blog

For the blog entry I refer to, click here.

For the newspaper article I refer to, click here.

For the blog entry I talk about, click here.

The website I am referring to is here.

But when I read the article mentioned in this post by Dr Alex Byrne, I began to think otherwise.

Firstly I thought that not all families have access to the internet. Although the majority probably do, some people may not be as lucky. This was highlighted in the article. Libraries are “vital in ensuring that the emerging information society will truly aspire to be for all and be fair and just for all,” (Byrne, 2008).

Next, I thought about the Library at UTS which is mentioned in the article also. It never occurred to me that this library would be any different to other libraries but according to the article, it is and I am most privileged. The UTS library delivers many of their journals online so students do not have to come to the library to access information.

Lastly, libraries are still places where people come together to learn – libraries provide quiet areas to study and enable groups to work together in a collaborative environment with access to information.

So I have concluded that I do not think it will be any time soon that libraries will become obsolete, especially when, according to the post, that libraries are beginning to cater for students in the digital age. But I do think in the years to come libraries will become obsolete. What do you think?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33377700@N00/443545349

I completely agree with what Alison said in her post. It is now the 21st Century. We no longer have to live in a classroom that is pen-and-paper and chalk-and-talk. Unfortunately students today still do, but this can all change if teachers adopt technology use in the classroom, and this is vital. We are teaching 21st century learners who are exposed to so much technology in their leisure time, yet don’t experience any of this in the classroom. Teachers, as Alison pointed out, need to focus on how students learn, and today, students learn through technology, so why aren’t teachers using technology in the classroom? Yes I know it is a hard adjustment. Yes I know it is hard to accept change. But the thing is is that these are the kids of the future. Teachers should focus on the students needs, and technology is a strong need of theirs. What’s the point in teaching if we are not preparing them for their adulthood which will involve even more technology then today?

As the youtube clip says, students are digital learners – so let’s engage them!

www.flickr.com/photos/95484254@N00/73932572

As part of my e-Learning experience, I have to create my own digital story, and I am looking forward to the experience. I have decided that I want it to be about how I got my idea of how I want to teach. As I have been planning what I am going to say (spoken text) and the pictures that I will use (images), it really made me wonder the use of it in the classroom.

The article states that digital stories are an effective medium to use in the classroom. I thought to myself how much students would enjoy watching a digital story if I were to create one based on what they were learning, but relating back to them. I truly believe they would be enthralled. Furthermore, what if I asked them to create their own, to talk about themselves, or an experience that changed their lives? According to the article, students were heavily engaged in making their own digital story and it provided opportunities for collaboration and student feedback.

I had a look at some of the digital stories from the Island Movie Contest and could see the amount of potential that students have in creating one. For example, Avoid a Lazy Life is a great example of student collaborating together to create an educational story. Check it out as well as other contest winners here.

It is this learning environment that appears to be a most enriching experience for students, an experience that would be on their minds for many years to come.

www.flickr.com/photos/85827196@N00/110674187

Harel spoke about digital sandcastles. This basically means building sandcastles like we all did on the beach, but in a digital way – using technology. Children can create and discover so much on the internet today, and they can come back to it and edit their work at any time. They can learn so many things by using technology in a constructionistic way, just as children learn so much by building a sandcastle on the beach – about sand, waves, shells, tides.

It had never occurred to me that this idea of digital sandcastles could be as useful as other forms of play, but when you think about it, it really can. Students can use many internet programs, or other types of technology, for example LEGO, to construct and learn.

www.flickr.com/photos/79874304@N00/200780234

About my cousin – She is 4 years old and is starting school next year. She is the one I have written about on one of my past blog entries. She learnt at a young age how to use the computer and surprised me one day when she showed me how she can open the internet, click on favourites then click on her favourite game sites. So when my Aunty found out about Reading Eggs, she thought she would give it a try.

Now, my cousin does not want to get off the computer!! She loves Reading Eggs, and furthermore, she has learnt every sound and can now read simple books. I have even tested her out! I think this really shows how technology can be educational. My cousin has learnt how to read by using an online medium and she absolutely loves learning this way! Don’t you think this is great?!

Yes you heard correctly. Who would have thought?

But it could work – children are always on the computer so why not incorporate this into the classroom?

An interesting article titled Video Games in the Classroom talks about The Education Arcade initiative to create games that can be used as part of the teaching process. Now I am a bit sceptical of it all but really when you think about it, it could be a great and interactive way for students to learn. For example, games can be created where students become involved in real-life situations where they discover pollution in a suburban environment, or students can be involved in an epic battle in history.

This is a “challenging and thought-provoking” way for students to learn, putting their strategic and creative thinking hats on to be able to complete the computer game. Motivation and engagement could improve dramatically. Retention and learning could improve dramatically. So do we think it can work? Well, I guess we will have to wait and see.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26036520@N00/140388573

I am always talking about how in today’s society, technology is used so readily, and that there is a need for schooling to change to catch up with this demand. And this led me to believe that we need more people like Resnick and Papert in the world. Their passion and love for all things technological will create a whirlwind in the schooling field in NSW if they helped to create change in the schools. Focusing on constructionism, technologies that are “accessible and inviting to children with all different learning styles and ways of knowledge” as well as “playful but at the same time engage learners in serious and sustained and challenging explorations,” wouldn’t this be an effective and exciting way for children to learn?!?!

After all the research and learning that I have done to learn more about using technology in the classroom, I think that we need people like these two gentleman, who are passionate about technology and its importance for students’ lives, to be involved in re-developing how teachers in NSW schools use technology in their classrooms.

* Resnick, M. (2008). Falling In Love with Seymour’s Ideas. Retrieved October 6, 2008 from http://web.media.mit.edu/~mres/papers/AERA-seymour-final.pdf.

At the moment I am doing my best to sponge up all information I am receiving on using technology in the classroom so I know the best ways to implement them into my class to present to my future students. I have witnessed many thought-provoking and information-rich articles, blogs and youtube clips on the issue, however I have not come across one like what I saw in Jess’ post. Jess is right – the youtube clip is a clear example of what not to do when presenting a powerpoint presentation, video or slides to the class.

Yes it did provide information on blogs and wikis, but what I learnt most from this clip is to make the text understandable. This includes making the text large enough for people up the back of the classroom to read (some of the text was a struggle to read and I was sitting right in front of the computer), leaving the slides on long enough for people to read (this was another struggle) and to ensure that the text is detailed enough so students (or colleagues) can understand it, especially if a person is not there explaining it.

However I commend the people who made this youtube clip – it may not be perfect but they are certainly in there having a go at using technology!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35468141938@N01/97426906