Engagement Activity 5: Interactive Learning Objects (optional activity) ‘Preparing Teachers To Use Learning Objects’

Many of the links on this page do not link…which was really frustrating.

The learning object, the five Martians was rather simple and not engaging. My 15 year old son said, and I quote, ”That’s stupid” The article describing how this particular one can be used for different ages by modifying or eliminating the sigma adds,

“There are myriad reasons for teachers to encourage their students to use computers in conjunction with learning objects” 

I believe that statement however after my son’s reaction I would question just how engaging this particular learning tool would be to a student that plays x box or play station? It also talks about how year 5 students actually act out this scenario with real coins,

 “The rising fifth-graders both watched the animation and mimicked the scene with five people and ten coins”

I feel that in many age groups teachers should not forget to use real life activities such as these. By all means use the interactive learning tools too…but in with the technology most children are used to they must be very engaging.

On this note.... here is a link to a web site. It is very engaging and full of information. I loved it so much I have pasted it here on my blog so that you could all see it and so I could find it again.

'For example, the Exploratorium Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception (a 2002 Webby Education Awardee) contains many wonderful examples of learning objects. There is a section called "Global Climate Change" that includes an extensive glossary, explanations about the latest scientific data on this global problem, and graphs that illustrate trends in temperature changes'. 


http://www.exploratorium.edu/climate/global-effects/index.html

I love how useful my blog is for this reason. It is like a storage place for all great ideas that I want to remember. When I start my teaching career, I will be able to come to this blog and find everything I would have otherwise forgotten. 

Here is a link to an interactive learning site.. 

Darfur is Dying is a viral video game for change that provides a window into the experience of the 2.5 million refugees in the Darfur region of Sudan. Players must keep their refugee camp functioning in the face of possible attack by Janjaweed militias. Players can also learn more about the genocide in Darfur that has taken the lives of 400,000 people, and find ways to get involved to help stop this human rights and humanitarian crisis

http://www.darfurisdying.com/index.html

This got my heart rate going and also made me see and understand a little of what these refugees face. While it could be looked at as a survival game it is also very educational, however because of the graphic messages about how these children  and adult refugees face horrendous crimes such as rape, it would probably not be something that would be used in a primary school.

The following links are just copied and pasted from week fives learning materials, I have had a quick look at these and wanted to keep them on my blog. There are so many wonderful interactive sites.

http://edheads.org/activities/stem3/swf/index.htm

http://nhscience.lonestar.edu/biol/animatio.htm

Wow!! I have just played with a demo on this site

http://www.froguts.com/demo/

It allows students to dissect frogs, starfish, etc in a simulation. Very realistic and very informative. The school can buy this interactive scientific tool. As an animal lover I remember many years ago refusing to take part when we were asked to dissect a frog. I received a fail, as did many of my other peers who flatly refused to do this activity. This interactive tool would have enabled me to take part and learn while being very engaged without getting my fingers dirty or feeling sad about a dead creature. 

A GIZMO???

I joined the Free Gizmo site with anticipation...it sounded wonderful and I couldn't wait to try it...all those gizmos to play with. However for some reason I am unable to open any of the gizmos. Not sure why, but considering I am only half way through looking at all the links for my activities this week, I will leave this to a later time to explore. It looks really good, you can add up to 6 classes and link all the interactive learning tools into each class. Students get a password and can log on to interact with these. Engaging and perhaps self paced as well as being self assessed. 

Next I played with GapMinder

This is an interactive graph where students can compare data over a timeline about various things such as deaths from earthquakes or child mortality rate. It is colourful and engaging, although it could be hard for younger students to 'read' as you have to hover the mouse over the bubbles. I found the bubbles confusion but the map was more user friendly as you could clearly see which country you were looking at. Okay I looked at the example embedded into our learning site.....and now I am able to read this with more understanding. (Note to self: follow all the instructions.)

And that is all tonight.

I have completed and explored Engagement activity 5.

Tomorrow I begin again.