This week we have to reflect upon group 1 tools ( a blog, wiki or website) and reflect how these tools allows students to learn.
(my daughters mx race bike)
Ok I guess your thinking what is the picture for? Well it took me about 40 min to get a link on my blog, so now im going to leave it. Maybe its a hook!
The big thing I want to reflect on when using ICT as a teaching tool is to MAKE SURE all of your students know the BASICS of, and the NAVIGATION around a group 1 tool. These tools are certainly not going to allow your students to learn, if they don't have the skills to use the computer tool. It may actually give them an extreme negative response towards ICT. I have been made aware of this as I have observed university educated adults struggle with the moodle/wiki/blog navigation process in the first 3 weeks of the GDTL. So we really have to be mindful that before we set a task using a group 1 tool that our students are comfortable with it. I think society incorrectly portrays this generation of children in the 21st century as all skilled in all areas of computing, whereas I believe its an over generalisation.
Following the SAMR model would be a good way to develop and see what level these skills are in students. Of course our goal as educators is complex thinking, but instead of jumping to the top of the SAMR model ( Redefinition) to achieve this complex thinking, we may need to start at the bottom (Substitution).
I think a Wiki is only really suitable for basic list making such as asking students to contribute a list of needs for a camping trip or who has a car available to transport students to a sports event. Any more than that it seems to get messy ( like when we did De bonos hats) and I really don't like how students can edit other students contributions. A recipe for recalcitrant students.
A website is too static as an ongoing teaching tool but it would be great for a teacher to use it to show parents and students the subject to be studied for the term. Like the moodle does.
Blogging is my choice to influence complex thinking. Blogging, because it is still novel and just by using a computer would motivate/interest students to contribute instead of just putting pen to paper. The comment section is where the blog excels! When a student replies to or makes a new comment then they have used complex thinking. Our goal as educators!
Thanks Kane
ReplyDeleteInteresting post this week. I agree that a myth has developed around students been ICT savy. From my experience they are not frightened to explore ICT tools and without being taught how to us eit they often arrive at an answer by clicking a million times.
The real challenge is for the teacher to know enough about the features of adigital tool to be able to say yes it will do the job I want completed.
Your post this week really needed some of the tools we used in our class this week eg voki, newspaper etc.
This course requires you to show a growing level of technical skill besides how it could be used in the curriculum area that you select.
The use of the SAMR model is encouraged because it guides the teacher's thinking towards the real value of using ICT to improve student learning.
When all this ICT stuff happened in 2003 teachers just couldn't imagine how it could be used so they tended to think of the lowest level of SAMR. Now more switched on teachers are at the top level.
Can I suggest you add more ICT tools that we introduce each week into your weekly blogs and focus them on your preferred curriculum area.
Great feedback, Gary. I will put into practise what you have asked. Thanks, Kane.
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