Week 4

Image by Cool Text: Free Logos and Buttons - Create An Image Just Like This

 
As we all know there are many advancements in how the classroom is operated now, compared to 10 years ago, even 5.  In order for Learning Managers to run their classroom in a way that engages children, they must take part in life-long learning.  This blog, for me, is a part of my learning journey, to ensure that my classroom is as technologically savvy as needed.  This weeks blog is all about the use of images, audio, and video's in the classroom. 

Images

Images are used in the classroom every day in many different formats. Images can be used online or by hard copy.  The images used in the classroom can either be made by the children in your class, or created by someone else for the children to observe.  Images can be used for a range of reasons, to engage thinking, influence feelings and skill training.  When using images on a webpage it is important to not use images simply for decoration or colour, however it is an important factor when thinking about the engagement levels of students.  Ensuring that a range of different visual aspects are used throughout the classroom, helps to ensure that a students visual literacy is enhanced and catered for.  

 
When talking about images in the classroom there are many different activities that can be done to enhance a child's visual literacy, engage them in thinking, influence their feelings etc.

• Children can use images to predict what will be taught in the lesson, or what the topic of the lesson may be. 
• Putting the images in a particular sequence can enable the children to tell a story using the images.

There are also a number of online applications that enable children to create their own images. This can be useful in an art lesson, or to engage students usually reluctant to participate in artistic activities.  

When taking photos in the classroom it is important to remember a few tips. 

1. Set your camera onto the smallest image size
2. You need permission to upload a photo of a person to a webpage
3. Your students cannot be identified in the images
4. All images of children should be kept in a secure place
5. It is ethical to ask a child's permission before uploading their work to a webpage

Audio

 As we all know students all learn in different ways. Students can learn best via visual, auditory, or tactile resources, or a mixture of 2 or all of these. It is very important when designing learning experiences that all learning styles are catered for in a lesson, to ensure students are getting the most out of the lesson as possible.  
Audio books are an excellent tool to engage learners in a Literacy lesson. Audio books are traditionally used with English Second Language learners, learning disabled, impaired students, low level or non readers. In the past they have proven successful in engaging these learners in literacy and actually enjoy it. There are also a few benefits for ALL students. 

• Introduce students to books above their reading level
• Model reading
• Teach listening skills
• Introduce new genres
• Introduce new vocabulary 
• Recapture the love of having a book read to them 

(Reading Rockets, n.d.).

Ezi Speak

Another device that can be very useful in a classroom setting is the use of an Ezi speak. The Ezi Speak is especially useful during assessment time.  Students who are reluctant to write answers may well achieve good results if they are given the opportunity to verbalise their answers.  This microphone is a audio recorder USB device. It enables audio to be recorded and uploaded to a computer via the USB. 

Video

Viewing videos in class is a great way to engage students in the chosen topic.  Videos can be used to show students new information, or for students to create themselves. As discussed in last weeks blog, YouTube is a fantastic database of videos with thousands of topics.   Another video database that I have come across in my research is WatchKnowLearn.org.  This site breaks down each their videos into subject areas, making it easy to navigate. As the website was set up for educational purposes, it is less likely that inappropriate material will be found.
Videos are a great way to introduce a lesson or to engage those reluctant learners in a lesson.  The following video can be used to introduce a unit on forces for Science. 

The most complicated aspect of working with videos is interpreting the various file formats that work with cameras, as well as editing and publishing tools. The following formats are most commonly used an accepted:

• Mp4
• Wmv
• Flash

There are many activities that can be enhanced by students creating their own videos.  Creating common Craft-Style videos is an excellent way to engage students in revision, and assessing their learning. A common-style video are made using simple cardboard cutouts and dialogue that focuses on explaining the topic in plain English.  This is an excellent way to encourage students to demonstrate their learning using minimal resources. More information can be found here: http://www.commoncraft.com/ The following video is an example of common craft style video. 

To enhance learning experiences for your students the use of all three of these technologies is beneficial in the classroom.

References

Moodle Notes. Retrieved from http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=295963

How English Language Teachers Can use Pictures in the Classroom, (2014). Retrieved from http://blog.britishcouncil.org/2013/12/06/how-english-teachers-can-use-pictures-in-the-classroom/

Reading Rockets, (n.d.). Benifits of Audio Books for ALL Learners. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/article/64 

Learning Resources, (n.d.). Ezi Speak USB Recorder. Retreived from http://www.learningresources.com/product/easi-speak--8482-+usb+recorder.do 

Edutopia, (n.d.). Lights, Camera, Engagement...Three Great tools for Classroom Video. Retreived from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/using-video-in-classroom-ron-peck 

Week 3

Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

In today's classroom there is a huge range of online resources that can be used to enhance a lesson and learning experience. This weeks blog will outline some of the resources I have come across and ways that I would incorporate them into future lessons and daily activities in the classroom. Teachers had two main skills that they need to address.  Teachers need to ensure they themselves know how to use ICTs in the classroom to enhance their lessons, they also need to provide students with opportunities to better their own capabilities at using ICTs.

YouTube

YouTube is a fantastic online resource that can be used for any subject area and year level.  YouTube clips can be amazingly engaging for students to allow them to better understand the learning area.  YouTube clips can also be used to engage students in a brain break.  The following PMI chart outlines the plus', minus', and interesting facts about YouTube. 
 

Plus	Minus	Interesting
·      Engaging for children of all ages ·      Thousands of topics are covered in a range of different ways ·      YouTube can be accessed at school, home, in the car on a mobile device, anywhere with Internet access	·      Advertisements can sometimes be inappropriate ·      When viewing a clip using internet, loading and buffering can become a problem if internet speeds are slow ·      When a clip ends, related videos are offered, some of these can be inappropriate ·      YouTube can be blocked in some schools	·      Can be used as an online format or downloaded to be used without internet ·      About 4 billion hours of video are viewed each month on YouTube ·      Playlists can be made to overcome the issue of related videos. Once a clip is finished the next clip on the play list plays automatically without showing related clips

Slide Share

Tiger facts2 from Siobhan Rodgers

Slide Share is another ICT that can be useful in the classroom.  The Power Point that is shown was compiled for a preps modeled reading experience.  Power Points like this one could be created by students and uploaded to a webpage as an informative area for students to gather information. When uploading PowerPoint privacy must be adhered to. 

Tagxedo 

Tagxedo is a word shape maker.  It allows you to add in any words you like, the more frequently the words appear, the larger they are in the shape.  You can then change the colours, themes and shape of the word to suit what the shape is needed for.  There are many uses for Tagxedo in the classroom such as a students personal word wall. Students can alter the Tagxedo to colour and styles that appeal to them.  I have had some issue with saving the Tagxedo, and this may be due to Mac operating systems.  However a screen shot can be taken to still utilize the shape.  

Weebly 

Weebly for Science Assignment. This Weebly was created in conjunction with a fellow student for a science assessment.  It uses many skills such as embedding links and videos. 

Fodey.com 

At fodey.com there are many things that can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom.  The use of the talking animals could be a fun way to conclude a lesson on punctuation, using questions marks and exclamation marks.  As well as animated animals there are always newspaper articles, clapper boards, wanted posters and wizard text.

  

Cool Text

Image by Cool Text: Logo and Button Generator - Create Your Own Logo

Cool text is a way for students to be creative while creating a webpage. There are many different  designs that can be selected.  Students can then alter the text as they wish, making it bigger, smaller, less glow etc.  

 

References 

Edudemic, (n.d.).The Teachers guide to using Youtube in the Classroom. Retreived from http://www.edudemic.com/youtube-in-classroom/

81 Revealing facts about YouTube. Retrieved from http://facts.randomhistory.com/youtube-facts.html

Week 2

Image by Cool Text: Free Graphics Generator - Edit Image

 Using Wiki Spaces in the Classroom 

Using Wiki Spaces in the classroom is a great way to encourage participation, collaboration and interaction between students. This is achieved by enabling students to add their own thoughts, opinions or story lines to the wiki.  The wiki was used to gather thoughts and opinions about the use of mobile phones in the classroom.  It was effective in gathering a range of opinions on the given topic.  It was decided that small groups would add to one wiki, instead of the whole class adding to the one wiki.  When large numbers are using the one wiki a number of people may be editing at the same time, heightening the risk of work being lost. 
Wiki Spaces can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom such as: 

• A glossary
• Class encyclopedia
• Peer review/editing
• portfolios
• Vocab Lists
• Choose your own adventure story

 Overall Wiki's are a valuable digital resource that can be used in the classroom. 

Word art from http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html

De Bono's 6 Thinking Hats  

De Bono's 6 thinking hats were used to form the basis of the discussion around the topic of mobile phones in the classroom.  Hats are a useful metaphor to use with children, as hats can be easily taken off and put on, showing children that they can change the way the way they are thinking about a topic or situation. (De Bono for Schools, 2014) It also goes with the age old saying "put your thinking caps on". The 6 different coloured hats all represent a different type of thinking as can be seen in the mind map below. 

Connectivism

The use of Wiki's in the classroom is reflective of the Connectivism learning theory.  Over the past 20 years technology has altered the way we communicate, live and how we learn.  The connectivism learning theory is a theory for the digital age, and recognises that learning may reside in non-human appliances such as networks.  It also recognises that in this day and age, it is sometimes more important to know where to find the information, then actually know the information.  The following video demonstrates connectivism in a quirky and fun way. 

 

Working Legally, Safely and Ethically Online

It has been highlighted previously in this blog that schools and classrooms have changed significantly with the inclusion of technology. Students are now interacting with online learning platforms and social media both in class and at home. With this inclusion it is important that all students and staff are aware of the risks of working online, and ensure that students work legally, safely and ethically.  As with any behaviour, when the Learning Managers and other staff model the ethical safe and legal way to interact with online platforms, students are more likely to follow along with those behaviours.  
One large issue for myself as a future Learning Manager is following correct copyright laws.  Before reading this weeks learning materials, I was unaware of the 10% rule, meaning that you are unable to copy more then 10% of a publication for educational use. If I was to breach this rule, it would mean that I was not working legally or ethically online.  This shows the importance of being familiar with all legislation and following policies put in place by governments and Educational organizations, not just legislation and policy you think is important.  

The following video is an excellant resource to teach students about what they should be posting online and provides 5 questions children can ask them selves about their post. 

 

The following poster would be beneficial to have in classrooms around schools, and at home.

Image from: http://robertcatalano.com/think-before-you-post/   

As a future Learning Manager it is important to monitor sites that students may be using during class time.   Working online can risk exposure to materials that are

• pornographic
• offensive
• hateful
• violent
• sexually explicit 
• encourage activities that are dangerous or unlawful

Any websites that students need to access for a given activity must first be looked over by the Learning Manager to ensure that no inappropriate material is seen.

Cyber bullying is another issue when it comes to the use of technology in the classroom. Cyber bullying can be performed over many mediums such as email, text messaging, social media, and other online platforms such as wikis.  The following website offers some fabulous resources to help students understand what cyber bullying is, and when they may be a victim of it. stopcyberbullying.org

References 

Smart Teaching. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.smartteaching.org/blog/2008/08/50-ways-to-use-wikis-for-a-more-collaborative-and-interactive-classroom/ 

Connectivism. (2012) Retrieved from http://www.connectivism.ca/ 

 Catalano, R. (2014). Think Before You Post. Retrieved from http://robertcatalano.com/think-before-you-post/   

Critical and Creative Thinking Tools de Bono for Schools. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.debonoforschools.com/asp/six_hats.asp