Digital Storytelling

Digital storytelling is a fantastic technical approach to improving literacy skills within the classroom. According to the Digital Storytelling Association (2009) is the art of oral storytelling combined with modern digital technologies using media applications such as images, voice and music with the challenge of taking their written ideas and transforming them into a visual medium.

The use of digital storytelling within the classroom would be an effective and engaging tool enhancing their:
Writing Skills - through the construction of a story, its sequencing and proof reading.
Speaking and Visual Skills - through communicating, enunciation and projecting and phrasing.
Technical Skills - through the development of the movie operating a camera, sequencing tools as well as recording and adding voice and music elements.
Personal Development Skills - enhances self confidence and builds relationships.
(Digital Storytelling Association, 2009).

The Digital Storytelling Association (2009) provides educators with easy to follow steps and resources to use when implementing this effective pedagogical tool within the classroom. Through the provision of resources within the four steps of Planning, Production, Presentation and Assessment educators are able to scaffold the students learning journey throughout the task to ensure that it is meaningful (Digital Storytelling Association, 2009).

I would use this tool within my classroom through asking students to create their own story based on Persuasive speech. Students will be given an idea and they will need to take a biased approach and use the persuasive speech they have acquired over their unit to 'win' over their audience. This can be done in a creative fictional or non fiction genre. This would incorporate Kearsley & Shneiderman's Engagement Theory (1999) through the relating phase where students will be given an idea or statement that will be meaningful to them (may be related to current issue within the classroom, school or community) through this they will be collaborating on ideas and planning before they move into their creating phase which would be the compilation and completion of their digital story then they will be donating or sharing it with their fellow classmates.

This tool makes the learning authentic and real to our digital natives and has put an interesting modernised approach to 'story time' making it interesting and engaging.


References

Digital Storytelling Association. (2009). Digital Storytelling for Educators. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.lubbockisd.org/sfirenza/storytelling/

Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, G. (1999). Engagement Theory: a framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Reflective Synopsis

As we are living in a digitally progressing and changing world it only seems fitting that we are surround by a cohort of 21st Century learners commonly refferred to as digital natives (Prensky 2001). These native speakers of the digital language are being educated in a system which is outdated and stiff as todays students are not the people the education system is designed to teach (Prensky 2001). Therefore we are finding that educators who are digital immigrants are talking a completely different language to students while struggling to teach them (Prensky, 2001) in meaningful and engaging ways.

From this we are finding that many traditional teachers are unwilling to accept change and up skill themselves, enraging the students as they are not stimulated, understood or catered for within the classroom (Prensky, 2005), this is making them 'switch off' when they get into their learning environment instead of switching on and being challenged. Therefore there needs to be a shift in the educational paradigm of teacher delivery techniques. This can be accomplished through the implementation of elearning tools as a digital pedagogical strategy that supports current learning theories that underpin their incorporation within the learning design to ensure student success.


I must admit that before I started this elearning journey of technological enlightenment I classified myself as a digital immigrant as I have found that technology has passed me in the blink of an eye and although I am young I am definately not as digitaly savvy as many may believe! So like many others I was gob smacked at the diversity of digital tools that can be applied within the classroom to facilitate and ehnance meaningful learning experiences. Of course it is not soley the job of technology to enhance learning experiences as it only has the ability to enhance learnign if it is accompanied by intstructional designs with a comprehensive strategic foundation (Rosenburg, as cited in Krauss, 2003). So through my learning journey in this wonderful world of ICT based tools I have acquired a deeper knowledge and understanding of digital pedagogical practices and the implementation of these through adapted learning frameworks incorporating technology within education.


During my learning journey I have developed different ideas and strategies to incorporate elearning tools within the classroom through reflecting on the tools pedagogical abilities to promote and enhance higher order thinking skills. For example the creation of a classroom wiki or blog can be a fantastic way to engage and support learners into becoming higher order thinkers. Through the use of Blooms Taxonomy Thinking Skills (Frangenheim, 2005) the wiki can be incorporated into the classroom first through the foundation level where the learning manager is defining what a wiki is and how it is used, describing and explaining wikis to establish understandings and applying this knowledge through brainstorming and demonstrations. Once these processes are completed the next step is the movement into the student directed level which encompasses higher order thinking. This is where students work collaboratively together to analyse, evaluate and create (Frangenheim, 2005) the wiki and the content incorporated within it (an example previously given within the wiki blog was the creation of an online textbook). The following elearning tools can also be used in conjunction with the application of the wiki such as voicethread, slideshare, youtube and many more while embracing the strategy of Blooms Taxonomy Thinking Skills to scaffold the students learning to enhance their higher order thinking abilities.


These pedadagogical strategies encompass and underpin the contemporary learning theories of Kearsley and Sneiderman's Engagemnt Theory (1999) and Siemans Connectivism theory (2004). Through the relating phase of the Engagement theory students are connecting and collaborating to the task through its relation to an authentic problem or question posed. Students are then creating their meaningful project/activity (e.g. the creation of a textbook on the wiki) while embracing the processes of analysing, problem solving in a student directed approach (this aspect also interrelates and connects with Blooms Taxonomy Thinking Skills within the student directed level encompassing higher order thinking skills) and then finally donating it back to their community or school environment (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). These pedagogical tools also intimately relate with Siemens (2004) alternate theory of Connectivism which incorporates learning and knowledge through a diversity of opinions while highlighting decision making as a learning process in itself (Siemens, 2004). This framework follows a student directed approach and can be effecitively used in conjunction with the Engagement Theory as students explore the different possibilities of their learning through enhancing and refining their knowledge and understandings.


There is another important theory actively used within learning designs that support the incorporation of these ICT mediated tools. Oliver's ICT Framework

(as cited in Australian Universities Teaching Committee, 2003) which bases itself on the interconnection of the learning experience, learning resources and learner support frameworks. These enhance the construction

an ICT mediated learning design focuses on scaffolding student success within assessment through the support of the three frameworks. These contemporary learning theory can be easily integrated into the classroom through the use of meaningful and authentic projects that will engage and motivate the learners through savvy technological tools.

Throughout my learning journey within this elearning course I have developed and enhanced my knowledge on not only several elearning tools such as slideshare, voicethread, powerpoints, google earth, class marker and many more but also on the different frameworks and learning theories which drive these pedagogical strategies into creating an authentic and meaningful learning design for students. These knowledges and understandings were developed and refined through the exploration of these elearning tools as well as the collaboration of peers and tutors made available on the Learning Management System of Moodle as well as our professional blogs and emails. This was an important component for myself as through the collaboration with peers I was not only able to network with others but also develop and share pedagogical approaches to these elearning tools and theories while gaining insight and knowledge on what others thought to help me reflect and change certain components within the learning design that may not be suitable.

Overall it becomes evident that within this continuously developing and changing world we as educators must ensure that our skills are continously being developed in order to successfully educate our students. As stated by Kinelev (n.d.) education is the saving grace to this rapidly changing world as it should embrace these changes providing the necessary skills for survival in today's day and age as well as sustaining development within the future. Elearning tools are an important aspect in not only enhancing students knowledge and understandings through its implementatoin of one of the learning theories but they prepare students for a futures orientation and lifelong learning.


References

Frangenheim, E. (2005). Reflections on Classroom Thinking Strategies. Loganholmw: Rodin Educational Publishing.

Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory : a framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retireved August 20, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Kelev, V.D. (n.d.). Education in the ever changing world. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from www.unesco.org/webworld/infoethics_2/eng/papers/paper_22.rtf

Krauss, F. (2003). Instructional Designs for eLearning Approaches. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://ideas.blogs.com/

Prensky. (2001). Digital Natives Digital Immigrants. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf

Prensky, .(2005). Engage me or Enrage me - what todays learners demand. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0553.pdf

Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism a Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Retrieved August 20, 2009, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

A blog full of goodies.....

Interactive White Boards

Interactive White Boards (IWB) are an effective resource and learner support (Australian Universities Teaching Committee, 2003) which are commonly replacing the old chalk and blackboard method of delivering knowledge. IWB's or also commonly known as 'smart boards' combines a computer, projector and whiteboard together to transform your classroom into a dynamic learning environment (Interactive White Board.net, 2009) through its endless possibilities in creating an interactive and engaging learning design within the classroom. During my first year of prac I had the opportunity to work with an IWB and found it amazing to use especially throughout my lessons. On many occasions I used a virtual game online (which related to learning content) e.g. In grade one I was teaching students how to sort objects according to attributes, using a venn diagram in a virtual game I was able to check for the students learning and understandings. The use of IWB within this learning experience underpins Olivers ICT learning framework (as cited in Australian Universities Teaching Committee, 2003) through the effective use of a resource which complemented the development of the learning design through creating an interactive and fun activity for students to participate within, collaboratively help each other when having troubles while enhancing and storing the knowledge they have learnt.


Learning Management Systems

Within many educational environments we have seen a shift in the method and delivery of learning resources and knowledge from the paperback ways to the digital age. Within many highschools and universities there has been an increase in the use of Learning Management Systems such as Blackboard and Moodle to enhance student knowledge and promote aspects of student directed learning through scaffolded learning experiences (modules) through the provision of an online learning environment. This software designed for "delivering, tracking and managing training/education" (Wikipedia, 2009) can be implemented under the learning resources and learning support frameworks within Olivers ICT learning framework (as cited in Australian Universities Teaching Committee, 2003). LMS provide students with an easily accessed program which enhances collaboration between peers to gain understandings of a certain topic/aspect, self directed learning through allowing students to work at their own pace as well as the opportunity to extend and refine their knowledge through scaffolded and structured modules. It acts as a resource by providing students with the information needed to develop skills and knowledge within a particular topic/aspect while giving them the opportunities to extend this resource through the ability of researching outside of the LMS. While it supports the learner through instructional processes and a framework scaffolding their learning.



References

Australian Universities Teaching Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm.

Interactive White Board.net. (2009). Smart Board Interactive White Board. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://www.interactivewhiteboard.net.au/aboutsmart/

Wikipedia. (2009). Learning Management System. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_management_system

Mahara......documenting lifelong learning!

Finally I have reached the point in tackling Mahara! Although I have accessed Mahara and uploaded files previously I still felt unsure and nervous as I didn't quite comprehend what Mahara was and the various applications it holds. Now the fear is gone and I have explored Mahara and seen its various features and have absolutely loved its potential for not only myself but for my students within the classroom.

Mahara is an online eportfolio which allows you to store and document your learning journey. According to Brown, Anderson, Simpson & Suddaby (2007) it can be described as "an online collection of reflections and digital artifacts that students can use to demonstrate their development over time to various audiences." It encompasses a variety of applications such as a weblog, resume builder and social networking systems which connects users creating various online communities allowing the user to network with others (University of Ballarat, n.d.). While exploring the many aspects of Mahara and its uses I realised that this effective program can be utilised to promote the users journey of lifelong learning through the provision of "tools to create a personal and professional learning, development and showcasing environment" (Brown et.al, 2007). According to Brown et, al. (2007) Mahara's sole purpose was to enhance a lifelong learning and development application through the collaboration of a media rich ICT mediated program which personalises learning. It becomes evident that this goal has been achieved through the development of the various programs which allows the user to not only keep track and document their own learning and successes but also allows them networking opportunities through the blog application.

Mahara can be used within the classroom for all ages. Although for lower grades I would suggest it be kept and maintained by the teacher who may allow students to choose what they would like to document on their own learning portfolio, then as they progress into the upper primary years they are given control of their portfolio and taught how to manage and use this safely. This incorporates Kearsley & Shneiderman (1999) theory of Engagement. The use of a portfolio emphasises meaningful learning and student directed learning (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). The creation and continuation of a eportfolio is based around the students being able to relate to this authentic means of learning through collaboration and networking with others as they create and enhance their knowledge within Mahara while sharing and donating their learning experiences and knowledge to others within the online community.

Overall the incorporation of an eportfolio within the classroom can prove to be effective educational program as students take hold of their own learning and immerse pride and motivation into their creation. It provides students with the abilities to watch the progress of their learning and help to evaluate their own journey making decisions and changes where they feel necessary. Although for this to be incorporated and used meaningfully within the educational context, a "cultural and philosophical shift in the mind of the student and the teacher to truly value reflective practice over a more traditional competitive and grade orientated approach to learning" (Brown et, al., 2007) In other words we as educators must make the shift from the traditional means of assessment to authentic means of assessment which encompass elements which are of importance to the students and within today's day and age a digital approach seems to be an interesting, engaging and prospective pedagogical approach.


References

Brown, M., Anderson, B., Simpson, M. & Suddaby, G. (2007). Showcasing Mahara: A New Open Source Portfolio. Retreived August 19, 2009, from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/singapore07/procs/brown-poster.pdf

Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Universtiy of Ballarat. (n.d.). Mahara. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://medusa.ballarat.edu.au/lews/drupal/staff-mahara

Exploring the possibilities of VoiceThread...

VoiceThread a web based technology, is a collaborative multimedia slideshow that holds images, documents and videos allowing other users to leave comments in five different ways (Dierolf & Frazier, 2008). This web tool has endless possibilities as it encompasses the use of endless slides, allows users to doodle on the slides, includes pictures and typed documents as well as having the ability to be "embedded or exported to other destinations and multiple identities can be created under one account" (Dierolf & Frazier, 2008). Not only does VoiceThread have many features it also allows the user to have control over their privacy settings, allowing them to choose whether to make their files public, allow others to provide comments on the slides while being able to monitor the comments that are posted on the slides (Dierolf & Frazier, 2008). Another fantastic aspect about this program is the application dedicated to educators providing them with various resources and interesting applications to enhance their learning designs within the classroom (Dierolf & Frazier, 2008).

The use of VoiceThread within the classroom can be an effective and engaging tool for students to support them in their learning journey. Students can not only load their own work or presentations up onto the program but can also work collaboratively with others on pre-existing pieces of work. This allows students to comment on each others work helping to enhance the quality of information being presented through expressing new ideas, making corrections and providing/receiving constructive feedback. Students can also create their own story books while providing various effects such as narration. It becomes evident that the use of VoiceThread within the classroom is underpinned by Kearsley & Shneiderman's Engagement Theory (1999). Throughout the use of the web tool students are continuously engaging with each other collaboratively, sharing their ideas and expressing feedback to each other on certain aspects of the presentation. During this students are creating their own understandings and applying this within their project (slide on VoiceThread) (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). Then finally they are donating this to the wider community through making it available to others to access and learn from (these may be other classes within their school, friends or family) (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999).

The use of this tool within the classroom also takes a constructivist approach as the learning and knowledge that is being undertaken is resting within a diversity of opinions (Siemens, 2004). This can become evident through the diversity of opinions and knowledge that may be expressed by others on a particular topic presented within the VoiceThread, these opinions can then spark new interests or learning paths. This is allowing students to make decisions about their learning, choosing what to learn and how to acquire the information and knowledge needed (Siemens, 2004).

VoiceThread proves to be an effective web tool that can be introduced within the classroom. Although when doing this the educator must ensure that students are safe and create the one account that the students can access and have their own identities under this. This means no photographs of the students (if made public) and continuous monitoring must be done!

I have quickly done up a slide comprised of photos that were used within a recent unit on "Natural Disasters." There is no audio due to my lack of microphone, so I have just played around with some of the applications!

http://voicethread.com/share/583408/

References

Dierolf, D & Frazier, M. (2008). Voice Thread in the Classroom. Retrieved August 18, 2009, from http://cnx.org/content/m18419/latest/

Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory. Retrieved August 18, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Retrieved August 18, 2009, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

INCOMPETECH.....Music on the web!

Downloading music becomes a hassle this day and age due to the current copyrights that are in place. This can prove to be difficult for schools and teachers to use current music, video materials for learning experiences and school performances. Incompetech provides users with a royalty free music library where users can download and use music pieces for free (Incompetech, n.d.). This royalty free music is licensed under the Creative Commons Agreement which allows cover for individuals to download music from this site (Incompetech, n.d.). They offer a variety of music for individuals to download and to use whether it be for schools, film makers or for your enjoyment.

While exploring this site I decided to download a piece of music called "Sunshine." This piece of music was beautiful and relaxing and made me feel like I wanted to just lie out on the grass and watch the clouds slowly drift across the sky. So I thought that this would link in perfectly with a current grade 6's project where they are currently creating a healthy yummy biscuit to sell at the tuckshop, they are to create a package to sell it in. The use of this web tool could be incorporated within an extension project where students can create an advertisement for their biscuit. The use of this music would be used to depict a feeling to relate to the biscuit they have made to try and sell it to the judges. I mean who wouldn't want to just lie on the grass watching the clouds while eating a yummy and nutritious biscuit?

Incompetech could be effectively be introduced within the classroom and could be used in several different instances e.g. have calming and relaxing music playing after the lunch break to relax the children (great for lower grades!), can be used effectively in school presentations and performances as well as music lessons.

References

Incompetech. (n.d.). Music FAQ. Retrieved August 18, 2009, from http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/faq.html

File Storage....the new USB!

This effective and easy way to store and share your files is a fantastic place to go if like myself you experience computer problems each and everyday! There have been many times my computer has decided to crash only days before an assignment has been due and I have lost count of the times I have had to rewrite important documents and assignments! MediaFire is the online program to go to create a file storage, as it enables you to store all your files in a secure online environment while allowing you to distribute and share these documents with various people without slowing down your internet or clogging up your email systems (MediaFire, 2009).

Creating an account was easy to do (probably one of the easiest places to sign up and navigate around by far) and allowed me to upload some templates and information in which I find useful and use on a daily basis. While on prac I have created several lessons and decided to share some of the lesson resources in which I have used during a mathematics lesson. These documents are 'shopping' activity cards which hold addition and subtraction word problems. These were used as a group rotation activity in conjunction with a shopping activity where students were in pairs and took on the role of a 'customer' and a 'register operator.' Each student was given a job to do and steps to follow to complete the activity (in our REAL life shop!). The students LOVED both these activities and worked for over an hour (a record for maths lessons!) without even complaining!

This program allowed me to upload these documents and easily send them to my mentor teacher without having the issue of my email slowing down the computer and clogging up my inbox. This is a great source to use for students within the classroom as well. These files can be shared anywhere with anyone and can be embedded within classroom webpages, blogs and wikis. These documents can take the role in limiting paper and photocopying expenses and wastage through supplying these online for the students to access and download. This can be effectively used as a learning resource and support tool for students when it comes to final exams or assessment pieces. Therefore underpinning Olivers ICT frameworks (as cited in Australian Universities Teaching Committee, 2003) of learner support and resources as it guides the learner through their learning journey while providing the appropriate resources and support needed to succeed.

Here are the links to my files below! These were created for a year six class and yes I know there is a mistake in two as my students kindly pointed out to me :) ! Sorry didn't have time to fix it! See if you can find them!

http://www.mediafire.com/?zoj2bwmonmj

http://www.mediafire.com/?5dbmxq2yomn




References

Australian Universities Teaching Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 18, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

MediaFire. (2009). What is MediaFire? Retrieved August 18, 2009, from http://www.mediafire.com/about.php?type=1

Signing up with Slideshare!

Slideshare is a web based program which allows an online community a place to upload and share their work whether it be documents, powerpoints or adobe portfolios (Slideshare, 2009). Not only does this free program allow you to search and view slides made public by other users but it also gives you the choice of selecting and controlling your own privacy settings. Which within an educational environment is vital especially if students are interacting with the website and account. While using this program I found it interesting and seemingly easy to use when uploading the powerpoint, of course with help from the good old 'help toolbar.' The following powerpoint I have uploaded is based around a recent assessment piece our group (Hannah and Kobi) completed on Authentic Assessment. Although this is not the powerpoint we used in the presentation but one I have quickly done up with some of the main points highlighted. As you may find out there is no narration currently on the powerpoint this is due to my limited resources available at this point in time to access a computer / microphone that will actually do what it is told and work for me (technology!). Although after reading others posts and having a sift around the slidecast application myself it seems that it is a tedious task to do and could easily be done within the powerpoint itself.

Authentic Assessment

View more presentations from amandawischusen.

http://www.slideshare.net/amandawischusen/authentic-assessment-1871532

If this program was to be used within a classroom I feel that this could easily be incorporated within the learning design processes under Oliver's resource and learner support frameworks (as cited in Australian University Teaching Committee, 2003). The use of this program can be incorporated in several different ways within the classroom to not only enhance the students knowledge and skills base but it can be used as an effective resource in catering for all learner needs as it encompasses various multiple intelligences through the promotion of being able to confer, synthesise, discuss/brainstorm, view and hear (Cheek, 2006) skills and knowledge. This can be done through embedding powerpoints within classroom blogs or wikis which can assist students within their current learning experiences or can provide them with a revision tool for an upcoming assignment or test. The educator could also give students the link to the account which they can access at anytime anyplace and not have the additional costs and wastage of paper and photocopying for particular slides or documents they might need. It can also be an effective resource in helping to enhance students knowledge within a certain topic by exploring others work but could also help them enhance and refine their ideas to present or compile a good presentation or written assessment piece.

Overall this is an effective and engaging tool in which can be used within the classroom to ensure students are provided with resources and support to enhance their knowledge and skills base. When operating this program care must be taken not only to ensure student safety but also ensure that this program is used meaningfully and structured in order to provide student support, scaffolding their learning journey.

References

Australian Universities Teaching Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Cheek, B. (2006). Multiple Intellegences. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from http://www.gp-training.net/training/educational_theory/multint/multint.htm

Slideshare. (2009). Slideshare. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from

The Wonderful World of WikiPedia!

Wikipedia Encyclopedia is continuously criticised for its shift from the traditional expert driven encyclopedia as it encompasses collaborative articles contributed by volunteers world wide (Wikipedia, 2009). This free web based encyclopedia is a non profit foundation which allows individuals to add or delete information in regards to a particular topic, although issues do arrive as to whether the information added by an individual is viable and accurate (Wikipedia, 2009). This collaborative and multilingual (Wikipedia, 2009) wiki (for more information on wikis is available on a previous blog) can be a useful website within the classroom as it can be a quick and easy reference point for students to obtain knowledge on a specific subject giving them the ability to further research information on the web using other resources.

Throughout my schooling years Wikipedia has been a website we have been told to AVOID AT ALL COSTS! Due to its unreliability many educational institutes do not allow its use as a form of gathering knowledge and using it as an academic reference. Due to this I have unfortunately never had the opportunity to explore this program and I was pleasantly surprised to see the amount of credible information that is on the site. After exploring the many pages on Wikipedia my views have changed in regards to its reliability as a source and its use as an educational tool. If you take the time to check its references to decipher the graffiti from the academic sources you will be pleasantly surprised like myself to find interesting and useful facts and resources that can be incorporated into the classroom.

While on my exploration of the site I came accross some of Wikipedia's sister projects. One sister project in which I thought would be a fantastic tool to incorporate within the classroom would be the Wikibooks. This wikimedia community is just like an online library with over
30 000 books created and edited by the online community (Wikibooks, 2009). Within this you can access a variety of books within different subject areas but my favourite by far is Wikijunior books for children. The books within this area are written by an online community of writers and teachers while being child friendly and reliable (Wikibooks, 2009).

Both Wikipedia and the Wikibooks (wikijunior) can be incorporated as pedagogical tools to help enhance the knowledge and skills of students within the classroom. Within a unit of work such as 'spinning in space' students could use Wikipedia to establish some ground knowledge within the area from here students can direct their own learning by establishing the direction of their learning by choosing what to study. Once this has been established the LM can incorporate the use of the Wikijunior books to enhance student knowledge and assist them within their learning journey, this could also be used as a means to spark brainstorming between the students on the subject. The use of the Wikipedia Encyclopedia and wiki book could be incorporated into learning design under Olivers resource framework (as cited in Australian University Teachers Committee, 2003). This learning design is focused on the Solar system and incorporates resources (Wikipedia and Wikibooks) which are ICT mediated and can be used as an effective pedagogical tool to scaffold the students learning through teacher support.

Wikipedia and its several sister projects (for more information head to the Wikipedia home page) can prove to be an effective tool within the classroom. Although the LM must ensure that these are used meaningfully and are not just 'slapped' into the presentation to make it look effective.

References

Australian University Teachers Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Wikibooks. (2009). Wikibooks. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page

Wikibooks. (2009). Wikijunior. Retrieved August 14, 2009, from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikijunior

Wikipedia. (2009). Wikipedia. Retreived August 14, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_is_wikipedia

Discovering the pedagogical world of WebQuests.....

A WebQuest can be a useful, engaging and interesting learning tool which encompasses the various benefits of the wide world web. Dodge (2007) defines WebQuests as being "an inquiry orientated activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the internet." WebQuests are emphasised for their ability to incorporate authentic and meaningful tasks within the classroom while linking to the various resources available on the internet (March, 2003). They need to based around a problem or question that can enhance the students higher order thinking skills and collaborative skills.

The use of this as a tool within the classroom is an effective means in incorporating students within the decision making processes while self directing their own learning. By allow students to move through different stages of work at their own pace choosing the direction they are going, they are making decisions about their learning and reflecting on the paths they have chosen. This according to Siemens (2004) is itself a learning process, which allows the students to choose the meaning and incoming information which is seen through a lens of a shifting reality. Their decisions can impact the solution or answer by showing that even though it may be the right answer now it may be wrong tomorrow due to alterations that can occur in the information climate which may affect the decision (Siemens, 2004). The use of WebQuests also incorporates the frame work of the Engagement Theory developed by Kearsley and Shneiderman (1999) as it incorporates aspects of related to the students through a driving question or a task that through the collaborative processes undertaken encompassing problem solving

There are many different ways in which this learning tool can be incorporated within the classroom while embedding a real life and authentic approach. Fortunately I have had the opportunity to develop this skill in creating a WebQuest for a cohort of learners. This WebQuest encompassed a transdiciplinary approach as the learning outcomes selected crossed over into several KLA’s, the main ones present were English and SOSE. When creating a WebQuest one must ensure that deep and instructional thought processes are incorporated through the creation and implementation of a driving question within the design as well as an in depth search into web resources that can be used to extend and refine their knowledge. When done correctly WebQuests bring together an effective instructional design (such as constructivism) within curriculum requirements (March, 2002).


References

Dodge, B. (2007). WebQuest.org. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://webquest.org/index.php

Kearsley, G . & Shneiderman, B . (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

March, T. (2003). The Learning Power of WebQuests. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://tommarch.com/writings/wq_power.php

March, T. (2002). Why WebQuests? Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://www.internet4classrooms.com/why_webquest.htm

Seimens, G . (2004). Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. Retrieved August 19, 2009, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

Google Earth!

Who doesnt love Google Earth? It is an encapturing, fun program which lets you "fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain and 3D buildings" (Google Earth, 2009). Within an hour this free program allowed me to travel across the world and our galaxy to places I never thought I would ever get the opportunity to see up close!


The Google Earth program gives endless capabilities to educational learning designs within the classroom. There are various ideas and applications in how to incorporate Google Earth as an effective and engaging learning tool within the classroom, whether it be within a tertiary, high school or primary school setting. Within a year six class students are travel agents and are promoting the seven wonders of the world tour (or this could be extended for some students as to plan a backpacking trip around Europe or a location of their choice etc). As a project they need to explore the seven wonders of the world (whether these be ancient, modern, man made or natural) and create their own virtual tour to present to other students, within this presentation. The students virtual tour must be accompanied with dates, a schedule, flight costs and bookings (or transfers/car hires/ tours) as well as accommodation and a list of what they would need to take with them .



Kearsley and Shneiderman Engagement Theory (1999) encompasses the use of google earth within this learning design as it bases itself around authentic learning experiences which enhance collaborative learning involving active cognitive processes such as creativity, problem solving and critical thinking skills. Based upon the learning experience mentioned students students will be collaborating and working together to piece together their holiday tour/virtual tour gaining skills needed in order to book and prepare for your own holiday, together they will create a persuasive presentation to try and 'sell' their perfect and affordable holiday. The second aspect of the learning design incorporates the students creating their own virtual tour through the use of Google Earth. Students can use this program to find directions to where they need to go and can use it as an effective tool in sequencing their holiday route. The students will then present their holiday tour to the rest of the class (prospective clients) and try to 'sell' their holiday through the creation of their virtual tour and information. These sequenced steps within the learning design follow the create, relate and donate phases within the Engagement Theory giving students the opportunities to enhance their learning through an authentic project that encourages the development of skills needed to survive within society.

Of course this learning experience could easily be adapted to suit the type of learners that are in the classroom (whether this means extra scaffolding and more teacher directed learning experiences or more of a student directed approach).




References

Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm


Google. (2009). Google Earth. Retrieved August 13, 2009, from http://earth.google.com/

Podcasts

Podcasts according to the Academic Technology Resource Centre (2009) are "audio files that are automatically delivered directly to your desktop computer and can be transferred to your iPod or other MP3 player." There are many different programs that allow you to download these podcasts from one popular and highly recommended website is iTunes. I dont personally own or use an MP3 player or have an iPhone or iPod so I am completely new to this website and its many aspects. I found my way easily around the iTunes program and was able to download several new and interesting audio and video podcasts which I feel will assist me within my career as an educator. I have downloaded several podcasts (I got a bit podcast happy) on children with Autism. I found the Autism Podcasts with Michael Boll and Shannon Johnson extremely interesting and informative as I feel as an educator within the 21st Century it is important for myself not to only be well informed and trained within catering for a child with Autism and children who may have other special needs but to also know and understand the perspectives and needs of the parents of these children. So as I sit here and listen to the Autism Podcast interview with Nancy Wiseman (author of First Signs) it becomes evident that not only is this an effective and informative tool in which can enhance educators knowledge and understandings on certain aspects but also an interesting and informative tool which can be used within learning experiences to enhance a students learning journey.

There are many different avenues I can explore on how to incorporate this tool within the classroom whether it be from homework tutorials to students creating their own audio and video podcasts. One idea in which I though was a great was getting the students to create their own podcasts within teams weekly whether it be critically reflecting on topics they have learnt within class during that week, audio book reviews taking different creative approaches e.g. taking on the role of a character within the book and giving a review based on their perspective or using it as a tool to engage students within problem solving activities e.g. students are posed with a current problem within the school/classroom and they are to find the solution and present their argument through a podcast. These can be posted on the class website, wiki or blog and allow parents and students to track their own learning while becoming involved in an activity that provides them with critical thinking, problem solving and reflective skills while preparing them for a digital society.

Olivers ICT Framework (as cited in Australia University Teaching Committee, 2003) theory underpins the use of podcasts as an effective and engaging learning tool within the classroom. Within the learning experiences mentioned previously the use of the podcast could be effectively used not only as a tool to enhance and scaffold student learning (e.g. using it as a means to provide instructions or procedures that may be required to complete a set learning task such as a problem solving challenge) but can also be used as a resource tool to help enhance students knowledge and understanding as well as a resource for student assessment.

Podcasts are an emerging educational technology which can provide educators with an innovative and engaging approach to enhancing students knowledge and abilities to not only survive school and a digital age but to also equip them with the necessary skills to become a lifelong learner.

References

Academic Technology Resource Centre. (2009). Podcasts. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://www.palomar.edu/atrc/WhatArePodcasts.htm

Australian University Teachers Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

You Tube

is becoming an increasingly popular educational tool used to hook and engage learners in relation to the topic they may be currently studying. It is a website which allows registered users to upload and share videos while unregistered users are permitted to view these videos (Wikipedia, 2008). This website is an important social aspect within todays internet culture and is regularly accessed and used within different environments.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on6BSfHlK_w

While searching through the many different videos located on the You tube and Teacher tube I came across some snippets of the documentary "Supersize Me" I thought that this particular snippet where they are conducting an experiment on take away foods would've been a great clip to show to the students while discussing healthy eating and packaging. It would of been a great discussion starter on what foods are good for you, how long it takes for these foods to break down (maybe they could start their own experiment), why people choose these foods (linking into packaging) and how can we make healthier choices (linking into the food pyramid).

According to Oliver (as cited in Australian University Teaching Committee, 1999) the use of technologies within a learning experience places a major emphasis on the learning design through the incorporation of the resources and teacher support. The use of the YouTube video "supersize me experiment" gives the educator a resource to compliment the learning design through its use as a brainstorming starter and reference point to enhance a key message about healthy eating. According to Gardner (as cited in Warner & Thoron, n.d.) the use of this technology within the learning design cross cuts the intelligences through giving students the opportunities to participate within group work, creative work, audio learning and kinesthetic learning through the creation of activities supporting the use of the video aid.

References

Australian University Teaching Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 10, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Warner, A. & Thoron, A. (n.d.). Incorporating Technology, YouTube and Learning in the Agriscience Classroom. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://www.aaaeonline.org/files/national_09/posters/Incorporating_Technology.pdf

Wikipedia. (2003). You Tube. Retrieved August 11, 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube

ClassMarker Quiz

is a professional online testing website which assists individuals in creating easy to follow online tests/quizzes. This site assists the user/s by automatically marking and collating the results of the test or quiz for you (ClassMarker, 2009). This website has been designed to be used for a variety of different purposes such as for business training, educational purposes, recruitment, distance learning and online education and self study (ClassMarker, 2009). There are two accounts in which you can open with ClassMarker (2009) these are class based (free program) and the external testing (requiring a fee). While using ClassMarker I found that it offered a range of selections for the creator to use for responses to questions within the test/quiz. These responses not only come within the multiple choice form (as many do) but also allows for the selection of multiple responses, true and false, free text, punctuation and essay style (ClassMarker, 2009). Within the classroom the use of these questions within the test/quiz allow for educators to incorporate questions designed to enhance cognitive skills (higher order thinking skills) which can demonstrate a formative approach to assessment (Reid & McLoughlin, 2002). Taking the formative approach to assessment this quiz creator can be used throughout a unit of work which may contain modules e.g. students may be completing a unit on recycling and the educator has created a webquest / wiki with weekly modules of learning experiences. At the end of each learning module the students may take an online quiz to show their understandings of the knowledge learnt throughout their journey. This will also provide the educator with a compilation of the students progress to contribute to their report cards and progress reports to their parents. Although this type of assessment can be commonly referred to as a traditional means of assessment it could also be swayed into an authentic means of assessment through the selection of questions and also by allowing the students to create their own quiz for others to participate in making it relate to them personally and have meaning to the real world.
Olivers learning framework (as cited in Australian University Teaching Committees, 2003) basis itself on the interaction of the three aspects of learning tasks, resources and support. This framework supports the use of the quiz as a formative tool of assessment within a unit of work. Within the example of the recycling unit students are presented with a problem scenario based on recycling and work through a series of learning tasks (represented by the webquest) to try and find the solution. The next phase within the framework relies upon the resources needed to complete these learning tasks of course this would relate to the webquest but also to the incorporation of the online quizzes to assess for their understanding throughout their learning journey. The online quiz also contributes to student support as it supports the students in their learning by showing them what they have learnt and what they may need to revise.
As well as Olivers ICT framework this fits in well with Kearsleys and Schnidermans (1999) engagement theory as it is providing students instant feedback on their performance helping the students create a solution to the 'recycling problem' and sharing it with other learners.
Although this website seems to be an effective means of assessing students on line, I personally found that certain aspects of this program were hard to use, follow and understand. After days of navigating my way around the page and countless visits to the help page I finally produced a very simple multiple choice test called Learning Management. I selected this topic as I thought it would be fitting in nicely with my degree and highlights just a few important aspects of it. As it was not aimed at the students within my class I was unable to test it on them and if it did obtain certain information in regards to their current unit of work, it would be a bit tough trying to find the resources and time (when I am present) to allow them to complete and comment on the test.
Here is a link to my quiz :
http://www.classmarker.com/embedded_quizzes/?quiz=861da0e4c3d5776f319fa7d69ce3b7d0


References

Australian University Teachers Committee. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm


ClassMarker. (2009). Free Quiz Maker for online Testing. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://www.classmarker.com/


Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm


Reid, N. & McLoughlin, C. (2002). Computing Assisted Assessment: Designing online quiz questions to assess a range of cognitive skills. Retrieved August 1, 2009, from http://www.editlib.org/p/9989

Picnik

Picnik is a fun and free editing program which allows you to upload any pictures from your computer and edit it using a variety of different effects. It is linked with not only Flickr but with other popular internet programs such as myspace and facebook. It has effects such being able to crop, adjust the colours, shape and exposure. It also has fantastic special effects under the create tab which allows the user to air brush (my favourite, lol!), place stickers on the photo, frame it and many more. Most of these are free but you are able to pay to have more special effects available to you.

I have included a photo in which I have edited using the Picnik program. I have included the same photo I used above of my daughter to show how effective it can really be and not to mention FUN! I used the crop effect as well as one of the creative tools (sorry slipped my mind which one!).It is easy to use and navigate around (especially for all aged students - with some instruction) and can also promote knowledge and skills in how to edit photos as well as students being able to use these within projects such as brochures, the creation of webpages, wikis and blogs. It can also be an effective tool to get the students to edit their own pictures, print them out and place around the classroom giving the student pride in their room! The use of this program comes under the learning design and resources aspect within Oliver's framework (as cited in AUTC, 2009) as the teacher or LM is designing a lesson to enhance students abilities to capture and edit images for their final project, the students are then using the Picnik program to apply these different special effects to support information within the project and to make it stand out.





AUTC. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved July 29, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Flickr

Flickr is an online (basic is free) account which allows users to manage their photo and videos sharing it with friends and family OR the whole world! I found this resource easy to sign up to and even quick and simple to upload my photos (which with many other applications can be a hair pulling nightmare!). Features available with this application range from simple editing through Flickr OR editing can be done with their sister site Picnik (which will be further discussed later!), photos can be organised into categories/folders, you can choose to share your photos, this allows you to keep updated with friends and family OR you can have it on private (which when using in the classroom is a MUST), Maps can be added to show where and when you took a particular photo as well as to see where pictures and photos have been taken near you and of course my favourite part where you can make your own stuff such as photo books, framed pictures, videos and many more (Yahoo Company, 2009)!

I have uploaded a picture I found on another members Flickr page and one of my own just to show how it can vary from being personal photos to those of nature etc, although I had to save the photo and upload from my computer as I could not figure out how to properly upload from the internet, any input or comments on this would be great! I think this site is perfect for the classroom (although proper safety precautions must be taken especially if photos of the children are posted on there) as it can not only be used a social and fun site for the students to display their work and pictures but it could also provide various educational purposes. Using students 'photography' pictures the teacher could use these as a starting point for imaginative writing, descriptive writing and many more. But my favourite of all is students are able to contribute to online stories using the photos. By writing within the description area students are able to create their own story and link the photos (changing their order to suit), students within the younger years could also use the photos to create 'silly sentences' or 'silly stories,' making literacy exciting and fun! Following Oliver's ICT framework theory (as cited in AUTC, 2003) students will be given the required task or project e.g. creating a photo story highlighting the first aspect of the learning design. Students then will use resources (Oliver as cited in AUTC, 2003) such as flicker using the photographs as visual stimulus to create their work while the teacher implements a schedule and safety procedures to provide learning supports (AUTC, 2003) to ensure each student is allowed equal amount of time at the computer and teacher assistance.

AUTC. (2003). Learning Design. Retrieved July 29, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Yahoo Company. (2009). What is Flicker. Retrieved July 29, 2009, from http://www.flickr.com/tour/

Power Points - Introducing Packaging

Ahh yes when I think of powerpoints the first thing that comes to mind is the never ending slides jammed with information that pretty much make you fall off your seat snoring! Well powerpoints definitely do not have to be that way and yes they can be an effective, easy tool to incorporate withing your lesson frameworks whether it be an assessable item or merely a tool to engage the learners within a particular topic. After much deliberation as to how this could be used as a teacher tool to engage the learners I thought of a way to introduce the topic of packaging that the students would be participating in this term. Although this has already been introduced to the students I though this could be an easy tool to the students to refer back to and refresh their minds on what will be happening.
At the moment the students are completing a unit on packaging and their task is to create a nutritious biscuit for the tuck shop and create its packaging. The class who has the best tasting nutritious biscuit and packaging will be selling their biscuits at the tuck shop. So a powerpoint would also be a fantastic tool to 'sell' their biscuit (although we must also work on the taste but first impressions always last!).

On the powerpoint (introduce and engage) the first slide will hold a video clip of the tuck shop lady issuing an inter class challenge to see who could create the perfect biscuit and packaging. The other slides would not only hold effective animations, entrances, and hyperlinks to specific sites to provide students with examples and pictures of biscuits,recipes and packaging but would also contain informative and useful information to assist them with their task. This use of the etool relates effectively to Kearsley and Schneiderman's (1999) as it "relates to a real world authentic problem" e.g. First slide presenting the tuck shops problem and competition, the biscuit, packaging and presentation powerpoint will then be 'created' and the solution will then be 'donated' to the judges and the rest of the school (their biscuits and packaging).

Overall the use of powerpoints is an effective tool to not only engage students but to enhance their knowledge, understanding and skills for a particular task. It is an easy and fun program to navigate around and has many talents such as charts, clip art, music, narration, video clips and many more to enhance the presentation and make it shine (ACT Media Ltd, 2009).

ACT Media Ltd. (2009). Power Point in the Classroom. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.actden.com/pp/index.htm

Kearsley, G. & Schneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Voki Avatars

Creating a voki avatar was exciting and fun as I played around and made outrageous characters before I decided to settle with my simple character. I found this web site interesting and easy to navigate my way around (which would be easy for digital natives!)
I think that this effective tool can be useful in helping ESL learners within the classroom develop language, reading and writing skills. As students develop their skills they can begin to record their own voices enhancing their speech e.g. pronunciation skills. It can also be used as a fantastic tool to engage the learners within a topic or even give them a chance to introduce themselves as they wish to be perceived to their peers on collaborative classroom sites such as a wiki web page.

Following Oliver's (as cited in AUTC, 2003) learning design framework, the Learning Manager (LM) will not only be able to develop an effective strategic plan to ensure student success but will be able to incorporate the use of Avatars to enhance their learning. The use of voki avatars can be developed within the learning tasks and resources (AUTC, 2003) aspect of Oliver's framework. Through the LM developing a learning design based upon trying to enhance a ESL learners phonetic skills through creating an investigation into different phonemes within the English language. By choosing one particular phoneme to focus on the LM can model this and then incorporate resources such as the use of the avatar simulation to help engage the students, make the phoneme memorable and practice to find the phoneme within spoken words (The Reading Genie, 2009).

AUTC. (2003) Learning Design. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

The Reading Genie. (2009). Making friends with Phonemes. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.auburn.edu/~murraba/phon.html

Voki. (2009). Voki Avatars. Retrieved July 28, 2009, from http://www.voki.com/mywebsite.php

Wikis

Wikis are an effective and useful collaboration tool and are becoming more popular within educational purposes each day. Wikis can be described as a web page primarily constructed for the use of online collaboration and authoring (Peterson, 2009). They are easily accessible for all individuals/groups and can be an effective pedagogical strategy. Wikis open up several avenues for students to gain success within their educational journey and can provide an appropriate space for students and teachers to work collaboratively and actively together. Wikis allow students to actively participate within their learning through activity based experiences while taking responsibility for their own learning (ACU,2000). There are many different ways to incorporate this effective etool within the classroom through creating and completing assessment items, classroom discussions and sharing ideas while evaluating and reflecting their own and others work/performance. Through collaboration with some other students within another subject we shared some useful and effective ways to help students enhance their knowledge base and skills through active hands on and meaningful activities (ACU,2000).



One idea conveyed within the group was students interacting and creating their own text book via a wiki website created by the teacher. The students would be given a topic and would discuss what they would write about within their text books e.g. whose point of view that would look at, what information they would include, how they would write the information (include journals, videos & other forms of text). From this the educator can assess what the students have collaborated and created, so they would be creating their own means of authentic assessment. Another idea is students can collaborate and gain skills via each year level e.g. grade 4 might create ideas for a story, grade 5 might write the story based on the collaboration of ideas and year 6/7 can edit and correct mistakes and finalise the book. Looking at these uses for wikis within the classroom it becomes evident that it follows the frame work of the Active Learning Processes ( ACU,2000). These steps within the active learning framework follows the Input, where students are accessing a multiple of sources through various senses such as visual materials (text, pictures, videos), audio (recordings, videos etc) and many more (ACU, 2000). The process is then followed where these students are interacting with these resources e.g. creating a text book with videos, diary entries etc stimulating multiple areas of the brain. Finally the students produce the output which would be the assessable item in which they have collaborated on and shown evidence of the active learning that has taken place (ACU, 2000). This according to Dales Cone (as cited in ACU ,2000) provides direct and purposeful experiences which is an effective and successful form of ensuring student success within the classroom.







References

ACU. (2000). What is Active Learning? Retrieved July 27, 2009, from http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whatisal.htm

Peterson, E. (2009). Using a Wiki to Enhance Cooperative Learning in a Real Analysis Course 19 (1). Retrieved July 27, 2009, from Proquest Database

Google Reader

Google Reader (as pictured) is a feed reader which allows the user to subscribe and read RSS and Atom feeds while online or offline (About.com, 2009) (Wikipedia, 2009). RSS (really simple syndication) and Atom are types of feeds which are lists of updated items from blogs, webpages or photo albums which can be a simple headline or an entire entry (About.com, 2009). After subscribing to my very own Google Reader I have found it quite easy to navigate my way around the page and easy to subscribe to the many different blogs or webpages I find interesting and wish to follow. By locating the RSS button on any webpage/blog (as featured)

I am able to follow and keep tabs on any new entries made by my peers making my life easy as I am able to read ALL new posts without trying to continously navigate my way back to their blogs/webpages wasting valuable time and my patience! Another aspect of this particular tool I find helpful and easy is my ability to create and sort these feeds into category folders and change the names so it is easier for myself to know who or what has made the latest update.

I think this is a fantastic tool to incorporate into the classroom to enhance the students knowledge base and skills. I would do this through asking each student to create their own blog (of course with the correct and proper safety measures taken) and ask students to use this as a collaborative tool to assist with developing their understandings on the content presented during lessons (homework). This will allow students to help each other (peer tutoring) in developing a deeper understanding of new processes learnt and allows those 'shy' students a chance to become actively involved within discussions and express their views and ideas without having to be face to face with others. The Google Reader will then allow these students to be able to keep tabs on each students entries without having to navigate their way to each page. It will also provide an effective tool for students to gather information from websites that may help them with assessment items. This pedagogical practice fits snugly with Kearsley & Shneiderman's(1999) engagement theory. It emphasises collaboration amongst a community of learners while providing active processes such as reasoning, problem solving and reflections (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999). This also creates an opportunity for self directed learning as the collaborated ideas that may be posted by students can lead to ideas for assessment pieces providing an authentic and engaging focus for students.