19/08/2010
Hello,
In today's lecture I had been introduced to the use of Technology (ICT) in the 21st century. According to Podolski, (2008) 'Technology is a part of students' everyday lives, and substantial advances in technology have profoundly affected the way they learn. As a result, educators are working hard to meet the ever-evolving needs of 21st century learners'.
In today's lecture, I had also been introduced to Ultranet, which I learnt is a state-wide, secure site, that students, parents and teachers can access via the Internet. I learnt that this site will provide a new learning space and more opportunities for information sharing across the Victorian government school system.
I also learnt that, education and the Internet are two significant change agents in the current global environment. Skills that are required in the 21st century workforce include; critical thinking, problem solving, innovation, collaboration, life and career and information, media and technology. These skills are achieved through collaboration technologies and are enabled by key system reforms.
I personally do not believe my technology skills and knowledge are up to date that's why I am looking forward to the Learning Technology lectures and workshops. I believe these classes will help me to improve my technology skills (by exploring and evaluating different child safe programs) and knowledge (with help from peers) so that I can teach my students the skills and knowledge they require in order to meet the substantial advances in technology, (changes in education).
In the first part of today's Learning Technologies workshop I had learnt about what a blog is, as I was unaware of what the term blog meant . I then learnt how to set up and create my own blog by visiting http://www.blogger.com/. As a class we then looked at how to use the blog. We were taught how to save our work, how to add pictures and add website references that we believe be to very useful in the teaching profession. Some of these websites included
ICT for Visualising: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresources/ict/visualising/default.htm ICT for Creating: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresources/ict/creating/default.htm and ICT for Communicating: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/studentlearning/teachingresources/ict/communication/default.htm
I have never set up my own blog before nor have I ever set up a facebook account, myspace account etc. Therefore this was an interesting and very useful workshop for me.
The second part of today's workshop was exploring the program 'Inspiration'. Ive never used this program before so I was very excited to learn about it. I learnt that the first step in using the program is selecting what icon you would like to use. Today I had explored using the create a diagram and mind map icons. In the create a diagram icon I had inserted pictures that best represent myself, without having to use words. This activity allowed me to explore different parts of the program and get a feel of how to insert pictures, background colours and text, as well as to teach myself about the program in order to be able to teach my students how to use this fantastic program. Today I had also designed a spot the difference and similarities activity, using the create a diagram icon. This can be seen below. I had decided to pick an activity that was based on the theme of animals as it is a popular theme that is taught to students in primary school. I based my activity for students working towards VELS Levels 1 and 2. The activity I had designed allowed students to make comparisons, associations and identify different types of animals. I found the program quite useful as it allows students to explore and be creative using text and pictures . From this, teachers could set an activity for their students to do, based on a theme of what the students have been learning.
Today we had also used the mind map icon, where I had chosen the topic of turtles and made branch's talking about the turtle. The different type of text that are branched off the topic, turtle, were food, habitat etc. This can be seen below. This is a very useful activity for students to use as it allows them to learn to brainstorm ideas before they write a story in this case, based on turtles.
I have never set up my own blog before nor have I ever set up a facebook account, myspace account etc. Therefore this was an interesting and very useful workshop for me.
The second part of today's workshop was exploring the program 'Inspiration'. Ive never used this program before so I was very excited to learn about it. I learnt that the first step in using the program is selecting what icon you would like to use. Today I had explored using the create a diagram and mind map icons. In the create a diagram icon I had inserted pictures that best represent myself, without having to use words. This activity allowed me to explore different parts of the program and get a feel of how to insert pictures, background colours and text, as well as to teach myself about the program in order to be able to teach my students how to use this fantastic program. Today I had also designed a spot the difference and similarities activity, using the create a diagram icon. This can be seen below. I had decided to pick an activity that was based on the theme of animals as it is a popular theme that is taught to students in primary school. I based my activity for students working towards VELS Levels 1 and 2. The activity I had designed allowed students to make comparisons, associations and identify different types of animals. I found the program quite useful as it allows students to explore and be creative using text and pictures . From this, teachers could set an activity for their students to do, based on a theme of what the students have been learning.
Today we had also used the mind map icon, where I had chosen the topic of turtles and made branch's talking about the turtle. The different type of text that are branched off the topic, turtle, were food, habitat etc. This can be seen below. This is a very useful activity for students to use as it allows them to learn to brainstorm ideas before they write a story in this case, based on turtles.
Inspiration Program
Pictures that represent myself
Mind Map: Topic Turtles
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.