Jasmine's Blog

As we were working on iMovies in class I was interested in this topic as I really didn’t grasp the concept very well. So I did a little bit of researching and came across this fantastic site about what we can do with iMovies. It really broadened my knowledge and horizons with what we can do inside the classroom with iMovies!

As Yerrrick states ‘Digital video has been instrumental in many areas of education for empowering youth to actively shape their schooling experience. Science, mathematics, and reading instruction is enhanced through digital video by providing excellent and culturally sensitive science instruction by providing teachers insight into culturally held beliefs which run contrary to scientific understanding…’

I agree with Yerrick that iMovies can be used to enhance educational learning in the classroom. But the question that I really wanted to know is HOW?SOme strategies that I found really useful:

*iMovie can introduce of varied contexts and events for children when providing outside resources is too logistically challenging. 

*Modelling alternative strategies for e.g. you can make an iMovie of how the students learnt maths and what trial and errors they had come across

*Through iMovie students can revisit, reflect and evaluate on what they did and how they did it and what can be done better

*To document students work and personal accomplishments. As students like to present their most prized work why not display it in the classroom?

I really believe that iMovie can go a long way in the classroom, students can explore and work at the same time. Unfortunately I only got 1-2 lessons on iMovie, hopefully I will go back and play around a little bit more.

Check out my digital story I made with Nicole

Have a listen to my first podcast!

jasmine

I found the article Emma blogged about very interesting as the article is based on a study about using computers as a tool. It was invoking to find that most schools proposed using ICT to support the learning of children with special needs. This was mainly due to the fact that it gave students the opportunity to gain more more practice and assistance from computer programs. Also it would allow us as teachers to construct what the learner is supposed to learn, a tool for assessment, learning opportunities through ICT and curriculum delivery enhancement.

I agree with Emma that the use of technology in the classroom depends highly on the personal views and attitudes of the teacher as well as their comptency and ability in the area. Which links to the readings that have been previously blogged as I believe strongly that no teacher should be technologically illiterate.

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As we all are aware, students and teacher have increasing access to the limitless amounts of informaiton on the World Wide Web these days. Means (2000) writes an article on what we have come from, word processing software to internet, hand held devices..how will it look in the future for our students?

 I agree with Means that even though there is alot of technology enhanced activites and educational literature, they do not represent mainstrain educational practice for students. I believe that a balance of online, computer usage and consolidation in other learning areas would be more sufficient. Means also raised another point that as it is becoming more affordable for students to carry and use lightweight, low cost learning appliances in their schools bags, computers and networking will be taken for granted as part of the school environment.

As a teacher in training, I will hope to incorporate lots of interactive and engaging e-learning skills for students, but also have a combination of mainstream teaching. I believe a balance is essential in the classroom to be rounded in all aspects.

Please click on it to enlarge =)

Netiquette?

After reading Soda’s blog about new terminology about technology it has raised my awareness. It shows that I definetely need to be updating my technological terms and information through newspapers, journal articles and insightful information!

A few new terms I learnt:

SHOUTING: caps lock means IM SHOUTING!

FLAMING: is when someone is giving negative and harash feedback in other people’s public forum. It can be done purposely to invoke a ‘response’.

Some guidelines for children to avoid hurting other’s feelings:

*through e-mails

*respect others online

*don’t insult others unless you want to start a flame war

*if someone insults you, stay calm

*respect the privacy of others

*be responsible

*raise awareness of this repsonsibility and the use of the internet correctly.

As Soda believes we all should follow these guidelines and promotoe correct usage of the internet and technology in schools!

As a follow up to the previous post. Another article by Marc prensky ‘But the screen is too small!’. I concur with the author as the digital age is upon us and in our classrooms. He talks about all the advantages of mobile phones in students lives and how it will affect inside the classroom. As good as it sounds to have technology that has bluetooth, voice bases systems and many great things. Sometimes you wonder. Mobile phone like devices ARE getting smaller and smaller.

The current Ipod I have is as small as my hand. It’s great! I can watch movies on it and listen music. Yes I was born in the digital age. But..sometimes small is not more. I can see the benefits of having big and small screens. but if you were born in the digial age, as I am and many other children are coming into this age, we deal with it fine. But then other factors popped into my head while I was reading this article, as more and more students are wearing glasses due to the exposure of television, wouldn’t smaller screens make it worse?

Well, it would but on the other hand with all the laser technology for eyesight and exercises to prevent sore eyes and strain  we could avoid this issue. As the article states, you and me are just fine. The screens are getting clearer, smaller and sharper.

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From this….back in the days

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To this….micro game boy!

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I found the two articles by Marc Prensky ‘What can you learn from a cell phone-almost anything’ in Nicole’s blog extremely interesting. This is due to the fact that the issue is relevant to our teaching strategies in the classrooms in our pacticums and also to learn to use modern technology to the fullest.

The article outlines how we can use mobile phones in the classroom to our advantage. In my other posts, I have always agreed that technology can have positive effects in the classroom IF they are used under supervision and correctly. Obviously the classroom would not revolve around using the computers every day, but definetely teaching students to use them appropriately and to their full potential is of utmost importance.

Prensky states that ‘Cell phones are not just communications devices sparking new modalities of interacting between people, they are also particularly useful computers that fit in your pocket, are always with you, and are always on. Like all communication and computing devices, cell phones, can be used to learn. So rather than fight the trend for kids to come to school carrying their own powerful learning devices – which they have already paid for! – why not use the opportunity to our advantage? ‘

I definetely agree with this comment. How can we do this? have a read at the article. It’s beneficial for us!

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‘ My sandwich, my phone and I’m a happy man’

From: http://search.creativecommons.org/#

I came across this journal as it caught my attention. The article takes a critical look at the perils and promises of e-Learning. The article provides a more radical outlook than a conservative outlook, which made it intersesting to read. This is due to the reason that I’ve been rading scholarly papers for e-Learning and I thought it’d be good to get a different insight.

Recent policies in Australia have been promoting technology in the classrooms, but our understanding of how students interact or make sense of this information is limited.  I agree with Etherington (2008) on this statement. But then I contradict myself as I do believe teachers have raised awareness of how ICT works in classrooms and what we can do to promote it and improve. On the other hand, I can understand that e-learning has had significant effects in the classroom but teachers don’t evaluate the usage.

As brought up in the journal, consumers (principals, teachers, parents) assume that because of these innovations in the classroom are advertised effective, yet there is little research to support the assumption (Etherington, 2008). Another main point I agree with Etherington is the time spent on the computers, and the quality of the software. Evaluation is often led to a numbers game. If the school doesn’t have enough money to have a sufficient number of computers (the share ratio), the amount of time students access every week, it can prove to be a waste of time .

I believe that ICT can make a diferrence in school classrooms, and I will take this onboard when I am teaching and not just let it slip. I am now more aware of the issues that can surround ICT in classrooms if misused or not used at all!

Cyber bullying..what does the first thing that springs into your head? Well.For me. Many words came into my space and thoughts. Mobile phones, nasty SMSing, sending photos that were taken and the person was unaware of, calling friends to start rumours etc etc.

After reading Soda’s blog (Andrea) it inspired me to read the article she had posted about. Yes indeed it is intersting. The issue about cyber bullying is not just something we can bypass as teachers in learning.

The article ‘Cyber-Bullying’ by Dr Anne Bamford talks about the issues that have evolved from communication (mobile phones, the internet..) and strategies how to overcome cyber bullying. As a I read on, the more interesting and relevant it became to me. This article has helped me recognise what is happening in schools and ways to deal with it!Obviously, I am aware of what bullying is in the physical and verbal means. But the article helped me clarify what cyber bullying involved. As it seems, it may be harmless and teachers may  not notice it.  This is due to the fact that they are ‘hidden’ as bamford describes. This is a very important point to raise just as Soda did in her blog. As it states in the article, it can have a variety of impacts.

I liked the way that Andre went into depth about the article and also broughyt awareness to the severity of this issue. I really enjoyed reading her post and the article and now I would suggest it to everyone too! Thanks Soda!

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