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 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.

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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