It is all starting to make more sense this week FINALLY!!! The previous two weeks focused on the Web 2.0 tools Wikis and Blogs. Participating in the Learning Theory and Mobile Phone Wiki’s has made me come to realise just how effective the use of Wikis in the classroom could be. The type of learning that I was use to when I was back at school was the teaching giving and reciting information and not having to think for myself but these tasks required me to use my higher order thinking skills giving me a more comprehensive understanding on the topics. I have also enjoyed working on my blog and being able to monitor what I have done and reflect on what I have learnt. There are many options on ways a Blog and Wiki could be used as an effective teaching tool in the classroom but I think one of the most important roles of these tools is the opportunity for group collaboration and reflection. Being able to get students to engage, discover, synthesise, explain, hypothesise, interpret and come to a conclusion are important attributes that students should obtain through their schooling to be able to perform well not only academically but in the big wide world. The importance of the using ICTs in education has become a lot clearer and there roles in creating learners with more diverse learning experiences is essential in today’s society. The effects of globalisation on education bring rapid developments in technology and communications are foreseeing changes within learning systems across the world as ideas, values and knowledge, changing the roles of students and teachers, and producing a shift in society from industrialisation towards an information-based society. (Chinnammai, S., 2005)The rise of a global society, driven by technology and communication developments are shaping children, the future citizens of the world into ‘global citizens’, intelligent people with a broad range of skills and knowledge to apply to a competitive, information based society. (Chinnammai, S., 2005)
What is a Blog? A blog (a contraction of the term "Web log") is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog)
Please see my PMI FOR USING BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM
What is a Wiki? A wiki is a website that allows the creation and editing of any number of interlinked web pages via a web browser using a simplified markup language or a WYSIWYG text editor. Wikis are typically powered by wiki software and are often used collaboratively by multiple users. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki)
Please see my SWOT ANALYSIS FOR USE OF WIKIS IN THE CLASSROOM
My main focus this week however was on a new tool called a Weebly which is a Website. Our Task this week was to create a website similar to how it would look if we used it in the classroom. Head on over to Whitney's eLearning Website and check out the website I created. This is a very basic layout of how I would want my website to look but due to limited amount of time this is all that I was able to come up with. I have found this digital tool fantastic and I thoroughly enjoyed working my way around the site and finding out what different options were available. The opportunities are endless. This could easily be set up as an individual or group learning site where students are able to access it during a designated class time or at home and are able to work through the activities at their own pace. It could be used for homework activities, assessments, assignments etc. as they can easily be submitted online. It also has the option of adding a blog where students are able to reflect, add information or ask questions. I have set it up as a website where students are able to gain more information on topics they are learning in their science class and have put weekly homework activities on there for them to complete. I think the use of a Voki would also be a good tool to add to this site informing students on what is required for that week and encouraging them to complete the activities.
Please see my SWOT ANALYSIS FOR WEBSITES IN THE CLASSROOM
In conclusion, this week I have learnt the differences and similarities of wikis, blogs and websites and the different learning opportunities they can provide students in the classroom. ICTs play a vital role in today’s society and are forever expanding hence the reason why technology in education is highly important in ensuring our students are ready to take on our forever changing global society. Teachers need to embrace technology because ICT can support the knowledge, development, and anytime, anywhere collaborative learning. (Competency Standard Modules, 2008) Due to the flexibility of technology it is easy to support every learners interests, needs and learning outcomes and it gives students the opportunity to help teach and support each other in ways they had previously not been able to do. I look forward on continuing to learn about new ICTs that I have not previously had the chance to use throughout the rest of this semester and learning how these can be used in the classroom as an effective teaching tool.
REFERENCES:
Chinnammai, S. (2005) Effects of Globalisation on Education and Culture. ICDE International Conference.India, New Delhi
UNESCO (2008) Competency Standard Modules. Fonteroy: Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
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