learning visually. I seem to understand a point more when I watch videos and look at photos. You may have realised this as my past blog are full of video clips. It very busy week for me though. This week’s activities will be very time consuming plus I’m also graduating my Sports Science degree plus I’m heading away for a state netball game on the weekend. No rest for the wicked right?

This week we shall look at in detail some more digital technologies which can be utilised in the classroom. Photos, videos and podcasts are the hot topic this week! It’s exciting because there is some much you can do with these technologies. 

Digital Images in Teaching and Learning

For some people say a picture is worth a thousand words. This however does not mean that the words are less important. We all respond to different stimuli in different ways. It has however been discovered that people learn better from words and pictures than words on their own.¹ If we were to use images in teaching and learning, it’s important that the images are relevant to the topic which is being learnt. Images are a great digital learning tool as they can create opportunities for debate within a classroom. Having collaboration allows students to explain what they see and it can make other students realise some things they hadn't yet seen.

Images are an easy resource to use in a classroom as they are everywhere. You could simple grab one of the internet or take one yourself. It is however important that you make sure you are getting images from a trusted source. This is to make sure no inappropriate of offensive content is seen by students.¹ Another important issue is copyright. This can be complex but if images are copyrighted cleared then you are all good but you need to make sure you know what you can and can’t do with that image.¹

I wasn’t able to download that free software so instead a played around with some image editing tools to produce a before and after photo. You can see the second photo allows you to see more close detail.

Digital Videos in Teaching and Learning

Using videos in the classroom can be a very engaging activity. They are like images but they move and have sound effects. I have been reading the reviews on TeacherTube and most say the power of videos in education is amazing.² Its understood that using video to teach can help students understand concepts and retain information. Research has indicated that using the digital tool video can improve learning.³ Its states that using multimedia within a classroom can enhance learning. A direct quote from the article says “teaching methods that include the use of video and audio will, in effect, reach more students and provide more opportunities for neural development and learning."³ To read the article that goes into more depth click here.

To show you how easy this digital technology is to use please check out my video.

Podcasts in teaching and leaning

Lastly I want to mention podcasts and audio as a technology for teaching and learning. I believe this is a great way to learn on the go. We live busy lives these days so having a tool which you can use to learn while moving from place to place. Think about it…. While catching the bus to work you could be listening to some educational material.⁴ With the technology these days we are able to download podcast to iphone, ipods, ipads and lots of other gadgets. A great way to use a podcast in a classroom is by playing motivation speeches or even just normal speech which makes students feel emotion and create images within their mind. There is also the possibility of doing podcast summaries after each class so if a student needs something repeated they are able to listen to it again. This kind of learning would appeal to auditory learners. I have attempted to make a podcast below.

Another week done and dusted! Hope you have all enjoyed what I have done this week. I had a lot of fun mucking around with it all. See you in week 5!

Reference

¹ Jason, Global grid for Learning.(2010). Using Images in Teaching: A Quick Guid. Retrieved 20^th March, 2013, from  http://www.globalgridforlearning.com/using-images-in-teaching-a-quick-guide

² Jodie, TeacherTube- Teach the World. (2007). Why Use Video in Education. Retrieved 20^th March, 2013, from http://teachertube.blogspot.com.au/2007/03/why-use-videos-in-education.html

³Library Video Company.(n.d).No Child Left Behind: Scientific Research Indicates that Using Video in the Classroom Improves Learning. Retrieved 20^th March, 2013, from http://www.libraryvideo.com/articles/article18.asp

⁴  Lengel., J. (n.d). Teaching with Technology. Retrieved 20^th March, 2013, from http://www.powertolearn.com/articles/teaching_with_technology/podcast.shtml

Week 3 – Digital Technologies One

Welcome to week 3!

This week we have been discussing the pros, cons and potential of using wikis, blogs and websites as a learning tool. Firstly I would like to talk about websites.

As some people have realised, websites aren’t hard to create and make look good plus you can create a website without paying a cent! The question that teachers need to ask themselves however is “will my websites be an effective learning tool for my class”? What is a website I hear you say? Well a website is a tool used to present text, images and videos on a central site.¹ Let’s have a look at websites in more detail. Instead of listing the pros and cons of a website I’m going to perform a PMI.

P- Plus	M-Minus	I-Interesting
·         Can be very engaging for students ·         The author is in full control ·         Don’t need money to create one ·         Can be unique ·         May provide links to other helpful sites1 ·         The site can be updated	·         Sometimes times consuming ·         Can get expensive ·         Feedback is limited ·         Discussions are limited ·         Site may be difficult to use if not designed properly1 ·         No opportunity to ask questions1	·         Anyone can create one ·         Makes transmitting information easy ·         Can add interesting tools such as polls, fish tanks and moving picture

Websites have the potential to be used as an effective pedagogy within a classroom if the teacher has the time and patients but as you can see above it comes with a few negatives. As a pre-service HPE teacher a website could be used as a great way to keep all important resources such as journal articles, photos, reviews and data which students might use in assessment pieces. Could act as a library for HPE.

Moving on to wikis now. What are wikis? Wikis are known as a website that allows others to add, remove and edit available content.²

P-Plus	M-Minus	I-Interesting
·         Modify information ·         Very interactive ·         Everyone can participate ·         Creates a collaboration2	·         Anyone can modify information ·         Someone can delete legitimate information2 ·         People can add spam links ·         Can be demoralising when you check and your work has been changed ·         Information is always being changed	·         People all around the world can participate. This allows for involvement of people with different cultural backgrounds.

Wikis can be an effective pedagogy as they encourage social interaction and collaboration. Some student can really enjoy participating in wikis due to the fact that they are actively involved.² A wiki could be used in a HPE class in a situation where the teacher asked a question in relation to each weeks work. Students could discuss their opinions, data and add links to more evidence.

Lastly we need to touch on blogging. What is a blog? A blog can be identified as a page containing chronologically arranged information which can take the form of a diary or journal.³

P-Plus	M-Minus	Interesting
·         One author ·         Can take pride in your work ·         Allows a person to become more creative4 ·         Simple to use ·         Its free ·         Can use on smart phones	·         Discussion is limited ·         Blogs aren’t always accurate4 ·         Don’t get paid to write them ·         Limited number of templates4	·         You can’t always believe what has been written in a blog ·         Lacks add on features

I personally think using a blog would be the best out of the three when used as an effective pedagogy in the classroom. As a HPE teacher I could use a blog for students to reflect on what they have learnt each week as well as any questions they have in relation to the topic or assignments. It also allows them to look at fellow classmates blogs and understand their point of views.

Overall you can see that all three tools have pros and cons plus some interesting facts. If you think I have forgotten any good points please leave a comment below. Sometimes I get stuck thinking inside the box and miss some good points. If you’re interested in checking out my sites look at the links below. They haven't yet been finished.

Website: lizzyegerton.weebly.com

Blog: lizzyegerton.blogspot.com

Wiki: http://www.cquniversityschoolofeducation.wikispaces.net/user/my/elizabeth.egerton

To finish with I found this cool clip about what could be our future. Tell me what you think.

References:

¹ Ho, W. Wang, R. Nguyen, P. Sleitini, A. Le, D. & Boscoscuro, D. (2003). Advantages and disadvantages of using website as mode of presentation. Retrieved 13^th March 2013 from http://www.angelfire.com/pro/ximelagatran/advdisadv.htm

² Department of Education. (2013). Wikis in the classroom. Retrieved 13^th March 2013 from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/wikis/

³Department of Education. (2013). Blogs in Education. Retrieved 13^th March 2013 from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/weblogs/

⁴Blizzard, T. (2008). The pros and cons of blogging. Retrieved 13^th March 2013 from http://newsletter.blizzardinternet.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-blogging/2008/09/17/

Week 2 - Teaching in Digital Environments

Week 2 – Teaching in Digital Environments

http://ncltitpack.ncdpi.wikispaces.net/UnPACK+your+Discipline+TPACK

Welcome to Week 2!!

Time is flying and before you know it we will be finished!

This week has been very productive as I have learnt a lot more knowledge about how, why and where ICT’s come into play within the school environment. Coming straight out of a Sports Science undergraduate degree the educational language has hit me hard and I've had to re-read a number of articles and watch YouTube clips to help make things clearer.

There have been heaps of good points brought up on the wiki with relation to using mobiles phones within the school environment. Before I start my discussion and reflections take the time to check out the YouTube clip below which relates to mobiles phones as a learning tool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXt_de2-HBE

When we take into consideration the 4 main learning theories (Behaviourism, constructivism, cognitivism, & connectivism) it’s not hard to notice that with the use mobile phone within a classroom environment these theories can be utilised. Let’s break it down and see.

Behaviourism can be identified as behaviour caused by an external stimuli.¹ It is where a learner is essentially passive and will respond to an environmental stimuli.¹ When using mobile phones in a classroom a student can become engaged in what other students around them are doing and use that as a way of learning and understanding which can produce a response, either positive or negative. This however does not promote high-level thinking and teacher aren’t always in control of the technology.²

The use of mobile phones can also relate the learning theories cognitivism and constructivism. Mobile phones are able to connect to the internet and can therefore allow leaners to acquire and store information as well as analyse and apply it.² The last theory is connectivism. This relates to students using mobile phones to stay connected and communicate. It allows for transformation of information. Unfortunately one problem is that not all students have mobile phones.

To me mobile phones in the classroom cause a number of problems. All mobile phones are different and work in different ways. This would be hard for teachers to utilise the technology in the classroom as they probably wouldn’t have an understanding of how all the different phones work etc. This can lead problems such as student not all being able to use the same app which can disadvantage some students. They are also a great distraction; limit face to face learning can increase bullying as well as bad grammar and finally can cause issues at home when families are unable to afford phones for their children. In a way I think it is possible but would need a good structured program. Overall it’s not necessarily about the technology but more about the digital pedagogy. If teachers are giving the opportunity to use these technologies to help students learn then they should go for it. Us teacher are supposed to create the most effective learning environment possible. To do this, teachers much decide on the content and then make a decision on the types of technologies which can be effectively utilised. This relates to the TPACK model below.

http://azalinafarahauziz.wordpress.com/2011/01/23/t-p-a-c-k-vs-c-l-a-s-s-r-o-o-m/

The wiki discussion is a great way to understand others points of view as well as share relevant evidence. It was also good to identify other advantages and disadvantages that I didn’t think about. Unfortunately I’m not a fan of the idea of people editing my contribution to the discussion. I would much rather a blog where you can comment and have discussions that way due to the fact that everyone should be able to right their point of view without someone editing it without consent. This however is just my point of view. 

Technologies such as mobiles phone can be related to the learning domains in Bloom’s taxonomy. The 3 domains consist of cognitive (mental skills), affective (attitudes) and psychomotor (physical skills).³ Technologies like that mobile phone can sometimes help students learn dependant on their learning style. When looking at this link- http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html#cognitive  it’s not hard to identify how a mobile phone is able to contribute to each category.

Still trying to get my head around it all but most of it seems to be interconnected. Stay tuned for week 3's blog which will be based on digital technologies.

References –

¹ Learning-Theories.com. Knowledge base and webliography- Behaviorism. Retrieved March 6^th 2013 from http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html

²Edudemic. (2012). A Simple Guide to 4 Complex Learning Theories. Retrieved March 6^th 2013 from  http://edudemic.com/2012/12/a-simple-guide-to-4-complex-learning-theories/

³ Big Dog & Little Dog’s Performance Juxtaposition. (1995). Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains. Retrieved March 6^th 2013 from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html#cognitive

Week 1 - Learning Theory and e-learning

First week back and straight into it! This week we covered the foundations of learning theory. I will be reflecting on the engagement activities for week 1 as well as my learning experience.

Engagement Activity 1- Learning Styles

What is your learning style? What sorts of learning experiences would suit you best with your learning style?

There are three basic learning styles which include visual, auditory and kinaesthetic. I performed an inventory and found out I was probably an auditory learning meaning I identify sounds and then relate them to different experiences I have had. I do however believe I am strongly a kinaesthetic learner and learn best from doing hands on stuff. ¹

^{http://www.fourpiggies.com/2012/financial-literacy-for-all-learning-styles/}

In a traditional classroom of 25 students, how would you support the range of learning styles each lesson?

In a classroom of 25 there is probably a variety of learning styles as all students learn in different ways. As mentioned on the ICT’s Moodle course, students have prior experiences, prior knowledge, perceptions & attitudes, learning styles, intelligence, personalities and temperament. This can make teaching changeling. To support a range of learning styles each lesson I would make sure I incorporate a number of activities or teaching techniques which involved all styles at least once throughout the lesson. This could include counting using blocks for kinaesthetic learners, writing instructions of the board and reading them out aloud for both auditory and visual.

With your current knowledge of ICT, how could your design and digital pedagogy support your learners better?

I currently don’t have much knowledge of ICT but reading a number of articles has made me realise that using ICT’s in a classroom can be very engaging for student and can also support learners with their individual learning styles. One articles I read stated that with the use of technology in the classroom the students’ self-esteem largely increased as well as their motivation.²  It was also stated that students appeared to be working more cooperatively. Students started to collaborate to help each other out.²  This evidence shows that technology can have a positive effect in the classroom so my question is why aren't we using it more?

How does ICT support differences in learning styles?

When you think about a number of technologies that have started to creep into the classrooms you can identify that they cover the 3 basic learning styles. Let’s imagine a class of grade 4’s have each been given an Ipad. They have a literacy and numeracy program which they use for English. This program will probably give written instructions on the screen, potentially read the instruction out aloud and also require the students to click different options throughout the program. Being able to touch the screen makes its very interactive and would help kinaesthetic learners.  This is just one example of how ICT’s could support different learning styles. As technologies develop we may be exposed to bigger and better ways to help students learning in their optimal environment.

Engagement Activity 2 – Multiple Intelligences

After reading the article “One Intelligence or Many?” I believe that Gardner is definitely on the right track with his theory and also agree with the fact that Gardner hasn't examined all areas. I like how Gardner has used biological facts to prove his theory. For me this makes more sense and relates specifically to the human brain which is the power station of our body.  On the other hand Sternberg’s theory also relates. I like how he believes that theories were not incorrect to rather incomplete.³ I believe this is a very debatable topic and although I agree we both theories there is still room for improvement. Understanding these theories can help teachers comprehend the different intelligences students have and use this information to deliver the best learning theory possible. 

The video below helped me understand the concept of multiple intelligences.

Engagement Activity 3 – Reflection on Prensky’s ideas

 What is your belief and understanding of the nature of today's learners? Do they really "demand" technology in the classroom?

These days technology is a part of our culture and students love it so why not use it? There is a great quote I got from the YouTube video below which I believe in 100% true. It states ‘Teachers will not be replaced by technology, but teachers who don’t use technology will be replaced by those who do’. I believe that a classroom should be interactive and enjoyable to learn in. If we keep it the same students will become bored. I do however think that technology doesn't need to replace everything in the classroom. As I'm preparing to be a HPE teacher I still believe having a variety of old and new technologies in the classroom is helpful. It also gives the student the opportunity to find what works best for them.

Engagement Activity 4 – Reflection on Connectivism

Do you agree with them? Can you see Siemen's point of view? What is your position?

After reading the article on connectivism I fully agree with what is being said. Technology is making us think and learn in different ways. It’s quite scary to think that what we need for tomorrow is so much more important than what we actually know today! I think this topic could be debated for hours but I believe every day the world around us is evolving and we must adapt or we will fall behind. If we teachers are unable to adapt and keep up what hope do our students have? It’s sad that it has taken us this long to realise the impact that technology can have on learning.

Well that's all for week 1. I hope I have justified my point of view as well as engaged you in some helpful links.

References -

¹  James, B.W. (2009). What’s Your Learning Style? Retrieved February 2013 from http://sunburst.usd.edu/~bwjames/tut/learning-style/stylest.html

²  Educational Research and Improvement U.S. Department of Education. Effects of Technology on Classroom and Students. Retrieved February 2013 from (http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

³  Paik, H.S. (1998). One Intelligence or Many? Alternative Approaches to Cognitive Abilities. Retrieved February 2013 from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/paik.html