Synopsis

Generation Y has been characterized as the ‘tech-savvy’ generation (Apps, 2008) this is the generation I was born into and supposedly I am a ‘technology native’ Bryan Patterson of the Sunday Herald Sun suggests that Gen Y, “…is the most influential generational group since the baby boomers. “
Technology became increasingly advanced as I grew older; however, technology was not a prime tool for teachers when educating us as students. As we cross over to Generation Z (born 1995 to the end of 2009) these students are the world’s first 21st Century generation; they are the digital natives, the dot com kids and the generation media. “Generation Z are not tomorrow’s students - they are the students of today.” (McCrindle, 2010) Today’s students are not only growing up in different times, but they encounter different characteristics, values beliefs and priorities. It is a necessity that teachers have an understanding of Generation Zs learning styles, attitudes and perceptions and expectations when effectively engaging these students into a positive learning experience. (McCrindle, 2010)

In today’s schooling environment students are completing homework from Wiki sites, listening to lessons via podcasts, reflecting their thoughts through blogs and even retrieving the latest information from favourite sites and blogs through RSS feeds. Students in today’s society have grown to become extremely technologically literate; therefore, it is vital for us as Learning Managers to become future orientated when teaching students of this digital age.
Throughout this course I have examined many technologies that could effectively be used in the classroom to engage, transform and enhance student learning.
The technologies I believe are most effective in a classroom are blogs, concept maps, PowerPoint, YouTube, Vokis, and Wikis.

Regularly updated and written in a personal point of view, a blog is a diary or an online journal where the writer or “blogger” can write observations on the world or provide links to websites. All bloggers have different themes and attitudes and perceptions about different topics and issues. (Refer to blog post 3- Blog)
Blogs are ideal for students because they can be accessed at virtually anytime, any place with an internet-enabled computer. In addition to providing teachers with an effective tool for communicating with their students, there are various educational benefits when using blogs. Some of these examples are;
• Blogs are highly motivating. Students who lack participation in the classroom can benefit from using a blog.
• Blogs give opportunities for students to read and write allowing them to further develop visual and fine motor skills
• Blogs are an effective forum for collaboration and discussion
• Excellent tool to enable scaffolding or mentoring

As students persevere through their research and continue to ask questions related to the specific unit of work, they will need to effectively organize the information they obtain. Concept mapping is a simple and useful way to organize information whilst showing the connections between the information found.
In my blog I created a concept map as an example from the site called Bubbl.us. Bubbl.us is a simple online concept mapping tool which effectively allows students to create a mind map around the specific unit of work being studied at that time. (Refer to blog post 4- Concept Maps)
Using Bubbl.us will successfully create a positive learning experience for concept maps are used as “Visual road maps of cognitive organisation.” (Novak & Gowin, 1984) Bubbl.us allows students to create a concept map, save the information and come back to further add information when necessary. Students can create a before and after concept map to reveal how much knowledge the students have gained and to gain an understanding of the changes throughout the unit. (Refer to comment 1 blog post 4- Concept Maps)

PowerPoint is a software tool used when presenting information in a dynamic slide show arrangement. This tool can incorporate texts, images, graphs, videos, sound effects and many other elements which enables you to create a presentation with ease. PowerPoint is a powerful tool for learning in both a student and teacher directed situation. It can promote a new dimension of learning; allowing teachers to explain abstract concepts, while catering to all learning styles. Used and taught correctly PowerPoint can be used for classroom lessons, to exhibit student work, oral presentations and many more. PowerPoint can have a powerful impression on your audience and can actively engage students into a successful learning experience. (Refer to blog post 6 – PowerPoint and Mahara)

YouTube is a popular and engaging online public communication site. Youtube is one of the ten most popular web sites on the internet which enables you to watch videos from entertainment and music to marketing and effective learning videos. (Fieldman, 2007) When used correctly and with supervision YouTube can be used as the most engaging online technological tool. In the classroom the Learning Manager could use YouTube videos to model what students have to do for a particular task (instructional videos). The video I used in my blog for Reduce, Reuse and Recycle could be used to portray an effective and positive advertisement. (Refer to blog post 8 – YouTube) Youtube can be used to deliver complex knowledge in a step by step format which engages the learner and allows the student gain an understanding of the specific unit of work which enhances their knowledge. (Refer to comment 1, blog post 8 – YouTube)

Trying to engage and “hook” students can be a daunting experience for both the teacher and students. The topic introduced must be presented in a way which engages the learners and makes them motivated to learn due to the meaningful nature of the work environment and the activities. Technologies such as Vokis are an excellent way to facilitate engagement which can become difficult to accomplish. Vokis are an authentic and new technique for teaching and learning. (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999) (Refer to blog post 9 – Vokis) Vokis (created by the learning manager) can be used as instructional videos enabling students to be engaged and follow instructions one step at a time.

A Wiki is on online type of website that allows visitors to easily add, remove and edit some content. (Wikipedia is one of the most well known examples of a public Wiki). I personally believe that Wikis are an excellent online tool that can provide appropriate information and instruction and also actively enhances student learning. Wikis encourage group interaction and constructive collaboration which can be contributed at any time or place. Students find that learning is more effective and engaging when they are actively involved in the construction of their knowledge. (Department of Education, 2010) If you refer to blog post 5 – Wikis, you will see that I used Wiki as a source of information, question and answering and homework. This tool allows students to refer back to information at home and successfully follow through activities and read information provided by the Learning Manager. This benefits both students and parents for parents are able to view the knowledge being taught by the Learning Manager. Wikis enable students to acquire knowledge and further benefit student learning.

As previously stated students in this generation are technologically literate and born as a digital native. “Children are establishing a relationship to knowledge gathering which is alien to their parents and teachers” (Klopfer, Osterweil et, al. 2009) When incorporating technology into the classroom it is imperative that the Learning Manager also accompanies the students as “life-long learners.” If the Learning Manager is future orientated there is a great chance that students will engage in a positive learning experience through technology.

Reference List

Apps, P. (2008), Generation Y, http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSL3168385920080131(24/08/10)

Department of Education, (2010), Wikis in the classroom,
http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/wikis/(26/08/10)

Fieldman, B. (2007), What is it and why use it? Http://www.surfnetkids.com/safety/youtube_what_is_it_and_why_ use_it-19026.htm(22/08/10)

Kearsley, G & Shneiderman, B. (1999), Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning, http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm (17/08/10)

Klopfer, E. Osterweil, S. et al, (2009), Using the technology of today in the Classroom of today, http://education.mit.edu/papers/GamesSimsSocNets_EdArcade.pdf (26/08/10)

McCrindle, M. (2010), Understanding Generation Z as students, http://www.generationz.com.au/pub/ss_students.pdf (24/08/10)

Novak & Gowin. (1984), Learning How to Learn, www2.ku.edu/~iracda/documents/.../Concept%20Mapping.ppt (26/08/10)

Patterson, B. (2007), A-Z of Generation Y, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/sunday-heraldsun/a-z-of-generation-y/story-e6frf92f-1111113909372 (24/08/10)

Appendix – Links to Comments

Mrs. Daisy - YouTube
http://mrsdaisyelearning.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2010-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=13

Sadi’s E-Learning Journal – YouTube
http://sadimyers.blogspot.com/2010/08/you-tube-video.html#comments

Ornella’s E-Learning - Youtube
http://ornellaelearning.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html

Ornella’s E-Learning – Concept Maps
http://ornellaelearning.blogspot.com/2010/08/concept-map.html

Justine’s E-Learning – Digital Video
http://justinewatson.blogspot.com/2010/08/links-to-comments-and-conversations.html

Ornella’s E-Learning - Vokis
http://ornellaelearning.blogspot.com/2010/08/vokis.html#comments

Shona’s E-Learning- Concept Maps
http://s0173599cqu.blogspot.com/2010/08/concept-mapping.html#comments

Images - Picnik

I think Picnik was a really enjoyable and creative tool that would be excellent for educational purposes (more for high school students then primary) and if you are the type of person who loves to create!
Picnik is a webpage which allows you to edit any photo you have saved onto your computer. It allows you to change colours, make effects, and add texts, touch ups, stickers, frames and other cool creative things to just one photo!

Learners are to attain a photo, and represent it in as many ways as possible using Picnik (premium) as the editing tool. Learners could then justify their editing to each photo and discuss how what they did represents the chosen ‘spin’ on each copy of the photo. This would be a fun, creative activity that I’m sure all learners would highly enjoy participating in.

Below is a picture i created using Picnik...

Vokis

Vokis are an interesting and a really fun tool when engaging students.
Vokis may be used as a hook to start off a topic of discussion that students are un aware about. Technologies such as Vokis are an excellent way to facilitate engagement which is usually difficult to accomplish any other way. Vokis are an authentic and new technique for teaching and learning. (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999)

Sometimes starting a new topic can be daunting for both teachers and students, the topic introduced must be presented in a way which engages the learners and makes them motivated to learn due to the meaningful nature of the work environment and the activities. (Kearsley & Shneiderman, 1999)
For the Voki I created I used the topic Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The KLA for this topic is SOSE. Though this topic is important and a necessity to learn. Students may be put off from learning this topic; this is why teachers need to create a new and exciting tool to introduce this topic as positive and stimulating as possible rather then an overwhelming learning experience.



Get a Voki now!



Reference:

Kearsley, G & Shneiderman, B. (1999), Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning,
http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm (17/08/10)

YouTube

YouTube is a popular technology that I have been familiar with for many years now. YouTube is one of the ten most popular web sites on the internet. (Fieldman, 2007) YouTube is a web video sharing site founded in late 2005. YouTube is a venue for sharing videos amongst friends, family and can shown to millions of people around the globe; people who subscribe to YouTube can also comment on any video and receive information showing videos that may be of interest to them. (Ziff, 2009)
I think YouTube is an excellent technology to bring into the classroom environment for there are millions of excellent educational videos that can hook and engage learners.

From experience in high school I know that I would love to have used YouTube as an educational tool for assignments across most subjects.
Though due to the issues of internet safety YouTube was banned at my school and not only my school but all schools across Australia.
An article from The Australian explains how all schools have banned YouTube because “The website was considered unsafe because it was impossible to determine what sort of video material might be accessed by students” says Queensland Education and Training Minister Rod Welford (2007). Also a spokesman for the state's Department of Education and Training says, “There's no educational value to it and the content of the material on the site.” (2007)

I personally think that there are inappropriate videos on YouTube but it is a different matter to say that there “is no educational value to it.” I believe that there are many educational uses for YouTube when used appropriately. For example I chose an appropriate YouTube clip for the topic Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This clip will be used as a friendly and fun clip to engage learners into this strand of SOSE and should result in a positive learning outcome for all students.
There are many other eductional videos I have found when looking through YouTube for example: Maths- Learning your times tables or English- examples of shakespeare. YouTube should not be recognised as a negative site and portrayed as completely harmful to all students because behind all the negative media you hear of a couple of mischievous boys looking up rude or racial things on YouTube (as stated by Andrew Colley, 2007) there are videos on YouTube that are decent for the educational environment.
I am not saying it is acceptable for students to be exposed to such crude videos but YouTube videos should be acceptable under certain curcumstances for students to gain appropriate learning opportunities with appropriate teacher supervision.

Have a look at this cool little hook for Reduce Reuse and Recycle.


Reference:
Colley, A. (2007), States still hold out on YouTube, http://www.australianit.news.com.au/story/0,24897,21330109-15306,00.html (22/08/10)

Fieldman, B. (2007), What is it and why us it? http://www.surfnetkids.com/safety/youtube_what_is_it_and_why_use_it-19026.htm (22/08/10)

Ziff, D (2009), YouTube http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=YouTube&i=57119,00.asp (22/08/10)

What is RSS?

When I first heard of RSS I had absolutely no idea what this term meant whilst learning the meaning overtime I realized that RSS aggregators are a very useful tool.
RSS actually stands for Really Simple Syndication. The RSS feed is a useful format for delivering web content which regularly changes. RSS allows you to easily stay informed by retrieving the latest information from the sites and blogs you are most interested in. (Lorna, 2009) By allowing you to be updated with new information from you favourite sites it prevents you from frantically checking websites to see if there is any new information; because the RSS aggregator (e.g. Google reader) will show you what new information has been displayed on your favourite sites. (Software garden inc. 2004)

RSS aggregators can be an excellent format not only for students but for teachers as well. RSS aggregators can be taught to students so that when it comes to assignment work they can save their favourite sites to an RSS aggregator (such as Google reader) and when it comes to finding information for their assignments all students will be well equipped with new information from sites relevant to their task.

Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson describe RSS feeds as, “A great way to provide constantly updated content for young people. Although your students might not read the newspaper each morning, they can still get a great dose of timely information through RSS feeds. Unlike bookmarks that involve wading through the content of individual websites, aggregators provide students with access to the latest information.” (2008)

An RSS feed is also useful for teachers who spend their time on the internet discovering new information from their favourite teacher sources. An RSS feed will allow teachers to save time that they desperately need when teachers already have a lot of things to organise for the classroom.




References:

Lamb, A & Johnson, L. (2008), RSS feeds in the Classroom, http://eduscapes.com/sessions/rss/ (22/08/10)

Lorna, W. (2009) What is RSS? (Really Simple Syndication)?
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rss.htm (22/08/10)

Software Garden inc. (2004), What is RSS? http://rss.softwaregarden.com/aboutrss.html (22/08/10)

PowerPoint and Mahara

PowerPoint

PowerPoint is one of the technologies I am very comfortable and familiar with. Throughout my learning journey through primary school and high school PowerPoint played a major role when delivering information to us as students. PowerPoint is a useful technological software that lets you generate a creative presentation on whatever you like! PowerPoint is a practical tool when giving oral speeches on whatever topic the students are encountering at that specific time. Teachers can also use this PowerPoint to engage students into specific learning experiences.
Although PowerPoint is very useful software which can be used for numerous learning experiences; I find that PowerPoint can sometimes be difficult to use and does not have all the features that new technologies contain these days.

Mahara

A Mahara is an entirely featured electronic ePortfolio, resume builder, blogging system and social networking system. Mahara helps build reflective and personalized learning. Unlike Moodle, which is a teacher led course system; Mahara allows the user to be in control of their own learning. Mahara allows you to manage your own files which (e.g. images, documents, videos, blogs). This is a useful format for this allows learners to take control and reflect on their own learning.

Wikis

Wikis are an incredible tool especially when teaching students who these days thrive off technology. Wiki is a remarkable web page used to store interesting information of any person’s choice! Wiki can be used by anyone with access to the Internet and can be changed and edited by anyone in the world. (Leuf & Cunningham, 2001)

Here is a link to a Wiki that I created. http://3rstrategy.wetpaint.com/

Wiki can definitely be a useful tool in the classroom. Each learner can access a Wiki page the learning manager has created and complete certain tasks, assignments, cool games and much more. Wiki is a fun and excellent way to learn online which parents can also view to gain an understanding of what their child is currently learning. As a future learning manager I would suggest using Wikis in the classroom to engage each learner.

Reference List:

Epstein, N.(2006) http://www.bragonline.org.uk (accessed: 8/08/10)

Leuf, B & Cunningham, W. (2001) The Wiki Way: Quick Collaboration on
the Web, Addison-Wesley: Boston, p. 15. (accessed: 08/08/10)

NIEHS Office of Management, (2008), Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. http://kids.niehs.nih.gov/recycle.htm. (accessed: 08/08/10)

Concept Map

I created a concept map (mind map) on topic 1 of this course. To help create this concept map i used a website and a handy tool called bubbl.us. I believe that using a concept map in a classroom would be beneficial to all learning styles. A concept map allows you to create a topic and form various ideas around each category; this allows the learner to successfully grasp an understanding of each topic. As learners in this generation are technologically literate bubble.us allows students to use technology whilst completing a learning activity which is a great way to engage your learner. Bubbl.us is an easy to use tool which can be saved and progressively completed throughout the year. Beneath is the concept map i completed as an example:

Blog

A blog (also known as an online journal) is a useful website used by an individual to obtain specific information or data, personal reflections, opinions, links to other blogs, web sites and other resources such as graphics or videos.
In this generation, students are extremely technologically literate which means in a classroom the learning manager must use technology in order to engage each learner.
Using blogs in a classroom is an effective tool when engaging each learner; for a blog can be used for question and answering, allowing students to view and comment on other student’s opinions and also personal reflection. Students would be able to use the World Wide Web to further their learning by gathering information on each topic given by the learning manager and paraphrasing the gathered information into their blog then eventually reflecting on their own work.
When engaging students, using technology is vital, for students thrive off using any means of technology. Using blogs and other technological tools are useful and appealing to students in this generation.

What is your learning style?

The memletics learning style inventory test conducts each individuals dominant learning styles. Understanding your learning style has a great impact on the way you interpret different situations in everyday life, “Your preferred styles guide the way you learn. They also change the way you internally represent experiences, the way you recall information, and even the words you choose.” (Advanogy, 2007)
After undertaking the memletics learning styles inventory test; I have been informed that my dominant learning style is Aural; which means I like to incorporate sound and music into my everyday life which enables me to learn more effectively. As a future learning manager I could integrate sound and music into everyday learning experiences to engage my students. This allows me to use my dominant learning styles to learn about each student. Below is my learning style chart:

To engage each learner the learning manager must profile each student correctly to find their personal strengths and weaknesses and incorporate them into classroom lessons. For example:

Visual Learner: The learning manager can cater to a Visual learner by increasing the amount of images, pictures, colour coding and maps in the classroom whilst teaching. This enables the visual learner to understand and be engaged in the school work.
Social Learner: A social learner communicates well with others, therefore to cater to a social learner creating activities where students work collaboratively will effectively engage a social learner.
Physical Learner: Incorporating physical learning such as classroom experiments, gardening, jigsaws, making models etc. into the classroom would greatly engage a physical learner for this type of learner may become fidgety, frustrated or unmotivated if they are sitting in one spot for too long.
Verbal Learner: A verbal learner increasingly finds the need to express themselves. To cater to a verbal learner the learning manager may constantly ask the learning to read something out to the class, ask the learner questions, asks the learner to share their response to the class.
Solitary Learner: A solitary learner is introspective and independent. This learner spends some time on self analysis and reflection. To cater to a solitary learner the learning manager must give this student time to reflect on each piece of information given at the end of each lesson and to re-evaluate what the learner has learnt throughout the lesson.
Logical Learner: A logical learner best learns with figures and numbers. This learner has excellent mathematical and problem solving skill. The learning manager can pose complex mathematical questions specifically towards this learner to maintain their logical skills.

Using various ICTs in the classroom is very important in today’s technologically literate society. Students in this generation thrive off different technologies, with this knowledge it is vital for the learning manager to incorporate ICTs in the classroom. ITCs such as PowerPoint, YouTube, Interactive whiteboards, WIKIs and various other ICTs, are excellent tools when engaging various learning types. ICTs effectively increases the knowledge of each learner and successfully caters to each learning type.

Reference List:
Advanogy, (2007). Overview of Learning Styles, http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/ (18/07/10)

My Experiences So Far!

Hello Everyone,

There are various things I have learnt from this course already that I had no idea existed! Of course I knew about Google because Google is recognised as the world's leading search technology company. (Page, 2009)
According to Larry Page the co-founder of Google says, “Google is the perfect search engine that would understand exactly what you mean and give back exactly what you want.” (2009)Personally I agree with this statement.
Until recently I had no idea about blogging, Google reader, Wiki and other online recourses. Becoming Learning Managers and being in a highly technologically literate society we need to learn technology as much as possible to be able to engage our students.

I believe the Managing eLearning course effectively teaches us as Learning Managers how to appropriately use technology to hook our future students into fun, relevant and effective classroom learning.
I can honestly say that I have had hardly any experience with any new technology besides the basics that I learnt from high school, for example: Google, PowerPoint and Youtube but for our own safely Youtube was blocked by Education Queensland.

I am excited to learn new and exciting things about technology so that as a future Learning Manager I will be able to use technology in many aspects of teaching. Feel free to read and comment on each blog.

Cheers, Ornella

Reference List:

Page, L. (2009). Larry Page, http://www.crunchbase.com/person/larry-page (Access date: 16/07/10)