I thought to finish of my final blog posting before my assignment is marked I would think about posting a bit of a sum up of my learning experiences in this subject.
Entitled “Current Issues and Applications in Educational Computing” I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but it has been quite a learning journey. Both in terms of software use, but most importantly my view on using technology in the classroom.
I found this video tonight from Anderson Primary School in Singapore. It is a video that was shown at their end of year prize giving ceremony. It really brought home the value of using this technology. It has so many wonderful uses including reviewing an entire year through photos and videos.
While watching this I was reminded of my years at school where at Presentation Evening I would sit for a good 15 minutes while my principal would explain various activities which had happened in the year. This 4 minute video, I believe, would be more beneficial and can really show what has gone on during the year at that school.
The video also showed the value of using technology for a variety of means in the classroom across many different Key Learning Areas. Something I have also been challenged about in this subject.
But perhaps the thing that I am most reminded of in this video is the great opportunity technology provides in sharing our small community with the wider world. We have so many opportunities to connect our classrooms with those on the other side of the world! Our students will have opportunities that we never had in school to share and have their voice heard! This is something I do not want to pass up!
I have just been looking through some of Shirley’s old posts and came across her critique of one of my posts earlier on in my blogging. She reminded me of the importance of considering the appropriateness of resources for the kids we are teaching. I have become so excited about the wide range of resources available I think this was a helpful reminder before dosing my students with inappropriate things!
One point Shirley raises is that many resources for primary students are aimed at upper primary. There are very few for younger kids. I started thinking about how you could incorporate technology for them.
I then remembered LAMS!!!!!!! I have become excited remembering this wonderful tool and could see many benefits in using this to construct my own online learning experiences incorporating relevant parts of the technology available, but constructing an age appropriate, valid learning experience for kids!
I have just listened to Cassie’s post on Assistive Technologies for students with special needs. She explains assistive technology as, “any software or hardware that has been specially designed to help improve access to a computer”.
In some of the reading I have done it seems that music is deemed a useful tool for students to express themselves. I wonder now what technology might be available to assist students to use the music technology I have researched. Cassie’s post lists some hardware like larger keyboards and jostick controlled mice… I wonder if there is specific software available in as well….
I’ve just read Krizzia’s post about integrating music into the curriculum. She is right when she says that many teachers do not have music experience. I have seen in some of my prac schools this overcome by having a specialist music teacher. However, even with an RFF teacher, the time spent on Music is roughly 30mins per class. This is not enough time! Sadly, music is an area often neglected, or if done, generally consists of singing. There is so much more to music than this!
I have watched the children in my pracs when I’ve done music with them (meaningful lessons, not just singing) and they have loved every minute! Kids enjoy music.
I was chatting to an RFF music teacher yesterday about her lessons. She was explaining that she was teaching kids to write rhythms in music notation. These were simple simple rhythms but she explained that the kids LOVED creating. She said on their sheets many of the kids had written “Created by …” or “Composed by…” rather than just their name.
Music is such a rich area which children love to do! More teachers should get on board… there are soo many resources online as well that can be used which require very little musical knowledge to use!
I’ve just read Cassie’s thoughtful post, Aquiram’s thoughts explored. She summarises some of the points in the post and particularly raises the point of teachers using technology to finalise papers and provide opportunities for plagarism.
I remember back in primary school how easy it was to plagarise off the internet. I think the mentality is “why reword it when it sounds good already”, or even “I have no idea how to reword it”. This is a struggle many kids go through, but it is a necessary skill to learn. I like how Aquiram states that teachers need to structure lessons online so that students can’t plagarise and learn how to reword and summarise things!
I just read a wonderful article on student motivation, Six C’s of Motivation, and how teachers can increase it in the clasroom.
1. Choice – students involved in making their own decisions in a task (eg. topic etc).
2. Challenge – providing students with challenge to avoid boredom, but not too much so it doesn’t produce anxiety.
3. Control – Students deciding their own roles, being involved in decision making, organising of content.
4. Collaboration – Students work with others to reach a desired goal inspiring one another.
5. Constructing meaning -Teacher acts as a facilitator to help students construct meaning, setting a meaningful goal, and students begin to understand the value of knowledge.
6. Consequences - Students work is published to increase ownership, effort, achievement and repsonsibility.
This learning design works well with open ended tasks! Sounds good!!
