Why use the internet as a learning tool?

Why should i use the internet in my classroom?

A fantastic learning tool

lousvodcast3.mp4

Rainforest Maths

The Underdeveloped Classroom

Image from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettc/2172850095/

I have just finished reading the article  ‘How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century’.  This article raised the interesting issue that in terms of development and technology out schools are being left behind.  I found this comment to be so relevant to today

‘Rip Van Winkle awakens in the 21st century after a hundred-year snooze and is, of course, utterly bewildered by what he sees. Men and women dash about, talking to small metal devices pinned to their ears. Young people sit at home on sofas, moving miniature athletes around on electronic screens. Older folk defy death and disability with metronomes in their chests and with hips made of metal and plastic. Airports, hospitals, shopping malls–every place Rip goes just baffles him. But when he finally walks into a schoolroom, the old man knows exactly where he is. “This is a school,” he declares. “We used to have these back in 1906. Only now the blackboards are green.”

Until reading this article I had never given this a lot of thought.  It is so bazaar that basically every other aspect of out life has developed significantly, yet while our schools while they have developed are still so unchanged in terms of schooling a century ago.  Students are still arranged in rows, the teacher gives their lecture about a topic and a blackboard is predominantly used. 

 Education is the key to life.  Schools should be the paramount concern, schools need to be ever changing and developing to keep up with the world around.

The relevance of Pod-casting

I recently attempted my first pod cast the other day. Before doing this i didn’t really see the importance or benefits or relevance of pod-casting, however I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I found editing my podcast was a fun hands on experience, providing me with an experimental experience and listening to the effect of my vocal expressions.

I think that pod-casting would be beneficial to K-6 students as it will provide them with another means of expressing themselves, or publishing their work. I believe that giving students the chance to express things verbally will help to enhance their learning, and make learning more fun and enjoyable. The voice is a very powerful tool and i believe that pod-casting will help to teach students this. Through pod-casting hopefully students will be able to express themselves using an educational and fun tool.