VOKI

P - This tool has the potential to engage and introduce students to a topic or task. It also would be a great tool for students to use to introduce themselves, portray ideas or points of view, or to present short compositions of written work in an oral way.

M - I found voki relatively easy to use, however lack of appropriate software limited my experience to typed speech with a 'computer generated' voice. It is important to remember that students are not allowed to create their own accounts. A class account would be needed for students to use this tool.

I - I would like to play around with voki again in future using recorded speech of myself.

My Journey so Far

In reflecting on my learning journey so far in MeL, I am starting to see that I have previously had experience with digital tools where I didn't initially recognise. Most of these are elements of Microsoft office programs such as word and powerpointThe new tools that I am learning to use through this course I have found challenging to begin with, but I am slowly becoming more competent and confident.

Creating and Using Wiki

I found engaging in the MeL wikis both challenging and useful. I found that having the opportunity to work through the practice quiz wiki with fellow students was very rewarding. Not only did it probe my understanding and ideas, but it allowed me to collaborate and learn from my peers. 

I found the Mobile Phone wiki to be a little more challenging. It required me to think more deeply, and to really analyse my preconceptions and ideas around the use of mobile phones. I found the use of De Bono's 6 thinking hats very useful in this activity.  Not only did in require for me to recall my knowledge about prior use, it made me probe into what preconceived feelings I have, what would or wouldn't work, what the potentials are, and also to look at my thinking in comparison to that of my peers.

Overall I found my experience working in wikis to be rewarding, and it enhanced my learning. I am convinced that having wikis that students can engage with is a valuable tool for enhancing their learning.

I have previously created a wiki in my study at CQU. For Technology we were required to make a digital tool that would enhance learning. I used weebly.com to make wiki to assist learner's through the technology practice cycle.

Technology Digital Resource

I found Weebly to be very easy to use as it seemed to step you through each step in its creation. I can see how the use of a wiki, such as weebly, can be used to enhance learning as a digital tool for scaffolding learner's through tasks, as well as to guide their journey through exploring a particular topic.

TPACK

TPACK (Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge) is all about integrating technology, pedagogy, and content together in your teaching. That is, the WHAT, the HOW, and the TECHNOLOGY. Many teacher believe the simply 'taking on' technology on the side is using technology effectively. But it is important to remember that it is more than that. Technology should be taught, experienced, experimented with, be engaging, and enhance learning. Without all these critical part, technology simply become an object on the side, only there as a requirement.

I can understand the trepidation that teacher have in regards to using technologies in the classroom. I myself have difficulties with technology all the time. and that's only the real basic things!! I think it is important to remember that their is always room for improvement in our own learning, and we can also learn from our students. As digital natives they will often have tricks, tools, and technological knowledge that we don't have.

I found this clip useful for reflection.

MobaPhoto

I downloaded the MobaPhoto software and had a go at resizing images. I have already found this software useful. I am a Sunday School teacher and each week I email photos of the kids to their parents. Smaller image sizes means that these photos are easier sent and received via email.

In the classroom photos can be uploaded onto a private class blog of the students (with parent permission), or of artwork, etc.

N.B This photo of my brother is from my Sunday School lesson was uploaded with the permission of the child's parent.

The joys of Technology

Thought I was being really technologically savvy by posting via my mobile due to lack of pc internet access at home. Somehow I managed to not publish my posts and they are nowhere to be found. After discussions with a friend who knows a lot about blogging via mobile I have downloaded the blogger app. This app is foolproof :-D

Unfortunately I have had difficulties using wordle. In talking with my computer savvy friend I have discovered that my computer does not have something which supports it. I will have to play with it at a later stage.

21st Century Learners

I think that the ideas of digital natives and immigrants is so fitting in regards to engagement with technologies in the 21st Century. Many Learning Managers would identify with feeling like a digital immigrant. That is, they are slowly being introduced to digital technologies and are learning on their feet. Our students who are 21st Century learners however, are digital natives. They are being born, raised, and being exposed to digital resources continuously. They are familiar, competent, and reliant on them.

The idea of our learner's becoming engaged or enraged is a relevant one. If our classrooms are not integrating with the digital technologies that students are using outside of the classroom then they are going to quickly become disengaged. As Learning Managers we need to be life long learners who are learning to use and integrate technologies into our learning experiences. Technology should not be an add on on the side, but a fundamental part of initial planning.  

My first blog

I am finding the prospect of working with a blog both daunting and exciting. I am looking forward to learning about different ICTs and how I can use them in the classroom to enhance students' learning, but uncertainty of my skills base at present is making this a little scary.

I have found the setting up of this blog relitively easy, so this has given me hope that this course won't be as daunting as I first thought.

Bring on E-Learning!!