Learning is fun… I promise!

My final wording on e-learning at this stage is that I hope to continue to be inspired by all the wonderful opportunities that there are for children and teachers alike. I hope that I can stay on top of all the information that is on offer to me. Though my peers, the media, lecturers and my own learning I hope that I can be completely computer savy for when I need to teach in my own classroom.

- S -

Image: ‘Twittermania‘
www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/419109430

Image: ‘Web Service’s 2.0‘
www.flickr.com/photos/8910750@N03/3280609082

Image: ‘Jump on the social media bandwagon‘
www.flickr.com/photos/73532212@N00/2945559128

Image: ‘no denial‘
www.flickr.com/photos/60648084@N00/2462966749

Image: ‘bandwagon on web2.0 colors‘
www.flickr.com/photos/11127460@N00/50191136

Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution

Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

I think that with regards to technology and our own teaching, there is going to become a point where we will become completely overwhelmed if we don’t make a reasonable go at understanding what is out there. The stress that people face with technology would seem to be that as it changes so rapidly and newer items are out there for use. Having been exposed to so many different possibilities throughout the e-learning course I do understand that this can cause concern for most people. As budding teachers I think that we are keenly aware of the fact the technology won’t be something that we use in support of some of the learning but more so as an integral part of every teaching moment.

What fun these smartboards and virtual classrooms will be, which provides not only the children with new opportunities but the teachers also. I think that we can only try to participate in making ourselves aware that there is this technology out there and to be open to learning wherever possible.

In TECHNOLOGY… ENOUGH IS ENOUGH? …OR IS THERE NEVER ENOUGH? huongtbui talks about the following “I have recognized some major issues concerning technology use with the classroom. These include; gender based stereotypes, how to promote student equality, how can we economically sustain and update schools with new technologies, importance of innovation, creation, and interactivity and organization of technology into lessons.” Like any classroom these issues will be prevalent but I think that in terms of innovation, creativity and interactivity, the incorporation of technology into every teaching moment will become second nature if we take the time to learn how the technology works.

- S -

Image: ‘A face.. (or the original OMG Wall)‘
www.flickr.com/photos/69209577@N00/3401596917

Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution

Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

This article made some excellent points that I had not looked at regarding schooling and the process of it. Having forgotten that formalised schooling came about for various reasons such as, a way to cull child labour in the workforce, to getting children off the streets etc. How did children learn before school? Well that’s simple, they learned by the process of trial and error. Why did it become so important to introduce children to learning from someone else rather than their own learning methods?

The two differing teaching models expressed in the article compare:

Ms Beauchamp with her teacher-directed, passive learning style. This mode is traditional and instructivist.

To Ms Read with her combined teacher and student involvement. The learning process has become a shared responsibilty through the direction to implementation of activities as a partnership.

Cognitive Apprenticeship looks at 6 steps:

Modeling

Scaffolding

Coaching

Exploration

Articulation

Reflection

Brown, Collins & Duguid suggested in this article that “cognitive apprenticehip methods thry to enculturate students into authentic practices through activity and social interaction. Only inb the last century and only in industrail nations, has formal schooling emerged as a widespread method of educating the young. Before school appeared, apprenticeship was the most common means of learning and was used to transmit knowledge repuired fr expert practice in firleds from painting and sculpting to medicine and law” (p.453).

Within this idea learners will engage in real world scenarios which in a classroom situation is not always the case. If we can provide students with the chance to learn for themselves in this way then we have the ability to provide useful outcomes for students and the future.

Cognitive apprenticeships as an instructional model.
Brill, J., Kim, B., Galloway, C. (2001). Cognitive apprenticeships as an instructional model. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved <insert date>, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Cognitive_Apprenticeship

- S -

Image: ‘Shuttle Endeavour Blastoff‘
www.flickr.com/photos/44124348109@N01/

Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution

Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Having listened to Mel’s Claymation talk and having read her blog, this is such a fantastic technology that gets children to be the masters of their own learning and designing. I have had some experience as being a family member of a student who was able to participate in this workshop and I can say that she loved it! Referring to what Matthew Kearney suggests that “children can be the authors but if they don’t have the forum to display it then there really is no point”, I agree with this statement. The joy and sense of achievement that the ability to have friends and family view your work is where the child will gain a sense of pride in their work.

I guess the main point to anything that we are getting children to do is, provide them with the opportunity to show off their work and they will invest themselves more fully into the process.

- S -

Image: ‘clay2‘
www.flickr.com/photos/21807687@N00/3257172524

Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution

Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Looking through the edublogs site, I have come across a wonderful blog being made by a New Zealand school. They are Year Four and Five children located in Nelson, New Zealand. This is a wonderful example of how effective this technology is being used in the real life situation. One such blog that particularly caught my attention was the year 4 ‘Revolting Rymes’ podcast. This was excellent to see students use the medium of podcasting something that we looked at in English last year. Through the podcast I was able to gain a sense of the students, their ability to retell a rhyme and also they provide some understanding of the book also.

There are many excellent blogs being made on this site with the inclusion of their Skype calls to other Countries. These children are being provided with such a broadened view of the world and what a fantastic demonstration of children being the creators of their own learning.

- S -

Image: ‘Perspective (Nelson, NZ)‘
www.flickr.com/photos/96544444@N00/1419901932

Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution

Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Here is my Plan of Action

I hope you jot this resource down for future reference. I have gained so much from reading Richards blogs. It provides teachers with FREE technology. Check it out and have a listen!

- K -

Available from

Image: ‘Atlas, it’s time for your bath‘
www.flickr.com/photos/73645804@N00/440672445

Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution

Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/