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Children + Cameras = Creativity!

May 21st, 2009 by

I have just finished a practicum at a primary school. I was with a Year 2 class.

During this I was able to observe the students talking part in computer lessons and activities. One activity that I enjoyed watching the students participate in involved them using digital cameras and taking photos of the school (buildings, trees, flowers, murals etc).

The students appeared to really enjoy this activity. The computer teacher explained how to use the digital camera before sending the students out in groups.

The audience for the students’ pictures was explained to them before they took the photos. The photos they took were to be displayed during an open day at the school where parents, family and friends were invited to come. The photos were to be mounted on black card and could be purchased by guests as a way of fundraising.

The students were so excited and engaged in the task. There were some amazing and very creative photos taken by the 8 year old students!

This has also taught me to never underestimate the capabilities and creativeness of children.

Today%27s+repeating+pattern

http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/413634446

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Cooperative Learning…Just what our students need!

Nov 13th, 2008 by

Lately I have been really interested in reading about cooperative learning and the benefits. I found this video which I think nicely sums up many of the benefits that cooperative learning can bring to a classroom. Technology increases the availability for teachers and students to all be cooperative learners.

I hope you enjoy the video!

 

 

Video Retrieved From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEh8Z0sbiRE&feature=related

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Technology for improving language.

Nov 13th, 2008 by

Hi have just read Matthew’s post Connecting learning across the world and never thought that technology could be used in such a way to help students learn a foreign language. What a clever use of technology. It sounds like this would be an engaging and enjoyable way to learn language as opposed to how I was taught languages in school which was through face-to-face teaching and came right out of our textbook.

I found this very interesting to read and it has broadened my thinking about ways that technology can be used to educate children.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryan_dwyer/474023992/

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Collaborative Dancing

Nov 12th, 2008 by

I have just viewed the video on Allanah’s blog called Collaborative Dance Video.

I think this video is a great example of how technology allows students and teachers to connect with other students and teachers in different parts on the world. The video was amusing and at times funny but overall the video was a great multicultural collaborative piece.

I now think how great it would be to do something similar when I have a class of my  own. What a great way for my students to see other children around the world and work together with them to create a wonderful piece of work!!!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46173616@N00/169161895 

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My Vision…

Nov 6th, 2008 by

I decided to take up an opportunity at University to participate in a digital image competition. We were required to create a digital collage that represented our belief about technology’s potential role in learning. Below is my vision and the images that I created for the competition.

My Unique Vision:  For Technology to be used in ALL KLA’s to benefit children.

My collages represent three periods of schooling and the potential role of technology in learning. The first collage ‘Past’ represents ‘old ways’ of teaching and learning. The second collage ‘Present’ is how I believe technology is being integrated in schools today, somewhat separated from other schooling experiences. The third collage ‘Future’ represents my belief, that technology should be used and integrated into all KLA’s to prepare students for the world beyond schooling, a world that is continually becoming technologically advanced.

  

  

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Helping each other out.

Nov 6th, 2008 by

I have just read Samantha’s post ‘Mentor one another’ and agree that teachers should be working together to teach each other how to use certain programs and forms of technology. I believe that this will help to ensure that more students receive an education that integrates technology into the every day teaching/learning environment.

I am fortunate that I feel relatively comfortable with using technology and can learn to use new programs in a small amount of time but I do recognise that there are other teachers who are less confident and hope that I will be able to share some of my knowledge. I also hope that people who are more capable then me can teach me new skills so the circle can continue.

I think that helping each other out is a great way to build up a sense of community and by doing so we stand a chance to keep up with the continuing advancements of technology!

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/49512158@N00/1638001945

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Palm-sized pc’s for all students!

Nov 5th, 2008 by

In the article ‘Making palm-sized computers the PC of choice for K-12′ in the April 2001 edition of the Learning & Leading with Technology journal of educational technology, it outlines discussions in the US that aims to provide each student (k-12) with their own palm-sized computer.

If this happens it could be likely that Australian schools will follow in these footsteps, especially if it proves beneficial for students’ learning outcomes.

So what are benefits of doing this? (as suggested in the article)

  • provides ready-at-hand computational tools for students and teachers
  • connects students with the outside community/ research tools
  • evidence suggests that daily use of computers leads to an increase in learning
  • availability of computers would increase as schools are not just relying on a computer lab to meet the needs of all classes each week
  • significant percentage of students do not have access to technology outside of schools – this would help this issue to improve
  • children can easily show their parents what they accomplished at school each day

There are other effects that this would have on the way students are taught, this includes

  • reduction of the paper/pencil teaching/learning methods
  • replacement of many books and textbooks

It will be interesting to monitor the progress of this idea and to see the results – will it really make a significant improvement to students’ learning outcomes? I guess only time will tell.

Learning & Leading with Technology: the ISTE journal of educaional technology practice and policy. 2001. Vol. 28, No. 7.

Image http://www.flickr.com/photos/23456072@N00/20279683

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What’s a WebQuest???

Nov 5th, 2008 by

I have just read an article in the ‘Learning & Leading with Technology’ (May 2001 Vol.28) journal that outlined 5 rules for writing a great WebQuest.

I had a few questions when reading the article which I will explain below, with the answer I found to them.

 What actually is a WebQuest?

A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity where most or all of the information used by learners is drawn from the web.

What are the benefits of using a WebQuest?

  • Provides students with structure
  • Provides guidence for students and teachers
  • Engages students in higher-level thinking
  • Uses learners’ time well
  • Supports students’ learning and thinking at the levels of analysis, synthesis and evaluation

How do you create a WebQuest?

There are 5 steps for creating a good WebQuest:

Find great sites
Orchestrate your learners and resources
Challenge your learners to think
Use the medium
Scaffold high expectations

Learning and leading with technology: the ISTE journal of educational technology practice and policy. 2001. Vol.28, No.8.

Image http://www.flickr.com/photos/83955435@N00/4462965

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My First Digital Story!!!

Oct 30th, 2008 by

Here is my very first digital story.

It is based on an acrostic poem I wrote on the letters of T-E-A-C-H-E-R.

I hope you enjoy it!

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Childrens’ Digital Stories

Oct 28th, 2008 by

I just viewed one of the 2007 winners for a digital story competition. Their digital story is titled Avoid a Lazy Life.

At the moment I am in the process of creating my first digital story so I found it interesting to view ones created by students themselves.

It looks like the children are having such a great time creating their digital story. They are not only learning technological skills but also other facts about the topic they are creating the story about, in this case being active and healthy.

I think it is great that at the end of the video they include a reflection process on the process they undertook to create the digital story and also what they learnt about their topic. Self-reflection is so important for teachers and students!

I can’t wait to finish my digital story and hopefully use this type of activity in the future with students.

 

 

Videos: Island Movie Contest. (2007). Winners. Retrieved October 29, 2008, from http://islandmovie.k12.hi.us/2007/winners.htm#.

Image:http://www.flickr.com/photos/46062480@N00/2629905708

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