Computer Fail

For some random, unknown reason, my computer will no longer let me put pictures on my Blog.
Not good :-(

Making a Website

Websites make up the Internet, and they are about so many different things.

I used Weebly to make my own website. The setting up of the website was surprisingly easy, actually easier then making the Wiki or the Blog.

The set up of the page itself was just a simple drag and drop. The hardest part about the website was deciding what it was going to be about. I decided on a site that was aimed at illustrating the fun that could be had with GISHWHES. Check it out here. 

SWOT for website use in the classroom

Using a website in the classroom context has its positives and negatives. if it was to be used as a teaching resource or student task, it would require a lot of monitoring of what students are using in their posts. As with all Internet posting sites copyright laws come into effect and students need to understand its importance in order to use these sites appropriately.
If used appropriately, a website would be a good way for a group of students to express information on a particular subject (eg, group work on animals, where the website outlines everything about the animal)

Making and using a Wiki

My computer finally allowed me to open the Wikispaces website and set up my page

https://daleselearning.wikispaces.com/ 

The set up was the easy part, its the working out what to do with it, that's the problem. I hate making things like this and not knowing what to really do with it.

The space itself however, is very useful in a classroom situation.
I contributed to a class wiki on the use of mobile phones in the classroom. It was great to be able to read what others wrote on the topic, and it was easy to edit. However, it was hard to work out where to write at first, because the layout changes when it is in edit mode. We had to post using the 6 thinking hats, which I really didn't like. Maybe its just the way my brain works but those hats just confuse me so much. I understand how they are meant to be used to organise thinking, but for me I find it a confusing prossess. Also having the Wiki set out in the hats is what  made it so hard to edit, because the page has so many tables and lines trying to divide it all up. 

Strengths:
- groups can work on and edit a page, which then allows the whole class to view that groups ideas
- versatile
- be used and edited by multiple people (selected members)
- has settings that make it safe for students

Weaknesses
- confusing for those who haven't experienced them before
- opened to be viewed

Opportunities
- Connect the class
- allows the class to connect and edit the space as a whole

Threats
- needs constant guidance so that no inappropriate information is posted by the members

Thinking about Blogs

We went over how Blogs can be used in the classroom in class this week and it got me thinking. Blogs are very versatile. they can be fun, informative, creative. They can be used to express an opinion, tell a story, share photos, and present information. its funny to really think of the possibilities that arise from its creation.
This Blog is a journey of learning, and an expression of ideas. This can be used in classrooms to; however they are public which isn't very safe for student information. My grade 4 prac class last year had a Blog. The teachers uploaded photos of the class's activities and events they participated in. I thought it was a great resource. the students loved hearing when the site was updated, and would go home to show their parents. It was also great that even after I left I could still check out how their class project was going. This in a way proved the danger of having the Blog, because anyone could access it and see the class and what they had been doing.

I made a SWOT diagram to properly express my ideas

(used SmartART in Microsoft Word to make this)

technology teaching fail

Gotta love it when the lecturer is trying to teach you about technology and the technology stops working. Thats the way technology works is it not?

TPACK in plain english (because thats the only way I understand it)

TPACK stands for:



TPACK is a concept developed to show an idealised way to teach using a visual representation of 3 knowledge circles.

Each ring represents a different type of teaching knowledge. The technological ring represents a persons knowledge of technology. So, their knowledge of how to use different softwares etc. The content ring represents the knowledge of what is to be taught to students. This is the specific contents, such as engllish, art, science, etc. The final ring is for pedagogical knowledge, which is the knowledge of how to teach something to someone. You may know a lot about computers and mathematics, but don't know how to go about teaching that knowledge to someone; thats a lack of pedagogical knowledge.

These rings connect at four points which represent the combined knowledge of teaching.

Technological and Content Knowledge is where there is knowledge of technology and content but not pedegogy; so the knowledge can't be taught. Technological and Pedagogical Knowledge is when there is knowldge of how to teach technologies, but not in a particular context. Content and Pedagogical Knowledge is where there is knowledge of how to teach content, but not technology within the content. The centre join is TPACK, where all the forms of knowledge are present.

The creators of TPACK later added another aspect to TPACK which was 'context' (seen as a broken circle around the outside). Which represents the context in which this knowledge is being used (eg, primary or secondary education). The aim of context was to show that the use of the knowledge will differ, depending on the context in which it was being used.

Koehler, M. (2011, May 13). What is TPACK? Retrieved from TPACK - technological pedagogical and content knowledge: just another Dr Matthew J. Koehler site: www.tpck.org 

(Tahlia said I need a title) The New Android Tablet

Today was interesting. Went and got a tablet from Kmart (just an android one) for my mum. It's small and looked simple enough online, but in the short amount of time I've had to play around with it I've realised that it sucks (to put it in a nice way)

- The screen isn't touchy enough, so it doesn't recognise my actions
- It won't let me set the right time
- The keyboard mixes up my letters
- The apps are hard to find and get
- the screen is just to small to work with

I know I've only just got it (and reading the instructions would probably help), but I think that because I've played around with Ipads and Samsung Tablets I'm picking on this poor cheap wannabe :-P

This is the hard part about having so many options in a variety of price ranges, and wanting to get the same quality from all sellers. But, it is not possible. At least this is for my mum, and now I know that something of this standard is not what I am interested in. It is not something that I think would be helpful throughout my study.

I want a more portable device (my laptop is was to heavy and chunky) to bring to Uni, so I can instantly download materials, but money and choice is slowing me down. Ipads are awesome and so many education apps are available, but you can't use Microsoft word or anything. A Samsung Tablet on the other hand can be connected to Microsoft, but it's with Android (maybe it'll work better on a better device).

Technology is so confusing. Somebody please make it simpler for the simple minded.

On another note: MEL was very interesting today. The words were a bit big and confusing, but I think it'll get better. I found myself zoning out during the lesson; hoping its just a bit of tiredness.

Making the Blog Fun

Gemma M showed me how to get fish. Now I have 5 fish and a Cheeky Quote corner. This blog stuff is getting interesting

Thinking about Computers

I got bored the other day (I know what you're thinking: How can a Uni student be bored?), and decided to have a little play around with my computer. I found out that GISHWHES (a super awesome record breaking scavenger hunt) was going to happen again this year, and wanted previous participants to make a promotional video to get more people interested in the fun event.

I'll admit, I was super excited, but didn't have a clue as to what to do. 

I remembered making a PowerPoint into a video for a previous assignment, and thought this would be my best option for attacking the task. The only problem was that I needed music for the video, and I hated the trial and error associated with getting music to run right with my PowerPoint's.

So instead of mucking around with PowerPoint, I made the video without music and then put it into Movie Maker. And presto.....I made a cool movie :-)

Not only did I challenge myself a little, it also killed an hour of my time :-P

Computers are Fun

First Post

My name is Dale, and I am a second year student in the BLM Early Childhood program. My technology knowledge is fairly high due to my age :-P but there are still things that I find difficult.

This is my first proper blog (I do use Tumblr which is a picture based blog) and I'm hoping it turns out ok.

I was looking forward to starting Managing E-Learning, as I believe technology is important in the classroom and I want as much technical knowledge as possible. I think I'm going to do alright in this subject, as long as everything explained properly. I find it hard to understand some concepts if they aren't explained in depth, or have visual links (Like those help pages on the Internet when your trying to install something, and it tells you what to do and has a picture of what the screen should look like.... I like them; they really are helpful).

Although today's lesson was .... not really informative (to much time was spent talking about what the course was meant to teach us and how we should express ourselves online), I am looking forward to future lessons.