iLearn Model & Blooms Digital Taxonomy
Check out the spelling at 3:38 on the video (and seriously, the designer must have been trying to max out BS Bingo in the 2nd half of the video). These made ME reflect on my Module 2 post. Creating is the top of Blooms taxonomy but merely creating does not mean that the 'creator' has mastered all the 'lower' rungs of the ladder. So where do you place Blogs, Wiki's, Second Life etc on the digital taxonomy - well it depends on the quality of the product and/or how the tool is being used.
Which leads me to a big question in this whole Web 2.0 push. Are we supposed to be using it for motivation OR are we supposed to be using it to foster collaborative 21st century 'creative' learning. I think there are mixed messages throughout this course on this topic. Ideally both (I know) - but time is finite. Students may be computer literate - but not necessarily expert at the full range of skills required LEARN through the use of Web 2.0 tools. Students do need the skills identified under the iLearn video - but these need to be taught. Again time is finite.
Before elearning can be effectively done the curriculum needs to be rewritten to incorporate both the needs of teachers (guidance and direction and time to plan) and students (to allow time do develop the required skills) - a little late I suppose considering that new curriculum has just been done ? Or perhaps the design and structure of schools needs to be rethought.
Essentially whatever happens it comes down to the teacher - choosing the best tools, electronic or otherwise, to help the students achieve to their potential. AND this is where it's important that teachers use and are aware of the Web 2.0 tools out there. Without this knowledge they are limiting their resource set, limiting their ability to best help their students. Yes, I think that most of the Web 2.0 tools I previewed are gimmicky wastes of time BUT there are some gems in there and perhaps some of these tools will prove themselves useful for a future project or problem. (My new Web 2.0) Knowledge is power WMUAH HA HAAAA!
What an incoherent rant - ahhh the joys of blogging!
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
MODULE 10
Learning Communities
This would have to be the least helpful module of them all. Wiki's are a nice idea but I have a feeling they will soon be superseded by Google docs style applications (perhaps they already are).
The ning links were useless. Even still, from what I've seen it seems just like a version of MyClasses which my students and I can access for free - so why bother?
Again - still waiting for some inspiration regarding these tools.
This would have to be the least helpful module of them all. Wiki's are a nice idea but I have a feeling they will soon be superseded by Google docs style applications (perhaps they already are).
The ning links were useless. Even still, from what I've seen it seems just like a version of MyClasses which my students and I can access for free - so why bother?
Again - still waiting for some inspiration regarding these tools.
MODULE 9
Scootle
I've used this a fair bit over the last two years. Some of the objects are very useful for Science. But seeing that I've discovered I can access most of the Learning Federation stuff through Myclasses I haven't bothered with Scootle this year as its login and learning path system is a chore. Objects = good, Scootle itself = meh!
Social Networks
I really just don't get the attraction. I really cannot see the educational advantages beyond the hook to get Facebook & WoW addicted students interested. It seems like lots of additional work and time on behalf of the teacher to get the same (or less results). I have not closed my mind to the possibilities but I'll need something to inspie me.
Second Life - what a waste of time (unless it gets better graphics and becomes VR - but for all the stuff that you can do in second life - meh!). If I want a virtual me it will be to do something interesting in a roleplaying or FPS game. As it is, Second Life = boring version of The Sims.
Facebook - meh!
Twitter - I REALLY don't get the fuss. The educational uses seemed limited and pointless. Perhaps I'm just missing the point. I await inspiration. And the CEO Twitter Prezi just confirmed my realisation that the Prezi format would quickly get boring and irritating (to me anyway).
LinkedIn - meh!
The only reason I see myself usig these technologies is so that I don't appear to be a dinosaur. I'll make the effort to use/study them just enough to keep in touch while I watch natural selection prune the useless from the useful and await the next big things in digital education...
I've used this a fair bit over the last two years. Some of the objects are very useful for Science. But seeing that I've discovered I can access most of the Learning Federation stuff through Myclasses I haven't bothered with Scootle this year as its login and learning path system is a chore. Objects = good, Scootle itself = meh!
Social Networks
I really just don't get the attraction. I really cannot see the educational advantages beyond the hook to get Facebook & WoW addicted students interested. It seems like lots of additional work and time on behalf of the teacher to get the same (or less results). I have not closed my mind to the possibilities but I'll need something to inspie me.
Second Life - what a waste of time (unless it gets better graphics and becomes VR - but for all the stuff that you can do in second life - meh!). If I want a virtual me it will be to do something interesting in a roleplaying or FPS game. As it is, Second Life = boring version of The Sims.
Facebook - meh!
Twitter - I REALLY don't get the fuss. The educational uses seemed limited and pointless. Perhaps I'm just missing the point. I await inspiration. And the CEO Twitter Prezi just confirmed my realisation that the Prezi format would quickly get boring and irritating (to me anyway).
LinkedIn - meh!
The only reason I see myself usig these technologies is so that I don't appear to be a dinosaur. I'll make the effort to use/study them just enough to keep in touch while I watch natural selection prune the useless from the useful and await the next big things in digital education...
Friday, 3 June 2011
MODULE 8
RSS Feeds
These may be useful to some people but I don't think I browse enough websites to make it worthwhile. If I am researching a certain topic I'll find the websites I need, temporarily bookmark them and browse them as needed. For news I'll read the Herald and do further searches on specific topics as they come up.
At the moment I can only see it being useful for keeping track of which Failblog and Graphjam posts I have/haven't seen.
Underwhelmed by this module.
These may be useful to some people but I don't think I browse enough websites to make it worthwhile. If I am researching a certain topic I'll find the websites I need, temporarily bookmark them and browse them as needed. For news I'll read the Herald and do further searches on specific topics as they come up.
At the moment I can only see it being useful for keeping track of which Failblog and Graphjam posts I have/haven't seen.
Underwhelmed by this module.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
MODULE 7
Delicious
And this is something I found on Delicious - just replace Twitter with 'Generic Web 2.0 Social Networking Tool' methinks: Is Twitter a Waste of Time?
This will be useful as (obviously) a way to access my bookmarks wherever I am and whatever computer I'm on.
As far as school is concerned I see three big advantages:
1) It might get me to actually start organising my bookmarks
2) I can bookmark relevant sites for each page of the Stage 6 syllabus for my students. Assuming they join up and join the network they will have access to all the sites I find useful (and I can access those that they feel useful) - it will save emailing them sites continually BUT it also means that they will be more likely to ignore the sites (without email reminders) and that the best TIMES to look at each site won't be flagged by email either. Hmm - have I just talked myself out of this advantage?
3) Most importantly - organising he departments bookmarks - each relevant page can be tagged to a year group and topic. Ideal use for Delicious as far as the department goes. Just need to find the time to actually do it...
Made a post on James Cronin's 'Blog of the Year ' Module 3 Reflection - I'm sure all my followers will rush to read it here.
As far as school is concerned I see three big advantages:
1) It might get me to actually start organising my bookmarks
2) I can bookmark relevant sites for each page of the Stage 6 syllabus for my students. Assuming they join up and join the network they will have access to all the sites I find useful (and I can access those that they feel useful) - it will save emailing them sites continually BUT it also means that they will be more likely to ignore the sites (without email reminders) and that the best TIMES to look at each site won't be flagged by email either. Hmm - have I just talked myself out of this advantage?
3) Most importantly - organising he departments bookmarks - each relevant page can be tagged to a year group and topic. Ideal use for Delicious as far as the department goes. Just need to find the time to actually do it...
Made a post on James Cronin's 'Blog of the Year ' Module 3 Reflection - I'm sure all my followers will rush to read it here.
And this is something I found on Delicious - just replace Twitter with 'Generic Web 2.0 Social Networking Tool' methinks: Is Twitter a Waste of Time?
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
MODULE 6
Flickr
Well - maybe useful to find pics for school - but I'd just use Google Images if I wanted to find pics. Apart from that it's just a limited (ie pics and vids only) file storing service. I really don't get the fuss.
UPDATE - and it has to be the SLOWEST file upload system on the planet...
Creative Commons
Interesting concept - from reading about copyright in the classroom it seems that what I'm doing already is fine. BUT sadly I've had to take my original Blurg header down because it was probably the original artist's copyrighted work. Instrad I've created my own header using that wonderful pre Web 2.0 (possibly pre Web 0.0) tool 'Paint'.
No where near as cool as the original but who cares - I OWN the copyright of the new pic and in case you were wondering all rights reserved! Mine! Mine!, Mine!
UPDATE - But I have added to my art - an exquisite depiction of a keyboard. I decided that denying the general public full access to this masterpiece would be a terrible waste. So that part of the picture you see below is now on Flickr with a cc license.
Well - maybe useful to find pics for school - but I'd just use Google Images if I wanted to find pics. Apart from that it's just a limited (ie pics and vids only) file storing service. I really don't get the fuss.
UPDATE - and it has to be the SLOWEST file upload system on the planet...
Creative Commons
Interesting concept - from reading about copyright in the classroom it seems that what I'm doing already is fine. BUT sadly I've had to take my original Blurg header down because it was probably the original artist's copyrighted work. Instrad I've created my own header using that wonderful pre Web 2.0 (possibly pre Web 0.0) tool 'Paint'.
No where near as cool as the original but who cares - I OWN the copyright of the new pic and in case you were wondering all rights reserved! Mine! Mine!, Mine!
UPDATE - But I have added to my art - an exquisite depiction of a keyboard. I decided that denying the general public full access to this masterpiece would be a terrible waste. So that part of the picture you see below is now on Flickr with a cc license.
 |
| Flickr Link |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)