In gaining awareness and some familiarity with a range of tools through this course the thing that resonates with me is that it is only scratching the surface of possibilities. I remember computers coming into schools for the first time in the early 80s and my mind boggles at the fact that the computing power of those first units is today dwarfed by a musical birthday card.
We will learn a lot from students about how to teach in the next few years - but it is also important to remember that for all its wonder, the ICT of today is still predominantly just abstract patterns produced by the burning of coal.
Sunday 20 November 2011
Module 10
Having just finished my Dip Ed by distance education I have had much experience with wikis. By the end of the course the whole thing was run in Moodle with wikis for every subject and an absolute plethora of organisational and collaborative tools - particularly blogs. One subject had a blog for each of over 200 students. I'm blogged out.
What it did highlight, though, is the amount of teaching and learning that can be achieved using web 2.0 philosophies and tools. I never spoke to a lecturer, or saw one, but all my questions were answered and all help was given. I submitted assignments online, collaborated online in virtual worlds and never read a printed page.
THe learning experience was rich and varied and far more enjoyable than when I completed degrees the old-fashioned way. So I am grateful for the change to Web 2.0 ways - and if a 40yo who hates Twitter is grateful, then today's teenagers will simply not accept any other way.
What it did highlight, though, is the amount of teaching and learning that can be achieved using web 2.0 philosophies and tools. I never spoke to a lecturer, or saw one, but all my questions were answered and all help was given. I submitted assignments online, collaborated online in virtual worlds and never read a printed page.
THe learning experience was rich and varied and far more enjoyable than when I completed degrees the old-fashioned way. So I am grateful for the change to Web 2.0 ways - and if a 40yo who hates Twitter is grateful, then today's teenagers will simply not accept any other way.
Module 9
Scootle is an excellent resource (compendium of resources?) and in the process of completing tasks for this blog have found some useful ideas for inclusion in the coming week's lessons. Bonus.
I am excited by the prospect of utilising programs like Second life or Quest Atlantis in an educational setting. These online communities have a lot going for them. Chief amongst the benefits is the amount of ownership students have over their participation in educational events - can't wait to give this a go.
There will come a time, I am sure, when history will view those of us who have never used Twitter with a fond and reverent admiration. While Simon Crook alludes to some useful features of this tool (like quick answers to troublesome questions) I can't bring myself to use it. I guess I would rather be part of the last generation of people who could grow crops and build houses - than the first generation who tweeted.
I am excited by the prospect of utilising programs like Second life or Quest Atlantis in an educational setting. These online communities have a lot going for them. Chief amongst the benefits is the amount of ownership students have over their participation in educational events - can't wait to give this a go.
There will come a time, I am sure, when history will view those of us who have never used Twitter with a fond and reverent admiration. While Simon Crook alludes to some useful features of this tool (like quick answers to troublesome questions) I can't bring myself to use it. I guess I would rather be part of the last generation of people who could grow crops and build houses - than the first generation who tweeted.
Module 8
I see a great deal more educational potential in creating RSS feeds than in subscribing to them. I can visualise my students logging into their computers/phone/iWhatever on a regular basis and there, popping up on their homepage is a feed about due homework, relevant links or morale-boosting super-humour.
Looking into how all this is done, it is not difficult (depending on server admin requirements). Programs like FeedForAll make it tres simple but even having a crack at the XML coding is achievable - particularly so when existing code can be cut-and-pasted and the content changed without violating any licences. I would really like my students subscribed to my feeds.
Looking into how all this is done, it is not difficult (depending on server admin requirements). Programs like FeedForAll make it tres simple but even having a crack at the XML coding is achievable - particularly so when existing code can be cut-and-pasted and the content changed without violating any licences. I would really like my students subscribed to my feeds.
Module 7
Very handy to have links/favourites/bookmarks centralised - Go the cloud!! No more of not being able to quickly access that you-beaut site you were going to kick off the lesson with. That said, there are already several ways to save 'bookmarks' and such, and many ways to share them.
Now to paraphrase a certain ex-PM, am I going to use delicious for social networking? Probably not (well not yet in any case). With so many networks and applications already being logged into I can't see Delicious making it into heavy rotation, but never say never....
Now to paraphrase a certain ex-PM, am I going to use delicious for social networking? Probably not (well not yet in any case). With so many networks and applications already being logged into I can't see Delicious making it into heavy rotation, but never say never....
Module 6
Completed a tour of the Flickr experience - have used it many times before. Best way to avoid copyright issues is to err on the side of caution, follow the ICT guidelines and be familiar with what does/doesn't constitute fair dealing.
Friday 5 August 2011
And after a battle with google not letting me use my own username...
A video for the same unit. Animation done in Stykz, transferred to movie maker, uploaded to youtube, embedded in blogger. Phew!
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