Course Reflection and Feedback

                                                         
                                                     




The opportunity to do the iLe@rn course for me has been a wonderful opportunity to discover so much more about how I can use the amazing technology of this millenium.

Being a teacher with over thirty years of experience, who trained, not only last century, but last millenium, I have seen so many changes that have happened in Education during that time. When I had the first computer placed in my classroom, I was terrified to touch it because I was scared that I might break it. We had been informed how expensive these new gadgets were, and I just didn't feel the need to have to buy a new computer if I broke the one in my room. It was the students who, unbothered by expense began using this machine. I thought it was probably just a phase and was not particularly interested in exploring it further.

                                                       




As the years rolled by, now there were computers (more than one!) in my classroom. Computers in the staffroom and for goodness sake computers at the bank where you could with withdraw money! I have to say my motivation began when I could get money out of a wall! So I conceded that perhaps weren't just a phase, but here to stay.........so I learned a lot from children who knew so much more than me. They could use the video, cd player, dvd and my young nephew taught me how to use predictive text on my mobile phone. 

                                                      




So reflecting on this course has enabled me to reflect on much more than just current technology. I guess that of course it means that you can "teach an old dog new tricks", but look at it closer...it has opened a whole new dialogue with colleagues, students and parents. We are each on our own learning path with technology and the interaction between all players means that we all are continually learning and adapting to new technology.

                                                 




So from cringing at the thought of computers about 25 years ago. I have come a long way. Of course I have an iPhone, a macbook, an ipod and an iPad. I troubleshoot when there is a technical problem. I follow blogs, do iChats, contribute to online communities, upload photos, use the computer as a reference point, google. I download and upload, email, save, store, file. I educate with technology and technology educates me. 

                                                   


In conclusion, doing an online course using technology to learn more about using technology has been a great experience. The chance to work at my own pace, also meant that I gave myself time to try new ideas, reflect upon my learning and if relevant try it in my classroom. 
        

                                                       






Thank you for proving this opportunity..........what's next?? HA! HA! 

Module - 10

Learning communities constructing knowledge together in Wikis

So.....What is a WIKI?

A wiki is an online opportunity for groups to collaboratively work on the same document. It negates the need for multiple emails, which could lose track of which document is  current. By accessing the same document and using the edit buttons, the document is open to changes and when saved the document is then the most up to date version of that particular information. This is a great tool that can be used by both teacher and colleagues or teacher and students. I really like the whole concept of wikis.

And...........What's the thing with the ning?

                                                                

                                                                 

Well, this is the thing with the ning.

About it I would like to sing.

But when I got there the cupboard was bare.

So about that thing ning, I can't sing?

                                                         

(Ning is currently removed and not accessible)

                                                                

Module - 9

Networks on the web,professional and social.

So, what is scootle?

Scootle is a teacher reference resource that is organised to allow educators access to the many digital resources now available online. Access to Australian resources is a bonus. It certainly takes time to understand how to use this site, but the benefits will become more evident the more I use it. I also like being able to read other teachers comments as this can inform my choices or suggest other aspects of the resource that I may not have discovered.

And.....what is social networking?

Social networking has certainly received a lot of attention as it has gradually become part of our daily lives. I have only used Facebook a few times and have found that there is a huge amount of unnecessary information shared and it is often mundane musings on people's lives. It is easy to waste a lot of time using this facility, but reflection on what is actually gained leads me to question the importance of such a network.

                                  

General discussion in the media tends to focus on people trying to now streamline contacts to try and distill the essence of what they want to actually achieve from such interaction. It seems that original fascination with sites such as YouTube, My Space and Facebook has worn thin because of the over-emphasison self - and anyone who may be interested. If you stand back from the information frenzy and choose to pursuit sites that are of your interests or hobbies, your political persuasion or your close social web, then I feel that you can benefit from this phenomenon. If you choose to wander aimlessly through these sites with no particular achievements, the it is probably time to "step away from the web"!

Connecting with real friends and socialising face to face is a much healthier way to be a part of the world. Observing from the sidelines, means you must be missing the point. This is why I believe that children must be closely supervised in the use and effect of social media, it's relevance and it's influence, good or bad in our lives. there are probably quite a few adults we need to keep an eye on too!

                                      

So keeping a healthy scepticism on social networking, I feel means I know how to be informed, with what and with whom on my own terms. 

Am I interested in Twittering? 

NO!


And what about Second Life?


Second life was an interesting site to explore. Whilst I am not a fan of the stilted animation I can see the many uses that this form of teaching could take. I guess that with time the bank of resources offered will increase , along with the interest of students who have been exposed to this type of animation all of their lives.

Module 8

Managing your flow of information on the internet.

So....what is an RSS feed?

An RSS feed is a format for gathering information from favourite sites by having them sent to you rather than spending time going to each individual site for updates. To prevent wasting time...

 

....Because, we all know that time flies...

How do I set up an RSS feed?

Go into google reader and set up an RSS feed from all of your favourite sites. This is a much faster way to read the web. Feeds from blogs, podcasts, news and reports are all available online. RSS feeds are a form of time management, so you can be briefed on all latest updates without the need for manually checking in whenever you get some free time. This allows you to simply browse updates without wasting time. As in previous blog entries, because of the enormous amount of information available this is another useful tool enabling us to filter information that is relevant without being swamped by "too much information!"

  

Module - 7

Building online communities.

Social Bookmarking using Delicious and sharing Blogs.

So.....what is social bookmarking......and how would I use it?

Since the very beginning of the wild ride that is the world wide web, an endless gathering of information has been made available to anyone with computer access. Unfortunately because of the volume of information at the click of a button, it is so easy to wander aimlessly around in search of information. If you have time on your hands, then it is very easy to become engrossed in the meandering path that is just one more click away. Modern life, however, does not mean that we have a huge amount of time to spend in search of information. With that idea in mind the use of social network sites assists the user to narrow their search and actually link to others who may be interested in the same topic. Being able to use tags to save useful information means that time is not wasted looking for that great site that you now can't find! The social links mean that you can easily link with people who have a similar interest in a topic. Links to web pages, photos videos and people are easily stored for your future reference. If you are a person who previously needed to print pages that you thought were useful, then you can store so much information or access to information without creating a mountain of papers, which you then had to file and store anyway. There are dozens of social networking sites available and I guess what you need to do is spend some time choosing which network best suits your needs. You also have the choice of keeping your information private, which I hope will mean I now won't be bombarded with advertisements. The opportunity to access blogs can be an enjoyable and informative experience. Reading the thoughts and ideas of someone with a similar interest to you can be rewarding and fun.

Module 6

Exploring photos and videos on the web.

What is Flickr?

Flickr is a free format for storing, sorting and showing photos online. It is a great resource for several reasons. Firstly, the capacity to store the thousands of photographs that we tend to take when using digital cameras.Secondly, it is easily accessed from all over the world, allowing us to share photos with friends and family. Finally it allows us easy accessibility for sorting, editing and printing.

What are content filters?

There are two types of content filters -
   *Safety Level  (safe, moderate and restricted).This allows you to choose appropriate photos for your audience.
   * Content Type - photos/videos, illustration/art, screencasts/screenshots. When uploading to Flickr, the person needs to decide where these images fit in the two categories. This allows viewers to filter their own access to your content.

What is safe search?

Safe search allows followers to set the level of content that they wish to be exposed to.

What are tags?

Tags are key words that assist in the sorting of photos - eg. jenny bali 2011.

How do I share photos with a group?

To share photos, you need to be a member of the the group. Click on the "Add to a group " link in the actions menu. Choose the group, then add your photos. 

  Reflections on Image sharing on the web.

 Using Flickr to share and store images allows me to organise the many digital images that I have collected myself. Something I have come to find in this digital age, is that because we are no longer loading and paying for a 12 or 24 film, we tend to take thousands of photos. We then store them away, often forgetting the volume of photos or videos we have stored. Within a short period of time even the most reluctant photographer creates a huge amount of images.  Flicker allows us to not only sort and store our images, but also allows us to choose who has access to our images. Access is a very important issue to consider when using the web. Who should have access to images and who owns the right to those images. As educators, we tend to be very careful when accessing the web with our students, but it is also important that we show them how to access and use these useful tools, without breaking copyright restrictions, as well as not becoming targets of inappropriate persons who may be trawling the web. The huge benefit of being able to access such facilities is the ability to visually inform students on so many levels. The wealth of image resources are endless. Therefore the uses to us as educators knows no boundaries. What an amazing resource we have at our fingertips!