Top 10 reasons for blogs in the classroom

I have just finished watching the video posted on youtube which discusses the need for blogs in the classroom. The open statement is that blogs increase the level of literacy used, as children become more interested within the interaction of class members and work associated to particular lesson. I believe this is a great way to share views on a topic, read alternate sources of information and interact with all members of the class at different times. The ability to post all resources on a blog allows the teacher to provide all students with an immense amount of information for them to categorise into their own knowledge and thinking. The ability for students to be provided with the exact same experience through out the grade allows students to work at their own individual level and understand the ways in which others works. The ability for students to reflect, respond, interact and enjoy their learning through blogs is a great way for students to learn. Therefore i believe that it is important that blogs are used for school activities and learning to provide opportunities that pen and paper does not.

Constructivism…

When understanding the concept of constructivism i had to think back to when i was in school. Was i allowed the opportunities to discover my own learning??? Was i given the chance to ask questions, explore and observe??? I believe i was given a range of opportunities to learning through the theory of constructivism. Constructivism, defined by its name, is a theory that allows people to construct their own meaning and knowledge of the world through experiencing, reflecting, and observing particular experiences and acts. To do this we need to actively ask questions, explore and assess what knowledge known. Here, e-learning in the classroom can contribute to effective learning through constructivism. The ability for children to explore, research, express and reflect on their learning through different technology allows children to learn at their full potential. Getting children to use technology to demonstrate their knowledge and to explore different aspects provides children with ample amount of opportunities to explore and learn at their full potential. E-learning allows children to learn HOW TO LEARN.

constructivism site

Bringing affective behaviour to e-Learning

Bringing affective behaviour to e-Learning is an article discussing the need for education to draw upon cognitive demands. I therefore believe that students need to be lead in a direction of learning that allows them to learn, respond, present and reflect. Here, e-learning or learning through technology would be a good source to provide children with these opportunities.

This article also discusses the need for children and teachers to generate guidelines and rules that should be followed when learning with technology. When teaching face to face in the classroom students are automatically inclined to follow the rules and perform under the right behaviours, however, when learning over the computer or other technological sources students need to clearly understand the rules and restrictions in certain learning episodes.

Tools to manage the classroom

Watching this blog on the ways in which technology can help manage a classroom i encountered many obstacles.  It discusses the way in which teacher use technology in word processing written work. Although children are using technology students are not being challanged. I hold the belief tat student thinking and knowledge cannot be enhance if teacher’s have not had the same opportunity. What class has a teacher, teaching something they have no clue about. Therefore teachers needed to be educated about aspects of technology. This video discusses not only the way in which a student can use technology but also a teacher, e.g. class list – excel and photo’s using photo shop.  I believe that if a teacher can use technology in the class the education a child receives is resource rich and intriguing. Using word for lesson plans is also a great idea, as a teacher can constantly edit their teaching episodes, record and keep records of results which will ultimetly improve a child’s education. The ability for a teacher to use email allows constant communication between the school and the teacher.

Finger scan roll

The article Fingerprint roll call plan for schools discusses the use of technological roll calling by using the finger prints of students to take the roll of the entire school. This finger scan system allows the school and teachers to monitor the movement of students. Although this idea saves time which provides opportunities for further education, it has been suggested that it is intrusive and makes students feel like they are in prison. Providing teachers with ability to be notified where their students are is an important issue and allows teachers to devote their entire attention to the class they are teaching rather than wasting time on small things such as taking the roll. This finger scan will also provide motivation for students to attend school and will become the norm for the entire school. Although an expensive root this should be eventually adopted in schools across urban Australia.

A Different Class in the digital age

This podcast discusses the need for schools to adapt the new digital age and use the internet for class work, homework and communication a response to the article ‘A different class’.

A Different Class- Response

Mobiles as educational tools??

I have recently read the article ‘Please turn your mobile phones on’ posted by BBC.co. It discusses the idea that mobile phones are an educational tool rather than a hinder to a child’s learning. When learning about education, students need to be constantly motivated and actively involved. Here, mobile phones can be used to allow children to combine learning with new technology. Children can therefore increase their learning within the curriculum whilst learning technology. Here the idea of Constructivism comes into play. Allowing children to self discover their learning using technological sources generates student abilities and reflection within their learning. If a teacher is apposed to the use of mobile phones and asks them to turn them off, this hinders a child’s abilty to dive into the unknown and therefore scaffolds a child’s learning without the ability to explore. A child holds their knowledge when they are able to explore and discuss their learning.

The ability for a change to access the outside world using their mobile phones, allows a teacher to provide an insight and tangible evidence of education in the real world. Here. students are able to reflect on their learning and the need for education in the greater world. I believe the use of mobile phones within a certain learnig environment is a great idea and should be incorporated in schools rather than shone on.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15969063@N00/96823164

Displaying poetry through podcasts

Recently watching the video of channel ten news discussing the ability for children to post their poems on the internet. The ability for children to do so, provides constant motivation and allows teachers to praise student achievement. Within the context of English, students are able to recognise the importance of the strands within this subject. Allow students to use such softwares as podcasts gets the students to both use their knowledge of English and learn new skills such as podcasting and recording videos. I believe that as a teacher incorporating IT into the classroom in new and interesting ways, will captivate students interests and allow all students to participate in computer work. Therefore the use of podcasts in the classroom is a great idea.