June 9, 2009
My Personal Learning Environment and How it Works
I will discuss my Personal Learning Environment (PLE) and how it works in supporting my learning. My Personal Learning Environment (PLE).
Currently I am a student at the University of Melbourne completing my Masters in Education. I have just recently finished my Bachelor of Early Childhood Education degree and find that I am now using this time to discover myself as a learner. This year I have done some relieving work for kindergartens and Casual Relief Teaching for some primary schools within the local area. I find myself utilizing this time to create social networks within my field and discover different teaching methods, myself as a learner and things that interest me as a teacher. Because I am not currently in a classroom or in a permanent working field, my PLE was very much interested in the reflection on the teacher that I wanted to be, what types of technology and learning would be incorporated into my teaching and feedback from others within my field.
I remember my first session on real time chat; unfortunately I did not have a microphone but was able to join in by listening and typing. I took lots of notes, and discovered that the definition of PLE was quite numerous and could range from various things.
Here is a list of my notes of what a PLE is and involves:
- Something you create yourself, which groups you join. Great ideas, resources.
- Learning that comes from things you do yourself.
- You determine the best features that work for yourself
- Notion of a blog. Usually a way of recording diary entries, a little bit public.
- Wikis. Chat. Discussion group, moderate the discussion at a professional level.
- Online discussion, communicate. Connecting to others, that may be useful to others.
- It isn’t really private and personal.
- A place for you to generate ideas, but also gather ideas from others.
With this definition of a PLE, here are a few things that became my Personal Learning Environment:
My Blog
I have never made a blog in my life and am really amazed at how easy and simple it was create! I remember years ago attempting to make a website and having to type in all these symbols and signs i.e. >>….. LOL you get the point. These days, all I had to do was join Word press, click on a few icons for adding a new post or videos and pictures. It really was as simple as 1…2…3. Furthermore, I used my blog as a means of reflecting and discussing ideas that I have never tried in the classroom and would hopefully one day will. For example, I was really interested in the Interactive Whiteboard and have never really used one ever before. Thus I used my blog as a pedestal for discussing how it would work in the classroom and feedback on what others thought as well. Being a new student that has just recently graduated, I felt that the blog gave me a great platform in expressing my ideas of what I would want my classroom to be. I also felt a sense of achievement making my own blog and adding videos, photos and links to my page. My blog definitely gave a sense of space to my learning.
FLE Group Blog
The FLE group’s blog was definitely a great way on keeping up to date with the latest things that was happening within the subject. Almost like a forum, it was interesting leaving short comments and seeing what others commented on the same topic. I have had subjects where teachers have attempted to set up a group blog in which students give feedback on certain thing topics but rarely had it been successful. However, this group blog was quite successful because it was almost accessible anywhere. It was very beneficial having blogs that had the link ‘Flexible Learning Groups Blog’ because I could just have a look if there had been any updates to the blog without even having to click on it. In addition, it was great having the session where Ted actually showed us how to add each other’s blogs onto our own. I had never ever heard of something called RSS feeds until this subject.
Other student’s PLE’s
Having others set up their own blogs for this subject was fantastic! The first thing I would do when logging onto my LMS was to check others blogs and see what they have been up to. It was great having all our names down the left hand side tab, because it made it very easy for me to surf through. Moreover, being able to look at each other’s blogs gave me a range of ideas for my own learning blog and assignments. It also helped me gain confidence in the sense that I used other blogs as a benchmark in telling me I was on the right track with this subject. Also, it was great commenting on other posts from others in their PLE as it gave them great ideas and feedbacks on their topics. Vice versa it was great when others gave feedback on my comments, because it great interaction between the students within our subject. .
Real time Chat Environment
Until this subject, I was not familiar with the program Skype. I was also not familiar with the terms such as asynchronous environment (anything that doesn’t happen in real time) and synchronous (real time, everyone can participate). Being that this is an online subject, it was great to hear the voices of others and ‘sort of’ put a name to a face. Unfortunately I was unable to continue real chat time on Thursday nights due to commitments, but the times I was there it was a great place to ask questions, hear feedback and have some discussion.
Reflections
Whilst doing this subject, I also realised that there wasn’t much social networking or internet type websites within the kindergarten field. For teachers, or parents or kindergartens within the local community. This is something that I would one day like to investigate and perhaps set up a NING environment, or even a blog in which other teachers and colleagues can communicate and share ideas of learning and teaching. This has been quite an interesting subject, and I have had a great time meeting you all. Thank you to everyone that took the time to read my blog and leave comments! =O)
June 2, 2009
Blank Canvas – Maximising the Whiteboard
On my recent interest with the interactive whiteboard, i came across an article published in the IE (Independent Education) magazine volume 39 Issue 1.
Written by Sue Osborne, the article discusses the advantages of having a interactive whiteboard in the classroom. The first advantage is that it is a breath of fresh air for pictorial teaching appealing to visual learners. Also, it is beneficial for children that have concentration issues and from a disciplinary perspective it is helpful to the teacher as all eyes are on the board which frees the teacher to observe the children. In addition, when you are writing on a white or black board you have your back facing the class whereas that is not necessary when you have the smart board.
Also, the article discusses the interactive whiteboards main feature in that it is hands on. Allowing teachers and students to write on the screen to mark or hide texts. images, photographs, click view resources and videos can all be downloaded and presented as part of a lesson.
Furthermore, the article presents the idea of using textbooks in the classroom as a thing of the past. Additionally, students that are absent from a lesson could download lessons from the school portal.
Though there are pros, Sue Osborne also mentions the downfall. As well as the screen and projector, audio cabelling and installation this could come to a cost of $5000 per classroom although the price could drop in the near future.
This article was quite interesting, and gave me quite a perspective of the whiteboards within school classrooms.
Attached below is the article, seperated into two pages. Just click on them, and it should load.
Author: Sue Osborne
Author: Sue Osborne
June 1, 2009
Assignment 2 Peer Review Questions
Here is a link to my assignment titled Learning about Edward De Bono Thinking Hats
http://learnersofdebono.blogspot.com/2009/05/learning-about-edward-de-bonos-thinking.html
Evaluation Questions:
1. Was the blog easy to navigate?
2. Were the instructions clear?
3.Were the activities interesting?
4. Would a student gain better understanding from this blog?
5. What could be improved?
May 14, 2009
The Smart Table is coming…
Louis commented me earlier mentioning something about a SMART BOARD, now this made me really interested as i have never heard of this before. So i did some research and found this new source of technology learning amazingg..
I stumbled upon the SMART TABLE website and had a little surf on just what it is about.
Smart tables really do bring a new meaning to the term interactive whiteboards.. just as i was getting use to the idea of using IW’s out comes something even more fantastic! The Smart Table is hands on, its auditory, visual and tactile. What a great way for children with learning difficulties to learn!
According to the Website it is:
The SMART Table is the first multitouch, multiuser interactive learning center that allows groups of primary students to work simultaneously on its surface. The table’s interface is so intuitive that even the youngest of students can get started without instructions.
Designed to encourage collaboration, the table gives teachers flexible content options. They can use customizable, ready-made activities or create their own. And the table is ready to use instantly, so it’s easy for both students and teachers.
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Table/
Here is the link that Louis sent to me;
http://tbarrett.edublogs.org/2009/04/25/smart-table-in-my-classroom-two-introductory-videos/
It is about a teacher who trialed the table with his primary children, and posted a blog giving details on what worked and didnt.
here is also another short clip, on the Smart Table in action
its just a fantastic little thing, it also looks like it would COST alot! But most likely i dont think we would see these things in the classroom for quite a few years!
What do you think? Would you like a turn playing with the SMART Board?? i know i would!!!
May 6, 2009
Celebrating Education Week
Springvale Dandenong Leader - Monday May 4th
May 17th – May 23rd celebrates Education week, and in my local paper of the Leader May 4th was some great articles titled ‘Future in their Hand’ by Kristin Owen.
The article discusses about today’s tech savvy students that are podcasting radio shows and ‘electronically mapping their minds’.
It also discusses a global movement in education towards the one to one ratio of wireless computers, and research stating that children are more engaged when they have their own computer.
this article is great in that it discusses the positives of using technology within the classroom, i.e. better organisational skills, improved literacy and numeracy, better collaboration and analytical thinking.
The article then explains the Netbook Project, which in Victoria last term more than 536,000 government-school students began a three year trial of one-to-one ratio computers. the state governents pays $312 per computer and families pay $1 a week to lease a mini laptop complete with 28 software programs. This trial research within just 6 weeks, found improvements in students knowledge of their times tables and maths, organisational skills and thinking skills.
I have attached the article, sadly i was not able to find a electronic version but i have scanned it for those that were interested in the article.
The article concludes with the Education Department looking into the introduction of the ‘ultranet’ which has been described as ‘a student centred electronic learnign environment that supports quality learning and teaching, connects students, teachers and parents and enables efficient knowledge transfer’.
Have you heard much about this Ultranet? if so? what are your views?
Future in their hands - Kristin Owen
April 27, 2009
Interactive Whiteboards
I stumbled upon something today and i thought i would share it on my blog.
I was reading a book titled Child Development the MacMillan Psychology Reference Series. It dedicated a little section towards the internet stating:
The internet – also called the World Wide Web, or web – is a vast system of connections among individual computers and computer networks, allowing information and programmed activities to be easily shared by individuals around the world. According to the National Centre for Education Statistics , over 90 percent of primary school students in the United States report using the internet at home, at school or both settings. Educational uses emphasize searching for information about classroom projects or topics. As with printed media, it is necessary to assist children in determining the source and reliability of web-based information.
This book was written in 2002. It’s been seven years.
Then it got me thinking, how much has changed in these past couple of years. Are more teachers using interactive whiteboards in classrooms, and blogs to communicate with their children?
Then i thought, what about using an interactive whiteboard in a kindergarten. It would be totally different and what a way to present information to children??
What do you think? Do you think interactive whiteboards in kindergarten are taking it a step too far? appropriate? is it a justifiable purchase within the early childhood setting?
- Will young children respond to this?
April 22, 2009
Assignment 2
I am still trying to generate some ideas on what i will be doing in assignment 2. So far, i am thinking of something that connects my Kindergarten world with parents, teachers, communities and etc. Having an internet site would be great for the parents, as at the moment in kindergaten besides written plans and evaluations, there is nothing really in regards to technology that connects parents, teachers with the internet.
please leave comments, am i on the right track?
****** I changed this topic because i felt that it was slightly a little difficult to do. Instead i decided to focus on a topic that i have always stuggled with – The Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono. I have aimed this blog at first years students or teachers that would like to implement this style of teaching within the classroom.
Virtual Learning Environment
I was surfing through some blogs, and noticed that Alex had a great You Tube video on what a VLE was. I did some YouTube surfing and found another great video that discussed VLE.
The Video discusses what a VLE is, and how it can be used including the advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages being:
- It has instructional uses that enhances or can replace irregular classroom settings.
- It creates a sense of place for the learner and can simulate real life situations.
Disadvantages being:
- the techonology may not be fully developed
- May take some time for the user to learn the environment and the tools
- if the network is down VLE is inaccessible and you may miss valuable information.
What i have gathered from watching these videos is that a VLE is a personal learning space that is interactive and is great for creating a sense of place.
April 16, 2009
A Vision of Students Today…
Found another youtube clip from the great anthropologist Michael Welsh. It brings up issues that the youth face today, and how technology has effected their lives. Quite interesting!
April 14, 2009
The Ideal Teacher…
I was once asked who was my favourite teacher growing up and reasons why was she my favourite teacher. I answered straight away ‘Mrs Hosmer’ without a doubt.
Mrs Hosmer, was my grade two teacher and to this day I will never forget her. She was so sweet and lovely, she reminded me of a type of mother that would knit scarves for her children and make handmade cards for her loved ones. She was the type of teacher that would make me feel like I was her favourite student, and she always smiled at me with her wise eyes through her brown-framed glasses. I don’t know what it was, perhaps she made me feel as though anything was possible. I could do anything I set my mind to, and always try hard in anything I do.
Years have gone by, and now I am faced with my own personal reflection. What type of teacher do I want to be? How will I interest my students? How will I make them feel just the way my Mrs Hosmer made me feel? In today’s world, things have rapidly changed; technology has replaced things that were once so primitive. See ya later to blackboards, then whiteboards. Hello to interactive whiteboards, and the internet and blogs. How can I utilise these excellent resources into my daily teaching?
