Final Reflection

What an incredible insight to some fantastic tools, some or most I had never heard of or even imagined they could exist. I always felt that I was very 'savvy' in using technology for myself and for my students - but PowerPoint, movie maker/iMovie; Videos, word processing, publisher has nothing on what I have seen and used.

I have even gone further exploring other tools that can be used.

I am lucky in the classroom that I have one class for three subjects (middle school) so I get to see them very often and this gives me the time to explore and use some of these fantastic tools in the class, but also have the students use them at home or in the library - outside of the class.

Some of the applications I have used/exposed my students to, who have been engaged in the activities are: Bubbl.us 9 for brainstorming; Xtranormal - to create a story in preparation for NAPLAN and then animatinf it; Glogster - to create an online poster about creation; prezi - to see if we can move away from PowerPoint.

I am currently looking at the EDU 2.0 application and I have my first lesson in this format tomorrow! Hope it all goes well. Other areas we are looking at with the year 7 is some Claymation; Google sketch up. All sounds al lot but the students take it all in, learn quickly or teach me and enjoy the activities.

This course has been a great assistance in a project that I am leading at school where we are looking at using Web Based tools to see if we can reduce the reliance (not take over) on paper based activities including note books.

A great journey that does not stop here as am confident that there are hundreds of other applications that I have not yet been exposed to.

I posted a comment on collegue Rachel Danos' blog spot http://racheldanos.blogspot.com/ in her introduction post. Rachel is working through the modules and like me I think she will be impressed and enthused of what can be used to engage the students

Module 10 - Learning Communities, Constructing Knowledge Together in Wikis

I have only just become familiar (not an expert yet) in Wikis and Ning. At school I am working with a small group of people on using a wiki in the classroom. We are currently trialling it in one class to see if it works before launching it across an entire year group.

Our next challenge is to create a Ning that will allow students to work collabaratively and share ideas on this terms assessment.

It takes some time to get things set up and do something different as well as get the students involved, but once they see how it works and comfortable they become engaged in the activity.

Module 9 - Networks on the Web

When I read through the information on this module, my first thoughts were that I did not want to create a face book or twitter. I have resisted these two applications although I am aware of them as my children both in their 20s use the regularly. I am still of the opinion that these are not for me but I do have a better understanding of the mechanics of them having completed this module and done a little reading. Having said this I am in the process of developing Blogs and Wikis for use in the classroom in an attempt to work collaboratively on-line and I am also experiment/using a ning. When I am more conversant with the ning I will look to see how it can enhance the learning in class.

Scootle - I have used scottle for some time as a resource. I think it is an underutilized application that can be of great benefit to teachers. I will consciously be more aware of this application in the future.

Second Life - in a word intriguing. The work for this module does not allow time to fully explore its capabilities in the class room. I need some time to lock myself away for a day to play around with it and grasp the basics and then make a decision on how it can be used in the classroom. I can see that second life will engage me and I am sure the students will be engaged.

Module 8 - Managing flow of Information

Another module - another useful application. I know from experience the number of websites that I visit regualry to locate news and information, particularly in areas of curriculum development and professional develoment. Here is place that lets me know when something new/updated has occurred. I see Google reader as a 'Godsend'in that I will be informed of changes/new stuff instead of me always checking.

It will take a bit of time to get used to the mechanics of google reader but that shoud happen fairly quickly. In terms of where do I see this application useful in the classroom. Perhaps in the areas of Stage 6 subjects like Business Studies, Legal and Economics where things are changing sometimes daily. Students can use a reader to track updated information on web sites. Looking forward to Module 9 to see something new!

Module 7 - Building Online Communities

During this module I created a delicious account. An imported my entire book marks. What a difference my tool bars looks - nice and tidy. I use Mac laptop as well as desk top at school plus the one at home. How often do we add to favourites a site and then you go to work and you have forgotten or written down the URL incorrectly.

Delicious now makes this easy. Also makes it easy to share bookmarks and information with others including students.

It is important though to keep your Delicious account neat and tidy so you can locate things easily. Some of the other Delicious users have many pages.

I commented on a colleagues Blog http://iwatchilearn.blogspot.com/. It was good to read through this Blog and see the enthusiasm of using these tools. It was also good to see that others are amazed, just as much as me to how much there is out there that can assist in the teaching and learning of our students.

A worthy tool to use and help you organise things.

Module 6 - Bubbl.us & Glogster

These two tools were great to explore. I didn't know even of them existed until this module.

How many times do we get kids to do a mind-map or brainstorm on a bit of paper! It then gets lost or just stuck in a book. What a great way to get students engaged in an activity that has predominately been 'paper-based' in the past. I will certainly utilising this tool as soon as possible.

Glogster - an electronic version of the 'paper/cardboard' based poster. My students will be more willing to do a 'poster' this way and put more effort into it.

These are two great tools that have immediate application in the classroom. Can not wait to show the other teachers.

Module 5 - Digital Story Telling

I currently use You tube regularly to locate suitable video for class content. It sure beats spending $120 on a 15020 minute video on a topic when you might only use a few minutes. As for I-tunes this is my preferred music download. I am very conscious of royalties being paid to artists and i think it only right that we need pay for the use of music.

Digital story telling is a great way to get the students to present their work. Am very familiar with and get the kids to use applications such as podcast, movie maker/i-movie, PowerPoint/keynote. I am heading off to a Mac conference next week and hopefully will be given an insight to the benefits of garage band.

Almost any content/topic can be applied to these tools. An example of this was with a Year 11 class where, at the end of the topic they might be traditionally asked to create a mind-map or study notes. Instead the class split up into pairs and each pair had to script, film and edit a one minute tutorial of one element of the unit. On return from holidays we will have 12 minutes of tutorial videos that the class will be able to use in preparation for their exams. They enjoyed this experience - far more than creating a set of study notes!