Slideshare

The following is my SOSE Webquest in Powerpoint form without the hyperlinks. This proved very daunting for me and although I am half way through eLearning, there are some things my Digital Immigrant mind just cannot comprehend. I am not willing to upload the WebQuest or publish it to a site because I dont think that at this stage of its development, it could vastly be improved upon.

Water

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Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives digital immigrants. [electronic version] On the Horizon (MCB University Press, Vol. 9 No. 5, October 2001)

Animations/Video

When I was enrolled in Art in grade 11 in 1981, my teacher was a very creative soul and encouraged us to go above and beyond our imaginations. We were required to create a short film using various methods of animation - 2D and 3D. There needed to be a beginning, a complication and an ending. The film needed to start with 2D and progress to 3D, sound was later added.

The story began about a worm that fell from a tree onto the ground, and after landing the worm needed cross a path, at which time a large stone came rolling down that path and ran the worm over, he did not survive. Remember that I was 15 at the time and only at the beginning of my creativity. Much much patience is needed when working and handling 3D animation. I am not much of a patient person when it comes to fiddly workings because I have to get it perfect and need the process to go quickly. I honestly thought that I would never have any use for this type of activity or subject again in my life, until now.

As a Learning Manager it is quite obvious to me the importance of animation within the classroom setting. Animation is an instant winner with children and most are eager to engage themselves in relating activities. It can also be used cross curricular because as individuals with diverse learning styles and personality types, using animation to gain understanding and further refine and extend their knowledge. My only argument would be that it would be difficult in a Lower Primary setting although not unachievable. Therefore I could see great benefit in this type of technology in an Upper Primary setting.


Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. [electronic version] Retrieved August 12, 2009 from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
Marzano, R. & Pickering, D. (1997). Dimensions of learning: Teacher's manual. McRei.

You Tube

This video is of The Wombles. I chose this to use in my blog because it would be a great resource for SOSE and Art. The reasons behind this is that it is a good example of how television has changed, how animations change, changes to codes of classification, changes to society and what we find as entertainment, the list goes on. There is merit in looking at the past experiences of television as a way of understanding technology and how it has evolved.

Another great link would be the video of Bill and Ben the Flowerpot men. For those that dont know this show, the flowerpots (Bill and Ben) would come to life after the farmer had gone to his house for tea. These characters were puppets and dialogue was very limited although children were engrossed in their antics. It is interesting to observe reactions of present day students to television of old espcially when it is viewed in black and white.

You Tube has a wealth of resources although considerations about content, subject matter and code of classification need to be carefully considered and monitored before using in the classroom setting.

Quizzes

It was a very interesting yet easy site to use the ClassMarker site. I have often wondered how quizzes were generated considering that during my degree there were many to do. My first quiz is a Mental Maths quiz designed to take 10 minutes with only 10 questions ranging from simple to more thought provoking. It is aimed at a grade 7 class.

The questions may seem simple but students need to know these basic math problems instantly. There is great potential in having a quiz set for the end of the week as homework rather than students taking something home everyday - the only issue there is that there is no control over who actually does the test and if there is assistance. The clever student could get an older sibling or parent to either take the test for them or have them offer the answers.

It's a great way for feedback as well. By making it available to parents is it possible to generate a "feedback" quiz, again we are opening ourselves up to a number of issues although there is definately potential if it is done wisely. The fact that results can be emailed directly to your inbox allows for teachers to instantly keep up with each individual student, who is paying attention, who is not.

It can be embraced across the KLA's as simple assessment pieces for all students or individuals who are falling below the mark and just need extra work for assessment. I can see a real benefit to using ClassMarker in the classroom.

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Not a care in the world

At last I have been able to upload a picture from Flickr....I chose this one in particular because it appears they have not a care in the world...it is something I would like to achieve....probably in retirement. I really like the angle of the shot and the colour.....it is very creative.

Flickr/Picnik in the classroom

The use of Flicker and Picnik in the classroom goes futher than just a great art lesson. These website generate the creative person in all of us. So in what ways other than art can they be used?

It is interesting to note that pictures or images can be downloaded onto items such as t-shirts, mugs, postcards, cards etc and these can be a great fundraising idea. For instance, downloading images of each student onto mugs for Mother's Day or Father's Day. Student's artwork can be manipulated and used in a classsroom newsletter or be used as a "What we did at camp" poster.

A point to note is that the programmes are easy to use and follow which would allow students with barriers (or special needs/disabilities)to participate in any project. All students could design their own Christmas cards, Birthday cards or Easter Cards for parents or grandparents. Essentially the programmes allow all types of ability levels to be creative and generate a pride in their work. There is a great benefit in introducing students to programmes that they can access at their own computers and involve their own family members. Isn't this as Learning Managers what we want for our students - To take the classroom home to the family.....making education connected to real life situations and experiences?

SOSE Webquest

Another student and I worked on a Webquest for our SOSE assessment. The thought of a Webquest certainly sounded daunting although with careful planning, choosing a topic, planning the slides, and deciding in advance the outcomes required for student assessment, our Webquest was successful. Admittedly the end product could have been improved.

The format for a Webquest simply is a powerpoint with hyperlinks throughout the document that carry the reader through a series of stages, ending in assessment. These hyperlinks are links made to other slides in the powerpoint and to external internet sites. I say simply only because of my ever evolving digital literacy, when understanding how the Webquest is developed through a powerpoint I gained a greater comprehension of the task and gained more confidence in my own ability to develop it.

This type of presentation requires alot of planning and concentration. Also remembering that as Learning Managers we must be aware of the change in digital language, Digital Natives vs Digital Immigrants. There needs to be a clear outcome as to what you want to achieve through this resource, is it user friendly, does it engage students easily, and importantly is their learning experience a rich one filled with new knowledge and prior learning. They are fun and entertaining which aides in the learning journey. Therefore the journey must be engaging....not just at the beginning of the lesson but throughout that lesson.

It was an enjoyable experience and again I learnt the issue with new types technology literacy is about going through the processes required to learn it stage by stage. When one looks at the whole picture without understanding it appears too difficult, once it is broken down into smaller pieces, understanding is achieved. It was an enjoyable process and I hope to use this type of Teacher delivery systems in my own classroom.

These Webquests can be used cross curricular with some planning, make them enjoyable and applicable to subject matter and they are a great tool in the classroom.



Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives digital immigrants. [electronic version] On the Horizon (MCB University Press, Vol. 9 No. 5, October 2001)