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.