Assessment 1

What a ride the past 6 weeks have been both up hill and down at times. I really never thought I would make it, but as you see I am still here. E-learning has been the most enjoyable and constantly changing of all my subjects. You might say I never knew what web based tool I was going to learn about next or how useful they would be to me in my learning journey. To follow the tools that I have looked at go to Appendix1 know that I will use a variety of these tools to assist me in developing, delivering and embedding knowledge into the learnings of my future students. Furthermore, I believe that the web based tools we have viewed, discussed, and experimented with would be extremely useful in their entirety when developing classroom activities, but today I will be writing about just a few. The three tools that I will be examining, discussing and know that (if at all possible) I will use with my future students are; Google Earth, Google Maps and online quizzes. As a future Home Economics and Hospitality teacher I can think of numerous possibilities for exciting and informative classroom activities that can be developed using online tools but I will show my ideas for just the above few tools.
Both of the following tools are extremely interactive and lesson planning would be easily adapted and made suitable for students that are of different academic levels and learning styles. I would endeavour to begin planning the tasks by profiling my students and classifying them into groups of learning styles, to do this I will follow the principles of Keirsey (http://Keirsey.com). Once I have identified the different learning styles of the students, the task would be modified to ensure that each learner has the capacity to successfully meet the outcome criteria. These tools are Google Earth (http://earth.google.com/) and Google maps (http://maps.google.com/). With Google Earth and Google maps you can travel the globe without leaving home. I would use these two tools in unison as I believe they complement each other. Both of these tools show maps of whole countries, regions and streets. You can actually zoom in on a particular site or street address. Imagine taking the class on a virtual tour of the world, they could see into someone’s backyard on the other side of the world and note the differences in living conditions, building materials vegetation and town planning layouts, then compare that with what we have in Australia, by zooming in on an Australian town.
Following is one of the ways that these tools will be implemented into my classroom. This task is set for a year 9 Hospitality class and for the subject of tourism; the group activity will be to plan the itinerary for an overseas holiday, each student having a different element to review, one would look at accommodation, another at tourist designations and another to find where the restaurants are located. When each team member has found their targeted information they would collate their information and determine how far the tourist would have to travel from accommodation to these other places. By utilizing Google Earth the student will be able to decide the destination countries easily. I believe that the students would be excited and motivated to use these tools. McInerney and McInerney (2006) have extensively researched student behaviour and know through this research, that excited and motivated students will receive a better outcome and remain more focused and on task than those students that are not. The students would feel encouraged to do research, initiate a high level of compliance and have positive learning outcomes (DOL 3, 4 & 5) (Marzano & Pickering, 2006). Marzano and Pickering (2006) stress that all learning outcomes must be assessed to ensure the student has imbedded knowledge, and has met the criteria of the topic. The assessment for this task will be for the students to collate their information and make a brochure that would contain all the information that guests would want to know prior to booking their trip. To conclude their learning journey for this topic area students will be required to complete a closed book exam. The students will be provided with the http address and instructed to access this site and complete the exam, the exam will be done in class monitored, and the time allowed will be 70minutes. The test that they will be given is available through the following link http://www.classmarker.com/teacher/edit_test.php?test_id=58852. (Yes I have developed a test). The test has been developed by using Classmarker (Classmarker, 2005-2009) which is an online test developing tool. Classmarker is a professional, confidential and easy to use tool; it allows you to develop individual tests store them and put in your expected answers and then it does the marking for you. The students receive instant feedback and know what questions they have got right and wrong. Half the work is done for you, now that would have to be a bonus.
I have scaffolded my classroom task by implementing strategies from Oliver’s Learning Design Framework (Oliver, 1999). Oliver’s learning design framework is an effective way in which educators can be proficient their planning and instructing processes. His framework is a scaffolding tool. Within his framework he provides and list of the components that will be required to develop an effective teaching strategy or plan. The way in which he has linked these components together allows for easy interpretation and implementation. He starts from the beginning with finding what the topic outcomes are, then links in what resources, tasks and support that the students will require to gain their desired outcome. The need for different ideas and a various modes of teaching, whilst ensuring that adequate complexity is instilled in the learnings, assists to moderate the teachers approach to the task. Also discussed is the need for student choice which will provide the element of ownership to the task and encourage them to become involved in their learning. As with any subject the information presented to the students must be authentic, referenced and suitable for the learner’s level. All learning styles are taken into consideration in Oliver’s framework; he encourages the use of multiple, collaborative, active and structured learning activities.
I am now aware of the different on-line tools that I can utilize and implement in mine and in my students future learning processes. I will be one of those teachers that will be forever learning and hopefully will be able to project my excitement and knowledge onto my students to encouraging them in their lifelong learning.
View references for this blog.
Comments on other’s blogs.

Copy Writing

How much can you copy from others, the golden rule is usually 10% of content, whether it be from a website or book. There is some grey area though is it 10% of the entire website or just of the page that is showing? This is where it is really important to followup and make sure that permission is granted by the publishers of these sites. All material that is copied or used from any source has to be referenced back to the author otherwise it is plagiarism, which we all know is illegal.

WebQuest

WebQuest is a storage tool where you can view, buy and upload lesson plans. Accessing this site would be a great way to review what other teachers plans for a subject are. These lesson plans are available for you to purchase. A great way to utilise a wide range of lesson plans on many topics without having to create your own from scatch. Great time saving tool.

My Voki

Movie maker

This is our group movie that we made at uni, it is about looking for the infamous CQU tiger LOL.

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHzTUYAOkPM This link is on classroom management from the 1940s, have a look at it and see the difference between the classroom management of today. YouTube is a tool that teenagers seem to be very aware of, I have not used it much previously but can see the usefulness of it. It is an easy way to search for and view footage of a topic, you can even watch chefs preparing food, I could use this in my Home Economics classes. Instead of me doing a demonstration for a recipe, I could use a feed from YouTube to do it for me. Students seem to relate to anything they see so I believe that there would be loads of interest.

Online quizes

Online quizes in moodle are an effective tool to monitor your progress, by doing the quizes you know where you are upto and what knowledge you should have on the topic.

Learning management system we use for university

The two learning management systems I have use whilst studying at CQU are Blackboard and now of course Moodle. Both these systems are where all our study information is stored. By navigating your way through MyCQU Student portal, into the course you are studying, will enable you to access these systems. You will be automatically rerouted to the learning management system that has been developed for your particular subject. I use these LMS each day. The most useful element of them for me is that all the information is in one place and that I don't have to look for it in other areas thus wasting precious time that us as students don't have enough of.

Google Earth

With Google Earth you can travel the globe without leaving the comforts of your home. I believe that this tool could be utilized with google maps to encourage research and complience within the classroom. Both these tools would be effective in History, Geography, SOSE, English, Tourism, or Hospitality classes, these applications could be merged into the essential learnings with little or no conflict. As tech savvy individuals or students would love to be able to access and utilize these tools. Levels of participation would be high.

flickr

http://www.flickr.com/ go to this site and check it out. I have not been able to get into this site so good luck.

Edheads what can you think to use it for?

Go to the following link and you can watch sergiens opperate on a live person, emagine the learning possiblities when students acess this site. Not just for health subjects but many other subjects, like home economics. A core subject component of home ecomomics is healthy eating, can you think of any ways that this site could help you to explain the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle. Here is the link enjoy.
http://www.edheads.org/activities/brain_stimulation/teacher.htm

google maps

View University in a larger map

Another great and exciting component of Google is Google maps. I could find myself fall for this site, the possibilities are endless. Imagine taking the class on a virtual tour of the world, they could see into someones backyard on the other side of the world, view the location of tourist designations or even restaurants. This tool would be a god sent in both my hospitality or tourism classes of the future. We could plan a round the world tour, stopping over at all the exciting places, go shopping in exotic places, stay at the most exclusive places and eat in the worlds finest restaurants all of this and it didn't cost us one cent. What a way to ensure student participation, the topics studied would be so exciting, I bet there wouldn't be one incident of non compliance.

I tunes not only for music

I tunes is easy to access just download it by following this link http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/?cid=OAS-US-DOMAINS-itunes.com. ITunes is a free application for Mac and PC. It plays all your digital music and video. It syncs content to your iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. And it’s a store where you can find more to entertain you, any time of the day.

Easy acess to pod or vodcasts, the iTunes Store has over 100,000 audio and video podcasts. Each of these can be acessed through the above link, then follow the prompts. These podcasts are free video or audio series, they can be in the visual format of a TV show or in an auditory composition of a radio show. You just download the shows that interest you and play them on your computer, iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV. We have even used iTunes for reseaching scholary items.

I think this could be an effective tool that I could use in my future classes. In this evolving era, most of the students that I will interact with will have resonable knowledge of the current technology,and this I feel will be helpful. With the probility that most if not all the students now have a personal computer, an iPod and some of which will have an iphone, engaging in classroom activities will be more effective. The class could have one topic that they all need to research and then share their information with the other students, I bet that most of them would be interested if they could use iTunes for this.

What are your thoughts, do you think that you would use this tool in classrooms if and when mobile technology is allowed into schools?

Skype

Skype can be used to keep in contact with other skype users. This is a free, yes free, contact system. All you have to do is go to to http://www.skype.com and register, then just ask your friends for their online number and talk to your hearts content. Your calls are not limited to skype participants but also pay a small fee, you can pay as you go or have a monthly plan. Packaged in a neat and user friendly aspect with many features, you get great value calls, people can contact you on your online number, leave a message in voice mail, you can send SMS messages or have your calls forwarded to you phone when you are off line. An efficient way to do your netwoorking having all of your contacts in one spot.
Ref:http://www.skype.com/intl/en/features/

My Feedburner URL

This is my feedburner URL
http://feeds.feedburner.com/MadAsAHatter
Have a look at the following link it is a sample of someones feedburner, I found it interesting to see the format.http://www.feedburner.com/fb/i/public/newsgator_sample_preview.gif
Feedburner will be very useful to me because you link and save all my favourite web pages and sites here and they are were I can find them. Fantastic news, I can never find where I've been again.

My podcast address

Go to mypodcast if you like.

Slide share

Oh my goodness, who said they cannot find anything useful on the web? I know I have had my doubts, but after learning about slideshare, I don't think I will be able to use that excuse again. To view and use these exciting resources go to www.slideshare.net/ you will be just as amazed as I was. I have signed up and hope you all do too. After just viewing the one presentation in class with Wendy my whole imagination lit up, thinking about how I was going to be able to wait to use this tool. And now after perusing this site in more depth, I really am rather excited about the quality of items on this site. I know that some of my resources will come from here, properly referenced of course.

Power point presentations

Well here I go again, I have used power point presentations, but Wow I really didn't know that so much could be done. I know that I will use them a lot more now than I have done. Some of the applications that we looked at in class, I have done before, such as changing formats, inserting objects/pictures, I have reformatted images and have made different slide formats (changed the style and background to suit). I have always thought and done presentations in a dot point format, yes unfortunately I am a list maker, but with the idea of developing concept maps, this is something I think I would have a go at. I could see me using power point presentations in the class room. The ability to print out handouts, use colour, graphics, visuals and sounds, I feel would capture; at least in some aspect, the attention of students no matter what their learning style of preferences are. I am looking forward to the next session on this positive, effective and useful tool.

Wiki's

My wiki address is www.wikispaces.com. I really don't know what I will put on my wiki, or what I will use it for. I am hopeful that I will be able to use wikispace to publish useful and factual information on the subjects that I will be teaching. I am sure that when I am in a classroom with students, and they have my wiki address that they will find this tool very helpful. The students will be able to access this site as many times as they need to, and will know that they have the correct assessable information required to complete their tasks. Another really good way to utilise wikis in the classroom would be for group activities; the students would be able to create their own web pages, input their research for the task, upload their assessments and monitor all the other groups. Can you just imagine the possibilities? I would think that there would be quite a large percentage of participation, because we know how children love to create things especially on the computer.

Learning Styles

My learning style is a bit of eveything, though I really am not a very visual learner. I would prefer to talk, listen and do a task, this is how my brain is wired and how it absorbs information.Even though I like to work on my own and like a bit of silence, I do enjoy working in a team. I am aware that everyone has their own style and opinion on a suject, I like to listen to their ideas and opinions and usually obtain a better clarification of the subject. Type is ISFJ Introverted Sensing Feeling Judging Strength of the preferences % 33 31 62 56. Wow, could not have been closer to the truth, I am a guardian.All Guardians (SJs) share the following core characteristics: Guardians pride themselves on being dependable, helpful, and hard-working.Guardians make loyal mates, responsible parents, and stabilizing leaders.Guardians tend to be dutiful, cautious, humble, and focused on credentials and traditions.Guardians are concerned citizens who trust authority, join groups, seek security, prize gratitude, and dream of meting out justice (http://keirsey.com).

Style Scores
Visual
11
Social
16
Physical
16
Aural
15
Verbal
15
Solitary
14
Logical
13
More Options

Elearning how exciting, what a useful tool this will be.

Well I really didn't know what to expect from Elearning, but am really glad I didn't miss the first tute I don't know how I would have caught up.

Google what a fantastic site, I thought it was just for seaching the web but how wrong was I. I can see my self using Google a lot more now, especially the academic link. I wish I had know about this link when I started uni, I could have saved myself loads of time looking for information and references that were of the required calaber necessary for the subjects and assessments.

I can't wait to start bookmarking on delicious, with books and infomation from the web pages that I have used and feel would be useful for the courses I am doing now and also to show my students items in the future. At least if I have bookmarked them I will know where they have come from and who has written the item.

I am now a blogger, wow another thing I didn't, but will have fun expanding my knowledge in this area. I cant wait till I have some followers and have replied to loads of other peoples blogs. I believe this will be a great networking tool and a great way to find out how others view and interpret the information that is available to us.

Well I can't wait till next tute to see what else I can learn, I hope it all sinks in to my head and not in one ear and out the other.

Hi

Wow, finally set up thank you.