Inexplicably it is that time of the year again, the end of semester, and boy has time flown by. It is now the time for reflection, reflection on all blog posts that have come before.
I shall start at the very beginning...
When I first heard that we were required to keep a blog as part of the assessment for this unit I was terrified. It was like in my undergraduate degree when I would quickly check the unit outline to see if there were any assessment requirements that involved giving a tutorial or presentation and then I would get this sickening attack of anxiety that would reappear whenever I was reminded of it. However, like anything in life it gets easier the more you do it. Once the fear of judgement eased I found myself enjoying blogging. It was a great way to reflect on lecture material and really think about the practical applications of the tools we were introduced to. It encouraged me to consider things I had never considered before as teaching tools and to become more 'tech-savvy' along the way. I only recently discovered the 'compose' tab in the creating post section which meant I wrote most of my posts in Html.
The task also allowed me to explore my blogging 'voice' which should probably have a more professional tone but I find it a lot easier to write from an informal perspective. Inspiration needs to strike for me to blog, which lends itself more easily to a more honest, personal voice. I can only write from my experience, although I do like to do research so that I know what I'm talking about and am more familiar with the topic. I may not have backed up my opinions by sound theory enough but I hope that followers still found them either informative or entertaining because I did take it seriously. Although, who am I kidding? You came to my blog for the fish (certainly not my amateur poetry) but hopefully you stayed long enough to check out my Flickr photostream - how cute are my cats?!
So in conclusion, I hope I have successfully got my (or a) point across each week even if it was in an informal matter. It was quite interesting to see all the different approaches the other students took and how much each appreciated the process. I would definitely consider continuing to blog although I wonder if I should adopt a more formal tone if it were to make up my professional portfolio.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Future Musings
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."
Malcolm X
Considering how fast technology is progressing and adapting I find this quote rather apt for our future careers. A lot of the tools we explored in this unit of work were very unfamiliar to me and seemed at first to be unlikely to be used in the primary classroom today but perhaps in the 'future'. However, it is our job to prepare our students for their future; in order to do this we need to be ahead of the current trends and have some idea of the vision for the future of technology and society. Keeping up with technological advances may not always be about finding innovative lesson ideas or resources but understanding what our students will need to thrive in a world where these 'advances' are commonplace.
Preparing students for the future of the web is one such step. Web 3.0 is the future, and it is about blurring the lines between reality and virtual reality. In virtual worlds, users can have access to things that they would never have previously got the opportunity to see in reality and vice versa users can have access to information from the digital world to supplement their reality. Students can be immersed in a world outside their reality which can have fascinating practical uses but also social drawbacks. It will be very important for individuals to have a strong grounding in reality to avoid them getting lost in the wilderness of virtual worlds. I found an article by Ora Lassila and James Hendler from 3 years ago, 'Embracing "Web 3.0"' of particular interest as it discusses the change that has already been happening over the years to support the semantic web (although admittedly a lot of the jargon is lost on me).
I admit after the final lecture I was fascinated and intrigued but I didn't see the relevance in terms of teaching today. However, now I understand. It's not just about preparing us as teachers for the future teaching environment; it is about us preparing our students for their future environment, and that starts now. What this means in a practical sense for my pedagogy I'm not yet sure, but I understand the importance now and that is certainly the first step.
Information Overload
To begin with, I missed the lecture on Information Overload due to illness but I think I could have really benefitted from it! This is a typical view of my desktop during semester:
And when every internet browser window can have multiple tabs the amount of information you can be accessing at any one time is enormous.
Now add to this the TV on in the background or music playing and it's not the most productive environment.
My favourites list, of sites I've found interesting that I want to come back to, is so long that I can never find what I'm looking for. Add to this my penchant for hoarding and inability to cull anything.
When there is such a wealth of information at your fingertips efficiency becomes essential. A streamlined approach to accessing information is the key. Students need to learn how to deal with this information overload to effectively navigate the digital world. So in order to learn more about this I decided to investigate RSS feeds. I had seen these before so thought I kind of understood them, and I had used them in a simplified way through iGoogle but I didn't really get it until I wathched this CommonCraft video and began to set up my own Google Reader account.
It turns out half the work was done for me as I already had a google account with my hotmail email address which was somehow already linked to my blog. And now suddenly I have a new toolbar; I think Google is taking over my life or at least my internet. As useful as this tool is I can see why Lee Lefever warns in the video about the addictiveness of it. I fear that I am going to try and pool so much information in one place that I become overwhelmed again. I get overwhelmed when I haven't checked Twitter for a week and suddenly I am behind the times. Imagine if I don't check Google Reader very often and suddenly there is a whole lot of information to scroll through? I think ultimately I need to learn the art of moderation.
On the other hand, I am quite the fan of this 'Read Later' bookmark from Instapaper which operates under a similar principle in that it stores articles of interest for later reading. I think this will be a great benefit to me as when researching for assignments I get very easily sidetracked by slightly related interesting articles and saving them for later in one place rather than adding them to my extensive favourites list seems like a very beneficial tool. I can see this being a worthwhile tool for other students also.
And when every internet browser window can have multiple tabs the amount of information you can be accessing at any one time is enormous.
"Which window was that site I need in?"
"Where did that link open up?"
"Oh, it's been fifteen minutes I better check facebook"
"Now what was I doing again?"
"I have so many articles open I can't tell which is which!"
Now add to this the TV on in the background or music playing and it's not the most productive environment.
My favourites list, of sites I've found interesting that I want to come back to, is so long that I can never find what I'm looking for. Add to this my penchant for hoarding and inability to cull anything.
When there is such a wealth of information at your fingertips efficiency becomes essential. A streamlined approach to accessing information is the key. Students need to learn how to deal with this information overload to effectively navigate the digital world. So in order to learn more about this I decided to investigate RSS feeds. I had seen these before so thought I kind of understood them, and I had used them in a simplified way through iGoogle but I didn't really get it until I wathched this CommonCraft video and began to set up my own Google Reader account.
It turns out half the work was done for me as I already had a google account with my hotmail email address which was somehow already linked to my blog. And now suddenly I have a new toolbar; I think Google is taking over my life or at least my internet. As useful as this tool is I can see why Lee Lefever warns in the video about the addictiveness of it. I fear that I am going to try and pool so much information in one place that I become overwhelmed again. I get overwhelmed when I haven't checked Twitter for a week and suddenly I am behind the times. Imagine if I don't check Google Reader very often and suddenly there is a whole lot of information to scroll through? I think ultimately I need to learn the art of moderation.
On the other hand, I am quite the fan of this 'Read Later' bookmark from Instapaper which operates under a similar principle in that it stores articles of interest for later reading. I think this will be a great benefit to me as when researching for assignments I get very easily sidetracked by slightly related interesting articles and saving them for later in one place rather than adding them to my extensive favourites list seems like a very beneficial tool. I can see this being a worthwhile tool for other students also.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
My attempt at movie making
On a serious note, I can see the benefit in using this tool as a way of teaching film techniques, script writing and editing. Users can play around with different camera angles, expressions and gestures to find the most effective way of getting across their message. Although there are limited choices to be made by using xtranormal there are still enough to make it a time-consuming editing process, from initial idea to final product. Students also have a way of getting a message out there online without using identifying information.
Facebook v Twitter
Being an avid Facebook (and now Twitter) user makes me automatically a fan of social networking as such. However, although Twitter and Facebook are grouped together I find I use them very differently. Facebook is definitely my number one social tool; I use it to catch up with friends, explore common interests and for the voyeuristic appeal of scoping out the lives of old high school classmates. On the other hand I am a very passive user of Twitter, as I rarely make a post or 'tweet' and it is usually after great consideration. My use of Twitter is mainly in a Web 1.0 context in a way, I use it as a source of information. I follow people who provide numerous links to articles and sites that are entertaining, insightful, shocking and/or revelatory. Although, I choose where my information comes from and perhaps that is what makes it a Web 2.0 tool. How I value Twitter has determined what kind of user I am. I rarely tweet because I feel I have very little of use to say, but it might also be because my Twitter profile is public and my Facebook profile is private. Although I have no illusions that people out there are avidly following my tweets, I am aware of the possible audience.
I have a much more personal connection to Facebook as that is it's main use in my eyes. I can see the benefit of having class 'groups' to share information and messages from the lecturer/teacher but I don't think I would utilise it for this purpose. Twitter on the otherhand, could have other possibilities as users can share information with like-minded individuals without the necessity of a very personal profile. Tony Karrer has an interesting blog about e-Learning and in particular has blogged about the place of Twitter in education, by pooling articles from a variety of different sources. How did I learn of this blog? By following actress Alyssa Milano on Twitter.
I have a much more personal connection to Facebook as that is it's main use in my eyes. I can see the benefit of having class 'groups' to share information and messages from the lecturer/teacher but I don't think I would utilise it for this purpose. Twitter on the otherhand, could have other possibilities as users can share information with like-minded individuals without the necessity of a very personal profile. Tony Karrer has an interesting blog about e-Learning and in particular has blogged about the place of Twitter in education, by pooling articles from a variety of different sources. How did I learn of this blog? By following actress Alyssa Milano on Twitter.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Digital reputation
Blogging does not come naturally to me, hence I am falling behind in my weekly quota! I think for me to feel at ease with my blog it needs to become one of the first things I open up when I turn on my computer so that it's always at the forefront of my mind. However at the moment that list goes as follows:
However in my defense (and a side note about integrating technology) this is what has been my constant companion for the past week:
as has this:
But getting back to my first point, facebook is my first port of call on the net and despite my worries about it's privacy settings this hasn't changed. However, I am more aware now than ever before about my online presence and how careful you need to be about the information you make public. This is something that children need to be made aware of, although I acknowledge that it is hard to expect young people to take seriously the possible future consequences of their online persona. My experience with facebook has shown me that there are some people who always take digital safety seriously, those who use pseudonyms in place of their surname and never post identifying information. However, there are those with no notion that the information they put out there is accessible by all and permanent; those who have public profiles, shameless pictures and controversial posts. I guess the difficulty is getting students to understand that anything that is posted publicly can be used against them at a future date. How do you really get young people to understand that their online presence affects their reputation? There have been numerous example recently of students punished for online content and perhaps this will encourage children to realise that anything published or put in print (via social networking or chat programs) is not the same as schoolyard chatter. It can have further reaching effects and far greater consequences.
1. Facebook
2. Hotmail
3. Uni email
4. Twitter
However in my defense (and a side note about integrating technology) this is what has been my constant companion for the past week:
as has this:
But getting back to my first point, facebook is my first port of call on the net and despite my worries about it's privacy settings this hasn't changed.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Completely unrelated obligatory cute cat video
I am destined to be a crazy cat lady. And I'm ok with that.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
From Sunrise, this morning, Monday April 20th.
The video isn't particularly informative but the comments on the website are interesting in regards to teen grammar and 'what went wrong'.
A lot of people seem to be defending the youth of today, which is promising.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Txt Spk
I admit when I started to hear reports about text speak being allowed in classrooms I considered it further evidence of the declining literacy skills of the youth of today. I love the English language when it is used 'properly' and effectively and balked at the idea of encouraging the use of what I perceived as a bastardised form of it. However, the ironic thing is I am in fact guilty of using abbreviated forms in text messages (although I prefer to retain proper punctuation and grammar whenever possible) and in chat programs such as MSN where it is in fact often necessary in order to keep up the conversation. I taught my mother how to text message a few years ago and it is still a bit clunky and time-consuming for her so she abbreviates as much as possible, often to the point where it takes me a while to comprehend the message.
However, my opinion has well and truly been swayed by the more reports I read on studies being conducted in the area. A study by Plester, Wood and Joshi in 2009 found a positive correlation between the use of text speak and reading ability. The ability to effectively abbreviate shows evidence of phonological awareness and knowledge of phonetics. Additionally, exposure to mispellings does not adversely affect a child's ability to learn the correct spelling. They also argue that the positive correlation could be an indicator of the benefits of increased exposure to text through mobile phone use in aiding reading ability. Additionally, text speak can be engaging to students, shows their ability to manipulate the English language and can be a strong motivator for children to develop sufficient literacy skills in order to effectively communicate with others via mobile phone. These are ideas that I had not considered before.
In terms of how this could be transferred to the classroom, perhaps txt speak could be used to reinforce grapheme-phoneme correspondences, and to allow children to play around to find other orthographic representations that still convey appropriate meaning for the reader. Any method that encourages a child's literacy development and understanding of the writer-audience relationship and how best to convey meaning efficiently can only be a benefit IMHO.
However, my opinion has well and truly been swayed by the more reports I read on studies being conducted in the area. A study by Plester, Wood and Joshi in 2009 found a positive correlation between the use of text speak and reading ability. The ability to effectively abbreviate shows evidence of phonological awareness and knowledge of phonetics. Additionally, exposure to mispellings does not adversely affect a child's ability to learn the correct spelling. They also argue that the positive correlation could be an indicator of the benefits of increased exposure to text through mobile phone use in aiding reading ability. Additionally, text speak can be engaging to students, shows their ability to manipulate the English language and can be a strong motivator for children to develop sufficient literacy skills in order to effectively communicate with others via mobile phone. These are ideas that I had not considered before.
In terms of how this could be transferred to the classroom, perhaps txt speak could be used to reinforce grapheme-phoneme correspondences, and to allow children to play around to find other orthographic representations that still convey appropriate meaning for the reader. Any method that encourages a child's literacy development and understanding of the writer-audience relationship and how best to convey meaning efficiently can only be a benefit IMHO.
Monday, March 22, 2010
To wiki or not to wiki
Technology is moving a little too fast for me I think. When I looked at the course outline for this unit, I had no idea what any of the topics were. I use the internet a lot, and rely on it a lot but never really thought about the different components. I've never used wikipedia as a reliable source of information, I've been told and told and told again to look for 'peer-reviewed journals'. However, I do use it for my own entertainment. And funnily enough, I generally believe the information I've read. I think that is my problem, I don't know if I was ever taught critical literacy in school. Or if I was, I wasn't paying attention. It took four years of uni to drill into me that I should be critical of what I read, including textbooks. However it's a cynical world you live in if you are suspicious of everything you read, some would say I'm already there. On the other hand, verifying the information on a wikipedia page could be an interesting lesson in critical literacy for a class. In terms of creating a class wiki, I like the example of the class that, group by group, added the course content to a class wiki to help them study. I could definitely see using such an approach in a middle to late primary school class. Perhaps the wiki could begin with a set of basic 'facts' and the students have to use their research to validate and expand on these claims. I don't know if I would have the discussion forum, as the children will be doing the work in class. However, perhaps they can comment on eachother additions to the site.
On a side note, as the storm of today has proven, when it comes down to it all you can rely on are candles and matches. And perhaps a radio until the battery dies.
On a side note, as the storm of today has proven, when it comes down to it all you can rely on are candles and matches. And perhaps a radio until the battery dies.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Ode to Google
Ode to Google
Oh Google how I love thee yes I do
My burden you do ease, my sorrow falls
I trust in life that you will guide me through
When I am lost you show me open doors
When life confounds you make it all so clear
I seek your wisdom and I plead my case
Without judgement you set my mind at ease
With you by my side I never need fear
All of the world’s knowledge I can embrace
And with that I may do as I shall please.
By SJ Driscoll
(Inspired by Simon's poem and constructed with the aid of Google and Wikipedia to find the formal structure of odes and iambic pentameter)
Several things should be clear by this poem. I heart google. My poetic ability is limited to one stanza. And I have no life.
Oh Google how I love thee yes I do
My burden you do ease, my sorrow falls
I trust in life that you will guide me through
When I am lost you show me open doors
When life confounds you make it all so clear
I seek your wisdom and I plead my case
Without judgement you set my mind at ease
With you by my side I never need fear
All of the world’s knowledge I can embrace
And with that I may do as I shall please.
By SJ Driscoll
(Inspired by Simon's poem and constructed with the aid of Google and Wikipedia to find the formal structure of odes and iambic pentameter)
Several things should be clear by this poem. I heart google. My poetic ability is limited to one stanza. And I have no life.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tales of a Twitter-Convert
I have been a facebook user for about three years but have resisted any other form of social media being reluctant to put myself out there on the world wide web. However, I recently joined twitter and have found myself using it almost as much as I use facebook (which is alot)! I am finding it to be a wonderful source of information. I am following several comedians, political commentators, satirists etc and as well as getting a dose of humour I am getting links to articles, blogs and videos that I would normally never have seen. It is a great way to get access to information outside of traditional media outlets, and information and points of view on topics I would never have considered. This evening, for example, I have received (is that the right word?) several tweets about MediaWatch and Q&A on ABC tonight so I will be tuning into those shows soon.
This I believe is one of the great advantages and drawbacks of Web 2.0. It's a world where everyone who has access to the internet (and is free from pesky censorship) has a voice. This can lead to a monumental amount of egocentric attention-seeking drivel but it also has the potential to give the disenfranchised a much needed voice. In the past the reach of this voice would have been limited by location and resources but in the world of the web their message can be propagated far and wide solely by the power of the masses. It's a dangerous world if ones access to news and current affairs is limited to what is controlled by media tycoons( such as the far-reaching Rupert Murdoch) and the only opinions heard are those with agendas, politicians and shock jocks. Web 2.0 allows for anyone to share their opinion (for better or worse) and to find support amongst likeminded individuals. Any medium that encourages creative expression and the pursuit of knowledge can only be a benefit in education. If children have access to the world at their fingertips, they can find people with shared interests and opinions, have their world view challenged and simply be entertained or informed. Idealistically, the child who feels outcast and like they don't belong will always find others who share their experience. As Kate mentioned in her blog, children can also get feedback and positive reinforcement on their artistic efforts posted on the net. How many times have we seen reported on the news the newest 'you tube sensation'?
Finally, my belief is that everyone has a story to tell. We may not all know (or ever know) what that story is or how to effectively share it but it's there. A medium that allows for this story to be shared can only lead to a richer experience for everyone.
This I believe is one of the great advantages and drawbacks of Web 2.0. It's a world where everyone who has access to the internet (and is free from pesky censorship) has a voice. This can lead to a monumental amount of egocentric attention-seeking drivel but it also has the potential to give the disenfranchised a much needed voice. In the past the reach of this voice would have been limited by location and resources but in the world of the web their message can be propagated far and wide solely by the power of the masses. It's a dangerous world if ones access to news and current affairs is limited to what is controlled by media tycoons( such as the far-reaching Rupert Murdoch) and the only opinions heard are those with agendas, politicians and shock jocks. Web 2.0 allows for anyone to share their opinion (for better or worse) and to find support amongst likeminded individuals. Any medium that encourages creative expression and the pursuit of knowledge can only be a benefit in education. If children have access to the world at their fingertips, they can find people with shared interests and opinions, have their world view challenged and simply be entertained or informed. Idealistically, the child who feels outcast and like they don't belong will always find others who share their experience. As Kate mentioned in her blog, children can also get feedback and positive reinforcement on their artistic efforts posted on the net. How many times have we seen reported on the news the newest 'you tube sensation'?
Finally, my belief is that everyone has a story to tell. We may not all know (or ever know) what that story is or how to effectively share it but it's there. A medium that allows for this story to be shared can only lead to a richer experience for everyone.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Blogs in Education
I am very new to blogging and have been quite resistant to the blog-world. I believe a lot of blogs are written by people who have nothing of interest to say. However, I can definitely see the value in using blogs in education. I personally would consider setting up blogs for each student so that they can recount the events of the school day or week or what they got up to on the weekend and get fellow classmates or parents to comment. It would be a great way of teaching the children the art of the recount as well as encouraging them to always consider their audience when they write. I would worry, however, about privacy and would only use it if I could set up some sort of private group or a VLE with limited access for the students, parents and teacher only.
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