The following reflective synopsis will converse about some of the many technologies students will deal with in the classroom. In the course of Managing E-learning, I was faced with different ICT’s that can be incorporated into the classrooms. The ICT’s can support and enhance the learning of all students.
I have selected the following four tools for the following learning purposes:
Images
In class we looked at uploading images to our blogs, I also checked out flikr.com which is a fantastic website. Flikr.com allowed me to upload many images that supported the lesson plans I was teaching. Images can be used regularly in the classroom. Images can be used to describe a certain topic or accompany an audio story. Images are simply pictures. Images are used in many ICT’s, from sharing photo albums online (facebook, myspace etc.), to help tell a story. Images are also used in everyday life of the students in my classroom. If I drew a golden/yellow ‘M’, every student in my class knows that the golden/ yellow ‘M’ represents McDonalds. Images are very important for students who are visual learners as this helps them grasp the concept of the particular learning much easily. Images can be used to consolidate and refine information by the following example, images can be used when a set of instructions are told, some students still may not know what they are intended to do, but with the help of an image students will then be able to copy or imitate what they are required to do.
Video- Windows Movie Maker
In class we also looked at using video in the classroom. As my teaching areas are Health and Physical Education (HPE) and English, I already have an understanding of how I will be able to incorporate the tool of video into a classroom. . In HPE students can benefit in using video to analyse specific body movements of athletes. Video allows the students to ‘stop, pause and rewind’ video’s to fully break down the specific movement. The video could also allow them to know exactly what they are doing wrong when they hit the ball or when they take off from the blocks running. Video can also be used in an English classroom. Students can film themselves presenting a short story or a dramatic oral. The students will also get the chance to edit their videos.
The students can use access/gain information in HPE and English, where students can record certain topic or activities, then go home and edit or review what they have done in class to broaden their information on that topic. There are many other uses for video but this just some of the benefits students could gain from using video in their classroom situations. Video allows students to present knowledge to an audience especially in English when they video themselves and the video is used as an assessment piece where other classmates can view the video and the teacher can mark them on their performance, also their editing skills.
Voki
A Voki is simply a talking voice character. The animated characters or avatars enable users to express themselves on the web with a voice, but as a talking character. People can customize their Voki to look like themselves or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters like animals, monsters, anime etc. Voki also allows the user to use their own voice by adding their voice with a microphone, upload or by phone.
Voki’s can be used in the classroom to engage students in their learning. In the classroom students can create avatars that are similar in looks or personalities and record a message that tells a little about them. Voki’s can also be used when exchanging with e-pals with their own country or across the world. Another great way students can use Voki’s is for English Second Language (ESL) students can use the speaking avatars to practice and listen to their own speech. The students may use the computerised voice first and then use their own voice when they feel more comfortable. Writing, reading and pronunciation are all practised and perfected.
Teacher’s can also use Voki’s in the classroom to introduce a new topic to the class. Voki’s can be beneficial for the students that are visual or audible learners, but it would also benefit the whole classroom as this is a new tool that would engage the students to the learning. Another example of using Voki’s in the classroom could be, while the teacher is setting up a new activity for the students the Voki could be explaining the instructions about the lesson/activity about to unfold.
Prezi
Prezi’s are a great tool to use in the classroom. Prezi’s are similar to the powerpoint but are more interactive. Prezi allows people to create dynamic presentations, where you can zoom in and out across a large poster. Prezi also allows the user to create motion paths, add text, embed images and video files. Whilst browsing through the Prezi site I came across some useful Prezi presentations that would benefit students in both my teaching areas of HPE and English. There were Prezi’s about Shakespeare and different learning concepts like characterisation etc. Prezi’s would engage all types of learners in the classroom especially the visual learners. Prezi can be used in the classroom for presentation, introducing new vocabulary and concepts. Prezi can also be used by students in the classroom for story boarding.
This course, Managing E-learning has allowed me to expand my experience with many ICT’s. I had already had some experience with ICT’s and this helped me with the other concepts we learnt, by having this prior knowledge. The new tools/ICT’s I have learnt will allow me to include in my classroom/s and to provide for my learners a much more fun, exciting and engaging learning environment for the students.
