Assessment 2 - Learning eJournal Synopsis

The start of ICTs for Learning Design has also marked the start of my learning in the use of ICTs. My history with technology starts and ends with emails, internet searches and administration databases. I seem to be one of the few who find constant involvement with computers a burden rather than a blessing. Having been forced out of my comfort zone into the world of ICT, I have found that it is not as daunting as I thought and can actually be fun. I can see the use of ICTs in the classroom as an invaluable resource to educators to engage students. Modern children are comfortable and intrigued with ICTs and using these technologies to attract their interest and involvement is imperative. The use of ICTs supports a student centred pedagogy and the principles of both Engagement Theory and Active Learning. As a learning manager, I will need to use mediums which will be relevant and interesting to my students to engage them in the lessons.

A framework for technology based education is Kearsley and Schneiderman’s Engagement Theory (1999). This consists of three principle components “Relate-Create-Donate” and implies that learning activities occur in a group context, are project based and have an authentic focus. My understanding of engagement theory is that when students are collaborating in small groups working on a project for which they can see a purpose in the real world, they will be more interested, enthusiastic and motivated to learn. Therefore they are engaged and will develop a stronger understanding and retain more of the information they have learnt. This is also supported by the theory of Active Learning and Dale’s Cone, which states that the most effective method of learning is the use of direct, purposeful learning experiences. The use of ICTs such as emails, blogs and wikis allows students to be involved in teamwork, regardless of location, and having their work posted on an open forum, such as a blog or YouTube, provides them with a real world focus.

As part of our coursework, we have been exposed to a variety of different ICT programs. I will discuss some of these which I feel will be most relevant to my teaching. These are all programs which can assist the teacher in their professional career, but are by no means an exhaustive list.

Blogs are online journals and are a great tool for communication between teacher and student, and student and their classmates. The use of blogs promotes literacy and encourages the use of technology. It also encourages students to develop their own voice, encouraging critical deconstruction of material and ideas. Blogs also allow communication between students from around the country and the world, fostering a world view and an insight into diverse cultures. They would also be a great resource for teachers in rural areas and distance learning, such as we have used in the GDLT program to date.

A Voki is a talking avatar. They could be used as a tool to engage learners with different learning styles with a topic, as they are both a visual and auditory cue. I have embedded my own Voki in my blog. While this is a very simple introduction; I can see teachers using these as a ‘hook’ in the classroom. They are creative and fun, which is also important in maintaining student’s interest.

Wiki’s have great potential as a classroom tool for student collaboration. They can provide a platform for group project work which enables students an open forum for discussion. They enable students to show written examples, images and audio to provide evidence for their views. This is also another opportunity for students to work with children from different areas or countries online. As I discussed in my blog post Creating Wiki this would improve engagement due to the principles of Relate-Create-Donate, as the learning activity is a group project implemented on a public medium (Kearsley & Schneideman).

Flickr allows teachers and students to find pictures and files online which can provide emphasis and detail to the presentation of information. Teachers can use these for lessons, and students can use these for projects and presentations. Photo editing and image manipulation can also be done online at Picnik. Another well-known repository of images is YouTube. These videos can again provide a valuable resource for teachers and students for lessons and projects, providing knowledge and instructions in an entertaining format.

I have discussed these further in the following blog postings: Flickr and image manipulation, Picnik and Teaching with YouTube

There are many more resources available and it is easy to see the benefits to using ICTs in education are numerous. As part of my placement, I have yet to see any ICTs in use in a classroom, however in theory I can see that computers, interactive whiteboards, etc. would encourage a higher level of motivation and involvement from the students and provide great opportunities for learning managers. As we are living in a digital era, the roles children will grow to be employed in may not even be created yet, therefore we have to encourage children to develop critical and analytical thought to be able to evolve in a world of constant change. By using the Dimensions of Learning to foster effective habits of mind, we will encourage critical thinking, creative thinking and self-regulated thinking as described by Marzano & Pickering (1997). These will allow students to be effective lifelong learners. The ongoing development of new technologies is changing our world and our classrooms. As educators, we must also be lifelong learners, willing to adapt and be open to implementing these innovations for the benefit of our students.

References:
• Kearsley, G. & Schneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A Framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.html
• Marzano, R. And Pickering, D. Et al, (1997). Dimensions of Learning: Teacher’s Manual (2nd Edition), McRel.
• Active Learning. Retrieved from http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whyuseal2.htm

The following is a brief sample of my interaction with fellow GDLT student’s blogs:
http://anjalidatar.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-post.html
http://nataliearthurgdlt.blogspot.com/2010/04/what-to-do-with-those-constant.html