MODULE 10 Nings and Wikis

Wikis are a great tool for the classroom. Last year we had an introduction to Wiki as part of a staff development day. They are a great way to get students communicating and reflecting on their own work as well as others. They can see the value of sharing information, ideas as well as their work. In photography, we used a class wiki as way of developing dialogue relevant to discussing and developing work. Students were able to add images of artists that influenced them, place up their own work for discussion as well. The students discovered the importance of personal reflection and constructive criticism of their own work as well as others. It was also a great way to share resources, tutorials, links and information relevant to the topics they were studying.
The Ning is a great tool also, particularly when you want to share and discover beyond the means of your own class. While I understand the wiki can do this also, I found the ning a bit like a social site of sharing information, blogging and discovering with those in the network. In the classroom, I feel regardless of how much time is spent setting the ning to suit the classroom needs, students will be be distracted by the "social" aspects rather than focus on the important stuff. There are so many options available to us, I feel, for me, there is a host of sites and tools I can use to harness the opportunities of WEB 2.0, without having to use valuable time monitoring students use of social networking in the class through apps such as Ning. From a teachers network perspective, I think it's great. Sharing ideas, resources and showcasing student work is all great.
In my personal life and as well as at school I have used many of the WEB 2.0 tools. Both networking for fun and social purposes, facebook, linked in (for professional networking), photo sharing and development, I only wish I had more time for myself. Since beginning the WEB 2.0 course, I have implemented and allowed students to discover and learn about various tools for themselves. In food technology, we have set up communal reflection blogs for prac lessons and recipe evaluations, share ideas and make suggestions for future cooking classes. In Yr7 technology, the use of bubbl.us to create and share mind-maps both individually and as a class that can be shared with everyone. Developing promotional posters on glogger kept a normally very noisy unsettled class so engaged they barely spoke. As we move forward with the tools of WEB 2.0 and we become more familiar with the possibilities and uses of all the resources now available and as we learn to gain more control of them, we will continue to use them more and more on a daily basis to enhance and engage our learners.

Module 8

Module 8 was not one of my favourites. I couldn't use Scootle, the PDF was no longer available to download and I couldn't log in. After emailing the relevant contact, I got no response. So although I was able to look around and get an idea of the resource, I couldn't get into it to get a real good picture. I've used the social networking sites and don't really feel they are for the classroom. Students are not disciplined enough to use them ONLY for the given purpose and will be distracted by their own socialising on the site. This is already a distraction in the classroom, students accessing sites such as facebook when they should be researching or focusing on other tasks. I do see some benefits at home, my daughter will often use facebook to discus homework and assessments with classmates. She does still need to be monitored, or the homework gets forgotten and the social chatting takes over. Second life, I'm not so sure about. While I understand the idea of a virtual classroom, connecting with students in other schools, sharing resources and team teaching, however, still a major distraction for students to sway from the right track. While these are great tools, I still feel they are more for social life than school, apart from scootle. I would certainly not rule out second life, but would need to really explore this in more detail and get a good understanding of what control I can have over what my students do when they login. In saying that, from a visual arts and media perspective, I do se some potential for further exploration and teaching-learning potential.

Module 8 RSS and google reader

As an individual tool, this is great. Although I would have to play around with it before deciding to use it in the classroom. I can see students adding blogs or news sites that simply interest them rather than subject/work appropriate. It all comes down to educating them on propper use. I guess an interesting application in the classroom could be to create the reader as the teacher, add students in order for them to follow the relevant news/blogs etc. Other than this, create a class specific account, select the relevent sites, then, as a class, check on this each lesson, or once a week to keep up to date on new news/ideas that erlate to the given unit of work. The class could add to blogs, via the teacher to add to the educational dialogue. I feel this is one I need to use for a while before determining its use in the classroom. I guess for seniours who can be more selective and responsible, it could be a great tool for study, information and research gathering relevant to specific task and subject areas.

Module 7 Delicious

Delicious could be both a hindernce as well an in exciting tool. Providing you are organised, the account will work really well for you, otherwise, your most needed information can become lost among your less relevant bookmarks. So, BE ORGANISED!! This is especially important for our students as they learn to use these tools. They most understand what it means to be selective and not just bookmark anything they come accross. Using this as a researching tool in class is a fantastic idea. As a teacher, you could have a class account that bookmars sites specific to that subject. This models for students that there are a host of well informed, interesting information sites they can source from. It is impoertant to teach out students to go far beyong "Wikipedia" and use a number of sources for their researching. Here, we can provide a platform for them to begin more in depth research, and to be more selective about the information they use and document. Interesting point salso on http://www.michaelcroucher.blogspot.com/. I have commented here also.

WEB 2.0 Module 6

At first I found bubbl.me a little confusing. Not so much using it, but saving and exporting. Once I got past this, I find it very usefull. I have spoken with my Yr7 Technology class, who will be doing an ICT promoational project and discovered they have already used it. We will be using as many WEB 2.0 tools as we can for this project. We'll start with a class bubbl.me mind map and go from there. I felt Glogger is a great tool, you do however, need to pre plan for this. A fantastic media tool, I'm going to experiment with this in Yr12 media. While I did create a small Glogger and imbedded my bubbl.me mindmap, I didn't publish it. I do want to incorporate this, as well, into the Yr 7 project, which is promotional design. During the holidays, with more time to really play with Glogger, I'd like to create something more substantial.
I do feel both of these tools are great, as they are online and accessable to ALL students, it makes the idea of learning, anywhere, anytime, a real educational fact. Not all students have mind mapping software, or media software enabling them to complete more substantial technology based work. This literally brings it home for them and makes these options accesable to all students.

WEB 2.0 Module 5

Podcasting, Vodcasting and iTunes are great ways to get students interacting and sharing their work. Last year, our Yr8's made a music compilation on Sony Acid express. They thouroughly enjoyed this. In order to share work and complete marking, we downloaded their mustic to my iTunes account. This was much better than burning discs and having the issues of discs not wiorking properly when I marked their work. It was a great way for them to share and listen to each others creations, they found this to be very motivational and they became proud of what they had created.
As well as this, instead of Launching their music via a poster, power point as an advertisement, some chose to create a podcast to communicate their ideas and give a speech as opposed to standing in front of the class. For studewnts whon find any kind of public speaking a challenge, the idea of vodcast is great for them. They can prepare and deliver their speech without the intimadation of everyone watching. When they play it to the class they begin to loose thier inhibitions about speaking in front of everyone.
I think these are both great tools for teaching communications.
My Yr10 PDM will also be able to share thier short films via iTunes and not just on Facebook or youtube channels.

Rachel Danos WEB 2.0 Module 1: Module 4

Rachel Danos WEB 2.0 Module 1: Module 4

What are your thoughts on Flickr and using it in the classroom. How do you deal with the issue of copyright and getting this across to your students.

I've also included one of my photos from Flickr,
"The Medici Palace, Florence"

Regards,
Rachel

Module 4

I had -some time ago - been using Picaso as a quick tool to do some basic editing as well as email / share photos online.
I think the flckr tool is fantastic for both personal and school use. Sharing and being able to display your non-personal photography with the world is fantastic. As a Photography and Media teacher, this is a great way to encourage students to take pride in their photography, share it with friends or get it out into the world. As a source of images, this site has endless possibilties. It's a great otivational tool as well as one to draw on for inspiriation and idea development.
Using it as a tool to encourage students to develop some critical thinking and analysis can be a lot of fun and greeat for students to build confidence when offering their thoughts and ideas on other work. They really get a buz when they see something of their own come up for discussion.

Rachel Danos WEB 2.0 Module 1: Module 3

Rachel Danos WEB 2.0 Module 1: Module 3

Module 3

What a great tool. At first I thought, mmmm not sure about this, sounds confusing. But using it is quite easy. I thought this, is one of the best things I've seen yet. I'm looking forward to getting the students to use it, not only will it be great to view and assess their ongoing work, but what a great tool for improving literacy - instantly.
Forget big business, this is a great educational adventure!!