I would like to share my first podcast with you.
Although its short but I hope you will enjoy the music too 
Despite all the struggles I went through, I am glad that I have learned how to make a podcast.
I was thinking maybe I can incorporate a podcasting activity for my Business Studies class in the future. For the Marketing topic, students can work individually or in groups and do a business advertisement over podcast.
P.s
I wish I have a Mac computer at home now.
Educause Learning Initiative’s 7 things you should know about collaborative editing was a good read as it helped me understand what Google doc writer is all about.
I think this is a fun and engaging tool that assists students in developing a sense of community. I brainstormed a few ideas on how to incorporate collaborative editing tools such as Google doc writer and Zoho writer in my KLA:
- Topic summary/Group assignments
Students can work in groups and compose their own topic notes
- Demonstrate Business Report writing/ Economic essays
Teacher modelling examples on how to structure, write and edit business reports/essays
- Student meetings
Students can collaboratively take minutes
- Student attending workshop/conferences
Attendees can compile the main points together
I look forward to the future developments in overcoming some of the limitations such as cross platform compatibility and tracing history of changes made by individual contributors.
Original Photography: ‘Power law of participation’
Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/Available at:
I have read David Jonassen’s ‘Computers as Mindtools for Engaging learners in critical thinking’ and found strong emphasis on encouraging learners to be designers (getting students to program a computer game). This supports Papert’s Constructivism in engaging studnets to develop critical thinking as they reflect and construct their knowledge in the learning process.
The article provided a number of cognitive tools (Semantic Organisation Tools, Dynamic Modelling tools, Information Interpretation Tools etc) that use the constructivist learning to ensure students are representing what they know and the content they are studying. What really caught my attention was the section on intellectual partnership with computers. When used thoughtfully, I believe content free technology, such as mindtools, can assist students in Yr 7-12 with e-learning in all subjects. With this tool, students are in control and can enhance the capabilities of the computer by adding more functions and the computer enhances student’s thinking and learning as they construct each bubble with relationship links.
Original Photography:’Kids & computers’
Made available under Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/Available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shapeshift/355874159/
I have just completed reading this article from the Educational Technology journal. Author, Jamie reminded me to overcome political pressure and not to just some how “stuff” any technology into the curriculum without inferential reasoning.
The example of Razzle Dazzle PowerPointless Show echoed my point in my previous post about the distracting flying images and sound bites. To me, this is edutainment chaos!
In addition, when students are copy and pasting “stuff” found on the internet to their Word or powerpoint document, they are not developing high order thinking. Yet, all the talk about using technology for constructionism. How is “slabbing” other people’ work creative? I won’t be surprised if the students turn mentalsoftness.
Regardless of what your KLA is, when it comes to ICT, I strongly believe teachers need to make smart choices. Crucial instructional design involves thinking about what learning outcomes you want the students to achieve and then consider the strategies/technologies that are worthy of use to produce the desired results.
I have never thought of including my contribution to online communities and technology literacy in my resume until I read this news article. Matthew Kearney pointed out employers do recognise the time teachers invest in to build their professional identity. I’m glad know the time I have spent on blogging and responding to others people’s work will gain a competitive advantage!
The digital learning revolution also opened up a range of jobs opportunities including software programmers, network managers and instructional designers. I think this is great new to people who are interested in a career in education but may not with to become a classroom teacher.
I have read Papert’s speech on Constructionism vs. Instructionism back in August and included my reflection in the mid semester statement but needed a separate posting on my blog.
Although Papert delivered this speech back in the 1980s, I think the underlying ideas of how the technology can assist learning is still relevant. I gained an insight on how Papert associates instructionism with the teaching method used and constructionism with students’ learning outcomes.
I trust students do not gain much from regurgitation these days. It is through creative construction that students are engaged for deep and meaningful learning. In my KLA Commerce, Business Studies and Economics, I can take an instructional approach to introduce a new topic and demonstrate how the concepts are interconnected. Students can then build on top of the basic understanding and explore beyond the boundary (syllabus content) with constructive learning. For both instructional teaching and constructive learning methods, technology tools such as powerpoint, video, internet, podcasts, online forum etc can be used.
I felt the video on Ying’s blog successfully sent out a strong message of teenagers urging the “64% non digital teachers” to use wikis, blogs, podcasts etc in classroom teaching.
The old fashioned chalk and talk is no longer the method to teach our teenagers. We as teachers need to prepare our students for the real world and digital culture is essential in today’s world (especially current and future work force).
I believe teachers need incorporate various digital media to engage students and develop high order thinking skills such as analyse, evaluate and create ( as the digital natives are crying out for!!!) outlined in Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956).
I think Karl’s post has a good point. When teachers model lifelong learning, this includes us setting a good example in picking up technology and immersing ourselves with the digital culture. Karl has definitely challenged my perspective on whether it is ok for teachers to be technologically illiterate.
Before I started this course, I thought technology is simply another tool that can be used for tech savvy teachers (not me!). There are so many teaching and learning styles out there and it is not reasonable to expect all teachers to use technology tools in their classroom. However, after I have read this post, I fear if I do not equip myself with this indispensable tool, my students will miss out learning with a global communication. I really need to speed up my digital learning.
Karl, the
has won another vote from me!
Source: http://bp3.blogger.com/_qb9×8NHDPvg/R1yyy9Q-4yI/AAAAAAAAAG4/HH2aZ-FUc5M/s320/mostinfluentialpost.gif
In the past, I complained about how time consuming blogging is and I was skeptical on the benefits it yields. This short video helped me to see the positive sides of using blog as an e-learning tool for students across different KLAs and age groups. The advantages and learning outcomes that students can gain made me realise this is a powerful and engaging learning tool for our students. Who wouldn’t be motivated and excited when people around the world is reading your blog!
I had lots of trouble embedding video on edublog so if you cannot view the video, it is available at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whm3pxqkvB8
Mozilla Firefox seems to be alright but if you are using Internet Explorer, you will need to click on the link above.
Recent Comments