The task will also explore the links between the technical affordance of each technology tool and its use by not only us teachers but our students in specific contexts. The SAMR model will also be referred to for each tool by highlighting examples of how the technologies might be used in the classroom for each level of model. Lastly, a part of this blog post will be an example or evidence of my personal use, demonstrating my support and skills in using each type of technology tool.
BlogsWell, well, well, I guess I can say I know a fair bit about blogs and blogging now. Before beginning this course (Managing E-Learning) I had limited grasp on what blogging was. Now and again I would find cool blogs on people and things I was interested in, such as cooking and photography or fashion. However I never really thought of it in the sense of using it for teaching and learning, or creating one for my personal use. Reflecting on it now, I can see the values and opportunities blogs can provided.
Looking at blogs as a whole, they are controlled by usually one individual, meaning it can be very personalised, a space which represents you. Blog are an avenue for sharing all things- what you know, what you like, dislike, things you want to know or interest you, the list is endless! Blogs can be accessed via the internet, and be open to the public or on a private setting for only a particular group of people or 'followers'. A blog is like a discussion or informational site which consists of entries or posts. They can also used to share images, videos, links to other blogs, web pages, tools or media related to its topic. Blogs are very interactive can be described as a form of social networking service.
Personally the use of blogs is a necessary tool to incorporate into the classroom as an educators. It is very beneficial as a teacher, as I would be able to share my knowledge and views as a teacher, as well as use it as a tool for teaching, communicating and engaging learners. For students using technology in the classroom is highly essential and motivates them to engage with learning and educational tasks and truly enjoy it at the same time. As well, blogs are a way to monitor students abilities, understanding, development, growth and contribution to classroom task.
When looking at blogs in relation the SAMR model, it is evident the link between this technology and the four levels of the model.
|
Redefinition
|
Sharing and communicating blogs beyond just the classroom. Possibly
to other schools, states and worldwide
|
|
Modification
|
Students are able to collaborate and compare each other's learning
journeys by commenting on them and providing constructive feedback and
questioning
|
|
Augmentation
|
A blog can be augmented as a learning journey with added functions
such as images, videos, audio and
other extras
|
|
Substitution
|
This could be substituting writing a daily reflection in a note pad
with a blog entry instead.
|
WikisLet me start by saying Wikis are a genius idea. I have had a bit of experience in using wiki in a number of my group assignment tasks for uni. They are a great tool when it comes to collaboration tasks and assignments.
As explained perfectly by Mitchell (2008) "a wiki is an application, typically a web application, which allows collaborative modification, extension, or deletion of its content and structure. While a wiki is a type of content management system, it differs from a blog or most other such systems in that the content is created without any defined owner or leader, and wikis have little implicit structure, allowing structure to emerge according to the needs of the users". A wiki is designed on wikispace and it is a social writing platform for business, governments, community groups, organizations and most importantly for education purposes.
Looking at wiki in an educational sense, the overall aim of a wikispace is to create a workspace where educators and students can communicate and work on writing projects independently or in collaboration (Wikispace, 2015). It is used to get students excited and interested in learning via the modern day web tools of technology. A wiki allows you to upload documents, make posts, share links, videos, images, add pages, create discussions and add comments, as well as make adjustments to personalized features such as backgrounds, themes and colour options too. Wiki allows members to edit their own work as well as their peers.
A wikispace in the classroom can support learning for all students of today society. Modern day learners essentially engage and learn through technology and the tools that are provided with it. Using a wiki to support teaching in the classroom, is highly beneficial to student learning. It can be adapted to suit any task, unit or topic of choice. For instance a wiki can be used for collaborative writing tasks. Students can share their work for the class to read, or work together on a collaborative writing task in groups. Teachers can then easily review students work and provide feedback. Other classroom use of the wiki includes students sharing their findings of particular projects or research tasks. Teachers are able to easily create these projects and assign the students to particular groups or tasks simply and at the click of a button. Overall wiki allows teachers to easily monitor, keep in touch and communicate efficiently and effectively with their students. From a student's point of view, by using this form of ICT allows learning and completing work to be more interesting, at their own pace, more open to choice, encourages them to be more cooperative and collaborative, and assist them in developing further research, technology and literacy skills.
|
Redefinition
|
Wiki is used as a learning tool for a project students have to
complete online
|
|
Modification
|
Students have to upload their assignment reflection to wiki to
receive feedback
|
|
Augmentation
|
Students and educators can access wikispace from any device
|
|
Substitution
|
Students use wikispace, as a place to record notes on a topic
|
Plus the one I used for a group task for a math's unit of work: http://numeracyinaction-grouptask-yearfour.wikispaces.com/
WebsitesLet focus on Weebly. This is the easiest way to create a unique, simple and free website. Firstly I have previously created one for another unit of work where myself and a partner had to create tasks cards for a science unit of work. I thoroughly enjoyed designing and creating the website. It is very simple to follow, yet it has great results.
The weebly guides you through steps, such as choosing a theme, creating a domain than adding endless features to suit you ideal focus and display for your website. It is highly personalized and extremely fun to create and play with. It also allows you all sorts of options such as adding different types of media options like videos, audio, YouTube clips, images and other documents, files and weblinks.
In a teaching content, this type of technology tool is amazing, in that it is super versatile depending on what you are teaching and aiming to use the website for. It can be used to introduce a topic, provide information about a unit, a gateway into literacy tasks or other online learning avenues. Can be designed as a interactive digital journey or quest for learners to work through at their own pace or in groups. The list is endless of different uses.
For students engaging in this technology tool, they are able to be in control of their learning and creating. Students are able to work at their own pace and are developing numerous skills necessary for today society, as well as skills for future years to come. It allows opportunities for all students to have a voice, opinion and communicate individual thoughts.
The weebly provides an avenue to a range of educational possibilities. Such as students are able to share creative writing pieces, use it as a way to collaborate in groups and discussions or present work creatively. It can be used as a learning journey a student may create, as a project, review, reflection or as a summary of a unit topic.
Overall the weebly is a technological tool which when compared to blogs or wikis, is the best overall use of ICT for learning.
|
Redefinition
|
Students go beyond by creating their own weebly, that allows to
create a personal learning journey of a task they have been set by the
teacher via their personal website
|
|
Modification
|
Students follow a project via a weebly, which directs them beyond to
other websites and links to expand their knowledge
|
|
Augmentation
|
Learners can complete a task via a weebly, adding extras such as
images, a video or recording.
|
|
Substitution
|
Learners can add information or ideas to a weebly that has already
been created or established
|
Link to the weebly I have previously made for a science unit of work, with different task cards provided throughout the website:
http://maddieandemmasciencetask.weebly.com/
x
No comments:
Post a Comment