Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Interactive Whiteboard
The benefits of technology that is wireless are indisputable! Keyboards that can be passed around the classroom provide teachers with the freedom to use the interactive whiteboard as part of an interactive lesson where children can contribute to the work. The children can type a contribution to the lesson using the wireless keyboard and then pass it on so that the next pupil can also type something. The interactive whiteboard can also be used to allow the children chance to move things around the screen and participate using the coloured interactive pens that are available.
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Youtube Ban!
Schools are locking down the access that teachers can have to worldwide popular and very useful sites. Schools are being stopped from accessing such sites as Youtube, Flickr and the majority of social networking sites due to concerns that inappropriate content may potentially be looked at. At the school where I have just been observing there was a need for a clip of ‘chick’ being hatched from a egg as part of a science lesson. The teacher had no video or dvd that could be played and so i suggested that there would be loads of clips on Youtube that the children could watch and use in their science lesson. I was then informed that no access was available to Youtube at school nor could any videos downloaded from Youtube at home, later be played at school. I can understand why there maybe concerns as to whether pupils should have access to it but in regards to teachers who could use is valuably for teacher purposes – it is awful that they are deprived of such a resource. Youtube is being used to teach children across the world and in universities etc today – there is no reason that primary schools should be stopping their teachers having access to it!
Dazzle Art Software
Having just finished my Serial Placement week at a local primary school, I was surprised by the amount of ICT there is available in the school (some of which was rarely used). Having spoken to the ICT man who works full time with the school he thought that a lot of improvements could be made especially in regards to the software used – but he had more experience of what ICT was advanced and what was not. Obviously the amount of ICT that is useful for each class varies depending on their Year Groups and the capabilities of the individual teachers. Interactive whiteboards are available in most classes and in the cases there is not one, a device is used which converts the regular whiteboard into an interactive one. In the early stages of primary school, years R and 1, it is very hard to integrate ICT fully into the lessons the children do because the focus is on the children learning to write and read not work computers. The basics of ICT are introduced at this stage but it is not the main focus of the lessons. Further up the years I believe that the children use more ICT programmes that help with their subject areas such as science and history. The main programme I came across was a programme called DAZZLE which the classes used during their Art lessons. The programme is fairly similar to Paint but it allows the children to use a whole variety of more exciting colours and use different techniques to blur or enhance different parts of the pictures they draw. Since it has been Bonfire Night this week the children focused on creating pictures of fireworks and bonfires. The Dazzle programme allowed them to be imaginative and explore the various ways you can make effects such as explosions and flames!
Monday, 27 October 2008
I have setup a Flickr account today and uploaded my first photos. I searched for Monty's profile and managed to add him as a contact via the blackboard link to his account. The ease with which photos can be uploaded is impressive and the space that they give you to add descriptions of each photo far exceeds the capacity of social networking sites such as Facebook and Bebo. I can see the benefit that using Flickr in a classroom can provide - especially since children are very excited about gathering photos and seeing them put all together. With the free version of Flickr I was only able to create three 'sets' for my photos so my album titles were limited and had to be general. Obviously in a class setting if you are using Flickr regularly with a number of classes you could pay for an upgrade and create a different 'set' for each of the projects and classes you work with. This means that a record/history of the projects your class have researched in easily accessible and can be accessed at a later date for parent/teacher meetings or assemblies.
I shall add more to this blog entry when I have had chance to explore Flickr further.
I shall add more to this blog entry when I have had chance to explore Flickr further.
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Reflection: Reports on ICT in Schools Published
‘Children’s experiences of technology’
‘In class have to power down’
The Guardian- David Puttnam
The world is moving at such an incredible pace that teachers are starting to feel left behind! Children are arriving at school having spent their weekends and most of their lives carrying out technological procedures and tasks that often intimidate and alienate teachers.
Children are coming into school and feeling that they have to ‘power down due to the lack of equipment and freedom to explore with ICT in most – but not all –schools. One child described the freedom he had at home to use ICT in a very positive light: “You’re free, you’re in control, it’s your own world”
If Children are feeling that they have to ‘power down at school in terms of their ICT capabilities- shouldn’t schools be looking into what changes and improvements need to made to connect with these children at their level and embrace the creativity and shills that ICT can provide in their lives and in their futures.
ICT is a passionate area and subject for the majority of children. Every day they use it as an integrated part of their lives and it has become a valuable source of stimulation – especially for those struggling with traditional styles of education, teaching and learning.
Education in schools today needs to bridge the gap between the experience children have at home and that in the school. Teachers must ignite and inspire children using IcT as a catalyst for improved and more in depth learning and improvement.
Reports on ICT in Schools Published
Teachers are trying hard to keep up with the times and attend course that help to improve their ICT capabilities. Schools are putting more money into purchasing ICT equipment that will enable the teachers to incorporate ICT into their lesson plans and adapt to use whiteboard to aid their teaching.
‘Effectively in Information and Communications Technology in Schools 2008-2013’:
“the Inspectorate’s evaluation recorded limited integration of ICT in the classroom at primary level. The evaluation found that ICT in primary schools in currently focused on developing students’ numeracy, reading and writing skills, and that it is also used in the teaching of Social, Environmental and Scientific Education (History, Geography and Science)”.
‘In class have to power down’ - Reflections of Guardian Article May 8 2007
The world is moving at such an incredible pace that teachers are starting to feel left behind! Children are arriving at school having spent their weekends and most of their lives carrying out technological procedures and tasks that often intimidate and alienate teachers.
Children are coming into school and feeling that they have to ‘power down due to the lack of equipment and freedom to explore with ICT in most – but not all –schools. One child described the freedom he had at home to use ICT in a very positive light: “You’re free, you’re in control, it’s your own world”
If Children are feeling that they have to ‘power down at school in terms of their ICT capabilities- shouldn’t schools be looking into what changes and improvements need to made to connect with these children at their level and embrace the creativity and shills that ICT can provide in their lives and in their futures.
ICT is a passionate area and subject for the majority of children. Every day they use it as an integrated part of their lives and it has become a valuable source of stimulation – especially for those struggling with traditional styles of education, teaching and learning.
Education in schools today needs to bridge the gap between the experience children have at home and that in the school. Teachers must ignite and inspire children using ICT as a catalyst for improved and more in depth learning and improvement.
Children are coming into school and feeling that they have to ‘power down due to the lack of equipment and freedom to explore with ICT in most – but not all –schools. One child described the freedom he had at home to use ICT in a very positive light: “You’re free, you’re in control, it’s your own world”
If Children are feeling that they have to ‘power down at school in terms of their ICT capabilities- shouldn’t schools be looking into what changes and improvements need to made to connect with these children at their level and embrace the creativity and shills that ICT can provide in their lives and in their futures.
ICT is a passionate area and subject for the majority of children. Every day they use it as an integrated part of their lives and it has become a valuable source of stimulation – especially for those struggling with traditional styles of education, teaching and learning.
Education in schools today needs to bridge the gap between the experience children have at home and that in the school. Teachers must ignite and inspire children using ICT as a catalyst for improved and more in depth learning and improvement.
Reflection on Marc Prensky's 'Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants'
Digital Native, Digital Immigrants
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Marc Prensky’s article ‘Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants’ as it provided me with new insights and ways of thinking but also due to the intensity of the argument (leaning heavily towards the favour of the digital world) made me realise how much I still value the traditional, unique and personal ways of teaching and learning.
This article has opened my mind to the pressing need for ICT to be incorporated more fully into the education system – so that children can be fully equipped for entering a world that is heavily dependant on digital technology and the interactive, technological world.
Born as a digital native myself – these views on ICT are appealing due to my own use of computers and the digital interactive world, however, my education and personal development has installed in me beliefs and values that fully appreciate and celebrate traditional forms of education – where children are inspired by people not machines!
Teachers have the ability to see potential in children through their drawings, stories and writing that is not connected to using ICT and the digital world. Not all parts of education are amenable to digital recording – experiences and reflection cannot be replaced by ICT and character is built through the one on one interaction with others in the world. ICT is a way of life but also can be a means of insulating and isolating people who rely on ICT as a crucial means of interaction. Individuals who have not learnt how to properly engage with others and learn through traditional means of education often find themselves alone with ICT and lack the vital social skills. Computers and technology cannot relate to children with the compassion and sensitivity of people.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Marc Prensky’s article ‘Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants’ as it provided me with new insights and ways of thinking but also due to the intensity of the argument (leaning heavily towards the favour of the digital world) made me realise how much I still value the traditional, unique and personal ways of teaching and learning.
This article has opened my mind to the pressing need for ICT to be incorporated more fully into the education system – so that children can be fully equipped for entering a world that is heavily dependant on digital technology and the interactive, technological world.
Born as a digital native myself – these views on ICT are appealing due to my own use of computers and the digital interactive world, however, my education and personal development has installed in me beliefs and values that fully appreciate and celebrate traditional forms of education – where children are inspired by people not machines!
Teachers have the ability to see potential in children through their drawings, stories and writing that is not connected to using ICT and the digital world. Not all parts of education are amenable to digital recording – experiences and reflection cannot be replaced by ICT and character is built through the one on one interaction with others in the world. ICT is a way of life but also can be a means of insulating and isolating people who rely on ICT as a crucial means of interaction. Individuals who have not learnt how to properly engage with others and learn through traditional means of education often find themselves alone with ICT and lack the vital social skills. Computers and technology cannot relate to children with the compassion and sensitivity of people.
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