After watching some inspirational digital stories made by education students on the website A Gallery of Teacher Stories, it is easy to find reasons for the use of digital stories as a class activity, and they can be used for any subject – limited only by the imagination! Digital stories are easy to make with the right software, such as Garageband and i-movie, and utilise many ICT and other skills in the making. Constructionist theory is supportive of the active process of learning through making and creating things in the real-world (Wikipedia), which is an outcome of the use of digital storytelling.
My first attempt at making a digital story can be viewed here. It is about my reasons for wanting to become a teacher. Check it out!
People are always complaining about the negative effects of computer games on children’s social skills and physical health, yet they remain as popular a form of entertainment as ever. I read Adele’s blog on computer games, which refered to a youtube presentation: Gaming. It suggests that computer games can be seen as a positive contribution to children’s learning such as collaborative groupwork, communication and problem-solving skills. Adele disagrees, and whilst I can see her point, I agree to a certain extent that some new computer games have begun to consider ways in which they can reverse the negative stigma attached to the overuse of computer games by children. Games such as Wii that use new technologies allowing the incorporation of physical activity and team/opponent interaction are certainly an improvement on past experiences of computer games, which are anti-social and have even been linked to obesity, as children develop unhealthy addictions to playing computer games and do not spend enough time getting active in the great outdoors.
I found this inspirational photo and commentary on Flickr.
“This photo was taken in the Chittagong Hill-Tracts in Bangladesh. I had come with two teachers from the American International School in Dhaka. This was one of the laptops (a Macbook) they brought with them.
I love macs. I love technology. I love kids. I love sharing with those who don’t have easy access to technology like computers.”
May 17, 2008 at 10:24 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I find it interesting that since I have begun this course, I have become more aware of the practical uses of technology. I hear radio stations announcing the availability of latest podcasts on their associated websites, which reminds me of the increasingly global nature of technology and communications. Where radio stations are limited to the frequencies of their local areas, incorporating the world wide web enables access all over the world. I found this youtube presentation on podcasts: It is about how students are ‘digital natives’, and teachers need to embrace the digital world as it exists in the real-world outside of the school setting.
The article Listen to the natives suggests that teacher’s are struggling to keep up with their students when it comes to technology. Lauren made an interesting post about this, stating that the involvement of students in the development of their own learning is one way in which the situation could be remedied. In some ways, teachers these days are learning more from their students when it comes to technology. Children are sponges for new information, and therefore have a greater capacity for learning about new technologies than their older teachers. This should be embraced by teachers who want to integrate technology into their lessons.
I just read Caitlin’s post on Interactive whiteboards. She found this great debate on youtube, which discusses interactive whiteboards as creative learning programs, but are they worth the investment? Do they revolutionise instruction? Watch the video to see points for and against this argument.
The video states that 30% of US schools have interactive whiteboards, and half of Britain’s classroom’s have them too. I have never seen one in any of the schools I have taught in in Australia, but apparently they are used a lot in the country. Findings suggest that the use of interactive whiteboards improves:
pace of lessons
student motivation
student engagement
teacher preparation
But it is also suggested that these positive outcomes depend not on the technology, but on the teaching, and the teachers capacity to utilise instructional technologies effectively.
Technology, when used in the right ways, can help students and teachers “develop the competencies needed for the twenty-first century”, according to Bransford, Brown & Cocking (1999). This article talks about extending on ‘old’ technologies, such as books and one-way communication technologies such as television, to enhance learning. With interactive technologies, such as those that are internet-based, “it is now easier to create environments in which students can learn by doing, receive feedback, and continually refine their understanding and build new knowledge…[and] visualise difficult to understand concepts” (Bransford, Brown & Cocking, 1999). By integrating technologies into the classroom, schools are closing the gap between education and the wider community, which both creates and embraces new technologies.
Because technology is at the heart of the real-world, it should also be a core discipline of education. But this is not the case in reality. Most schools try to integrate technology, but continue to utilise traditional teaching methods for the most part. The fact is, that technology is expensive, and constantly changing, so it is difficult for schools and their budgets to keep up with the rest of society. But technology offers powerful tools for learning through real-world contexts, that surpass the need for excursions, etc. Technology can bring endless access to information into the classroom via video and computer based learning programs, introducing students to real-life problems vital for a true education in the philosophy that education is a preparatory tool for life.
April 19, 2008 at 5:33 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
I am happy to share this section of my practicum report with the blogosphere:
“Catherine exhibits a desire to integrate ICT across KLA’s…”
My practicum experience had a strong focus on ICT as my interest has developed throughout the course. In utter disbelief of the minimal technological facilities that the school had to offer- one school camera, one school video camera, three working computers in the classroom, two indefinitely broken, a computer room with approximately 30 computers of varying age, programming and functionality- I made it my mission to make the most of the technology available in this school’s situation. Using my own laptop, I integrated powerpoint into some of my lessons, projected image stimuli for literacy activities, and turned works of art into digital media. I emailed a webquest-like task to each of my students, who were required to complete the tasks in pairs, using the internet as a research base, using word documents as a method of presentation. It may sound simple, but considering the lack of resources, I didn’t have much choice. And the kids loved it! They learnt vital skills in research, word-processing, taking, uploading and manipulating photos, and found the use of various technologies stimulating and engaging. And the other teachers were impressed with my enthusiasm for integrating technology into classroom activities.
Learning is like riding a bicycle. It is something that most people enjoy doing. Our teachers are like training wheels that scaffold our learning until we are ready to go it alone. And when we know how to ride, it provides us with the means to get to wherever it is we want to go. When we fall off, we must pick up our bikes and try again.
April 8, 2008 at 9:29 pm · Filed under Uncategorized
Webquests are a great educational tool for children that can easily be incorporated in classroom activities. They can be fun, are interactive, and use step-by-step instructions that are easy for kids to follow, so they are scaffolded yet they are enabled to work at their own pace. Anybody can make a webquest, its really easy! There are existing tasks on almost every topic you can think of, or you can create your own. Try searching for one now, just click here.
