Well Im not sure if I am the only one who seems to have simply no idea what Web 2.0 applications are. I had to google E learning, Blogs, Wikis and even Web 2.0 as I had absoulutely no idea what any of these meant. I can guarantee that this is going to be a huge learning curve for me as I rapidly read and continue to google each and every new term that pops up.
I went through and tried out Web 2.0 applications and although cant give practical advice or ideas on how I have actually used them as havent used many of them at all in the classroom I will endevour to think of some ways that I could use them in the class.
For some of these applications I was unaware that they even existed. For sure I had heard some of the names before and have used facebook personally, as well as having used youtube in the classroom but I have to admit up until this paper thought that I was giving children a wonderful ICT experience by giving them the opportunity to research online, use the internet and play educational games and have experience with using programmes available like word, publisher, excel, power point etc which my kids love and enjoy.
I can now see that there is another whole level of technology that I havent yet tapped into. I guess thats why we do these courses, to learn things we didnt know before and to give them a go.
The notion of allowing kids onto use facebook and sorry cant say even knew about many of the other Web 2.0 applications has simply not occured as yet. Not sure if this idea goes along with the way I was taught, the time restraints, the fact that facebook and sometimes hotmail and msn are simply blocked from the schools network thanks to watchdog or simply that I dont have the knowledge or experience so far or that there are not enough computers in the class to get everyone invloved at the same time. With only one computer in the class and one, 1 hour slot each week to use the ICT suite and even at this time there are only 12 computers for 30 kids the limitations and time restrictions minimises what can be taught.
I thought what I would do as I cant offer any practical experiences with having used these Web 2 applications would be to go through and make a description of the applications and where i think they could be used so maybe if there are any other people who are out there who are frantically trying to google what all these new terms mean they might get a little snapshot of ideas.
Here goes
You Tube - a place where you can share and uploade videos on a variety of topics and interests.
USES- children could post videos to youtube that they have created, you could show them video clips of topics that you have been covering, as a research tool for finding instructions on how to make things
voicethread - VoiceThread is a multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate pages and leave comments in 5 ways - using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam).
USES- you could post a childs drawing or piece of writing to voicethread or in turn an artists drawing or an authors work and then have the children critique it, debating and analysing its features. Children could talk about topics they have been learning about.
twitter - a social networking and blogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Commonly known as a txt message via the internet.
USES- Build an account and use Twitter Search to listen for your name, the name of your school/college/poly/uni, and words that relate to your space. Add a picture of yourself. , talk to other people about their interests, too. Point out interesting things happening in your classroom (whatever form that takes). Share links to neat things your class and school has been doing.
facebook- a social network where you can post photos, share information, chat, status updates.Communicating with friends and other users can be done through private or public messages or a chat feature. Users can also create and join interest and fan groups, some of which are maintained by organizations as a means of advertising.
USES- to create a class community where the children can interact with eachother and create a class group which others can join as well as post photos of themselves and their work.
blogger- a form of online journal where people can post what they are doing, what they have learnt and information on a range of issues
USES- children can create their own blogs or a class blog where they can share their learning and work
wikispaces -a site which you can set up to share information.
USES- could be used to share information with parents, display work, record stories, share information about the class and school, dispaly photos of things they have been doing
wikipedia-an online encyclopedia that anyone can edit.
USES- use for reasearch on topics and or definitions, just be careful what you read may not always be what is
flickr- an online photo sharing site which enables you to upload photos, edit them, add special effects and share them with your friends and family.
USES- children could use digital cameras to take photos and then upload them to the site, then editing them and adding special effects.
delicious social bookmarking - this site is a Bookmarking service, where you can save all your bookmarks online, share them with other people, and see what other people are bookmarking. It also shows you the most popular bookmarks being saved across a range of areas.
google reader - is a application that acts as an updater. You sign up for google reader and you can put in bogs and websites of interest to you and it will notify you when new content has been added.
USES: children can access web pages related to their topic of study as well as bookmark site that they have found for others in the class.
google docs - Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form, and data storage service offered by Google. It allows users to create and edit documents online and access them from any computer via the net.
USES-children could use this application to save documents, spreadsheets to and then if needed they could open them up at home to finish off.
drop box - a site that enables users to save all their files so that they are safe and can be accessed from any computer.Files can be shared and accessed from the web.
USES- documents could be dropped into the box from home or school and others could access them and either view them or make changes to them.
Etherpad- EtherPad is a web-based collaborative real-time editor, allowing up to sixteen people to edit a text document at the same time, and see all of the participants' edits in real-time, each in their own color. Participants can permanently save revisions at any time, and it provides a separate chat box in the sidebar.
USES- children could work collaboratively on a piece of work, all contributing rather than one person writing they can all particpate via computer from school or home to complete and or edit a piece of work.
Wow never thought Id get to the end of that but have to say i have learnt alot more about whats out there. As I said before Im new to Web 2.0 applications and please let me know if I have misinterpreted any of the information as it is all new learning for me.
I think these Web 2 applications will be very beneficial for a more collaborative classroom. Children can work together and discuss and make changes as they go. They can share ideas and gain a range of different perspectives. Ideas can be shared and parents can feel part of the classroom community by looking through a class blog or wiki.Overall I think the pros outweigh the cons. Safety has to be paramount and with programmes such as watchdog in schools then most things I hope are marked as unsafe if in face they are. Access to these tools will be a consideration as Facebook and hotmail are denied by Watchdog and I havent tried yet but I wonder about twitter will have to see.
As explained before I have not used many Web 2.0 technologies and have mainly concentrated on Microsoft programmes such as Word, Power Point, Excel and Publisher. I have given children in my class the opportunity to upload photos from digital cameras to the computer and then manipulate, edit and add features. They have used the internet to research information and collate data. As yet this is as far as it has gone therefore while reading I thought that I would look at information on Etherpad. When I was searching Web 2.0 applications to see what all these terms meant I found that Etherpad was a highly effective and productive tool for collaborative writing. I found that I could easily implement this application into my teaching as it seemed to blend new and traditional teaching methods.
My first thought for using Etherpad would be for promoting collaborative writing. As teachers we have all experienced group research or writing tasks where one person does the writing and the others while trying to engage seem to loose motivation as time progresses. They lack a task to complete and feel disempowered to take responsibility for their own learning.
Etherpad could be used for group research tasks whereby they could find information from the web, brainstorm ideas and then add it to the pad all the while reading work added by others in their groups. They could also each take different parts of the topic and research and find information and then add to the pad therefore building up a report based on everyone contributing different ideas from which they have all had the opportunity to edit and ensure correct grammatical structure, spelling and meaning.
Eetherpad could be used is for a unit on persuasive writing, which requires the children to write persuasive letters using Etherpad, as there is a limit of 8 users per Etherpad and most of us have a class of thirty one document could be set up to gather ideas, and another one where children could collect persuasive words and phrases.
Etherpad could be used for editing. You could paste an article into a pad with grammar or spelling errors related to what you have been covering in class.
Etherpad could be used for Instructional writing such as recipes. Steps for a recipe could be out of order and then children could work together to rearrange as they hear a narration in the correct order. Or get them to write out a set of instructions together.
The more I thought about using Etherpad the more ideas I could think of. The only downside to using this application is that you would need to have enough computers or laptops for children in your class. At present in our school we only have one computer in the class and 12 computers in the ICT suite which we get use of for 1 hour each week. How can I therefore place importance on this when it seems important to teach children the basics of word processing before they can move onto these exciting new applications.
Saturday
Tuesday
The True E Learning approach
e-Learning can cover a spectrum of activities from supporting learning to blended learning (the combination of traditional and e-learning practices), to learning that is delivered entirely online. Whatever the technology, however, learning is the vit al element. e-Learning is no longer simply associated with distance or remote learning, but forms part of a conscious choice of the best and most appropriate ways of promoting effective learning.
JISC, 2004, page 10 Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) (2004). Effective Practice with e-Learning: A Good Practice Guide in Designing for Learning. Bristol: JISC Development Group.
I love this quote as it really gives meaning to what e learning is and how we can incorporate it into our classrooms to make the most of each and every learner and use the most effective tools at the most opportune moments.
JISC, 2004, page 10 Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) (2004). Effective Practice with e-Learning: A Good Practice Guide in Designing for Learning. Bristol: JISC Development Group.
I love this quote as it really gives meaning to what e learning is and how we can incorporate it into our classrooms to make the most of each and every learner and use the most effective tools at the most opportune moments.
E Learning in my classroom
E Learning in the Classroom
Applications? Tools?
Up until taking this paper - E Learning in Practice , I always thought that I did a pretty good job of using ICT within the class. I have tried to encourage the use of technologies in my classroom and have used them as tools for planning, teaching and assessing but what I have failed to see or simply lacked the knowledge and technical skills to make any changes was that I have been limiting the students in my class. Perhaps limiting is not the right word but with a packed curriculum, time restraints, a definite lack of knowledge of what is out there and a lack of equipment in the classroom I have been limiting the opportunities for students to "have a go" and make the most of these tools. I use facebook myself at least once a day every day. But for me that is it. I have never used a blog had to once again look up what was meant of Wikis, Web 2.0. Im not confident using these applications myself so is it any wonder that my class has never had the opportunity to give them a go.
I remain in the ideal of thinking that you do writing in your book and if it is good enough then it can be published to a word document on the computer. Why do I have this thinking? I'm not sure I have asked myself the same question time and time again and perhaps it does come back to lack of resources in the classroom as 2 computers for a class of 30 does not allow for this new type of thinking or perhaps its that this is how I was taught and dont know any better. Who knows but I have made my very first blog, not sure yet I have a firm grasp on what Wikis are and the mention of podcasts which I havent even attempted to even try still sends the dreaded fear into me. I guess one step at a time. Im on here now so tick 1 blog set up. What next?
Applications? Tools?
Up until taking this paper - E Learning in Practice , I always thought that I did a pretty good job of using ICT within the class. I have tried to encourage the use of technologies in my classroom and have used them as tools for planning, teaching and assessing but what I have failed to see or simply lacked the knowledge and technical skills to make any changes was that I have been limiting the students in my class. Perhaps limiting is not the right word but with a packed curriculum, time restraints, a definite lack of knowledge of what is out there and a lack of equipment in the classroom I have been limiting the opportunities for students to "have a go" and make the most of these tools. I use facebook myself at least once a day every day. But for me that is it. I have never used a blog had to once again look up what was meant of Wikis, Web 2.0. Im not confident using these applications myself so is it any wonder that my class has never had the opportunity to give them a go.
I remain in the ideal of thinking that you do writing in your book and if it is good enough then it can be published to a word document on the computer. Why do I have this thinking? I'm not sure I have asked myself the same question time and time again and perhaps it does come back to lack of resources in the classroom as 2 computers for a class of 30 does not allow for this new type of thinking or perhaps its that this is how I was taught and dont know any better. Who knows but I have made my very first blog, not sure yet I have a firm grasp on what Wikis are and the mention of podcasts which I havent even attempted to even try still sends the dreaded fear into me. I guess one step at a time. Im on here now so tick 1 blog set up. What next?
Sunday
E Learning
"Good teaching is good teaching, no matter how it's done."
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/elearning-essentials/elearning-benefits.htm
E Learning- What is it and how can this enhance our learning and teaching in the 21st century? these are the questions I asked myself. I really had to think as the funny thing was that before starting this course I had no idea what e learning even meant. I had to google it and found that it can be taken from a range of perspectives and directions.
I have listed some definitons that I found for E Learning.
I always felt that technology, computers and learning were important but i wanted to see what else was out there and what could I do to improve the ways in which I was teaching
I decided to look at E Learning and center around the pros and cons? As I didnt want to undertake anything that seemed beyond my capabilities as a tradional face to face learner.
I searched the internet and found these pros and cons of e - learning.
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/elearning-essentials/elearning-benefits.htm
E Learning- What is it and how can this enhance our learning and teaching in the 21st century? these are the questions I asked myself. I really had to think as the funny thing was that before starting this course I had no idea what e learning even meant. I had to google it and found that it can be taken from a range of perspectives and directions.
I have listed some definitons that I found for E Learning.
- learning conducted via electronic media, especially via the internet en.wiktionary.org/wiki/e-learning
- Learning that is facilitated by the use of digital tools and content. Typically, it involves some form of interactivity, which may include online interaction between the learner and their teacher or peers. www.digitalstrategy.govt.nz/Resources/Glossary-of-Key-Terms/
- e-Learning refers to formal and non-formal education that uses electronic delivery methods such as internet-based learning delivery packages, CD-ROM, online video conferencing, websites or email to manage the relationship between teacher and learners. ...www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/series/2531/54560/2
I always felt that technology, computers and learning were important but i wanted to see what else was out there and what could I do to improve the ways in which I was teaching
I decided to look at E Learning and center around the pros and cons? As I didnt want to undertake anything that seemed beyond my capabilities as a tradional face to face learner.
I searched the internet and found these pros and cons of e - learning.
- allows you to learn anywhere and usually at any time
- Learning is self-paced and gives you a chance to speed up or slow
down as necessary - Learning is self-directed, allowing you to choose content and tools appropriate to your differing interests, needs, and skill levels
- Accommodates multiple learning styles using a variety of delivery methods geared to different learners; more effective for certain learners
- Designed around the learner
- Geographical barriers are eliminated
- 24/7 accessibility
- On-demand
- Travel time and associated costs (parking, fuel, vehicle maintenance) are reduced or
eliminated
The Cons
- Learners with low motivation or bad study habits may fall behind
- Without the routine structures of a traditional class, students may get lost or confused about course activities and deadlines
- Students may feel isolated from the instructor and classmates
- Lecturer may not always be available when students are studying or need help
- Slow Internet connections or older computers may make accessing course materials frustrating
- Managing computer files and online learning software can sometimes seem complex for students with beginner-level computer skills
Pros and cons retrieved from a variety of sources on WWW.
Upon consideration of the ideas I realised that I could set aside time each day to do this course and simply ask for help when I was unsure of something as I think the biggest thing that I felt was making me nervous about an online paper was the fact that I would be missing the discussions and questions that come up from others in a classroom face to face setting that are contributed by others that you all benefit from and think phew I was thinking the same thing.
So I have learnt that if you are questioning something just ask, put it out there and someone in the group will hopefully know the answer or send you off on the correct track, and if not you all head in the wrong direction together. So here I go E - Learning 2010 bring it on!!!
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