Engagement Activity

Creating a Website - Reflection

 

 

For the following activity we were to build a website and ascertain the functionality of a static website in the classroom learning context through the scaffolding of either a PMI or SWAT evaluation. I will again be using the PMI model for this activity.


Positives

• Information can be stored in the one place
• Students have a 'starting' point for research and information gathering
• Allows for Teacher to control content and scaffold learning through links provided
• Cheap to set up

Minuses

• Is a time consuming exercise to set up
• Can be difficult to navigate with a bad layout
• Content is controlled by one person

Interesting

• Is a great way to introduce students to a topic, as all research/information can be implemented into the webpage
• Links and other forms of media enhance the learning experience and allows the teacher to scaffold the students learning
• The internet is such a big part of modern society and through intriducing the students to this type of medium in the classroom they are gaining first hadn experience in an essential communication compoent of todays world
• This type of learning also could prove very benefical for children with special needs and can be implemented in a generic and supportive sense (Michaels Blog)



Hi all,

I found this video on incorporating wiki's into the classroom and how they can be used successfully. Thought there were some very creative and innovative ways to engage students in their learning implement throughout. Take a look.

Cheers.

Engagement Activity 3

Creating a Wiki - Reflection

 

 

 

Image retreived from http://altamiroborges.blogspot.com.au/2011_11_22_archive.html

 

 

For this activity we were asked to create a wikispace and evaluaet the educational value of such a space in the classroom context. I must say that this is the first wiki I have created so I felt very  much like a fish out of water. After using this tool for a small period of time however this was a very easy medium/platform to become aquainted with. For this analysis I will be using the PMI model to scaffold the discussion.

 

Positives

 

- Very easy to use and set up

- Very functional

- Allows users/students to comment and add to disucssion

- Allows all media to be link/embedded

- Allows for student editing

- Discussion and group work

- Creates a platform where learning becomes diverse

- Allows the teacher to scaffold discussion through questions, links and other multimedia

 

Minuses

 

- Teachers control over postings is minimal

- When editing students work can become 'lost' when several students are editing at any one time

- Some students may not contribute to discussions due to this being a public (classroom) forum

 

Interesting

 

- A great way for teacher and students to discuss learning whilst involved in a topic

- May be useful as a platform for homework or group work

- A useful tool for the students to collaborate for a class presentation or group assignments

 

Through this evaluation I feel that the use of a wiki in the classroom would be a great asset to the learning of the students. Through this tool the students are collaborating with other students (where they may not face to face) and gaining insights and ideas that they may not have thought of. This is a great tool as it also is a 'blank canvas' in terms of the resources that can be implemented into the forum to enhance and guide (scaffolding) the students learning.

 

Of course there are some points of concern through the use of wiki's in regards to content, appropriate information and the monitoring of comments. Before entering into this type of learning forum clear boundries need to be set, contracts (student agreements) and permissions need to be signed.  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Week 3 - Engagement Activty 1

Creating A Blog - Reflection

 

Through this activity we are to reflect on the blogs that we have created and evaluate their value to the classroom learning environment and how we as teachers can implement this technology into the classroom. I will be using the SWOT method as my scaffolding to ensure that this reflection remains analytical.

 

 

Image from http://planasyougo.com/use-a-swot-analysis/ 



Strengths
 
Platform for individual and collaborative learning, easy to use, interactive learning, unlimited resources and links, engages learners, compatible with most (if not all) curriculum areas, allows users to connect with technologies.

Weaknesses

Internet access dependant, often opinionated learning (comments), monitoring of whole class difficult, is not an open forum only one person has 'control'.

Opportunities

Allows for ongoing learning, ability to involve the wider community (other classes, teachers, parents, schools etc.) in the learning, provides an easy way to monitor learning progress through postings and comments.

Threats

Inappropriate use (comments and content), poor student computer skills, students posting personal information, how does the blog get managed (what happens to the blog when no longer in use?). 

In using a blog as a learning tool in the Primary school context there are many positive ways that a blog can impact on the learning environment. Blogs allow for a greater reflection by students on their work, allows the teacher to see learning development and provides a chronological time line of when work is being completed (able to monitor progress). Blogs can also the wider community (parents, other teachers, students and schools) to comment/contribute to the learning environment. However, is using this medium as a learning tool there needs to be strict rules and guidelines in place to ensure the safety of the users and the content being posted.

Creating a blog in the classroom context is a great tool to promote interaction in the technological medium whilst also deepening the learning experience as the learners become more involved in the content and the processes involved. An ideal situation for blog use in the classroom would be group work.   












 


 

 



 

Mobile Phone Wiki Reflection

 

 

Image from www.google.com/images

 

 

I found this engagement activity to be a very useful and enjoyable one. I approached this activity with a clear set of beliefs and points of views in regards to the topic outlined. Through this medium I found that very quickly my thoughts on the matter were changing. 

Throughout the wiki there are several 'learning theories' present - Behaviourism, Constructivism and Cognitivism.

 

Behaviourism - This theory applies to the behaviours that each individual (who took part in the wiki exercise) displayed when they were attending school. Would a mobile phone have been a help or a hindrance to their learning?

 

Cognativism - Through this theory each participant reflected on their own personal learning 'schema' from their schooling days.

 

Constructivism - This theory is present through the development and building of individuals beliefs and ideas towards the topic at hand. 

 

Using the wiki as a learning tool in the classroom has both its benefits and drawbacks/ issues. The benefits that would come from using this medium in the learning process are that it provides a platform for discussion, critical thinking, is able to be monitored and edited, allows points of view to be voiced and heard and allows the teacher to scaffold the discussion through links and other postings. The drawbacks/ issues that could arise in the use of the wiki is the availability of Internet/ computers (both at home and school) and this type of medium takes away the social interaction (face to face discussion) from the subject. 

 

Throughout the journey of De Bono's Six Thinking Hats I felt I fell into the Black Hat category. I was a staunch defender of my own beliefs and opinions. However, when forced into thinking under the other hats I soon realised that there were definitely other alternatives to my beliefs form the beginning of the exercise.

 

Scaffolding is every present in this type of forum as the break up of the ways of thinking allows the teacher to build/ challenge the students to grow from their own knowledge, beliefs and perspectives on this subject and think about them in different ways, thus 'scaffolding' the students knowledge and understandings to new levels.  

 

I found this a great exercise as it challenge my ways of thinking. This would be a great tool to use in the classroom for a collaborative exercise or even a project or homework medium.              

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Understanding TPACK

 

 



Image was obtained from google.com.au/images/TPACK

 

 

TPACK: Technology, Pedagogy And Content Knowledge.

 

After reflecting on the information on TPACK, I have been able to place 'real life' meaning onto some of the processes and interactions that I see on a daily basis in classroms through my work as a teacher aide.

 

Lets disect the above model to give a better understanding:

 

Technological Knowledge (TK) - This part of the diagram refers to the digital and non-digital tools that are used in the classroom.

 

Content Knowledge (CK) - Contained in this section is the subject content that is drawn from the curriculum that is being taught in the classroom.

 

Pedagogical Knowledge (PK) - In this part refers to the teaching practices/skillls that the teacher is using to best pass on the knowledge that needs to be learned in accordance with the curriculum.

 

Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK) - This area encompasses looking at ways to encompass new technologies into the pedagogical knowlegde and identifying the positive approaches that such technologies offer. 

 

 Technological Content Knowledge (TCK) - This knowledge allows for the content to be viewed through the 'eyes' of technology to find out in which ways technology can enchance the knowledge gained through the content being taught.   

 

Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) - This area is about knowing which teaching practice/ skill is best suited to the given situation present in the classroom.

 

TPACK - Is the way in which we can describe how technology, pedagogy and content all fit together to enable enriched learning in the classroom environment.

 

Through this disection it becomes clear that an understanding of TPACK is essential to the planning process when implementing a ITC into the classroom. This understanding is essential, as the implementation of the ITC must meet the subject content needs, along with having a positive pedagogical effect.

 

Through using this model in the process of becoming a teacher (and of course once in the teaching ranks), I beleive this will be of a great benefit and allow students to become even more involved in their learning, their outcomes and achievements.



ICT article

Australia fails to take ICT education seriously

http://www.ozteacher.com.au/html/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1453:australia%C2%AD-fails%C2%AD-to%C2%AD-take%C2%AD-ict%C2%AD-education%C2%AD-seriously&catid=5:the%C2%AD-hard%C2%AD-word&Itemid=409

Above is a link to a great article I found on the integration of ITC into the National Curriculum. I found this to be a very good read with some very valid points.

Have a read and let me know what your thoughts are.

Matt

I found this whilst watching some videos after completing the first topic for PCK. Thought is was interesting and brought up some interesting points about the direction of teaching and its changing methods.

Enjoy!!