WH&S Funny Video

Source: youtube - Channel1TrainingVids

Other why's and how's of using Blogs and e-learning tools

Through the use of blogs and other digital tools I would hope to fully engage all students by incorporating strong, safe ICTs across the KLAs in a collaborative and ethical manner.  I would allow for differentiation in e-learning.  I need to be aware that even if I use a particular digital tool that I may have differentiation within the students.  Children who do not have good numeracy and literature skills should not be held back.  I would make sure the workload and the level of teacher support was appropriate and use varied styles of learning including individual, group and whole class work. 

Learners need to know through efficient feedback which direction they are heading and what is the desired learning outcome.  Different undertakings would be developed and designed to work through the full range of Bloom's Taxonomy including higher order thinking and utilising realistic life orientated tasks to make meaning.  This would all be aided through the use of appropriate online tools, such as Glogs, concept mapping tools, digital images and Blogs and thinking routines such as PMIs, SWOT’s and de Bono's hats.  I believe that the better students are at higher order thinking skills such as these, then the better they are at completing examinations like Naplan etc.

Ethical, Safe and Responsible Practices

Students and teachers need to always show self-respect whilst sharing resources and online spaces. Students and teachers must make sure that intellectual property and copyright laws and codes of practice are followed.  This includes making sure that creators of digital media are identified and acknowledged, citing references where applicable with students understanding the concept of plagiarism. Students and teachers should have their own passwords and understand that danger can and does exist with regards to our personal information in any given online environment.

BLOGS

BLOGS

I will from now on be able to look back and say that by having to create my own blog it allowed me to start to live and operate in the digital world which is now something that I have to encourage to others, through my own teaching and examples of such that this is the area which we need to heading in to.  

With respect to blogs, I have chosen to expand on the opportunities that a Blog has through the use of a SWOT analysis for this particular digital tool.  This particular tool would also be engaging to all year levels and allows for a variety of different options to provide input.

SWOT for Blog tools

Strengths

Creates strong engagement

Interactivity by the whole class and also others outside of this.

24/7 learning availability

Others can comment (Interactive)

Can show your own personality

Flexibility in learning

Weakness

Limited physical learning

Need for computer and Internet

Can limit real life situations

Cant control feedback

Time consuming

Opportunities

Students can take control of their own learning

Creativity

Being able to work with new technology

Incorporates many multi-media forms. IE: links to web pages, other blogs, videos etc.

Threats

The use of teachers may be limited

Student safety (cyber bullying)

Predators

Role of teachers will definitely change

Group 4 Tools

Online Concept Mapping - I have looked at a number of group 4 tools and have found a number of them to be very useful.  I did however find online concept mapping tool quite easy to use and can see this as a very useful tool in the classroom particularly for students to create themselves.

This tool would be of great use in a business class as it can help students visually identify key strategies for business and also help to develop other things such as chain of command mapping for a workforce.

It can also be used in Health and Physical Education similarly to the concept map here which I have made with text2mindmap.

I found text2mindmap really easy to use and it would be ideall for lower secondary years (8, 9 and 10).

Bubbl.us was used to create my second concept map.  This was just as easy to use as text2mindmap and can be used in pretty much the same concept.  It does however appear to be more structured but depending on what you are trying to teach either concept mapping tool can be used for a variety of KLA's.

I have chosen to expand on the use of concept mapping tools through

the use of a scaffolded PMI analysis.

Plus (all the positives)	Minus (all the negatives)	Implications (the potential outcomes whether positive or negative)
Easily accessible Easy to use. Can be fun and engaging Allows for creativity through different styles of tools available (Text2Mindmap, bubbl.us, iMindMap) Students can create individually and/or in groups Useful across all KLA’s Suitable for all abilities.	Can be used ineffectively Can be used incorrectly. .	Can be used in many different ways for all class levels and across all KLA’s Can be embedded Promotes thinking methodically and sequentially

Zooburst - I also had a quick look at zooburst.  This is a very easy tool to use however I found that it would be more useful to primary school rather than secondary school as I feel it is aimed more at a lower age group and would have a greater appeal at this level.  Still quite a good tool though.

Source: http://www.zooburst.com/zb_books-viewer.php?book=4c7ef3f8366e9 - Created by shortstuff44 on October 22, 2011

Group 3 Tools

GLOGSTER - on swimming techniques.


 
Glogster References.

Source: Smoothswim. (2012, Jan 12). The smoothest swimming technique in the world? Jono Van Hazel [Video File]. Retreived from http://youtu.be/s3HhNlysFDs

Source: Vasatrainer. (2010, Feb 10). Technique: Proper Hand Placement to improve Freestyle Swimming Efficiency [Video File]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/ZTQpF_mmg44

Source: theraceclub. (2011, April 27). Fast Swimming Secret Tip - Core Exercise [Video File]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/yrz67cH_P8o

Freestyle High Elbow Catch [Photograph]. (nd). Retreived from https://www.google.com.au/search?q=freestyle+swimming+photos&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4NOOH_enAU518AU518&biw=1920&bih=940&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JgNpUem9DY-viQfrkoCwCw&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QsAQ

Elephant Swimming [Photograph]. (nd). Retreived from https://www.google.com.au/search?q=freestyle+swimming+photos&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4NOOH_enAU518AU518&biw=1920&bih=940&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JgNpUem9DY-viQfrkoCwCw&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QsAQ

Three swimmers [Photograph]. (nd). Retreived from https://www.google.com.au/search?q=freestyle+swimming+photos&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4NOOH_enAU518AU518&biw=1920&bih=940&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JgNpUem9DY-viQfrkoCwCw&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QsAQ

Two swimmers [Photograph]. (nd). Retreived from https://www.google.com.au/search?q=freestyle+swimming+photos&hl=en&qscrl=1&rlz=1T4NOOH_enAU518AU518&biw=1920&bih=940&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=JgNpUem9DY-viQfrkoCwCw&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QsAQ

Wow - now this to me is a very useful teaching tool.  I will definitely use this in the classroom.  This is my first Glogster and it may have taken a little bit of time but it was worth it.  A great tool for every teaching area.  Particular my two teaching areas (H&PE and Business).

For secondary students teacher support would realistically only be required for setup procedures and this would quickly reduce as this particular tool does offer a lot for each individual or groups own creativity and input.

I have chosen to do my analysis on Glogster and will use a PMI analysis on this particular tool.  I have chosen this tool as I believe it would be engaging to all year levels and allows for a variety of different options to provide input.

Plus (all the positives)	Minus (all the negatives)	Implications (the potential outcomes whether positive or negative)
·      Easy to use. ·      Can be fun and engaging ·      Allows for creativity ·      Information can be digitally stored and is easily retrievable ·      Allows for students to display their work ·      Students can create individually and/or in groups ·      Useful across all KLA’s ·      Suitable for all abilities. ·      Incorporates images, video, information, text, animation, audio	·      Access to computer and the internet is required ·      Teachers need to be very mindful of where students are retrieving their content from. ·      Can be time consuming with respect to sourcing different types of information and digital content. ·      A little slow to upload.	· Incorporates many multi media forms · Can be embedded · Unlimited styling which enhances appeal · Can be viewed publicly if desired

PREZI - on Business Studies - I made this Prezi and found it to be relatively easy. I thought I should change subjects as everything I seem to be doing has a Health and PE flavour to it.   Prezi presents itself as a useful teaching tool which can have many uses in the classroom and would cover a range of different KLA's.

INTERACTIVE POWERPOINT - on Working in a Coal Mine for Business Students

Work in coal mines from mickbusby

I created this slide show on microsoft powerpoint and then uploaded it to slideshare.net so I could then embed it onto my blog.

This was easy to make and like the other group 3 tools is also an excellent tool to use in the classroom.  This tool can be used for any year level and for any KLA which makes it a very versatile.

As you can see I have aimed this slide show at business students to try and show what is required for gaining employment at a basic level onto a mine site.  I figure that if I am going to start creating these digital tools, I may as well use it as an opportunity to start my portfolio.

I have added all these three creations as listed above to my website which I intend to now use as my online filing cabinet for future teaching needs and resources.

Providing links within the Blog

Take a look at this section of my Blog with regards to Prensky.  This is basically for my own benefit, in particular for my assignment reflection.  I can use the linking tool for other links like my website and wiki.  I just needed to make sure that I can do it within my blog.  Hope it works.  Thought I might put a photo in for the fun of it as well.

Picture of a cochlear implant.

(Image permission for use granted by the parents)

This is just another example of digital images as a useful tool in the classroom.  A lot of people including students would not know what a cochlear implant looks like.  By showing a photo we can quite easily demonstrate very quickly what it is.  With respect to my teaching area, something like this could be useful in a Physical Education class where the topic may be about health issues.

By the way do you like my little star.