Final Post....Or is it?

Throughout this semester as a part of the 'Using Computers in the Classroom Ed 458' unit I have been introduced to, and I was a part of introducing, several 'new' web 2.0 technologies, their uses in general and in the classroom, their pros and cons and of course how to use each 'new' technology.

When I say web 2.0 technology I am referring to recent technology that is far more involved than its predecessors. Web 2.0 technology, in basic terms, is interactive, it involves users to share,communicate and add information. The web 2.0 technologies also talk amongst themselves and are seemingly all connected, for example when I use Jing I am able to add my capture to my blog or email it to a friend. The technologies we looked at in detail over the course of the semester are; Blogs, Wiki, Scratch, Bitstrips, Twitter, Glogster, Jing, Google Documents, Hot Potatoes, Voicethread, Edmodo and of course Game Maker.

My class and I needed to learn about twelve technologies in one semester we achieved this by having the class pair off and each pair become the 'expert' on a specific technology; then bringing the information and skills they have learned back and sharing with the class has been an excellent way of learning. As a class we have covered a vast amount of technology, to a fairly high level, in a reasonably short amount of time. This strategy of teaching and learning has not only been efficient but also highly effective. We students have learned each new web 2.0 technology almost to the same standard as the investigators or the 'experts'. And in saying that I do have the tools (the class wiki) and the skills (lessons from class) to become as educated as the 'expert' with minimal further effort on my behalf.

I am very pleased with the results of the semester's learning and the skills I have developed. I have seen and played with some really amazing technologies, including this blog, that I might not have come into contact with otherwise. Some will definitely improve my work at university and I can also see myself using in my own classroom to improve children's learning experience.

Game Maker

My partner, Christina Mold, and I presented the technology Game Maker. Game Maker is a free and quick to download technology that allows you to create and edit your own games, without the knowledge of game programing or advanced 'computer talk'. Please go to our Wiki page to see our knowledge and opinions of Game Maker in full.

http://curtineducation2009.wetpaint.com/page/Game+Maker

During the process of trying to help others learn about Game Maker I created this short video, using Jing, that goes through the key terms, resources and buttons of a basic game. Please watch :)

http://www.screencast.com/users/Farmiloe/folders/Jing/media/fc4c6b92-ac34-461b-b0e0-461920814cf2

Hot Potatoes

Hot Potatoes is a site that allows teachers to set up their classroom (teacher logs in then creates classroom users)online and create or use all sorts of quizzes and puzzles. These activities could be done as a class or the children could be asked to complete quizzes for homework or the children could go on the site in their free time to test their knowledge and play.

I like the idea of Hot Potatoes but I find that the site looks very unappealing and dull (black and white with basic design). If the site looks boring to me what are 8 year olds going to think of it? I think that because of the 'no distractions' way the site is set up it may make the quizzes and puzzles a bit of a chore to the children. This defeats the original purpose of Hot Potatoes, to engage the children. In saying that if Hot Potatoes is presented with enthusiasm and purpose the children will still become involved and have a good time learning.

Hot Potatoes would be a very useful teaching resource as there is a wide variety of made up quizzes, puzzles and games across a range of learning areas just waiting to be used. I feel it would be foolish of me not to attempt to use Hot Potatoes in the classroom for that very reason, despite my first impression of the technology.

Voice Thread

Voice Thread is a web 2.0 technology that involves log in to your own account (starting to sound familiar) and creating and sharing Voice Threads with others. These voice threads can consist of almost any media such as; Video, voice recording or pictures and photos. These things can be doodled on, spoken over and zoomed in on parts the creator wants to highlight. Once a voice thread has been created others can record or type comments that will stay attatched to the document.

I think that althought Voice Thread would make for amazing reading, speaking and listening activities in the classroom - It doesn't seem highly accessable unless you pay for the upgrade to pro or K-12 editions.

An activity I could do within a classroom using voice thread is to give the class (post on voice thread) a picture and ask the children to write or record the first and last sentence of a story about the picture. This would get the children using the technology and learning to think about plot and story structure in a new way.

Voice Thread is a realistic classroom technology if not for now then definitley the near future. The payment maybe needs to be tweeked and the whole thing could be properly ajusted to fully accomodate for schools; things like communication between accounts and control over what gets posted by students.

Edmodo

Edmodo is fascinating! I honestly did not realise that there was a free site out there that could do so much to enhance classroom life, for FREE. Edmodo is a site that teachers and their students can use to communicate, send reminders, set and hand in homework, grade work privately and comment on each others work.

This, I see, as an amazing tool for homework both setting and handing back. Also to keep in touch with students who cannot be in the classroom for whatever reason. When I was on practicum there were a few students who were away at various times due to family holidays, sickness, bones breaking and so on. One girl in particular was only in the school for 4 days of my three week practicum! Edmodo would come in handy in this situation and many others like it, the student would not have to slip behind and could come back to school feeling up to date with both classroom work and the current classroom status.

I could see myself using Edmodo in my classroom for the above uses (at LEAST) and finally finding a way to bridge that gap between school and home, the gap in both space and time where homework and assignments go missing! :)