10.02.11
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:09 am by juliaphudson
Whilst on my internship, I taught a composite Kindergarten and Year One class. The students had all been exposed to technology and were mostly competent with the basic skills of switching the computer on, logging on and accessing the Internet. However, despite this, every lesson a difficulty would arise. The students would want to use Mathletics and the computer they had chosen would not have flash player and they could thus not access Mathletics. Another scenario was that they had somehow managed to misplace their password sheet or could not remember their username, among other scenarios. Taking into consideration that these students were only in Kindergarten and Year One and such issues can arise in any given lesson, I almost feel as though teaching a simple computer lesson to Early Stage One and Stage One students requires more preparation and patience than setting up for a highly involved visual arts lesson. Every lesson I had to keep repeating to myself in my head ‘patience is a virtue, patience is a virtue’, as 25 students would be calling out my name for help.
Reflecting upon this now, I can think of a couple of solutions that may have made things easier. The first is, I should have had my own copy of the students usernames and passwords that I could refer to at anytime when they had misplaced their own. The second is, having the luxury of Interactive Whiteboards at hand, I could have logged on myself and helped the students through the process of logging on and finding Matheltics in a step by step process with a group of students who were having difficulties, as opposed to going around to each individual student and wasting their learning time whilst they waited for me. However, I can not think of a solution for the flash player situation. Mathletics is now used across NSW schools, if flash player is required it should be on the computers- or is it the responsibility of the teacher to spend their lunch time logging on to every computer to see if flash player is available?
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Posted in Uncategorized at 2:53 am by juliaphudson
After having read the article Digital Literacy: Human Flourishing and Collective Intelligence in a Knowledge Society by Megan Poore (2011), my views on digital literacy were both challenged and educated. The journal article discusses the way in which teachers must reach a level of critical consciousness before they can expect to be able to help their students reach digital literacy. For teachers, this does not simply involve reaching an acceptable level of technical competency, but further, teachers should be encouraged to engage more frequently with the literature surrounding digital literacy and where our digitally-driven society is heading in the future. Therefore, according to Poore (2011) teachers not only require support in developing digital literacy skills, but additionally need to be provided with philosophical and ethical frameworks for understanding digital cultures and how the cyberworld is changing our intellectual capabilities and I have to agree.
Poore (2011) draws on the work of Pierre Le’vy, who describes the way in which he believes computers have a critical role to play in the development of intelligent communities, thus the computerisation of society, via the knowledge space, has the potential to ‘promote the construction of intelligent communities in which our social and cognitive potential can be mutually developed and enhanced’ (Le’vy 1994/1999, p.17). The article goes on to say that if we are going to use our cyberworld to navigate knowledge and think collectively in a successful and meaningful way, then we must teach our students the following things:
1. How to access information
2. How to manage information
3. How to evaluate information
4. How to create new understandings
5. How to communicate with others
6. How to use ICT appropriately
I found it so interesting that we are no longer concerned with teaching students how to use the technology itself, as children are constantly exposed to it and this is where the term ‘digital natives’ could be debated, however that it a different issue. What I find so interesting and exciting is that we can move away from teaching how to use the computer in a mechanical sense and now focus on how to use computers as tools for gaining knowledge and communicating in a multitude of ways. To me, the opportunities for teaching today are so exciting, and things are changing so rapidly that I can’t wait to find out what teaching opportunities tomorrow will bring!
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06.05.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:14 am by juliaphudson
I was unsure what to write my 10th blog about. I started procrastinating, briefly skimming through articles, and I decided to read some other students older blog postings, regarding their earlier views on e-learning. I came across Bronwyns post, and I loved the way she related e-learning to the game of soccer. Detailing how like soccer, to be sucessful at e-learning you need to practise and play as team. I also enjoyed her video, and I feel Bronwyns views on learning are quite similar to mine, particularly regarding the learning that occurs outside of the classroom, and the importance of independent and collaborative learning. My views of education go on to encompass the need for teachers to educate their students about the outside world – teachers have the ability to change the world through each student. Teachers need to truly believe they can do this, and embrace it.
I read some of Bronwyns more recent posts and it is evident that her knowledge of e-learning has increased, as I believe mine has as well. She has done some great research, and I particularly liked her reaction to Matthew Kearny’s article Games-based learning, which demonstrates that learning can be achieved through play.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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Posted in Uncategorized at 1:49 am by juliaphudson
I read Sammy’s Blog, and my first thought was how it amazing it is that fourth graders are able to make their own software! I’ve read a great deal of literature about the importance of students creating their own questions fro themselves, and the importance of self assessment and independent working – it seems that students creating their own software is a great idea! Imagine what students could create? And how much more beneficial is it for them to create their own software, rather than simply logging on and completing a quick online quiz or something? Creating their own software allows children to fully research their area of study, and challenge themselves and their peers. Working independently from the teacher is also good for students, as they gain confidence seeing what they can personally achieve. Learning in this way allows students to build up a greater knowledge of a topic as they slowly work through it, brick by brick.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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Posted in Uncategorized at 1:28 am by juliaphudson
…to have a class blog like Allanah King!
My video!
Julia Hudson
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06.04.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:30 am by juliaphudson
A friend of mine sent me a very interesting, yet somewhat disturbing video today, entitled ‘Did You Know?’ And, as it turns, I did not know. The video tells the viewer a number of interesting facts. For example, there are 31 billion searches on google every month, and in 2006 there were only 2.7 billion; and there are 5 times more words in the english language today than in Shakesperes time. The video focuses on technology and how quickly it is growing. Some of the more relevant facts to e-learning included:
- the top ten in demand jobs in 2010, did not exist in 2004: ‘We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t exist yet…using technologies that havn’t been invented’.
- ‘It is estimated that a weeks worth of the New York Times contains more information than what a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th Century’
- For students starting a 4 year technical degree, half of what they learn in their first year of study will be outdated by their third year of study
The facts given in thsi video are startling, and they have a lot of implications for teachers. For example, we need to be preparing our students for jobs using these technologies that we cannot even imagine, so they will be able to ‘solve problems that don’t even exist yet’.
Upon starting this course, I was perhaps narrow minded and belived that I would be able to have a traditional classroom with minimal technology. I truly believed it was unnecessary, and deterred from actual learning in the classroom. But now I realise that doing this would hinder my students capabilities of coping in the modern world, and I would be doing them an injustice. Technology really is the future, and teachers need to embrace it.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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05.29.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:21 am by juliaphudson
After reading the article, E-learning, the virtual classroom – Disadvantages, I wondered if the listed disadvantages were really relevant.
Some ‘disadvantages’ outlined included a lack of face to face interaction. In my teaching and learning experience of primary teaching, students have an abundance of face to face lessons with their teachers, and learning to work independently could benefit students. The article also points out that students need adequate typing skills to participate in e-learning classes, but surely the purposes of these classes is to teach students skills such as typing. The article also lists a disadvantage of e learning as ‘teachers need to develop educational content that is interesting, relevant and important to students, in an appropriate format’. I believe that this is part of a teachers role and while it may provide teachers with extra work, the educational benefits for students are far more important.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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05.28.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 11:53 pm by juliaphudson
![Chalk Board at Drink Coffee - Sister Bay, WI by TRAFFIK [US].](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2822839180_6b913f8b7b.jpg?v=0)
Rubys blog about Interactive Whiteboards raised some questions for me. I have never taught in a classroom with an Interactive Whiteboard, and I have often wondered if perhaps the novelty of an interactive whiteboard can detract from the purpose of learning during the lesson. Ruby suggesting that technology, such as an interactive whiteboard, is most effective when integrated with other learning activities, seems like the perfect way to utilise technology in a classroom. I think that while an interactive whiteboard can provide a lot of visual stimulus for students, it needs to be used in moderation, and always with the purposes to teach – not just for a novelty.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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Posted in Uncategorized at 11:25 pm by juliaphudson
After reading Vienne’s blog, it made me question what my motive is in the classroom. Vivienne made some good points – that using technology in the classroom will be challenging, demanding and time-consuming. However, I believe that using technology in the classroom can really benefit students – it can save so much time, and is a lot more interesting than completing worksheets. Furthermore, in this century technology is becoming more and more prevalent in our everyday lives, and I would like to ensure my students are able to handle all this technology when they leave my classroom.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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05.27.09
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:47 am by juliaphudson
I read the article Aboriginal Studies Webquest, which detailed how a webquest was used to gauge students knowledge about Aboriginal people, and educate them. The webquest is performed in groups, and each student is given a role – the historian, the reporter, the health worker, the anthropologist, and the librarian. The webquest begins with posing the question, ‘should the Prime Minister and the Government say ‘sorry’ to the Aboriginal People? Why/why not?’ Each role is given separate questions to answer, with some useful links to help them out – ultimately they will be writing a letter proposing their point of view. The students may then want to email their letters onto ‘real’ people concerned in the matter, and the website offers links for students to do this.
I think this webquest is a great idea, I would have included different roles, such as that of an Aboriginal person, and from the point of view of the Government.
Image made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ available here
Julia Hudson
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