During the writing of this blog, the many different uses for technology in the classroom were investigated. The blog looked at the positives and negatives of using this technology in the classroom setting, and different methods were used to investigate these technological tools. The tools that were investigated were wikis, websites, digital images, videos, audio, and PowerPoints. The positives and negatives were investigated as well as any risks that were involved. Different methods were used to do this such as “Bono’s thinking hats”, the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and a PMI (Plus Minuses and Negatives). During these investigations, it was discovered how using these different approaches can aid learning in the classroom and how to best implement these tools. On the positive side these technological tools can be used to make learning more engaging, as they engage kinaesthetic, audio and visual learners through the use of images, sounds and interactive games. However, during these investigations it was also found that such tools can come with negatives and risks, and that the teacher needs to realize that it is important to use these tools as an aid, and not as part of the whole lesson. They are there to support the teacher, as well as helping the children to learn essential IT skills.
During the first two weeks, the focus was largely on wikis and the different ways these could be used to spread ideas and opinions. These activities focussed on using wikis. The following links show the blog posts that looked at the different ways of working with and using wikis:
For the first activity we had to read through an article with a partner. Then we had to create a PMI to look at the Plusses, Minuses and what we found Interesting. Each partner had to choose one article, then instead of having to read through every article, we were able to read the PMI’s of the other class members enabling us to learn what they had discovered. The same was done with the second activity in week two, except this time we used de Bono’s Thinking Hats to investigate whether or not mobile phones should be allowed in schools. This forced us to look at whether or not mobile phones should be allowed by looking at the issue through different perspectives, such as, while wearing the Black Hat, I would have to see it through the eyes of a “judge”, and through the Yellow Hat I would have to see the good things about using phone in the class room, and while wearing the White Hat, I would have to look at the facts and nothing else. De Bono’s different hats method of seeing things from different perspective is one way of looking at issues and would be beneficial in the school setting.
The next blog focussed on using Wikis and Websites in general. The following blog post can be found here: http://amydurman.blogspot.com/2011/08/role-of-wikis-and-websites-in-classroom.html
As part of this blog, I used a previous website I had created for children and one that could be used to help them learn about various ways of looking at different perspectives. I had created a webquest for this. The webquest can be found here: https://sites.google.com/site/differentperspectiveswebquest/home
During this investigation I did a SWOT analysis to observe the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. Threat was something I hadn’t looked at before and showed the dangers of using websites, as well as the ethical threats of putting too much of a student’s information online.
I also looked at using videos, images and audio to engage children. This is a great way to ensure that children are interested in what is being taught. They can also learn to use these tools, which can encourage their creativity. To view the blog post click here: http://amydurman.blogspot.com/2011/08/using-digital-videos-images-and-audio.html
By using these tools, children who are both audio and visual learners will be engaged in the learning process. Videos are an interesting way to combine digital images, moving images and audio, both words and music. This can be used for all subjects. The teacher however, needs to ensure that they use these to supplement the lesson.
While writing in this blog I also looked at the strengths and weaknesses of using a PowerPoint. PowerPoint may not sound like the most exiting way to aid in teaching a subject, but when used well they can be engaging. Look at the following post which goes into more detail about the positive and negatives in using a PowerPoint: http://amydurman.blogspot.com/2011/08/using-powerpoints-in-classroom.html
PowerPoints can have videos embedded, as well as audio and images. When used well these can be useful in creating an engaging PowerPoint to help teach a lesson. They are also easy for the teacher to use as well as easy for the children to use themselves. Children may find them beneficial for creating their own presentations.
I will now look at the reason behind why I think Connectivism is important in any discussion about using technology in the classroom. Connectivism plays a big role in today’s learning. It is the underlying learning theory that encompasses how we now learn, compared to how we used to learn. We no longer have to remember large amounts of information but need to know where and how to look for it. It also enables us to share information with everyone else. Therefore, it is more important that we know how to access information, then to simply have it in our heads, as we have this information at our finger tips. It is technology which has allowed us to access unlimited amounts of information at the press of a button and teaching children how to access this new information has become more important that it has ever been. This is supported by Siemans (2005), who states that “it is no longer possible to know everything, that it is more important to identify how and where to find knowledge than it is to know.”
Because of the availability of unlimited information, as teachers we need to teach children how to access the right information as plenty of the information out there is false. Children now need to learn how to access the information, and then tell the difference between information that they should use and information that is incorrect. Children also need to learn the importance of ethical issues on the internet as well as how to keep safe. These two things often go hand in hand. Some of the dangers are “stranger danger” (National Academy of Sciences, 2003) as well as harassment and bullying.
Through the writing of this blog I have investigated many different tools and participated in activities that helped me discover the different ways technology and e-learning can be used in the classroom. Many things were discovered, such as how PowerPoints, Wikis, Videos, Images and Audios can be used in the classroom. I also used different methods to explore the various ways that technological tools could be used. As the use of technology in the classroom has always been a hotly contested debate, a major part of my blog was also dedicated to discussing the positives and negatives of technology in the classroom, concluding that despite all the problems with its use in the classroom the positives far outweighed the negatives.
References
Siemen, G. (2004), Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age, Retrieved from: http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
National Academy of Sciences (2003), Netsafe Kids: The Internet Today, Retrieved from: http://www.nap.edu/netsafekids/internet.html
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