Culminating Statement
E-Learning statement
Throughout this semester I have learnt a great deal about the benefits of incorporating technology in teaching and in the classroom. Before this semester I did not think that using computer technology could be so comprehensive and benificial for students.
Throughout this semester I have learnt to use numerous new programs which I believe I could incorporate into the classroom. The program Inspiration I believe would be very benificial for students to use. This progrm allows them to create mind maps to which they can add pictures to. Mind maps are a fantastic learning tool for students as it allows them to have a visual representation and brainstorm all their ideas onto one page. Through using the Inspirations program students can constantly add to these or change things around whilst still having a very clear mind map. They also have the opportunity to make these visually appealing.
I had never attempted to create a podcast or vodcast before this semester. I have found that this is a fun interactive tool for students to use. They are simple to create and could be incorporated into everyday learning. I have read several articles throughout the semester which help to highlight the benefits of podcasts and vodcasts. An interesting article about podcasting suggested the ways in which podcasting could be used in relation to ESL students. He suggested that the lessons could be put onto MP3’s and downloaded so that students were able to learn at their own pace and reinforce their learning by taking the lessons home (Richards, 2006). Another interesting concet which an English teacher had used was he used podcasting so that students could publish their work. Children are egocentric so giving them the chance to publish their work will ensure that they take a sence of pride in their work (Cowling, 2007). In terms of using podcasts and vodcasts in my future teaching I believe that I will give students the chance to also publish their work using this different medium. Students would them be able to share them amongst eachother and amongst their families, which I think is fantastic.
I feel I have learnt a lot about blogs this semester and the different things you can incorporate into your blogs. I believe that these will definatly be a tool which I will incorporate into my teaching. I believe that there are a myriad of benefits to blogging for both teachers and students. A teacher can use a blog in many different ways such as posting relevant notes, students work and notify parents of upcoming events. The Edublogs site suggest the following ways in which blogging could be used, post materials and resources, host online discussions, create a class publication, replace your newsletter, get your students blogging, share your lesson plans, integrate multimedia of all descriptions, organise, organise, organise, get feedback, create a fully functional website’. I believe that I will find this a highly useful tool when I am teaching.
Whilst I have learnt so many new skills and been introduced to so many new technologies this semester I believe that the ones mentioned above will be tools which I can incorporate into my teaching and which I will actively use. We live in a work of new technologies and I believe that schools and educators need to be aware and up to date of relevant facilities available to them.
References:
Richardson, Will (2006). How to Use Podcasts at Your School. Corwin Press.
Retrived: April 4th 2008
Retrived April 4th 2008
Channel 10 news item
Retrived April 7th 2008
Edublogs
http://edublogs.org/10-ways-to-use-your-edublog-to-teach/
Uncategorized | Comment (0)Leave a Reply
