Final Course Reflection

Ok I'll admit it! I did think that the 'e' in eLEARNING did stand for electronic. So glad that was cleared up before I finished. I really loved that final clip that spoke of the teacher's role in developing their students' skills so that they can take control of their learning. It would be so easy to say "here is a computer and a Web 2.0 tool - use it!". Technology does not eliminate our job but we become the facilitator even more than what we now are, rather than the source of information. Another important issue that was raised was the need for teachers to model learning. This is ever so important with new technologies so that we can show children that there are always some hiccups but then there are ways to overcome them too - resilience! I've heard it said that by the time a child of current school age completes their University degree that their degree will be grossly outdated. These are the students that we need to educate and Web 2.0 provides us with some of the tools to achieve this.

I'm excited that I can now confidently discuss Wikis, Twitter, Flickr, Delicious, Bubblus, Glogs etc and can actively contribute to the conversation and offer ideas and opinions. Whilst I am not currently in the classroom I am excited about the possibilities that these tools will bring and have found that many of them will still assist me in my current role as Family Educator. I am already hooked on Delicious and have been madly bookmarking each time I go to my computer. Google docs will make surveys much easier and I plan to create my 2nd Blog if chosen to go on a Pilgrimage next year so that I can share my experience with my school community. Of course, Flickr would be integrated into this. As a mother of 2 school aged children I will also be able to join their educational journey and assist them in their use of the tools.

At my previous school this year we were part of a reading project and I can see how Blooms Digital Taxonomy would come in handy. In fact, HSIE, Religion and Science would feature highly here too. Differentiation is a big focus in our schools today and when using the Web 2.0 tools such a wide variety of concepts that can be completed at such a variety of levels will be an invaluable resource.

Finally I would like to thank our learning team at St Luke's, especially our eLEARNING Reference Teacher who so patiently assisted, encouraged and supported us throughout this process. We were advised that the success rate of finished was much higher if you worked in a group and I would have to agree whole-heartedly.

Module 10

Wow I made it! A slow start but got there in the end. Wiki's are something that I am familiar with and have started in the classroom this year. However, it's origins did not lie with me but with my students. After a discussion with someone much wiser than me in the e-learning world, I acknowledged that it is OK to learn from the students and that we did not have to possess all of the knowledge. So, I used the skills of my E-Tascc students and created a Wiki with them. Wiki's provided us with a creative way to share information across all curriculum areas with each other. We had discussions that encouraged opinions to be formed in much the same way as an exposition does. We had information on Space that was being researched and Voki's that compared the old and new translation of the Mass. The students were so keen to publish and share their work with each other. Wiki's are motivating and a great way to differentiate and cater for all of the ability levels of your class.The only problem was that information was sometimes lost as students can access each other's work.

A Ning is a new concept to me but looked like a valuable one as an educator. It's another way to share information that has been complied by others and prevents you from recreating the wheel. There is so much to back into education these days that it's great to be able to learn from each other on a global level and at the simple click of a button. Thanks to Web 2.0 we now know how!

Module 9

It's interesting how different communities are engaged in using different tools. Scootle was new for me but it seems that many of my current colleagues are using it successfully in their classrooms and loving it. I had a little play but think this is one that I could explore further - and with a specific topic in mind.

I was a little sceptical when I read that Twitter was being suggested in this module but once I followed one of the recommended tweets I started to sway a little. Twitter could be used well for persuasive writing or may I again say - plenaries. I like the word count restriction which could teach students to be succinct and straight to the point in their writing. However, there would have to be very strict rules and lots of Cyber Safety issues to consider before you started. I also think that this site could become quite addictive as the children of today's digital world await immediate responses from others. There would have to be a time cap on usage. Another issue here might be to convince parents of the educational value of this tool. Before my participation in this module I don't think I would have looked at the idea of my Primary aged children using Twitter as favourable.

Second Life was an interesting one. I can imagine becoming immersed and lost in this virtual world and losing all track of time. This could be a good one if it is well directed by the teacher. I was particularly fascinated by the opportunity to enter Van Gogh's painting - how this would have helped me years ago when I was studying Visual Arts!

Module 8

This would have to be my least favourite module so far. Setting up the Reader account was not too hard but I found it quite time consuming finding relevant and useful sites for me to get a feed from. There were a few to choose from but I was hoping to find my own and gave up after an hour. Whilst the concept was good, compared to some of the other tools we have been introduced to over the last few weeks, this one was not so easy to navigate. Consequently, I won't be calling on it again and would not include it in my classroom practice.

Module 7

DELICIOUS- Why have I not found you sooner? This site is simple amazing. In my new job as Family Educator I am constantly researching music on YouTube. In fact, one of my school holiday tasks over the Summer was going to be listening to music and writing down the themes of each song. Currently I am finding that I listen to songs and think that I will come back to them, but have seen so many in between that I forget where I was. Thanks to this module I have already created a STACK for my music and started tagging my songs. This module was invaluable and leaves me quite excited. I cannot wait to share this site with the other FE's as it will save us so much time. This is again another example of  a site that will prevent the email congestion of passing links to so many people.

I have commented on a few blogs tonight. I think it's great to give others a bit of motivation to keep going and interesting to see how they plan to use sites. In some instances they see things that I may have missed and give me ideas on how I can use the tools another way. I've had one person comment on my Blog and it's nice to know that someone is reading it!

Module 6

Flickr - I enjoyed this module as photography is one of my passions. I don't think I would use this site on a personal level but can see its usefulness in the classroom. I would use it to document an excursion and have the children create comments about the pictures. Let's say we uploaded 30 pictures (one for each child), then the students could go to the site when they have time and comment on their chosen photo. Of course, if there are photos of kids we would need parental permission and I would make the site private to the class. Unfortunately you would have to upgrade from the free sight as that only allows 10 people to join. The other option would be to create a teacher account and let the students access it through this.

I have always had the idea of having class reporters who took photos of what was happening in class and then writing about it. It could be their most interesting Maths lesson for the week or a photo of great art that someone created. I just had never worked out how to make it a forum that was shared. I think flickr might be my answer.

My final idea would be to use it as a plenary (and I know I have mentioned this before). I just find that it is a part of the lesson that gets left behind. However, make it intersting and the kids won't let you forget it!

Below are a few pics that I took on a recent holiday to Japan. Flickr has been easy to use an quick to download.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/69824496@N04/

Module 5

There were a few old friends here as well as a new one. Bubbl.us is a wonderful brainstorming tool but is also useful for flow chart work. My class has used it for their 'Products and Services' Unit when they chose a product that they followed from farm to the supermarket. The finished product was great to look at together on the screen but we had difficulty getting it to print large enough. So, the process was good but it was a bit tricky as an assessment tool.

Glogster - amazing! A very motivating way to present information and it puts those students with poor fine motor skills on more of an even playing field. It also costs nothing for the resources that you need to create it and there is no mess! I also think it might be an effective way of creating a field of knowledge that is built upon by the class - the Glog would become more involved and detailed as you got to the unit (much like a plenary). Students could be rostered on to contribute to the Glog at the end of each session. A limitless application I think. It gets my vote as the best of the 3.

Prezi - a new one for me. I have to say that it did make my eyes feel a bit odd and I would worry about kids who have tracking issues or epilepsy. I do see the attraction but would not like to sift through 32 of these in a row if I set it as a task.

Module 4

I love Digital Storytelling! Having dabbled in the world of 'Wedding Video' (which was much more dificult in the analog age), it's amazing to see what is out there in 'Digital Land' and how easy to use some of these applications are. Digital Storytelling means that students don't have to only listen to the teacher all day. There is a wealth of information out there that we have to sort through and can just point our students in the right direction. I'm a HUGE fan of YouTube and have learnt that you must ALWAYS watch the clips all the way through. Whether it's how to do macrame, a song and video that can be used for prayer or a clip on apple farming - YouTube has it all. I love creating my Smartboard Notebook Presentations and Wikis that have links to appropriate YouTube clips for the students to use. It is also motivating for them to have control.

Photostory and Movie Maker provide simple ways for students to create their own Digital Storytelling and again are much more motivating than traditional storytelling mediums (although they are important to play with too). Children can sequence, transition, voice over and add music to their work without too much effort.

Check out http://www.storylineonline.net/ for a site that has famous actors reading picture books as a Vodcast. My class love them. It's a great way to come in, be calm and relax after the bustle of the playground. (Educational too!)

Module 3

I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my posts now. I have just gone back to the original Blog page that I set up and played with the design and added a picture. It feels a bit more like home now rather than looking at someone else's work.

In regards to this module - I found Google Docs a little clumsy to set up but that is just probably inexperience. What I did love was setting up a survey that could be shared and allowed me to collate the data in one place quite easily and simply. In my current role this could be a great way of getting feedback on the initatives I have implemented this year. As a classroom teacher, it would be a wonderful way to collect data in HSIE as well as being a motivating way for students to collect data in Maths in the upper primary grades. I have had some experience using this tool at an inservice where we were all required to comment on a document and the comments needed to be collated in one place. A very useful tool that elimates messy email trails.

Module 2

As I am writing this post, I am actually up to Module 8. I have been meeting with my new colleagues and they have been doing really well with their posts (unlike myself). Learning each week has been interesting but I have been a little hesitant in publishing posts that will create part of my digital footprint. I needed to have it clear in my mind what was expected and will consequently go over my notes during the next week and will complete my posts in quick succession (in the hope of finishing in time). Wish me luck!

The whole idea having a Blog has dragged me into the 21 century way of communicating. I have dabbled in Wikis with classes but have had a few issues with data going missing. I think creating a Blog could change this. Whilst I'm no longer in the classroom I'm wondering if blogging could be a way of sharing information with other teachers. The link that we had to 'Art Ideas' was amazing and would have been super helpful in the classroom. I'd love to set up a 'Blog' where Family Educators can share the initatives that they are implementing in their schools as we don't often have the chance to get together. This would stop the constant streams of emails and 21 way conversations that we seem to be having. I think I'll suggest it at our next meeting. I wonder whether any other FEs have completed this course..........

Module 1 - New to Blogging.

I have just created my first ever Blog as part of a Web 2.0 Course. Not really sure what will appear on it yet, but as the course unfolds I'm sure we'll find out. My name is Rachel and I have just started working at St Luke's Revesby after six and  half years at another school. I also have a completely different role as Family Educator. We are lucky enough here to be working in a small group where we will go through the modules each week. It will be great support for each other and will give me the opportunity to connect with members of a new staff - with any luck I'll learn something at the same time!