Assignment 3 ideas

http://mathworldisfun.weebly.com/resources.html

Blog and Reflective Synopsis

Blog and Reflective Synopsis

Introductions

ICT has been introduced to education for decades, I do appreciate that we have this subject as one of GDLT papers, since I believe today’s education cannot achieve its ideal outcome well enough without it.  E-learning has already been successfully implemented in education system in variety of forms: multimedia digital tools, computer based classes, internet based online education, online study collaboration and so on. Introducing ICT to education has changed the way of teaching, and I agree that today’s teachers need to be equipped with the efficient digital pedagogy to engage learners to achieve an effective teaching and learning outcome.

My learning experience with ICT paper is eye opening. It has introduced me to a new concept of learning and teaching - digital pedagogy. I have studied how to choose and use the right digital tool to enhance learning and teaching outcome. The following synopsis is about my learning experience with some of the digital tools in the last 5 weeks, and how those will help me to enhance learners’ experiences.

Wiki reflection:

My very first experience with Wiki was company discussion forum in Wiki space at my previous job. It had a lot of users’ participation at the beginning because the tool was easy to use. Users only required knowing the basic edit and save functions to participate. However it wasn't used as much as expected, after couple of weeks there was no much input from users. I felt my Wiki Space activity experience is similar to what I had before. Wiki is a great online “blackboard”, anyone can share their ideas freely, change the layout or use colour coding to make it more visual friendly. The amazing part of Wiki is that we can sit behind a computer but sharing ideas with people around the world in an organised online space. If I need a digital tool to pull together ideas from students, Wiki is a great option. However Wiki space does have weakness, the main draw back for me is the Wiki space can end up quite messy since it allows too much information on display. This means that teacher might need to spend huge amount of time to maintain the site, make sure the right amount of information is there, and keep guiding students to form a healthy safe online community.

My Wiki Activity reflection

My Wiki reflection

Digital Tool 1 – Blog

A Blog is a website, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events or other material such as graphics and videos (CQUniversity Australia, 2013).Since I was introduced to Google blog, it has become my learning experience online recorder. The Blog owner is in charge of posting and layout, editing guests’ participation such as removes guests’ comment or edit guests’ permission level for them to comment on the Blog. As a result it is easier to keep tidy and clear. Blog has better visual effect and layout compare with Wiki. Owner can edit the layout to draw viewers’ attention to the essential materials in the blog. Some students are more active through digital tools compare with classroom learning, so teacher can use Blog to engage with them. Teacher can post daily learning material summaries and invite students to comment on it. Teacher can also encourage student to set up their own blogs to record their learning experience, this is a good opportunity for teacher to check and scaffolding students’ learning experience through their blogs. Once students established their blogs, teacher can spend time to go through posting and comments online to help students to do learning reflection. Teachers need to make sure there is no cyber bullying, or another types of unacceptable online behaviour.

My blog reflection.

Digital Tool 2 – Podcasting

This week I was introduced to a series of tools which I think should be useful for everyone. Firstly there are the image tools, such as photos resizer and basic Photoshop. Image tools can be used to demonstrate trigonometry graphs; draw flowcharts such as exchange rate will affect currency. Secondly, we covered digital video tool. I have learned how to capture video and uploaded it to YouTube. Everything that is happening around the world is shared through video online, so how an online video clip in class is a great way to connect classroom with real world. Of course when it comes to image and video, we all have to be sure the online safety issue has been addressed. We need to make sure the use of copyright images and materials are able to be restricted according to the owner's wishes (CQUniversity Australia, 2013). I have practiced with each of those tools and please see the overall posting.

Lastly, the tool I really can’t wait to use in my class is pod casting digital tools. I have used Voki and Podomatic, they are both easy to use and can be embedded in my blog. I can use pod casting for my Chinese language students, I can read out a short paragraph that was taught in class, and then post it in my blog, so students can listen to it after class. This tool will definitely help students acquire knowledge even outside of school hours. With podcasting digital tool, students have the opportunity to listen to it as many times as they want. Pod casting is a great digital tool for language classes. 

My podcasting reflection

Digital Tool 3- PowerPoint

I have had a lot of experiences with PowerPoint through my previous study and work. It is such a powerful presentation tool and so much more can be utilized for teaching. For example the whole class lesson plan can be done in PowerPoint, the teaching material and other resources including pictures, videos, sound tracks and links can be embedded into PowerPoint. Teacher can use PowerPoint as a learning experience digital diary to record what curriculum have been covered in classes. The functions in PowerPoint are user friendly, it saves teacher a lot of time on editing. It is commonly used Microsoft software, there are many experts share their experiences and skills online, so that teachers pick up new PowerPoint skills from a wider community. One of important strength of PowerPoint is that it is owner controlled, so teacher is in charge of the materials. The materials need to be carefully checked before shown in class, and teacher need to make sure it is well organised to enhance students learning outcome.  I have no doubt I will use PowerPoint for my future classes.

My PowerPoint reflection 

Digital Tool 4 – Google Map

Google Map is an online based digital map, it can be used as a navigational tool. Teacher can use this tool to support mathematics classes learning. Google Map can be used to find the fastest route from A to B and compare the speed difference between using public and private transportation. There are many clever algorithms behind this tool, so students can see how mathematics can be useful real life. Once students are “hooked”, teacher can ask them to complete a project by using Google Map. For example how to go to their friends’ place for a Saturday event, students can create a couple of different routes to get to destinations. They can then use Google Map to validate their calculations for each route. Google Map does have some downsides, there are embedded advertisements and inappropriate images captured by Google’s street camera.  Teacher needs to carefully plan before I show students. 

My Google Earth reflection 

Conclusion     

ICT is well positioned to cater all learners, consider the infinite combinations available of individual and collaborative work, social networking, visual, auditory and interactive resource colour and multiple formatting opportunities (CQUniversity Australia, 2013). Those 5 ICT tools I have mentioned above will definitely be utilised for my future practise (if school allows it).  It is important for me to understand that 21st century students are living in a world of technologies. E-learning allows students to have 24/7 access to online learning experiences, it also allows distance students to experience the interactive learning through digital learning tools online.

I think planning for digital pedagogy is one of the most important parts. Teachers need to ensure ethical, legal and safe use of digital tools in school, and this will require attention every step of the way. There are so much potential from using ICT tools for teaching and I believe teachers are responsible to be equipped with the latest ICT skills.

Reference

CQUniversity Australia. (2013). EDED20491- ICTs for learning design:        
            online learning materials. Retrieved from week 1-1

http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=115325

CQUniversity Australia. (2013). EDED20491- ICTs for learning design:        
            online learning materials. Retrieved from week 3-1

http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=115325

CQUniversity Australia. (2013). EDED20491- ICTs for learning design:        
            online learning materials. Retrieved from week 2

http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/page/view.php?id=115338

Week 6 - Engagement Activity 1 Mobile phone for class

Activity 6-1 mobile phone for class

Mobile phone, I can use the camera function to capture step by step instructions for my demonstration how to make a paper air plane, then upload them to my PowerPoint use it in class. I can use the sound recorder app in my iPhone to record Chinese reading for secondary language classes, send it as an audio file to students’ email, so they can listen to it when and wherever to reinforce their learning.

I think it is a bit hard for me to come up with a specific strategy of how I am going to use ICT for class, but once the content is there and more I know about my learners, it will be easier. Looking online there are so many interesting ways of using apple apps for math, here is one for a senior level math app, I am sure I will have to find it once I can start teaching.

I have also got my QR code for my blog:)


 

Week 5 - Engagement Activity 5-7 tool 4 Google Map

Activity 5-8 tool 4 Google Map

Both Google Earth and Docs are great tools for me to prepare and plan for my classes, but the tool I would like to explore with students during a class session is Google Map.

Google map is similar to Earth in their functions. They can both show satellite imaging as well as street layout, however Google map does not require any software to be downloaded. It is an online based tool, and Google is updating their map information constantly. I can demonstrate the concept of transportation speed versus distances for math classes using the options for “walk, car or bus” for distance calculations under Google maps. It allows user to input multiple addresses and instantly calculate the traveling distance and the time spent between those locations. User can choose the options of car, bus or walk, even cycling if people prefer a more active lifestyle.

After relocating from New Zealand to Rockhampton, I use Google map on a daily basis. It is great tool to show me where to go and find things in this new city. Its various user friendly functions are easy to demonstrate to students. It helps them to see how applied mathematics behind the tool does wonderful things for people’s life. I would encourage them to find out what else we can use this tool for, besides comparing distance, time differences between using different transportations, decision making when choosing routes and so on. 

However Google map does have some shortcoming. There are commercial purposes information embedded in the images which could cause legal concerns; and unsuitable behavior may be captured in the street view which can be upsetting. So I need to spend time to go through the material before classes, make sure there won’t be any legal or safety issues in my demonstration. It is a time consuming process, luckily there is function in Google Maps called “my places”,  it allows me to save locations and list them under my own map folders, and help me to organize the locations from Google map that I will use for the classes.

I can come up with a task asking student to use Google Map and Prezi as a combination to do a project such as planning a travel around Australia. The students can find out all the details on Google Map, then use Prezi as a final presentation tool (as the example shown below), I really can’t wait to give this a go.

 

 

Week 5 Engagement Activity 7/8/9- tool 4 Google Earth/Map/Docs

Activity 5-7 tool 4-7/8/9 Google Earth/Map/Docs

Students in the class may from all over the world using Google earth is great tool to get them to see the big picture where others come from. For math class, Google earth can be used to explore distance, velocity and other things.

Google map is similar to earth, but no software needs to be downloaded, and it can be used for daily tasks when looking for a place to go. Finding distance and navigation this is one of the best tools for students to learn. I can use this to demonstrate speed for math classes, since under Google map, there are options for “walk, car or bus” for distance calculations.

Google doc, I have used this tool for my relocation from NZ  to Australia, me and my family have uploaded list of things to sale to buy or to ship, and we were working on it at the same time. This can be used for students to do their group assignment, working on an excel spreadsheet together is something they might find exciting.

Week 5 - Engagement Activity 4a tool 3-3 Glogster

Activity 5-3 Glogster

My Glogster

Glogster to me is a place to put everything together, my text from blog, my youtube video, my photo, all together for the topic. I don’t see a huge deal of advantage from this tool compare with is there, but it is hard to show them on one screen, the text place might be too small, and have to fit the video on the same page that to me is a bit too crowded.

Week 5 - Engagement Activity 3 tool 3-2 Prezi

Activity 5-2 Prezi

Prezi to me is like a live brain storm demonstration tool, it is a great presentation tool when I need to show how things are linked together, or if I need to show my logic process of a topic. Prezi might be good to show my business classes how the economics are linked, how other part of economics react when something changes such as exchange rate or prices; it is a great tool to show links and big picture.

It has a better visual animation between slides and might be more interesting for students, the changes between slides is an illusion to tick students, and sort of in a way to “force” them to think they are following logic between the slides.

I haven’s spend too much time on this tool, I think the depth of the tool might not be as much as PowerPoint, so might be easy to pick up once I have an opportunity to use it. I had play with it for world maps, and the Easter plan, here is what I have done. I think I will use Prezi if I have a class of students needs to see some chain reaction presentation.