Reviewing my Blog

I am just in the process of reviewing my blog in preparation for my synopsis. I have just noted that I have not enabled comments to my blog! However I have managed to add this feature on this morning. So now I will be able to view any comments, and refer to these in my synopsis. I only wish I had checked this earlier!!!!

Quilling Power Point for Art Lesson

Quilling ppt

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This powerpoint demonstrates the use of this tool in classroom pedagogy. It can be used as brief introduction to a topic, to highlight essential parts of a topic and to provide graphics and visuals to assist  the various learning styles. Students can use them to present a topic to the class.  Highlights of this tool are that they are simple and easy to create.

Democracy powerpoint

Check out this SlideShare Presentation: Includes references

Democracy powerpointT

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Interactive White Boards-wooh hoo!

I am very excited that there is an Interactive White Board (IWB) at my prac school. It is located in the ICT's room, which is large and new also. My MT said that I would get the opportunity to see how it could be used, so that will be wonderful.

On Tuesday my year 4 class had an ICT lesson in the afternoon, whereby they were doing typing activities and beginning on a pamphlet for the school to utilise for the community. Learning Engagement Theory (Kearsley and Shcneiderman,1999) is the basis for an activity such as this. The use of technology, along with create, relate, donate, encourages student motivation, interaction and creative thinking. These are all important skills to be acquired, as they incorporate Dimension (3), extend and refine knowledge and Dimension (4), use knowledge meaningfully. (Marzano and Pickering, 1997) Hopefully what I have learnt over the past few weeks will assist in the development of this pamphlet ( which will probably become my authentic task). More to follow! Interactive whiteboards bring many dimensions to the class environment. Dimension 1, 2 and 3 ( Marzano and Pickering, 1997) are used in this technology IWB utilises the senses of sight touch and sound to engage students in learning. "Technology can facilitate engagement in ways which are difficult to achieve otherwise." (Kearsley and Schneiderman, 1999) The vast array of information provided on the IWB covers many topics and stimulates interest in all age groups. It encourages student interaction, creativity and provides an environment that could enhance student centric learning. The learning manager becomes the facilitator and not the provider of information. These quality aspects of learning managers encourage students to use the processes of active learning ( Albine Chrisitan University, 2000) This in turn requires that students use essential life long learning skills. References Albine Christian University (2000) the ACU Adams Center for Teaching Excellence Marzano, R. & Pickering. D. (1997). Dimensions of Learning. Teachers Manual (2nd ed.). Victoria. Hawker Browlow Education. Smith, Richard. Lynch, David. & Mienczakowski, Jim. (2003, November). The Bachelor of Learning Management (BLM and Education Capability)

Edutopia in Action - Authentic Tasks

I have just found this wonderful video from edutopia which is about engagement theory and authentic tasks. While I fully understand the concept of engagement theory (Kearsley and Shcneiderman 1999) which incorporates the relate, create and donate method of student centred tasks, I was struggling to think of actual ideas for ' authentic tasks. So I did some research this morning and found this wonderful video (edutopia,2010) which demonstrates this concept. Engagement theory (Kearsley and Shcneiderman,1999) as identified by this school encourages problem based learning and real world task involvement, which in turn encourages life long learning. Students are directed to think about how and what they want to learn and begin to take responsibility for their own education, by guiding, developing and enhancing their own learning. This is in essence active learning. (Abiline Christian University,2000) References Abiline Christian University,( 2000)the ACU Adams Center for Teaching Excellence Edutopia (Youtube) 2010 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeOpDAPaNYQ) retrieved 1/5/2010 Kearsely, G & Shneiderman, B (1999) Engagement Theory: A Framework for technology based teaching and learning. Retrieved 18th April, 2010 from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm Have a look, it certainly makes me so excited and I just want to get out there and teach! Video has been embedded at the bottom of the page.