Educational discoveries » KLA’s

Shall we go on a quest?

victorialeighw — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 07:49:07 +0000

The use of technology in the classroom can often be isolated rather than integrated into all KLA areas. To assist with in the implementation of more meaningful e-learning experience in the classroom I have found a brilliant website! Quest Atlantis is an incredibly virtual world where students can be involved in KLA lessons without it feeling like school work! Based around an intergalactic planet called Atlantis, students need to enter virtual worlds and share their experience and knowledge of subjects such as water conservation and healthy living to help the people of Atlantis survive in their decaying planet. The virtual world also allows students to create their own avatar, and impact on there virtual world in a way that they may not be able to in the real world. The website not only integrates KLA’s but also provides teachers with the means to implement lessons in a constructionist manner. The website provides PDF units of work for teachers to use in their classrooms to facilitate this learning. This website was so exciting to explore!!!

The problems of integration

victorialeighw — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 09:22:58 +0000

After spending many weeks exploring different technological advancements and their specific uses in the classroom I have come to realise a complete dichotomy in pedagogical practices. It seems that whilst the majority of research and theories surrounding the need for technology to be an integral part of the primary school curriculum, there are still a majority of teachers who simplify the teaching of technology to a checklist of basic skills to be developed in the weekly computer classes. An interesting commentary on this particular aspect is the document entitled ‘A modern day fairytale.’ This skit shows how the phobia of technology can slow down progress dramatically by illustrating a potential reaction to the pencil when it was first developed. Whilst the example does seem ridiculous I think one important key point is that the pencil was eventually integrated seamlessly into the school environment where there was no longer a need for pencil specialists!! Isn’t that ideally how technology should be integrated? However, to quote a concept that my lecturer has often said, technology shouldn’t be used for the sake of using it, there should be clear pedagogical reasons for the application of technology, transforming the way that teaching, discovering and learning occurs.

To achieve this, teachers need to be attending professional development courses, have an adventurous spirit (never being content that the job was done well enough but constantly searching for new ways of integrating technology) and most importantly the support of colleagues and schools. Maybe in the future we can look back and laugh about how long it took for such key technologies to become a part of everyday life!

The Smartboard Debate

victorialeighw — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:45:19 +0000

I was checking through my fellow educational students blog postings when I came across Loren’s blog posting on her first prac experience. This particular posting was interesting to read. Firstly because I am yet to teach in a school that uses smart boards and so haven’t seen how they work, and secondly, I have heard mixed responses to this technology. Some teachers I have spoken to who have them in their classroom are of the opinion that they are just an educational ‘fad’ and do not really improve learning at all. Others (who do not have smartboards) have said they are too expensive for little benefit and so other resources should be purchased instead. I was pleased to hear Loren’s enthusiasm in regards to this technology and in particular the professional training and support being given to the teachers so that they can effectively use them in the classroom. I still haven’t even seen a smartboard and so am now even more intrigued as to how they can be used to integrate technology with all KLA’s.

World Maths day and IT

victorialeighw — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:53:24 +0000

through searching through the blogosphere I came across Rachel’s blog which contained an interesting piece on the world Maths day which was held on the 5th of March. As a student teacher it was helpful for me to gain insight into the the online Mathletics program and how this seemles IT integration has been successful in the classroom. The children that were involved in this mathletics program were given the chance to comment on their mathletics experience. Wouldn’t it be great to have such enthusiasm after every class???

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Comic innovations

victorialeighw — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:29:46 +0000

Here is a comic developed by Bridie Moore and myself to visually express the aspects of e-learning. For Bridie’s views on our comic go to her blog. An exciting feature of this comic program is the way that constructivism is active as students can easily use the program, comic life, to develop their own comics which can be used in all Key learning areas. For example students can create their own comic to illustrate an aspect of their family or community life for HSIE, they can demonstrate their knowledge of a maths problem or practice their English skills using a different medium. The key here is to be creative, if I, a technophobic, can make a comic, i’d love to see what you or your students could create! There will be more info on the idea of constructionism to come!

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