Web 2.0

The article Generation Web 2.0 is an encouraging, relevant and interesting insight to the "latest internet technologies". These can range from social network sites (for example: myspace, facebook, etc) which link people all around the world through sharing personal information through pictures, music, comments and so on; the other is community tagging tools.

This article describes how theres internet technologies can be integrated into the classroom. Teachers can use blogs and wiki's to create collaborative exercises through writing and commentary. These can "amplify and extend" the experiences of the students.

It suggests that the majority of students are already using the internet, but for social reasons, and therefore it would be at an advantage to incorporate sophisticated and educational skills into this environment.

Teachers are able to create their own Learning area activities that can be relevant and meaningful to their specific teaching methods. This can provide a greater insight into the learning outcomes, and can also satisfy student knowledge.

Having the ability to incorporate the internet into a desire learning area allows students to privately or publicly converse with other students in a different way, and can enhance their desire to learn more.

I believe that Web 2.0 needs to integrated into classrooms as students can engage more with different and interesting internet technologies, therefore increasing the stimulation of their minds and leading to a greater appreciation of learning.

Teaching Pedagogial Beliefs - Peggy Ertmer

Peggy Ertmer wrote in her article about how there is an increase in the attainability of technology in schools and in classrooms, however, the training available is still "surprisingly low" according to Ertmer. She believes there needs to be an understanding between a teachers beliefs and a teachers practice, which is prohibiting the use of ICT's in the classroom because teachers beliefs dont incorporate technologies, but more the traditional/old-fashioned styled education.

Ertmer suggests that teachers beliefs are linked to their identity, therefore reflecting themselves, and therefore, creating difference between their pedagogical beliefs and those about technology.
She believes that in order to increase the benefit of technology to students, depends on how (skills) teachers can use the tools provided. These skills are unlikely to be used unless they conform with the teachers existing pedagogical beliefs.

Ertmer believes that the establishment for successful ICT integration there needs to be a breaking down of the barriers that are preventing this from happening. She states that it is unknown whether "beliefs precede or follow practice" and you cannot change on of those aspects, without contemplating the other.

I believe that teachers should try to incorporate technology into their beliefs because it would be extremely beneficial to the students and to themselves. Whether it is done by re-shaping their previous beliefs, or slowly introducing them to new ones, whichever is best suited to the teacher, as long as in the end, they are able to understand, appreciate and incorporate ICT into their teaching.

A Social Constructivist Approach - Sara Bradshaw

When I read this article, I understood that Sara Bradshaw was referring to Vygotsky’s Social Constructivism of how learners “extrapolate their own meaning from various experiences and assimilate new knowledge with their existing schema”. Which I agree with, because thats how society learns and evolves from new ideas, by interpreting new information with their existing knowledge.

Bradshaw stated how Maur (1999) identified 5 components that technology integrates:
· Personal constructions of reality
· Simulated authentic learning environment
· Multiple representations of data
· Active learning
· Collaboration
In her article, Bradshaw goes on to expand on each of those components and their relevance to learners. These are effective in the "creation of constructivist learning environments."

Bradshaw also explains examples of ICT's and how to integrate them into everyday classroom activities and how they help learners develop their own understanding and meaning. Sara also includes that teachers don't use computers due to the lack of training and understanding of technology.

Bradshaw was effective in demonstrating how ICT's can be used in a classroom environment and its significance and impact.

Computers as Mindtools by David Jonassen

Jonassen mentions the several types of Mindtools that can “engage learners in critical thinking.” These include: semantic organization tools, dynamic modeling tools, information interpretation tools, knowledge construction tools, and conversation tools. Jonassen Describes each of these and examples of their use which as a teacher is helpful because they can be easily integrated into the classroom environment. Such simple tools as databases (tables) can be incorporated into subjects such as Mathematics or Biology etc.

However, I agree with Jonassen when he mentions that these Mindtools are a construction of our knowledge and how we construct our knowledge depends on what we already know. He also suggests that the “process of articulating what we know forces the leaner to reflect on what they are studying in new and meaningful ways” which I think is the most effective way Mindtools can help shape students learning, hence there needs to be active learning involved, where the students interact with technology.

I believe that computers are an extremely important and effective tool for teachers to incorporate into their classroom, as long as it is done appropriately and relevant to the subject. Students have an amazing ability to manipulate and utilise computers in ways that can enhance their education.

Rethinking ICT in the classroom - Dr Alison Elliott

Dr. Alison Elliott wrote an article “Rethinking ICT in the classroom” which discusses how relevant and practical technology, such as computers, can be for teachers. Technology was initiated in the classroom 20 years ago; Elliott goes to explain in her article, where she mentions how students have more ICT experience than their teachers do. I interpreted this article to be somewhat biased against technology and other ICT’s in the classroom.

Elliott questions the “access, cost, training and quality” of ICT’s and how teachers how have little confidence with technology (due to their inexperience’s with it) won’t show interest in integrating ICT into their classrooms, even if they do have it available. I agree with this suggestion because I have experienced teachers who were not confident with using ICT and therefore never incorporated it into their teaching, even though my school did have good access to ICT’s. I think ways to prevent this is the CPAW program, which could build confidence amoungst teachers, or staff professional development days (as Elliott mentioned) to assist with further understanding upcoming and new technology that teachers could use in their teaching.

Dr. Alison mentioned CPAW (computer pals across the world) which is an “educational electronic network” that provides the chance for people to share experiences, ideas and knowledge about ICT. It is spread across 20 countries and helps enhance the worlds understanding of ICT.


I also want to talk about how Elliott mentioned how “One area to benefit from ICT developments has been communications and partnerships with parents”. I think this is one of the most influential aspects of ICT because parents are able to access information about their children and what they are doing in class (i.e. ‘my classes’ page), where parents can monitor and contribute to their children’s education.

In my opinion, I do not think ICT should be excluded from the classroom, because it provides an interesting and engaging classroom-learning environment, and allows different levelled students to learn in different ways. If teachers are not confident in their usage of ICT, then there are ways around it, like PD days or the CPAW program. I think Students would be at a disadvantage if ICT’s were removed from their learning, as it enhances their thinking and understanding, provided it is used appropriately.

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants By Marc Prensky

The Article Digital Kids by Marc Prensky is an insightful text that illustrates how technology has evolved throughout the world and it's impact on the classroom. Prensky came up with the notion of Digital Natives (commonly the younger generations/students) and Digital Immigrants (teachers or older generations). Prensky suggested in this article that teachers (Digital Immigrants) are believed to be following and old-fashioned style of teaching, however they need to adjust their methods of teaching to better suit students of today's society. Therein lies the answer to the majority of the problems that are arisen in the classroom. I agree with the idea that teachers today tend to favour the old-fashioned, traditional style of teaching and therefore create a boring and uninteresting subject area and that leads to students becoming less involved/engaged in classroom learning.

Prensky conveyed an idea of how students have grown up with technology and are therefore this change called 'Singularity' has occurred. I agree with this in the sense that students have changed (their brains - in the way they operate) because of the fact that their whole lives have been influenced by technology and therefore teachers should find a method of teaching that upholds Prensky's idea of legacy and future content (legacy meaning traditional, for example reading, writing, logic etc; and future meaning more digital and technology).

However, I do not believe that it is impossible for students to learn through the methods used by the Digital Immigrants. Most students of today's society are found to be more lazier and less respectful to authoritative figures and students also need to find a balance between both legacy and future content, its not totally dependant on the teacher and their ability to adapt.

I believe that in order for teachers and students to achieve the best in the future, there needs to be an equilibrium on both parts, and an understanding of both the needs of the teacher and students.

New Blogger Alert!

Hello everybody.
I have just joined the wonderful world of bloggers (for uni purposes)!! :)

I just want to say Hi!
and I hope that i can understand how to use this.

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