Digital Video

I would use the following YouTube clip to get my learners excited about reading!

Digital Video (from YouTube etc.) can be incorporated into the classroom as a means of visual stimulation to prepare students for the knowledge which they are yet to acquire. Just like any ICT tool, YouTube’s value is not a given; it depends on how the learning manager uses the video content to support and advance learning. YouTube can be a valuable resource and is just one of Web 2.0 tools that can inspire students and support their digital learning style.

IMAGES - VISUAL LITERACY

Flickr provides users of the website to access pictures and videos free of charge and free from copyright licensing. Learners can use pictures and videos from Flickr as a means of visual stimulation in their PowerPoint presentations, blogs and websites.

Visual literacy is of utmost importance in education for the 21st century. 21st century education is creative, challenging, complex and flexible; it seeks to address our rapidly changing world which is filled with new problems and new possibilities (21st Century Schools, 2004).

A wise man once said “a picture is worth a 1000 words” and he was right. Teaching literacy using visuals is a proven effective way for learners not only to learn but it also promotes higher engagement in learning (Huei-Lien Chen, 2004).

 Picture courtesy of Flickr

"Use a picture. It's worth a thousand words." (Brisbane, A., 1911, as cited in Martin, G, 2010)

 

References:

21st Century Schools. (2004). Possibilities for 21st Century Education. Retrieved from www.21stcenturyschools.com/What_is_21st_Century_Education.htm

Huei-Lien Chen, E. (2004). A review of learning theories from visual literacy.

Retrieved from http://www.uni.edu/Huei-LienChenhaa/research/visual_literacy_final.pdf

Martin, G. (2010). A picture is worth a thousand words. Retrieved from http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words.html

PowerPoint

I am very familiar with using Microsoft PowerPoint as I have utilised this program throughout my primary, secondary and tertiary schooling years. PowerPoint is simple to navigate and is useful in both a student-directed and teacher-directed situations. The use of PowerPoint within the classroom can allow learning managers to accommodate for visual learners as well as adding a new dimension to classroom instruction.

I will utilise PowerPoint within my classroom as a framework for guiding how I deliver my learning experiences to the learners in my classroom. The slideshows I design with comprise of minimal text, with a great focus on audio and visuals.

The following are some examples of ways PowerPoint can be effectively utilised within the classroom setting according to the Online Technology Learning Centre (2005):


• Interactive Book Reports – Learners create a PowerPoint presentation about books they have read and on completion of the PowerPoint they can present to the rest of the class.

• Class Excursion Slide Shows – Instead of writing a recount, learners can create a PowerPoint presentation using words and images that presents what they saw and what they learnt. The development of the Slide Show allows learners to review, apply and reflect on the knowledge they acquired on the excursion.

• Flash Cards – Learning managers create flashcard presentations for individual and group reinforcement. This can be used to reinforce numbers, letters, colours etc.

 

References:


Online Technology Learning Centre (2005). Using PowerPoint in the classroom. Retrieved from
http://www.online.tusc.k12.al.us/tutorials/pptclass/pptclass.htm

WEEBLY

Weebly can be utilised within the classroom as means of communicating declarative knowledge from learning manager to learners. It can also be utilised by learners who can develop and design their very own website! This website is easy to navigate which means learners will find it simple to use this program to develop their website. Learning managers can design learning experiences where learners are guided by the learning manager's instructions or learning managers can allow learners to freely explore the features of the online tool on their own.


My Weebly can be found here or at http://s0154834.weebly.com/

WIKI

A blog is an online tool which generally has only one author. A Wiki however, is a collaborative learning tool in which multiple users can share information by editing, modifying, adding or removing information. Within the classroom setting, this online tool is ideal for group assignments as students can access and share information outside of school hours. Contributing to a Wiki is a simple process and learners will easily be able to access and edit the information. The use of a Wiki allows a collaborative effort and then publishes the result. Another benefit of utilising Wiki as part of assessment with the classroom is that the learning manager will be able to check the learners’ progress and in turn provide appropriate feedback when the situation warrants it.

Here is an example of a Wiki. This is not solely my work, it was collaboratively utilised as a source of information for this assessment task.

CONCEPT MAPS

elow I have created a concept map online using bubbl.us.  This innovative way to create a concept map online is a great tool for learning and teaching in the classroom. This online tool would be useful in creating a concept map individually, in pair or group work and even as a whole class. The Big 6 is an ICT framework that I will be utilising in assessement task 3.

THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A BLOG

 Picture courtesy of Flickr

 

Blog: “A public website where users post informal journals of their thoughts, comments and philosophies, updated frequently and normally reflecting the views of the blog’s creator” (WorldWideLearn, 2010)

Why write a blog? What is the purpose of writing a blog? What is the real reason? What is the goal? Why do people sit and ‘waste’ precious time writing a blog?

A blog is a web publishing tool which allows for instant publishing to the internet and access to a world wide audience. Blogs are usually (but not always) written by one person and updated regularly. They are becoming a common text used by a diverse range of people within society to communicate their thoughts to the world. Blogs can be personal, professional or a mix of both.

As a future learning manager, I interpret the use of a blog within education in two ways. Firstly, as an aid to improve my teacher practices. In the classroom setting I would use a blog to communicate declarative knowledge to students, and I would communicate this knowledge in a variety of ways. The use of a blog to communicate declarative knowledge is also beneficial as students can access the blog outside of school hours. Secondly, in my classroom blogs would be used as an aid to enhance student learning. The functionality of a blog in a school setting allows learners to communicate and reflect on information being learnt in class and also allows students to develop and share ideas for learning that is yet to take place. Blogs are easy to create and navigate, and are a creative means for students to communicate and share information.

Children must be taught about internet safety and netiquette prior to creating their own blog and accessing other students’ blogs. Having said this, learning managers must ensure to closely monitor each learner’s blog, as their blog posts and information provided on their blog can be viewed publicly. In a classroom setting I would begin the learning journey by allowing students to become familiar with the blog terms and conditions and provide discussion time so that learners can voice any concerns they may have.



References:

WorldWideLearn (2010). E-learning essentials: what is e-learning? Retrieved from http://www.worldwidelearn.com/elearning-essentials/elearning-glossary.htm#b