1000 word explanation

Assessment Task 1

ICT within the classroom is a fast evolving technology which when used in an innovative way, can underpin lifelong learning within the learning environment of the global society of the 21st century. The framework of Oliver’s Learning Design framework is quite old within the context of ICT. This framework was devised before online resources and tools such as blogs and wiki’s were even thought of. Changes to the framework, as with any technology and information, needs to evolve and with the speed of changes within the ICT community, these need to evolve quickly and often in order to keep pace.
ICT can enhance the pedagogical process by providing a resource or tool for the student to explore and create within a learning manager’s design process, whereby the student will come out with a solid product. Teaching is enhanced by using technology, in a meaningful manner, to build knowledge construction of content. Learning tasks within the classroom can have meaning to real life situations and are thus authentic learning tasks. ICT can go across all subjects from reading, art, HPE, maths, geography and the many other subjects within the education system by embedding learning experiences that are multi-modal. No longer is the learning manager restricted to chalk and talk learning experiences for their students. For example, there is room for students to encompass the use of the mobile phone, with its many functions attached to it, within the maths curriculum. The world is our oyster and all we need is an imaginative mind to bring learning to life with ICT.
The tools will be explored within the senior art context. This information has been presented in a table and attached as a link to my wiki. The areas covered for each tool are as follows....
Tool investigated
What value the tool is as a resource?
Key learning task for the tool
Possible scaffolds of the tool

http://suziepurple.wikispaces.com/


References:
Oliver, R. (1999), Exploring strategies for online teaching and learning. Distance Education 20 (2), p.240-254
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia viewed 10th August, 2009

Posting to Rose's Blog

This is a posting I made to Rose's blog. Rose is an inciteful individual and a very caring person. The journey she has made in this unit and Professional Skills is one of self evaluation and understanding along with deep understanding of her learners. Rose has extended her knowledge of the male learner and is extremely capable of professional development of her learners.

http://ramblershotspot.blogspot.com/2009/08/temperament.html?showComment=1249771723147#c6103369008485764601

http://ramblershotspot.blogspot.com/2009/07/hello-to-you-all-out-there-firstly-i.html

There are a number of other people I have been following on www.googlereader.com They are 'jfkchevy' and 'My curious, danergous mind' and 'my thoughts' and I have written similiar blogs to their sites as I have written to Rose's blog.

http://www.google.com.au/reader/view/?hl=en&tab=wy#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fjfkchevy.blogspot.com%2Ffeeds%2Fposts%2Fdefault

google maps photo link

The use of Google maps and GPS within the learning environment provides a new dimension to Geography. Lessons on map reading, mapping an area such as a school grounds, going out on a biology trip and plotting co-ordinates where transects were taken, usage in marine biology when on field trips and working with species identification and plotting are some of the uses of these tools. The function of adding images to a specific area and the option of making it available to the public or restricted usage gives rise to an interactive tool where students can develop conversations with other students and have active learning experiences.
View feet 2 in a larger map

Tag Crowd

achieving bottom bow care characteristic considerably creased create drawing element expression face feature formed key larger likeness line lip meet mouth natural person shape start stretch subtle taken top usually varies vertical

created at TagCrowd.com

There are a number of tools available to enhance the learning process. Tag Crowd allows you to create a colourful image using words from a text and making them prominent by the frequency they appear in the text. There are many sites with quizzes you can manipulate such as making a word find or a crossword with a minimum of fuss on the learning managers part. The creation of images within bubbl-us is useful if you wish to make a mind map. The use of the interactive white board and the subsequent computer programs can add to the learning environment by taking the old pen and butchers paper into the 21st century.

Digital Storytelling is especially useful for the younger children and those with literacy and reading difficulties. Voice overs and written information can add to the learners tools.

wordle exercise

http://www.wordle.net/create. I made a wordle on this tool but I could only print it out or save it to the public arena, I could not save it to include here or add to my computer without going through the process of scanning the printed image and saving it that way. I think this tool would be more advantageous to primary teachers. If I gave my senior class this or even a word find which is another tool I have played with, they would look at me as if I am treating them like littlies. It was fun but I don't have a use for it at this stage. An easy tool to manipulate.

Photo manipulation

The image I have uploaded to the site is one I manipulated on a photo program installed on my computer call ArcSoft PhotoStudio. I have changed the image by using the drawing tool on pointillism. I have used this is a tool in my pracitcum situation in the year 12 art class. The students were given a part of an image which has been manipulated (pixilated or in art terms changed to pointilism) and reproduce the image in oil pastel. The puzzle is then put together on a wall in the school grounds for the students to be able to 'see' what they have created. It is an exercise in learning to 'look' to be able to 'see'.

I played with the recommended photo manipulation program Picnik but was not prepared to use their publishing criteria. There were similiar features as the above tool.

The use of Flickr as a sharing site of photos is an interesting concept with the student having access to other peoples images and being able to add their images to the site. There are a number of ways you can restrict the use of the images and safe practices with regard to not only this site but all ICT sites is an intricate part of the learning journey. Referencing of computer sites and the reproduction of sites is regulated by copyright laws and the student needs to have an understanding of these laws so as to stay within the safe environs of the law.

Another sharing site we have looked at is Slideshare. The learning manager can access and add powerpoint presentation to the site. These powerpoints can be downloaded and manipulated to suit the learning manager's needs. A good resource for not re-inventing the wheel.

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