E-Learning is the involvement and encouragement of technological tools in the classroom within this 21st century society. E-Learning provides a platform for creativity and innovation by “giving students access to a broader range of knowledge and ideas, making the potential for thinking and learning more visible, and by leveraging student collaboration and engagement with the world outside the classroom” (Queensland Government, 2010).
In this 21st century our learners live and breathe technology everyday. For many children, it has become so much apart of their lives that it is now integral to their daily activities (QSA, 2007, p. 1). Due to this necessity of technology within our lives, it has become apparent that it is vital to be technologically competent.
Not only does technology come in the form of a computer anymore, now days it incorporates audio and visual aids, several differentiated computations, and communication devices. E-Learning encompasses this range of technologies and stresses the importance of the implementation of technology in the classroom, as it has the ability to enhance our students’ learning and understandings. It has been suggested that, “these new and different ways of learning build on good practice and value-add to student opportunities and outcomes” (Queensland Government, 2010).
In our society technology has a strong connection to our students and their interests. Due to technology being so relevant to our students’, its implementation supports, knowledge acquisition and integration, and extending and refining in the classroom. Marzano and Pickering suggest that the incorporation of authentic tasks in the classroom allows students’ to see the relevance of the activity and therefore “are more likely to be engaged in them” (1997, p. 1). Therefore, it is evident why the integration of e-learning within our classroom is integral to our students’ learning.
As future Learning Managers, it is important to realise the new and possible learning experiences technology offers to the classroom. Through the discovery of many technology tools I have learnt that e-learning has the ability to endorse collaboration not only with classroom peers but with students’ from different classrooms, schools and parts of the world. Students also become willingly engaged in classroom tasks not only because of the authenticity of the learning, but rather because of the new and interesting ways data and information can be presented. I believe all of these points demonstrate what e-learning is and why it is so important for 21st century learners. As life-long learners it is vital to adapt to the ever-changing world. It has become vital to access the best learning tools so that our learners’ are engaged and therefore achieve the standards they are capable of, due to good implementation of digital pedagogy in the classroom.
What does it look like in my context?
The students in my classroom are in grade three. Therefore, it is important that all information is clear, concise and accessible when learning experiences are scaffolded through the use of technology. The learners in my classroom learn best through active involvement and engaging tools. Therefore, enjoy the use of digital pedagogy within the classroom.
What are the barriers and limitations to E-Learning in my context?
In the classroom three computers are available for the learners, meanwhile computer lab visits are limited. This obviously restricts the opportunity for individual learning using technology tools.
What are the opportunities in my context?
Although independent learning is restricted, a data projector is available within the classroom, therefore the implementation of technology is possible on a whole class level. Technology tools such as, PowerPoint, Bubbl.us, YouTube and images can be effectively incorporated into the classroom, to enhance student learning and involvement.
Personal journey and discovery of E-Learning tools
Throughout the past month of my studies I have come to learn the many benefits technology tools have within the classroom. I have engaged with numerous tools that have the ability to enhance the learning of all differentiated learners in the classroom. Throughout my studies I have learnt how vital it is, as a future learning manager, to have sufficient skills regarding technology, so that authentic tasks for learners are able to frequently occur. It has been stated that, ”’on-line’ and ‘e-learning environments’ are predicted to be the preferred medium for learning into the future” (Lynch & Knight, 2010, p. 46). Due to this revelation it is evident that present and future Learning Managers must “rethink pedagogy beyond the traditions of ‘chalk and talk’ schooling” (Lynch & Knight, 2010, p. 47).
Not only are the benefits of technology restricted to creating authentic tasks, they also offer new and exciting ways to incorporate the necessary teaching strategies exclaimed, through the Dimensions of Learning framework. This framework offers many strategies that have the ability to create higher order thinking within the classroom. It develops students’ understanding through the acquisition and integration, and the extension and refining of knowledge, so that knowledge can be used meaningfully. It is vital that our learners progress to use knowledge meaningfully because “when students perceive tasks as meaningful and relevant, they are motivated to acquire a higher level of understanding and proficiency related to that knowledge” (Marzano & Pickering, 1997, p. 189).
The technology tools that have been discovered through the use of a blog have been listed below and categorised according to their development level, based on the Dimensions of Learning framework. The tools have been categorised into the four areas of; acquire and integrate knowledge, extend and refine knowledge, meaningful learning and engagement purposes. To view more information regarding my learning journey and discovery, click on the tools below:
Acquire and Integrate Knowledge
· Weebly Website
· YouTube
· PowerPoint
· Blogs
· Learning Management Systems
· RSS Reader
Extend and Refine Knowledge
· Bubbl.us
· Prezi
· Wikis
Meaningful Learning
· Digital Video
· Images
Engagement Purposes
· Voki
· Podcasts
· Storytelling Online
· Wordle
Four tools I have chosen:
· Blogs
· Bubbl.us
· Digital Video
· Voki
Acquire and Integrate Knowledge
Blogs
Before engaging with this course I had never seen the benefits and opportunities a classroom blog could offer to the learning context. However, now that I have engaged with this tool I see the prospects it can offer with regards to classroom collaboration.
The Productive Pedagogy framework supports substantive conversation within the classroom and states that “in classes with substantive conversation there is considerable teacher-students and student-student interaction about the ideas of a substantive topic; the interaction is reciprocal, and it promotes coherent shared understanding” (Education Queensland, 2004).
It is evident that blogging effectively promotes collaboration with peers and as I have learnt by engaging with this tool new understandings can be made due to the sharing of ideas, thoughts, feeling and suggestions. Bruner (1996) believes that learning should be “participatory, proactive, communal, collaborative and given over to the construction of meanings rather then receiving them” (Brady, 2006, p. 8). I feel as though a classroom blog would support Bruner’s beliefs, as it would benefit the students’ and their learning through the collaboration of content within the classroom environment.
Prior to heavily engaging with this blogging tool I believed that the use of blogs had restrictions in the areas of; number of computers, age groups, motivation and digital interest. However due to research and further use of this tool I see that these issues would not be a problem anymore. Many schools are becoming equipped with digital tools to enhance students learning. Whilst motivation and digital interest is not an issue rather a positive as it is predominantly the way of future teaching and learning (Brady, 2006, p. 46). Due to these opinions I believe blogs would be an excellent knowledge integration tool to use in the classroom.
Extend and Refine Knowledge
Bubbl.us
Bubbl.us is a program that allows you to develop concept maps online. I believe that through the application and organization of knowledge using concept maps, students are able to clearly identify and refine what they know and need to know in order to extend their knowledge. Hence, why I believe this tool would be appropriate for extending and refining knowledge.
Marzano and Pickering (1997) believe that students understanding can be developed when they “examine and analyse knowledge and information in a way that helps them make new connections, discover or rediscover meanings, gain new insights, and clarify misconceptions” (Marzano & Pickering, 1997, p. 113). Through personal engagement with Bubbl.us I believe that this tool could be affectively used within the classroom for students to clearly and successfully gain new insights and clarify misconceptions through the organization of knowledge. The students understandings would be deepened through the application of higher order thinking, by using the skills of comparing and classifying relevant knowledge and information (Marzano & Pickering, 1997, p. 114). Brady (2006) supports this theory, in saying “graphic organisers assist students to organise their understandings and represent them diagrammatically” (Brady, 2006, p. 67). Graphic Organisers are also thought to engage the students in tasks, as the organization of their knowledge is authentic to them (Brady, 2006, p. 67).
I believe that the Big6 Skills are also incorporated into the context of concept mapping. It is thought that the Big6 Skills are important life skills and therefore concept mapping is a useful tool for the students to engage with these skills. The Big6 Skills can be used when there is a need for “information, to solve a problem, make a decision, or complete a task” (Eisenberg, 2001). All of which are important skills for students to engage with and understand.
Due to these theories it is evident that this tool would be effective in the classroom environment. It is supported that concept mapping has the ability to enhance and extend students understandings, which in turn promotes higher order thinking to occur.
Meaningful Learning
Digital Video
It is suggested that meaningful learning through the aspects of knowledge integration, inclusivity and connectedness promotes intellectually quality, in particular, higher-order thinking, meta-language and a deep knowledge and understanding (Brady, 2006, p. 161). I believe through research, discussion and engagement that the technology tool; Digital Video, can offer learning circumstances in the classroom to initiate these intellectual qualities.
Digital Video can be incorporated into many Key Learning Areas within teaching, and develop complex reasoning processes in the form of invention, experimental inquiry and investigation (Marzano & Pickering, 1997, p. 191). Kearney & Shuck (2004) suggest that digital video has many affective usages, for example, affective communication, observation, analysis and reflection. These usages of the communication tool have the ability to enhance students’ learning experiences. Students’ video productions can produce outcomes such as affective,
• Metacognitive
• Higher order thinking
• Communication
• Presentation
• Literacy
• Organisational skills
• Teamwork
• Moviemaking skills development
Through discussion with Pauline and Emily I have discovered new ideas and contexts in which Digital Video could be used within the classroom. “The fundamental idea underlying engagement theory is that students must be meaningfully engaged in learning activities through interaction with others and worthwhile tasks” (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 2004). I believe that Digital Video would support this theory within the classroom.
Engagement Purposes
Voki
Education Queensland (2008) believe that collaborative environments should be upheld within 21st century classrooms. It has become apparent that many tools are available to provide information and engagement for learners. “Rather than using text based chats, learners within the environment can create a sense of presence online” (Education Queensland, 2008,p. 8). I believe that Vokis are a great tool to use, to implement this theory in the classroom.
Kearsley & Shneiderman (2004) state that, “technology can facilitate engagement in ways which are difficult to achieve otherwise”. In conjunction with this theory, Vokis are an affective tool used in the classroom that, without 21st century technology, would not be possible otherwise.
I have personally engaged with Vokis and believe that they are a great technology tool, which should be utilised in the classroom. I have recently implemented the use of Vokis with a grade three class when analysing perspectives. I found that the students were engaged and interested in the task at hand, as it catered for differentiated learners whether auditory or visual. Due to the above points, the learners’ knowledge and understanding, with regards to the focus topic, was enhanced.
I would definitely use this technology tool in the classroom throughout my future practice as a Learning Manager as I agree that “teachers can help students become highly engaged in tasks, whether students perceive the key knowledge as meaningful or not” (Marzano & Pickering, 1997, p. 189). Vokis are a simple, yet effective tool that supports this theory.
What this means for me as a future Learning Manager
As a future Learning Manager I plan to implement these tools throughout my future practice and to use them in a successful and appropriate way that will enhance my students knowledge and understanding. I will constantly update my skills as a life-long learner so that I am able to provide the best possible learning environments for my students. I believe it is important, as a future Learning Manager to recognise the “positive role that technology can play in human interaction and evolution” (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 2004).
References
Brady, L. (2006). Collaborative Learning in Action. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Pearson Education Australia.
Education Queensland. (2008). Smart Classrooms BYTES. Retrieved 25th August 2010, from: http://education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms/pdf/scbyte-elearning.pdf
Eisenberg, M. (2001). Big6™ Skills Overview. Retrieved 25th August 2010, from,
http://www.big6.com/2001/11/19/a-big6%E2%84%A2-skills-overview/
Kearsley, G., & Schneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved 25th August 2010 from, http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm
Knight, B. A., Lynch, D. (2010). The Theory and Practice of Learning Management: A text for the student of Learning Management. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Pearson Australia.
Marzano, R.,Pickering, D, (1997). Dimensions of Learning, Teachers Manuel (2nd Ed.) Mid-continent Regoinal Educational Laboratory, Aurora Colorado.
Queensland Government Department of Education (QGDE). (2010). Smart Classrooms. Retrieved 25th August 2010, from, http://education.qld.gov.au/smartclassrooms/pdframework/why.html
Schuck, K & Kearney, M. (2004). Students in the Director’s Seat: Teaching and Learning across the School Curriculum with Student-Generated Video. University of Technology: Sydney. Retrieved 25th August 2010, from,
http://www.ed-dev.uts.edu.au/teachered/research/dvproject/pdfs/ReportWeb.pd
Comments placed on my peers blogs:
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi Kate!
I completely agree with your positive opinions regarding PowerPoint. I too think PowerPoint is a great tool, not to mention, easy to use! I think it’s really important that the tools that interest us for the classroom are simple and appropriate to use in the early years considering that is what we are specialising in! :)
Like Emily, I have also used PowerPoint to assist me in delivering particular lessons at school and I can honestly say from prior experience with PowerPoint that it is very useful and if used correctly, appropriately and obviously for the right reasons it works really well and the students love it because it is a new and exciting tool to use when presenting information and facts.
I personally haven’t come across any negatives of using PowerPoint for the delivery of a lesson and therefore I could highly recommend the use of this tool to enhance events, activities or information in the classroom. :)
Anna :)
July 30, 2010 12:06 AM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi there Emily!
I was very interested reading you blog about making a website through Weebly. I really enjoyed making this website and I agree with a lot of points you have put forward in your blog entry. I like that you organised your thoughts about a Weebly using a PMI, I too used a similar method using a SWOT analysis and looking at yours I feel the same way about Weebly’s.
I think a Weebly would be of great use in the classroom and it would be a helpful tool in engaging students and enhancing their learning!
Just to offer some insight into your question, “Websites are widely used and known throughout schools and the classrooms, but are they used to conduct the learning?” My Mentor Teacher at practicum school this year uses a Virtual Classroom with her classroom. The students’ homework is uploaded on the Virtual Classroom and they must print their homework out, complete it, put it in their folder and bring it to school each Friday. My class I have is a grade three class, which is in our area of early childhood. I think a Weebly could be a really great tool for us to use in the classroom to conduct a similar homework strategy and to display certain inform for the students’. It has proved to work and it also gives the students’ some responsibility which would benefit them in many ways. Not to mention, the students enjoy the responsibility and love being able to navigate the Virtual Classroom!
Just some insight into having a website for your class to access when you in the, future, have your own class! I hope that this insight has been beneficial for you. :)
Anna.
July 30, 2010 12:40 AM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi Kelly!
I was really interested reading your blog about PowerPoint just now, I found it really insightful to read!
I have learnt so much from you, I never knew that you could create a storyboard or an interactive presentation for that matter through PowerPoint. I really enjoy PowerPoint as an ICT tool in the classroom and the more I read the more I’m finding others also agree about its usefulness, just like us!
I completely agree with you that PowerPoint is an effective aid for presentations, like you have said it is easy to operate, it can be easily customised and it caters immensely for visual learners.
I personally have used PowerPoint a fair bit in the classroom throughout my practicum placement during the past year and a half. Although, I found your point of using PowerPoint as an assessment tool really interesting and a great idea for classroom use!
You second point of using PowerPoint as an engaging tool with key point and pictures is a great idea. I have used exactly this in the classroom this year when teaching my students about flowcharts. It was really helpful as it highlighted the main points of the subject we were learning about to assist them when piecing their flowchart together. It was a great tool and I could highly recommend this use of PowerPoint in the classroom for you during you practicum placement!
You insights have been great Kelly. Your blog has been a pleasure to read :)
Anna!
August 5, 2010 10:23 PM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Emily, I have loved reading your blog about digital video! I have actually just posted a blog myself about digital video! I think it is fantastic and a great tool to scaffold our students learning in the classroom.
I found a lot of the same points as you did that were stated on Moodle by Kearney & Shuck (2006). I thought they were really insightful points as they offered information on how digital video can be incorporated into the classroom and the importance of digital video for students learning. I found that digital video offers many benefits!
I loved your idea about using digital video as an assessment tool in the classroom, it’s a great idea, I had never though of that before. Using digital video for story telling, teaching lyrics and playing back group performances were just more of your great ideas that I agree would work in the classroom!
Although, I would use this tool in the classroom with young children, I believe they would love it! Obviously using digital video with young children would require a heavily guided approach by the teacher, however, if enough time was allowed for the children to make a digital video in small groups together I believe it would be successful. It could not only be an affective activity but could become an affective assessment piece as well. Just a thought. :)
Perhaps one day we will implement the making of the digital video in our own classroom and will be able to feedback to each other on how it went. :)
Anna.
August 12, 2010 11:22 PM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi Kelly!
After reading your blog post on storytelling online I followed the link to take a look myself and I discovered how great this ICT tool is!
This tool is a collaborative ICT resource and has so many teaching and learning options and opportunities for us as future Learning Managers.
I immediately thought of not only using this as a lesson resource but as a resource to use once the students have come in after lunch to settle them down. I don't know whether this popped in to your mind, but I would be interested to use this tool myself for 'reading time' after second break. With all the students reading the same story they won't be having their own private conversations and this resource ensures that they are all reading as it is being read to them.
I also thought that with the story being read to the children and the option of having captions, the lower level learners would experience a tremendous reading opportunity. They would be able to hear and see the words of the book and therefore have automatic assistance with their reading.
Not to mention this resource allows the teacher to perhaps organise and collect materials and other resources needed for the next lesson! :)
Just a few thoughts, ideas and suggestions I thought I would share with you about this fantastic resource you found!
Anna! :)
August 19, 2010 8:03 PM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi Kate!
Wow, SpellingCity sounds like a fantastic tool to use in the classroom!
Spelling is so important especially in the younger years and by having a great tool like SpellingCity our students could really benefit! It sounds like a great way to incorporate ICTs into the classroom.
You said that SpellingCity reads out the students spelling words and places them in a sentence which sounds like a great way to deliver spelling in the classroom. I actually have thought about doing the same thing but the teacher could enter the spelling words and sentences into a Voki. I’m not sure if you have heard or thought of this idea, but if you like that way of delivering spelling words, it’s a suggestion for your future practice!
You have stated that “according to Marzano, Pickering, Arredondo, Blackburn, Brandt, Moffett, Paynter, Pollock, & Whisler (2006), I think this program acts to effectively take students through a knowledge acquisition and integration process by requiring students to learn and then practice the new skills”. I totally agree with you because this type of activity heavily relies on the students acquiring their knowledge not only of their spelling words but also technology and it is vital for the students to integrate this knowledge in order to proceed with the activity and to be successful.
A positive I have thought of about this program is that it really encourages independence within the children. Whether the children are working individual, in pairs or in small group work it is up to them to complete the activity and to acquire and integrate the necessary knowledge to be successful.
I do agree with you and believe that for the tool to really be completely beneficial the students would have to complete their spelling words twice as a check for learning. This will not only provide the teachers with an insight into how the students are travelling but also the students as it would be their responsibility to try and improve the second time round. The students would also be able to view what they need to work on in their spelling to improve.
This tool is a great discovery Kate! I too would use it within my classroom!
Anna.
August 19, 2010 9:22 PM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi Pauline!
I too believe Digital Video is a great tool to use in the classroom. I myself have not had a lot of experience with the tool however I have had some exposure to it and know may people that have used the tool and found it quite easy and straightforward to use!
I agree with the point that it does create an engaging tool for students to use and it would be extremely useful to use in the classroom as an assessment item.
I enjoyed reading your research into the viewpoints of Kearney and Shuck (2006). It is always beneficial that the tool is recognised by experts for its benefits and as we have recently been learning, authentic learning is very important in the classroom!
It was interesting to read your ideas on the benefits of digital video from a science approach, I had never thought of how beneficial this tool would be within the science key learning area. However, now you have mentioned it, it is a very true statement as observation and accuracy are the key components within science.
Some of the benefits I discovered that digital video could be used for were:
• Educational purposes
• Entertainment
• Reflection
• ICT incorporation in the classroom
• Engagement tool
• Information display
• Communication tool
• Presentations
I also learnt through my own discovery of digital video that students’ video productions using this tool can produce outcomes such as affective:
• Metacognitive
• Higher order thinking
• Communication
• Presentation
• Literacy
• Organisational skills
• Teamwork
• Moviemaking skills development
I’m sorry I cannot offer any disadvantages in using this tool in the classroom! But I too believe this tool would be so great and beneficial for any aged students in the classroom! It can be used to, engage students into lessons, show parents what their students have been learning, enhance students’ presentations and affectively deliver information to a range of people. Not to mention that it is also a great way to provide equal opportunity in learning for all varied learning styles that do occur within the classroom.
Anna.
August 19, 2010 9:50 PM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Hi Kate, I am also reasonably familiar with the Google Maps online program. I thoroughly enjoy this resource, although I never saw the benefits of its use in the classroom until now!
I do however believe that this tool could be used in the younger grades, as it easy fairly easy to use and understand. I have recently taught a lesson to my grade three class regarding navigation and Google Maps online would have been an excellent tool to use with them on the data projector.
A suggestion I have for you, if you were interested in one day using this with a class you may have in the future is having the map open on the data projector and ruling a grid on the board that covers the map. This could then be used to teach the x and y-axis co-ordinates. The students would be able to follow along with the teacher as the teacher, perhaps, models how to locate, for example, the co-ordinates (3, 5). At this specific location could be, for example, a school. This activity could then continue locating or placing co-ordinates on the mapped area you have chosen to present.
Just a suggestion! Let me know what you think!
Anna.
August 22, 2010 3:18 AM: To view discussion click here.
Anna McEvoy said...
Wow Kelly!
This list you have developed is great!
What a great resource to share with our Mentor Teachers considering all the great resources we have found throughout our own discovery and learning!
I will definitely present this list to my Mentor Teacher. I may even possibly add a few suggestions of my own regarding different tools I have discovered.
A tool that I discovered that I don't think I can see on your list is Wordle. Wordle is a program creates word clouds for you and it can be used in many different classroom contexts. You can find out more and see the Wordle I have made on my blog, or you can make you own at: http://www.wordle.net/
Thanks so much, looks like you have been very busy discovering all of this tools!
Anna.
August 22, 2010 3:30 AM: To view discussion click here.
