My reflective synopsis
Today’s society requires critical, innovative, creative and progressive people with highly effective computer literate skills. Without these, students will find it almost impossible to survive in today’s global market (The Pacific Policy Research Center, (P.P.R.C). 2010. p. 1). Computer based learning provides access to a ‘world ‘of information and digital tools; however these technologies mean little without engaging and meaningful direction. For higher order thinking skills to be activated, educators must be proficient in the selection and use of digital tools. Specifically and carefully created interactive software can encourage students to think and imagine while gaining ICT abilities in a highly effective and engaging way (Department for Education Schools. 2013). This synopsis will discuss ethical and legal issues of ICT use and how student’s education is enhanced by well-planned e Learning. It will additionally discuss how teachers should see e Learning design not as designing information “but as designing an experience” (Moore. n.d).
The P.P.R.C. (2010), found that ICTs in classrooms can heighten learning processes and engage learners in academically sound, ‘flexible and innovative’ ways. It is important for my student’s education that I understanding ICTs. McPherson & Nunest, (2008) agree that this is ‘critical to the success of e-learning’. Haddad & Draxler, (2002), concur, adding teachers should not be questioning if they use technology but how they use it. They additionally claim that the way these are used must ‘make education relevant, responsive, and effective for anyone, anywhere, anytime’. The Australian Curriculum, (2013) states that ICT’s should be introduced in the foundation year and, the Melbourne Declaration on the Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA) (2008), states that rapid changes in technology require students to continually redevelop their ICT skills. Additionally students recognise their need for advanced ICT learning skills as explained in this YouTube clip (Nesbit, n. d.) and lastly as Fryer, (2007) states there is no greater way to learn ICTs than through play.
ICTs cannot be taught with direct instruction only and understanding only occurs through constructive learning where knowledge is constructed slowly and children “experiment with…ideas in the real world” (Kwan et al (eds) 2011. p. 212). I was introduced to blogs and wikis and through constructive learning and with scaffolding I was able to experiment and play while building my knowledge in small steps. After exploring Vokis, Prezis, Google maps, PowerPoint, YouTube videos and audio Podcasts I became an enthusiastic promoter of the value of ICTs in education. However, when I found my skills wanting, I gained a powerful insight. Believing these important 21st century tools must be incorporated into my lessons makes it essential that I become ICT literate. While there are many positive aspects in teaching with ICTs, I must also consider the ethical, legal and moral issues for students. Students need to be taught how to avoid cyber-bullying and fraudulent use by others as well as understand the legalities of copyright as both seekers and creators of information.
Regulated school internet protects students; however Mason, (1986), states that privacy issues increase exponentially with greater access to digital information stores. Therefore when students use non-regulated computers they must know how to protect their identity. Planning ensures digital learning is incident free and safe. Without preparation things can go embarrassingly wrong. Even appropriate You-Tube videos may include highly inappropriate information, so these should be uploaded to a blog or sourced from safe sites such as Teacher Tube. Cyber smart or Smart Classrooms provide information about legal, moral and ethical problems associated with ICT and teachers can discuss internet dangers with YouTube video’s specifically designed for children.
Blogs engage and stimulate students, who may find handwritten tasks tedious, to improve literacy skills through modern communication. According to the Australian Curriculum (2012) students should learn how to source information…to solve problems, design solutions, create and reason. Researching, saving, and sharing information in multimedia packages or weeblys, requires higher order thinking and critical analysis skills where, as explained in Productive Pedagogies (2002), students transform information and ideas. PowerPoints with virtual rooms, display, describe or present information and Web Storys require students to choose and embed appropriate links. Brady, (2006, pp. 109-110) explains with technology, students can individually and collaboratively become artists, designers, producers, publishers and authors as they select colour, images, text and font to produce literate pieces of work.
Working collaboratively within a wiki or Googledocs can provide opportunities for students to peer teach as they share ideas and information just as wikis can be designed to allow parents classroom access. YouTubes and Podcasts encourage students, who may struggle to speak publicly, to act as professional speakers, providing opportunities for both teacher assessment and more importantly self-assessment which is guided by specifically designed questions and probes (Marzano et al, 1997. p. 314). Glogsters use interactive tools which promote creativity of once impossible posters and Prezi presentations are limited only by imagination. Interactive learning tools, games, animations and simulations such as Frogguts, encourage children to participate and enjoy learning. Creating a 3D picture book with Zooburst should engage even the most reluctant author, Adobe flash allows movement on web pages and the visual and audio aspects of Photo Story blend beautifully into art and literacy lessons. These tools are just the tip of the ICT iceberg and I like many students need to explore all that is under the surface in order to fully realise the value of eLearning.
The Australian curriculum (2013) states,
“ICT capability supports and enhances student learning across all areas of the curriculum. Students develop and apply ICT knowledge, skills and appropriate social and ethical protocols and practices to investigate, create and communicate, as well as developing their ability to manage and operate ICT to meet their learning needs”.
I believe, as does Bloom & Lazerson (1988), that learning cannot take place until inquiring minds are activated. Snowman et al (2009) adds, students, who are taught to question and think, learn automatically, enthusiastically gathering relevant information that has significance in their world. E-learning tools are not just engaging ways to deliver a lesson they may be the lesson, providing valuable skills needed for survival in the new millennium. An educator’s imagination, on how to incorporate these into a lesson, is the only limiting factor on creating a successful 21st century classroom. It is therefore my duty to not only become proficient in e Learning, but to embed this imagination and these skills into my students.
References:
Australian
Curriculum (2013). Information and
communication technology (ICT) capability. Retrieved from: http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/GeneralCapabilities/Pdf/ICT
Bloom,
F. E. & Lazerson, A. (1988). Brain, mind, and behaviour. (2nd. ed.). New York: Freeman and Company.
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O. (1986). Four Ethical Issues of the Information Age. MIS Quarterly, 10 (1),
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McPherson,
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Moore, C. (n.d). Let’s save the world from boring training.
[Web log message]. Retrieved from: http://blog.cathy-moore.com/
Ministerial
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Goals for Young Australians. Retrieved from: http://www.mceecdya.edu.au/verve/_resources/National_Declaration_on_the_Educational_Goals_for_Young_Australians.pdf
Nesbit, B. (2007). A Vision of K-12 Students Today [Video file]. Retrieved from:
Pacific
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J., Dobozy, E., Scevak, J., Bryer, F., Bartlett, B., & Biehler, R. (2009). Psychology: applied to teaching. (1st
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Internet
links:
9 Interesting ways to teach internet safety.
Fryer. W. Playing with media.
and
TeacherTube:
Web Designer: 15 outstanding
tools to collect, organise and share your web experience.
http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/collect-share-bookmark-tools/
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