ME, MYSELF & I

“MiLK is a Mobile Learning Kit that connects students and teachers through simple and effective technology and pushes the boundaries of the teaching and learning beyond the classroom into the other environments students inhabit both now and in the future”.(MiLK, 2008).

To view a short demonstration of the MiLK interfaces click here.

This is an excellent example of the way in which mobile technology can be integrated into the classroom environment. Right now in many schools mobile phones are banned. Although I have experienced how frustrating it can be if students are allowed access to their mobile phones in school I feel that concepts like MiLK are allowing teacher to use this technology we all have to their advantage and it allows the students to be engaged in their own learning. It is an exciting new tool for schools to consider using in the future.

“The relationships I strengthened with my students are perhaps the thing I found the most powerful about using MiLK. (High School Visual Arts Teacher)”. (MiLK, 2008)

Reference:

MiLK, Mobile Learning Kit. Retrieved November 7^th, 2008. From:

http://www.milkit.com.au/

This Youtube/Teachertube video shows us what we need to try to do to open our classrooms up to be global classrooms of the 21^st century. It promotes the concept of having a creative, competitive, co-operative and collaborative classroom where students can interact with other students and people from around the world. It is a wonderful concept which opens up endless possibilities for students to internationally collaborate on amazing learning projects. It unfortunately does not seem possible for many schools however as the technological resources necessary for projects like these are not available in many public schools within NSW. Perhaps with the Rudd Governments Education Revolution this may happen in the future.

Reference

Halaw, J. Youtube. Retrieved November 7^th, 2008. From:

This article, Technology Together: a structured approach to effective ICT professional development and culture change for schools really shows the feelings that I experienced from the schools I attended for both my practical experiences. I found that the teachers that were in the schools found the technology when available was very daunting and unreliable and it was easier for them to use their old approaches to lessons rather than look unconfident or have the lesson planned not work due to technological problems or failures. “Many teachers are daunted by the rapid rate of technological change, and have difficulty coming to terms with the feeling that they will never ‘know enough’.”(Phelps, R. Graham, A. 2007). The article brings to light a research program called “Technology Together that has been collaboratively developed through a three year action research project, funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC).”(Phelps, R. Graham, A. 2007). The research was done in 6 schools with teachers to see how they felt about using technology and to work out ways those teachers could have their issues addressed for future development and training.

With the aging nature of teachers in NSW schools at present I feel that their really does need to be some form of in school training and assistance to support these teachers in learning to integrate ICT into their teaching practice and also training provided for pre-service teachers who will be replacing many retiring staff in the future years. Without this training and support what is the benefit of bring technology into the schools as teaching tools if the staff does not understand how to use it to its full potential.

Reference

Phelps, R. Graham, A. (Winter 2007) Technology Together: a structured approach to

effective ICT professional development and culture change for schools. Quick; n.103 p.15-16.

After viewing the Youtube Renata Stadler had for her post, A Vision of Students Today, and reading her reaction, it made me realize how disengaged some students feel and even how I feel going through this education degree.

There really needs to be an education makeover not only in the way teachers teach the students but also the design and layout of a classroom and an entire school. Schools have been run the same way for too many years and with the use and availability of technology now I feel that our school systems are out dated. You can see it in the students faces, they spend so much of their lives at school learning the necessary skills and knowledge to join the work force and build their futures that I feel we owe it to them to find new ways to engage and excite them. I do not feel that ICT is the only way a student should learn however it is a tool which can assist us in teaching and one that consumes our lives in almost every area.

Renata states that “Essentially, our students are our clients. 100 years ago this might not have been the case but it is now, if for no other reason than that’s the way society has been shaped. As our clients, we need to make sure that they get what they bargained for, a relevant education.” And I feel this is a very true and important statement we need to concentrate on.

I think from reading Mia Shin’s post, The Gender Gap: Why do girls get turned off to technology? Concerning the way in which girls are not as interested in technology is very interesting. Her comment “for females consider computers as tools to facilitate work instead of source of entertainment (like boys)” is very true. I believe that the games have not in the past been aimed at girls in the right way. Like Mia said “Unlike the boys who like destroying (walls, enemies), girls like nurturing and creating (dolls, house, etc) in games”. If girls are to be encouraged to participate in ICT like boys do there needs to be a change in the way they are designed.

The two examples Mia posted are excellent examples of the kind of game/activity that would encourage girls to participate and interact more with technology.

I feel that is may also be just that girls are excited by different things to boys and that it is not necessarily a bad thing that they do not want to spend all of their time on computers, I feel that computers are just a tool and perhaps we really need to encourage boys to step back from technology a bit and get out into the real world a little more. This could just be because I am a girl though.

This article, Making History Come Alive really opened my eyes to how students can benefit for learning with technology. Only a few years ago teaching and learning methods like these were out of reach for most schools and students. Now that technology has improved so much and become affordable to almost anyone the possibilities have opened up to places I would never have dreamed they could.

What an amazing project for students to be involved with and to learn from. “While expanding students’ depth of understanding of the Holocaust, the project provides a public service through the publication of their interviews. It directly addresses part of the Urban School’s mission of extending our reach to the community by meaningful engagement with the world outside the classroom”. (Levin, H. 2003).

This is definitely an area that all schools could be involved with and would allow students to not only produce and learn themselves but allows the wider community to become involved as well.

People from around the world can now learn and contribute to each others knowledge bank.

Levin, H. (2003). Making history come alive: Students interview Holocaust survivors and publish their stories. Learning and Leading with Technology 31(3), 22-27.

This is Laura and my Immersion Activity option 2 that we produced. The idea was that we had to produce a 30-60 second video-based advertisement for ‘Learning with Technology’ within our KLA of Visual Arts.
We have posted it on Youtube for it to be viewed.

This article What the research says about digital video in teaching and learning  gives a brief look in to what research says about the advantages of using Digital Video within your teaching practice. Being a Visual Arts teacher we actually have a syllabus called Photography and Digital Media which is designed for stage 5 students and within this students look very closely and use DV to create art pieces. The fact that video cameras and editing software has become cheaper and easier to use allows the students a lot more flexibility and scope to create amazing art works in a shorter period of time.

I had not thought so much about how it could be used within other KLA’s but can see its benefits could be excellent for all areas. The Literacy component that was discussed in the article is very true and a great way to cover that content area within your programs. Allowing students to write scripts, story boards, etc…

DV is definitely a way to get the students engaged in the area you are teaching, it brings their current world around them in to the classroom “DV production draws on students’ out-of-school interests, particularly their knowledge of television and film”.(Parker, 2002).

Reference

BECTA (2003). What the research says about digital video in teaching and learning. BECTA. UK.

In response to Steph Olmoss’ blog on the article ‘Stuffing technology into the Curriculum’, I am in complete agreement with her comments. Although the government may feel that they are doing their bit for education in Australia by implementing this technology in to schools, they need to stop and listen to the people who will actually have to use these tools and resources to teach the next generation. It is an area where the government could get it very wrong like they have some many times before. “Teacher’s should be allowed to pick which tools they are going to use just like a builder picks their tools the same should go for teachers.” (Olmoss, S. 2008).

It is very important for teacher to have access to a wide variety of tools and resources and also to have the correct ones which suit their teaching area. What is the point of having all of this technology in the classroom if it’s not the right piece for the task?

I feel that a board needs to be setup by the government that really listens to the teacher and what their needs are for them to be able to effectively teach their students. Perhaps even schools need to be allocated money that can be spent in the right areas instead of a one size fits all package.

The government need to take one step back and re-think their education revolution before they waste the limited funds they have, its wonderful that they want to spend money in education but it must be spent the right way.

In relation to Alex Miller’s Blog on the article ‘Concern over teen internet habits’, I feel that he is right in saying that although these teenage girls that died had written their death letter per say on their myspace page the day before their death, it is no different to them writing a hand written letter. This cry was a cry for help that unfortunately was not seen in time. “Our current social trends largely point the finger to look for anything or anyone to blame.” (Miller, A. 2008)  

The internet does not make people kill themselves it is a place where people have the ability to now meet people from around the world that they could not possibly have contact with without it.

The only concern I have is that there is an increase in cyber bullying and also it has allowed for extreme groups to be able to form more easily and perhaps ideas can be put in to vulnerable minds.

It is an area that we have little control over and something that will have to be monitored in to the future to ensure our children and students are not forming the ‘wrong friends’ or being treated the wrong way.