Wiki's and ePortfolio's. Certainly learning lots today. I had heard of wiki's before (wikipedia, wikileaks etc) but had never really understood what 'wiki' meant or what one was. Apparently the word wiki comes from a Hawaiian word, Wiki-Wiki, which means fast, or something like that. More importantly a wiki is website that can be easily updated by average folks like me. You don't need to be a brainiac who can write HTML code. That's exciting stuff. The educational opportunities that creating and using wiki's provide are immense. Collaborative student projects, collaboration with other educators, even collaboration with different schools in different countries! Anyone can update content, anyone can share ideas. It could be something that I explore further when I have a class of my own.
Onto the second topic, ePortfolios. When we were asked to make one I thought it would be really hard. In actual fact, Mahara was pretty easy to use. Nothing hugely exciting in it yet but as this subject progresses it will be interesting to see what shape it takes. Not sure yet if I would use ePortfolio's or not unless I was made to but as I learn more we will see.
Bye for now.
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
First
First week back at uni, first Tech and Computers lecture, first ever blog. That's a lot of firsts! For those of you who happen upon this blog, hello and welcome. This will be a place where I reflect on learning, new discoveries, lecture content and a bunch of other stuff related to computers. If you're brave enough to join me, hooray!
Generally I would classify myself as not very tech savvy. However, I've come to realise that this is a relative term. Compared to some folks (including my ICT teacher brother) I am a technology rookie. On the other hand, compared with my grandparents I am technology genius. The point is though that we live in a technological age and like it or not, computers are an integral part of the way in which our society functions. THE COMPUTERS ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!! Ok so maybe that was a little dramatic, but they have definitely infiltrated the system. Computers are everywhere. As a pre-service teacher, it is important that I engage with the issues surrounding the use of ICT in the classroom so that I am able to use computers and technology wisely and effectively and help teach students to do the same. Even if I'm not an expert.
In today's lecture we spent some time looking at researching information on the web. I was quite intrigued by a website dedicated to informing the public about 'tree octopuses'. As a frequent internet user, I was quickly able to spot that the 'tree octopus' was a hoax and that the information presented was not factual. As we discussed the website, it was pointed out that the skills I used to deduce this are not skills natural to students, and many of them may not pick up on the hoax. Perhaps its because children are more trusting, but perhaps a more accurate reason is that the skills I used were learned skills. As a teacher, it is my job to teach children to think critically about information they are given, and teach them the skills necessary to be effective ICT users. This is something that I will need to keep in the forefront of my mind as this subject progresses.
I am expecting the subject Technology and Computers in Education will be one where I learn lots and have my horizons expanded in terms of the possibilities that ICT presents for educators and for students. Let's hope and pray I'll become a better teacher because of it.
Generally I would classify myself as not very tech savvy. However, I've come to realise that this is a relative term. Compared to some folks (including my ICT teacher brother) I am a technology rookie. On the other hand, compared with my grandparents I am technology genius. The point is though that we live in a technological age and like it or not, computers are an integral part of the way in which our society functions. THE COMPUTERS ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!! Ok so maybe that was a little dramatic, but they have definitely infiltrated the system. Computers are everywhere. As a pre-service teacher, it is important that I engage with the issues surrounding the use of ICT in the classroom so that I am able to use computers and technology wisely and effectively and help teach students to do the same. Even if I'm not an expert.
In today's lecture we spent some time looking at researching information on the web. I was quite intrigued by a website dedicated to informing the public about 'tree octopuses'. As a frequent internet user, I was quickly able to spot that the 'tree octopus' was a hoax and that the information presented was not factual. As we discussed the website, it was pointed out that the skills I used to deduce this are not skills natural to students, and many of them may not pick up on the hoax. Perhaps its because children are more trusting, but perhaps a more accurate reason is that the skills I used were learned skills. As a teacher, it is my job to teach children to think critically about information they are given, and teach them the skills necessary to be effective ICT users. This is something that I will need to keep in the forefront of my mind as this subject progresses.
I am expecting the subject Technology and Computers in Education will be one where I learn lots and have my horizons expanded in terms of the possibilities that ICT presents for educators and for students. Let's hope and pray I'll become a better teacher because of it.
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