Eric Frangenheim (2006), outlines that teachers spend 80-90% of time in the lower order behaviours of Blooms Taxonomy rather than developing the higher order behaviours.Teachers argue that collaborative learning approaches and using ICT take up more time and effort (SITcas). There are ways that teachers can increase their class time and use it more effectively to guide and shape higher order behaviours by using ICT. The Khan Academy is an online space that utilises YouTube video to teach the mundane one size fits all learning that is the, remember, understand and apply behaviours. Students work through the exercises and videos at their own pace, stopping and rewinding when needed. The classroom is then transformed into an energised, student driven, motivated, fun and thinking environment.
LEGO Mindstorms NXT Robotics
When we consider ICT we think of the computer but not about robotics. Strange considering we are communicating with the computer and interacting with the robot. Programming the robot helps children develop critical and creative thinking. They learn to problem solve and examine how they think when teaching the robot and debugging errors (Papert, 19xx). Children problem solve collaboratively however it is in this environment where genuine student teacher collaboration occurs. Papert asserts that the teacher does not need to pretend as the debugging problem will be unique to both parties. The child will learn through what the teacher does rather than what the teacher tells. Robotics is not free like the other ICT discussed but it does create an engaging hands on way to discover Mathematics, Science and Technology whilst developing problem solving skills.
MP3
This is from the Improv group. They are all about spontaneous fun. Check out this social experiment where hundreds of people are directed by the instructions from a MP3 file.
Social Networks Facebook
The SICTAS report (2009) identified that the use of social networks provided benefits to students through collaborative learning:
The level of student participation and engagement increased as quieter students engaged online as they did not suffer the anxiety of raising questions in front of their peers and also they were able to express themselves via non traditional means such as video.
As Facebook is a communication tool that students are engaged in, the online discussions about study increased.
The ease with which students can access Facebook through their mobile device encouraged some students to extend their investigation into topics.
The overall quality of work and attention to detail had improved as students felt a sense of ownership toward their published work.
The concern with Facebook is that the privacy setting is set by each individual and not a wiki owner in the case of wikis. The challenge here is for the learning manager to effectively promote good citizenship in the digital world amongst the group. The privacy settings in Facebook create a safe online environment allowing the group to remain closed. The default settings for under 18 year olds ensure they cannot be found on search engines and have a different definition of the “everyone” setting for sharing. Some of the uses of Facebook can be found at Facebook for Educators and include:
Use the Facebook profile format to create historical figures.
Create a communication hub for the class as a closed group, which will keep parents informed, distribute homework or permission slips, share photos or video of classroom activities, distribute homework and correspondence.
Clarify the understanding of work material through discussion within the group.
Build a collaborative peer support network.
With so many students engaged in Facebook, learning managers should explore if their students wished to be engaged this way.
Table of Contents
YouTube
Eric Frangenheim (2006), outlines that teachers spend 80-90% of time in the lower order behaviours of Blooms Taxonomy rather than developing the higher order behaviours.Teachers argue that collaborative learning approaches and using ICT take up more time and effort (SITcas). There are ways that teachers can increase their class time and use it more effectively to guide and shape higher order behaviours by using ICT. The Khan Academy is an online space that utilises YouTube video to teach the mundane one size fits all learning that is the, remember, understand and apply behaviours. Students work through the exercises and videos at their own pace, stopping and rewinding when needed. The classroom is then transformed into an energised, student driven, motivated, fun and thinking environment.
LEGO Mindstorms NXT Robotics
When we consider ICT we think of the computer but not about robotics. Strange considering we are communicating with the computer and interacting with the robot. Programming the robot helps children develop critical and creative thinking. They learn to problem solve and examine how they think when teaching the robot and debugging errors (Papert, 19xx). Children problem solve collaboratively however it is in this environment where genuine student teacher collaboration occurs. Papert asserts that the teacher does not need to pretend as the debugging problem will be unique to both parties. The child will learn through what the teacher does rather than what the teacher tells. Robotics is not free like the other ICT discussed but it does create an engaging hands on way to discover Mathematics, Science and Technology whilst developing problem solving skills.
MP3
This is from the Improv group. They are all about spontaneous fun. Check out this social experiment where hundreds of people are directed by the instructions from a MP3 file.
Social Networks
Facebook
The SICTAS report (2009) identified that the use of social networks provided benefits to students through collaborative learning:
- The level of student participation and engagement increased as quieter students engaged online as they did not suffer the anxiety of raising questions in front of their peers and also they were able to express themselves via non traditional means such as video.
- As Facebook is a communication tool that students are engaged in, the online discussions about study increased.
- The ease with which students can access Facebook through their mobile device encouraged some students to extend their investigation into topics.
- The overall quality of work and attention to detail had improved as students felt a sense of ownership toward their published work.
The concern with Facebook is that the privacy setting is set by each individual and not a wiki owner in the case of wikis. The challenge here is for the learning manager to effectively promote good citizenship in the digital world amongst the group. The privacy settings in Facebook create a safe online environment allowing the group to remain closed. The default settings for under 18 year olds ensure they cannot be found on search engines and have a different definition of the “everyone” setting for sharing. Some of the uses of Facebook can be found at Facebook for Educators and include:- Use the Facebook profile format to create historical figures.
- Create a communication hub for the class as a closed group, which will keep parents informed, distribute homework or permission slips, share photos or video of classroom activities, distribute homework and correspondence.
- Clarify the understanding of work material through discussion within the group.
- Build a collaborative peer support network.
With so many students engaged in Facebook, learning managers should explore if their students wished to be engaged this way.