Overall I have found the Web 2 course enlightening. The challenge now is to take this "taste" of the available tools and turn it into a full teaching "menu".
The main fustration is the lack of PD time to properly incorporate these tools into the programme. I would like to see the English faculty given a realistic block of time to divide up the programmes for each year and develop E learning resources for allocated units of work.
If individual teachers could take ownership of one Web 2 tool they could then mentor others and provide ready made lessons using the technology.
As a Special Needs educator many of these tools are particularly exciting given the technology's ability to engage the learner and the capacity to differentiate without adding greatly to the workload of teachers.
Students are frequently able to work at their own pace and at varying degrees of complexity. Glogsters were a fabulous tool to engage my year 10 Life Skills students who felt a sense of success using this method to showcase their knowledge.
It is important to understand though, that Web 2 technology is of little use without meaningful pedagogy. Poorly constructed lessons are still ineffective even if they are delivered through Web 2.
I have commented on Janine Timillero's blog
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Module 10
A wiki is simply a website that allows users to create and edit work. This can be a very useful tool in an educational setting, its main advantage is that groups can work collaboratively to create information and develop understanding. As each student or group adds more material the information available grows. A wiki can be used for a myriad of purposes, from play building in English to sharing research and data.
The wiki also enables changes in the document to be tracked. It is possible to see who has made changes and when they occurred. Students work on the latest version but they can also look back and see how the document has developed.
It is important that information is checked, so that incorrect data or facts do not become "knowledge".
The use of wikis along with a range of web 2 tools that we have explored enable students to "learn how to learn" and allows them to develop new channels of communication. The use of the wiki in the classroom provides for differentiation within groups, gives a forum for weaker students to ask questions and allows for a community of learners who share ideas to develop.
The wiki also enables changes in the document to be tracked. It is possible to see who has made changes and when they occurred. Students work on the latest version but they can also look back and see how the document has developed.
It is important that information is checked, so that incorrect data or facts do not become "knowledge".
The use of wikis along with a range of web 2 tools that we have explored enable students to "learn how to learn" and allows them to develop new channels of communication. The use of the wiki in the classroom provides for differentiation within groups, gives a forum for weaker students to ask questions and allows for a community of learners who share ideas to develop.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Module 8
RSS stands for Rich Site Summary and is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Ben Ticehursts analogy for this tool is " home delivery" the web comes to you rather than you going to the web.
RSS allows you to stay informed by getting the latest content from the sites you are interested in -you save time not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure privacy by not needing to join each sites email newsletter.
A number of web-based feed readers are available, you can use My Yahoo, Bloglines, or Google Reader. The benefit of Google Reader is that you can paste it to your iGoogle page. The find sites that syndicate content- look for the 'subscribe'icon on their pages and click to add them to your RSS.
How this works in the classroom
Not sure it has too many applications in the classroom but anything that saves time is valuable. Combining this tool with Deliicious will ensure teachers can keep abreast of developments in their particular area which they can share with colleagues.
Can create a list of websites that are useful for a particular assessment or topic. Catalogues web sites for research.
RSS allows you to stay informed by getting the latest content from the sites you are interested in -you save time not needing to visit each site individually. You ensure privacy by not needing to join each sites email newsletter.
A number of web-based feed readers are available, you can use My Yahoo, Bloglines, or Google Reader. The benefit of Google Reader is that you can paste it to your iGoogle page. The find sites that syndicate content- look for the 'subscribe'icon on their pages and click to add them to your RSS.
How this works in the classroom
Not sure it has too many applications in the classroom but anything that saves time is valuable. Combining this tool with Deliicious will ensure teachers can keep abreast of developments in their particular area which they can share with colleagues.
Can create a list of websites that are useful for a particular assessment or topic. Catalogues web sites for research.
Module 7
Delicious (previously Del.icio.us) is a free bookmarking web site that allows users to save and display favourite web sites across the internet and track hot topics. It gives you the ability to share information with other users. As Genny Bellamy explains it is rather like a "masterclass". "In its simplest form it is basically an electic online internet directory of people's browsing habits but it is also an example of "collective intelligence" that constantly adds, reviews and filters new information to help users to find the best information on a topic without having to trawl through a lot of junk" explains Cate Sinnaduri of SPC. Another advantage of sites such as Delicious is that your favourite sites are stored online and can be located on any computer you use, for example at work or at home. Besides keeping favourite links. Delicious also provides an organisational system to keep the tags in your word cloud managable and therefore easier to locate.
How this system can work in the classroom
I think the most obvious way this tool can be used in the classroom is for individual or group research. Teachers can add students to their Delicious site thereby having control over what sites they visit during a lesson as well as monitoring the work being done. For example, if I was teaching a lesson on Kenneth Slessor I could have 3 sites that I wanted the students to visit and read before finishing with a quiz from another site. By adding them to my Delicious site I can see if they have completed the work set following my directions.
Teahers can also use Delicious to contribute and benefit from an online professional learning community. We can see instantly what sites are the most popular on a particular topic and gather good resources quickly. We can also follow the blogs/articles/reviews of other educators and learn from what they are doing with their students.
Both teachers and students could also use this site to manage their own individual favourite sites etc and with the private button they can tag items they don't want to share with others.
How this system can work in the classroom
I think the most obvious way this tool can be used in the classroom is for individual or group research. Teachers can add students to their Delicious site thereby having control over what sites they visit during a lesson as well as monitoring the work being done. For example, if I was teaching a lesson on Kenneth Slessor I could have 3 sites that I wanted the students to visit and read before finishing with a quiz from another site. By adding them to my Delicious site I can see if they have completed the work set following my directions.
Teahers can also use Delicious to contribute and benefit from an online professional learning community. We can see instantly what sites are the most popular on a particular topic and gather good resources quickly. We can also follow the blogs/articles/reviews of other educators and learn from what they are doing with their students.
Both teachers and students could also use this site to manage their own individual favourite sites etc and with the private button they can tag items they don't want to share with others.
Module 9
Scootle is an excellent resource especially for Learning Support Students. The teacher can nominate a series of "lessons" and upload them creating a learning pathway. Students can use these exciting and interactive lessons at their own pace.
The teacher can choose a Stage and a KLA for e.g English, stage 4 and can select a 'lesson' on similies. Students are able to work independently and on an individual learning plan.Sound is usually an important feature of these resources.
Through Scootle the teacher can access open ended and interactive assessment tasks which the students can complete and print out, giving the teacher a record of work completed.
Scootle is of particular value at SPC where interactive whiteboards are an integral part of the teaching and learning process.
The teacher can choose a Stage and a KLA for e.g English, stage 4 and can select a 'lesson' on similies. Students are able to work independently and on an individual learning plan.Sound is usually an important feature of these resources.
Through Scootle the teacher can access open ended and interactive assessment tasks which the students can complete and print out, giving the teacher a record of work completed.
Scootle is of particular value at SPC where interactive whiteboards are an integral part of the teaching and learning process.
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