Interactive Whiteboards

Smart Boards/Interactive Whiteboards are a fantastic invention. You can attach a computer, DVD player, have the internet all running through the whiteboard. They come with interactive pens which need to be configured when purchased. The teacher or learner can write on the board and the writing transforms itself into text.

Their are many advantages of having an interactive whiteboard in the classroom. Some advantages are that children seem to enjoy the interaction and experience of using the boards. It helps children with additional needs, it caters for all kinds of learning styles through seeing, touching and you can sometimes hear it. I would love to be able to have a classroom that had an interactive whiteboard. You can use it for many applications. I would like to brainstorm on it, it would be great for mindmaps. If we were researching Egypt, we could jump online and onto Google Earth, locate the pyramids and take a snap shot for our project, all in the comfort of your classroom.

Like anything else their are disadvantages, and I feel the top one would be the cost. The wires hooked to the board can be hazardous around the learner's, when the projector is too far away from the screen it can be very sensitive and also shadows from the learner's can be a problem at times. But overall I feel the IWB's would be a great investment for any school, the benefits really outway the disadvantages, and the fact that they have found children to be more engaged is a big upside.

This is a video explaining how Smart Boards work:-




I really like this video because it gives you an idea how student orientated the smart boards can be, each child can get up and have a turn, getting the children motivated and engaged with the task at hand.



References

Smartclassrooms. (2009, April 13). SMART Boards Why are they so easy to use? [Video File]. Retrieved on May 8, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U05WeXPGlk

daviddettman. (2009, October 30). Student's using smartboard [Video file]. Retrieved on May 8, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBgx5AeoGlo&feature=related

Digital Storybooks

Digital Storybooks are an engaging and effective way to get our learner's keen to learn. They can send powerful messages, they can help motivate the learner as well as being enjoyable to watch. For a classroom activity I would ask the children to take digital photos, draw pictures, write a story and put them altogether using Powerpoint and turn their group work into a digital story. They learn how to work in a group, to collaberate with each other, and use the tools they are familiar with and enjoy. I have compiled a serious of photos of The Titanic and put the soundtrack from the blockbuster movie in the background to prove how easy it is to quickly create a Digital Storybook.
I hope you enjoy this:-





Digital Storybooks can come in many different forms, some ways are through videos, podcasts, powerpoints and so on. I have embeded a YouTube video below to help explain:-




References

Stanford's Teacher Education Program. (2009, June 20). Digital storytelling in plain english [Video File]. Retrieved on May 8, 2010, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zP6CeGLPuOY

Riccadonna 1. (2010, May 8). My Titanic Digital Storybook [Video File]. Retrieved on May 8, 2010, from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvSvOrxbnek

YouTube

YouTube is used by millions of people world wide. It has become a phenomenon. YouTube was founded in 2005 and is now the most popular online video community on the web. You can watch and share millions of videos. You can also create a Blog on YouTube as well. People can watch your videos and leave you feedback. I have embedded a video below to show you an example of how you could ustilise YouTube in a classroom. You would not use on its own, it is only a tool to assist with other activities.





This is an example of how you can accommodate a child with special needs as well as teaching the same concept to the rest of the learner's.






References

DavidOsaka. (2009, February 16). ABC'S and 123's [Video File]. Retrieved May 5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkRdMQTkLa0&feature=player_embedded

My Wee Hands. (2007, September 18). Wee hands - The Alphabet Song [Video File]. Retrieved May 5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TYeqrDLHUc&feature=player_embedded

Google Earth

Google Earth lets you view all over the world. You can even view destinations in 3D. Use autotilt. You can GEO-TAG photos onto google earth to track where you were at the time of that photo. If you look up Bundaberg on Google Earth, you will find their is information on Wikipedia relating to Bundaberg.

Google Earth will be an excellent tool to have in the classroom because if we are doing a project on Egypt and The Pyramids, we can do a Virtual Tour with a few clicks of the mouse, the detail is extraordinary. You can look up ShipWrecks, Fish Tracking so many cool gadgets you can play with, I lost hrs on this program. I went to view my old home as a kid and it is still there. The beauty of this is that its:-

1.It’s free
2.You get real satellite imaging
3.You can travel anywhere in the world
4.You can take virtual tours of famous places
5.It’s easy to install
6.It’s easy to use
7.You can take still shots and send pictures
8.You can save places you have used before

Google Earth allows you to plot travel routes, complete homework and school assignments, learn or teach geography, visit your hometown/nostalgia or just explore the world at leisure.

With Google Earth, you literally have the whole world in your hands. Get your free download of Google Earth today and find out how to make it work for you. Watch the link:-




References


Photo courtesy of Google Earth™ mapping service/Digital Globe 2007 copyright (Retrieved May 8, 2010) from
http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/google-earth-31.jpg&imgrefurl=http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/google-earth6.htm&usg=__W0JYB1MaVd-PTohZei5HD-mgdJU=&h=345&w=400&sz=79&hl=en&start=14&sig2=jLLpSakzI0Pzd55odkWDbw&itbs=1&tbnid=kHbLDuzuDj-4qM:&tbnh=107&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgoogle%2Bimage%2Bof%2Begypt%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=PD7mS8ebCpfWswOdjdDRCw

Incompetech

I found this site quite difficult to understand, I did however download audio that I found very nice. Incompetech is a site that stores all kinds of music, a library of royalty free music anywhere from pop to classical.

This site can be useful in a classroom setting, to be able to download audio for projects and assessments or demonstrations. To add audio to PPT to draw attention to it. I used this site to download audio I feel is calm, soothing and relaxing to play whilst teaching my learner's yoga and meditation. It would work with inside play such as puzzles and reading time.

I have attached the audio below but I had to attach it using Movie Maker. I am unsure as to how to attach a MP3 file to play back.

http://incompetech.com/

Mahara

Well I think this can be a useful program over time as it becomes your professional portfolio, it stores all your information for any future employer. This is what I learn't and we call this Life-Long learning. This program works together with Moodle.

With Mahara, the users can share all their views or they may only want to share some of their views, it is totally up to the user. They can share different views with different groups formed. This is a great little tool, especially when working on different topics and groups. Mahara is a great example for Relate, Create, Donate. (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999).

Below is a short clip to help explain Mahara for first time users:-



This video clip is a more detailed version which I also found very helpful:-



References

Moodleman2. (2008, May 6). Moodle and mahara [Video file]. Retrieved May5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a3I5xj6k5s&feature=player_embedded

SolentLTU. (2009, November 26). Mahara e-portfolios [Video file]. Retrieved May 5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y32NoAgN9Ik&feature=player_embedded

RSS Feeds - "Really Simple Syndication"

RSS is another useful tool to help you keep track of all the items you have read, all the sites you have visited, all the Blogs you wish to track. To Keep track of Blogs all you have to do is subscribe to them. I myself use a program called Stumble, I find this works for me, I also use Google Reader. I have found this saves me so much time looking for new posts on Blogs and current information on the websites I like to visit.

Once you login to your RSS, you need to subscribe to each website you like, each Blog you want to monitor.

Teacher's could use this tool to keep track of their learner's progress when they are completing projects/homework. Their family and friends can also do this. I am currently tracking my friend's blog, she is currently travelling around the world and blogs to her blog regularly. I get to see where she has been upto, where she has been. I get to see all her updated photos, it is so handy.

Below is a YouTube clip explaining What is RSS?






Reference

Lockergnome.(2007, May 29). RSS explained [Video file]. Retrieved on May 5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8G5dFddz8c&feature=player_embedded

Wiki - Wikispaces

I have to admit I must have had my head in the sand before beginning this subject. I had heard of Wikipedia before but never really understood how it worked and never utilised it. I did not understand the theory behind it all, but now I can understand it so much better. Anyone can begin a Wiki, it is very easy to create and edit. There are many free Wiki sites available online, I am a user of Wikispaces, but I am sure they are pretty much similiar to each other.

I feel we as the 21st century teachers really need to grasp all the ICT available for us with both hands. As (Prensky, 2001) says "Today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed to teach". This is so very true and I feel ICT is the key. This education system is very outdated, it has not changed for years now, it is the same since I went to school, the only real difference I see is they have Computer lessons every week. These learner's need to be challenged, they are becoming bored with the same mundane tasks offered at school. Just imagine for one second what it would have been like for us if we were taught like they were back in the 1940's for instance. It is up to us to get tech savvy, we need to be on the same page as our learner's. We want to have engaged learner's, learner's that are motivated and keen to learn, to accomplish this we need to take Marc Prensky's advice. "Engage Me or Enrage Me" (Prensky,2001) Marc Prensky also made a very valid point. "Student's certainly don't have short attention spans for their games, movies, music or Internet surfing". (Prensky, 2001)

Our learner's can create their own Wiki for a class project and they can edit, upload photos, diagrams and maps to this site. This tool is so amazing because it teachers our learner's to collaberate with each other. We not only share with our class, we can share with a friends and family and to the whole world and get constructive feedback.

I really think Wiki's are going to be such a useful and effective tool for when I begin teaching. I will be trying to get the learner's to use this tool quite abit. This idea will be such a great way to assist children witht their homework, and assist learner's who are away on a holiday or can not able to attend due to illness. This gives these learner's the opportunity to catch up on lessons lost. The teacher can leave instructions, links to websites she would like learners to focus on, attach Avatars etc. Wiki's are also a wonderful tool for learner's that live in remote areas to be able to access current lessons. For learner's that have individual needs that need to be focused on. The sky is the limit with this tool, truly amazing.

I have a sample of my Wiki, there is not alot on here as I have not had alot of time. Enjoy

http://mywikijourney.wikispaces.com/Assessment+3

When reading through our information on Moodle I came across the following clip from YouTube. The clip is about a Korean Internation School creating a Wiki for their project. I found this very interesting and I gained alot of knowledge from it, its definately worth viewing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmkqcp11pHM&feature=player_embedded

When I am beginning to feel very comforting with using Wikispaces and have much more time, my goal is to create a Wiki called The Holocaust. This is a subject that is very close to my heart. I have read many many novels and textbooks relating to this subject, watched many movies and documentaries. I would like to put all this information I have slowly gathered into one area. I can scan the books that I have read, the videos I have watched, upload the images I have and also attach the images through Google Earth to locate the camps exact position. I have also planned where I want to travel to so I can locate the Motels, Museums and so on. I can't wait.


Reference

mysterbee06. (2007, October 19). 21st century learning [Video file]. Retrieved on May 5, 2010 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmkqcp11pHM&feature=player_embedded

Picasa, Flickr and Picnik

This is a collage of the same photo which I edited, the top one is the original and the bottom one has been edited in black and white. I have also added a boarder. All done using Picasa.

This is a photo of myself. I had fun using Picnik, as you can see I put a crown on and a tattoo on my arm. Very user friendly program, but very fun and addictive. Wasted so much time on this site....

This is a collage I have created using Picasa. I chose what photos I wanted, what kinds of collage format and then got Picasa to create it. I love this design, and I use these collages every week. I take photos of my after school care children doing an activity then I print a collage to put on the noticeboard to show parents what their children have been doing. I include these photos in their Powerpoint presentation they are given at the end of the year.

Picasa, Flickr and Picnik

Picasa, Flickr and Picnik are online programs that you can utilise to upload and store your photos to, you can edit, crop, adjust colour and contrast and you can purchase photos online as well, all from the comfort of your own home. Amazing really. I personally use the Big W Online Photoshop to print my photos and create gifts such as Albums and Keyrings. I also use Picasa for my editing program, only because I have always used it, it does what I need it to do, although the other programs on offer I'm sure are good programs also and have more features.

Programs such as these can be very effective in the classroom. If a child has show and tell, instead of bringing in expensive objects, they could photograph their show and tell and show the other children via Flickr or Picnik. In a classroom environment we could upload any excursion photos, performance, videos and so on for parent's to see and get copies of, as long as all parent's consented and we set the account up as private viewing and not public. Children can show us their family holiday snaps without risking bringing them in and getting them damaged. There are so many opportunities to use this technology.

I have a few photos I have edited to show you what the software is capable of:

This is one of my holiday snaps in Thailand. I have once again used Picasa as my editing program because this is where my private photos are stored.

This is the same photo. I edited using the Soft Focus filter in the Picasa program.

I have embedded a video of my friend who I travelled overseas with, I have her permission to use this video. I published this via Flickr:-



I hope I have demonstrated the uses of all these programs and their abilities to be able to be used effectively in a classroom setting. They can be used in many ways and can be used as wonderful tools within a classroom environment. The learner's can take photos and videos for projects. They can then insert these into their Blog, Wiki or a create a Powerpoint presentation. Everything is student orientated, student's can work together in small group, collaberating together.

References



Helen's Terror (n.d). Retrieved May, 8 2010, from
http://www.flickr.com/photo_embed.gne?id=4530463443

Powerpoint Presentations

Powerpoint presentations are a way of life for most people, powerpoint presentations are used throughout so many industries. I myself having been learning and getting trained using this teaching method for many years now. I do QCAN Workshops on a regular basis and they use this teaching technique, First Aid training, Lectures and thats just to name a few. Powerpoint is a very easy program to learn, very easy for children to operate. My child has been using Powerpoint at school for quite a number of years now and she is now in Grade 7 and very competent with the program. I have used Powerpoint to create an E-Book called "Fun at After School Care". I wrote the sample book. I used my own voice to narrate the story. I also used sound effects throughout the presentation to keep the children engaged and excited to listen. This is a great idea for the children as they can create their own story, each child could write and illustrate a page each, the children could read their page and use their voice to narrate their part of the story, but we would need to get Media consents from parents. I have managed to put this onto my Blog using Slideshare, but haven't been successful with the audio that's attached to it I am sorry. I have also used Powerpoint to create activities for the children. Some activities are:- > My Number Story > How many animals can you see? > The Letter Q Powerpoint is such an effective tool to help create education more fun and helps to get the children involved in their learning. Instead of sitting with paper and a pencil, we can create a much more workable and exciting environment to keep these children engaged and interacting.

My first E-Book

View more presentations from guestae21569e.

I use Powerpoint at my service to store photos, music and activities for the learners and at the end of the year I put them onto a CD for their parent's as a keep sake.