Google docs
Documents, spread sheets, presentations, forms and drawings
can all be accessed and edited in both independent and collaborative learning
sessions. These documents can be accessed anywhere at any time as they are
saved on the Google drive of the learners.
Google docs are extremely advantageous in the learning
environment as it enables students to collaborate and work as a team on a
document simultaneously. This enables the Learning manager to facilitate a
learning experience that requires all learners to contribute and participate in
group work within the classroom and outside of the classroom with fewer
limitations.
I recently experienced the discussion of teachers who were
concerned that their students were completing class activities however, were not
saving them in one place on their computer and therefore when the next lesson
commenced that required the continuation of an activity the students would have
to start again as they had ‘lost’ their work on the computer. I personally felt
that Google docs would assist with overcoming this issue as the teacher could
set up a classroom drive where the students had to save their work each lesson
in this designated spot. The students would not lose their work; the teacher
could check that it was saved whilst monitoring the progress of both group and
individual work. In addition if students left their laptops at home the work
would still remain accessible within that lesson. As a teacher I would also use
this spot to save templates and scaffolds for the students to use for their
work. I could have a template projected on the board and model a scaffold then
invite students to complete one collectively and then ask them to complete
their own individual scaffold. This is a fantastic tool to both teach and the
use in an activity for the students to use
Mobile Phones:
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| Image source: http://cdn.cnet.com.au/story_media/339303698/iphone4_5.jpg |
Positives
|
Minus
|
Most
students have/ can afford mobile phones therefore not disadvantaged if they
cannot afford a laptop
Quick access
to the internet
Social
network (Connectivism learning theory)
Applications
which open students up to a range of educational facilities
Learning
within and outside of the classroom
Multitude of
interactive multimedia in one single device – practical / cost effective
Highly accessible
and easily portable
Students
have greater familiarity and competency using mobile phones
|
Students may become too consumed with social media
Students can become distracted and not use them for
educational purposes
Mobile phones may be used in a detrimental way at
school
Ie. You tubing school fights and incidents of
bullying
Students may not have access or allowed to have
mobile phone
School budgets may be compromised on laptops as
students use phones instead
|
How can mobile phones be incorporated into the learning
experiences of your classroom?
The use of mobile phones in the classroom almost seems
endless when you explore the possible ways they can be utilised within the
learning experiences of students. The above table reflects both the positives
and negatives of using mobile phones in the classroom. It is my personal belief
that if the use of phones can be managed it is extremely beneficial for
students to learn with a piece of technology that is incorporated into how they
conduct their daily lives. Therefore, generally the students both have the
access and familiarity of using a phone- why not take advantage of this?
I am currently completing my placement and in one of my
lessons a topic was being discussed and I had a query that I hoped to answer.
Due to the schools policy I was unable to quickly ‘Google’ my query. This is a
direct example of how not incorporating technology into the classroom is
limiting the learning experiences of our students (including myself). I don’t bring
my lap top to class as its too bulky and therefore, using my I-phone is the
most suitable option for me which in fact wasn’t an option due to the policy.
How is this enhancing our student’s ability to learn and develop their
intellectual curiosity? They simply only learn what we provide them with in a
lesson and therefore, are confining their learning to the classroom.
I recently thought of a creative activity I would like to
pursuit in one of my lessons. I want my
year ten class to take a piece of Sherlock Holmes literature and appropriate it
into a modern setting. I want them to perform the scene, film it and present it
to the class in a presentation analysing the conventions of the crime and
detective genre. I feel as though this would be a fantastic creative and
authentic learning experience. The students would be able to research, film,
record and compile the multimedia for their presentations on their phone and
then simply email it to their school email address or upload it onto the
computers where they could create the presentation- if only they were allowed
to use their phones!
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| Image source: http://www.greenpoint-it.co.uk/images/ipod-ipad.jpg |
IPAD/ IPOD
Positive
|
Minus
|
Learning highly
access students
to new /
available knowledge at any time
Increases Enthusiasm
(Attitudes and perceptions)
Excitement in
classroom
Applications
Research
Low cost
Interactive multimedia
that’s already created for students to use rather than teachers needing to
create the interactive tool
Time
effective
Interactive /
Visual
Allowing students
to learn in ways that suits them
Caters for
varying learning styles
Creativity
Students can
engage in their intellectual curiosity at any moment
Most recent
and updated research available at all times
Put information
all in the one place and through the one medium
|
Children may not have access to Ipads
Ipads may be used inappropriately and not for the
purpose of education
Continuous access to social media which can be a
huge distraction in the classroom.
Potential theft and damage of i pads
School program's not mac compatible
Interactive programs such as Java not compatible
with mac
Apps have to be apple owned
Screen can only have one window showing
Therefore limited in multitasking
Students want to listen to music while working which
can be seen as a distraction
|
The Ipad and Ipods offer a whole new dimension to the
learning experiences of our students in the twenty first century. The above
table articulates the positives and negatives of these tools in the classroom. The
availability of apps is extraordinary and enables our students to engage with learning
in a more engaged and enthusiastic manner. It enhances student learning as it
allows them to access learning in a multitude of ways; interactive, visual,
auditory and verbal. Therefore, the chances of a not being catered for are
significantly reduced. In addition, ipads and ipods (depending on the model) increase
the student’s opportunity to assume the responsibility of their own learning
and undertake learning at any given time and medium. Apps can quiz, challenge
and provide the opportunity for game based learning which we know the young
generations love. Therefore, in my opinion the fact that we are unable to fully
utilise these tools in the classroom in many schools is such a disservice to our
students and their learning.
There are numerous apps I would love to utilise in the classroom the following blog gives some recommendations of awesome apps I could utilise in my lessons:
There are numerous apps I would love to utilise in the classroom the following blog gives some recommendations of awesome apps I could utilise in my lessons:
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