Source: http://www.netsap.org/netsapdc/images/stories/newsimages/twitter-logo.jpg
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Griffiths University has become the first educational facility to give students marks on their twitter use and i believe this is a great idea that could be easily transferred into our primary schools. At griffiths University students from a Journalism Degree are having to write their thoughts on writing a series of stories. Examples of such tweets are;
“Having trouble choosing between a few angles for this story, it’s hard to clarify which is the most important piece of information!! 10.45PM Oct 4
“Going over info to organise into youth homelessness story… interesting that at this shelter in particular more of the clients are male 11.23AM Oct 4″
The students were encouraged to write down their thoughts and i can see where this would be very helpful for primary school students. Imagine the tweets we could be seeing for students writing a narrative.
“I am happy i have figured out who my main characters are but i still need to build on their character”.
If teachers are able to gain access to what students are thinking, it would make it easier to correct and encourage certain aspects of their thoughts. I don’t believe primary school students should be marked on their tweets but i do believe they would be a very useful tool in teaching.
What other tweet ideas/lessons could be useful?
Michael Stevenson
« REACTION: Computers for Young Children
Schelin (2009) states “I am interested by the way technology is being introduced at such a young age. This means by the time children come to school they can already be familiar with the computer and a basic knowledge of how to operate it” in her panda ponderings blog. This is true but more so than it being true it is normative.
The way in which the last generation grew up with action figures and dolls the new generation has high tech computer games, the internet and digital fridges in some cases. We related to our world through our early experiences and had to adjust to the technological world as it came to pass. Today’s children are part of the technical world from birth.
Michael Stevenson
Tweeter Narration Nation »« REACTION: TOP TEN TIPS FOR USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Sabrina has discovered an video on You Tube that is an excellent idea to introduce a teacher to the world of technology in classroom. The top ten tips are as stated.
1. Use streaming video (youtube) (teachertv)
2. USe music more often (Itunes)
3. Use teleconferencing (Skype)
4. Create your own interactive exersizes (hot potoatoes) (launguages online australia)
5. Do online tutorials or courses on the Interactive whiteboards or smart boards to get more opportunities out of them
6. Create podcasts (garage band, audacity)
7. Start a blog or wiki (fantastic way to show achievements)
8. Use social networks
9. Use internet tools
10. Make the most of your pupils gadgets (mobile phones, mp3 players)
If teachers were wondering where to start this list gives you a list of options. I will making my way through the list and have started with using Audacity to create a podcast. To listen to my sample click here
REACTION: Computers for Young Children »« School Book
Online Social Networking And Education: Study Reports On New Generations Social And Creative Interconnected Lifestyles is the article i will be discussing in this blog.
This article has some intriguing statistics citing that students between the ages of 9-17 are using social networking services almost the same amount as they watch television, That 96 percent of student with online access claim that they use social network services and that about 60 percent of those students discuss educational topics.
The critics of these social networks challenge the idea that these social networks like Facebook have educational value and others dislike the idea of what students are exposing themselves to online where a multitude of bad influences are available.
I believe a schools social network should be put in place. Some schools already have personal websites for social networking but I’m talking on a larger scale. I would like to see a Facebook style program that includes students and parents created by the New South Wales government. Schools could create groups withing their schools, local areas and state wide. There could be particular areas for parents and for students that would make the updating of things like homework, notes on excursions and general communication between the schools, teachers and parents much easier.
The best thing about “School Book” is only those invited to use it can access it and it eliminates the outside influences that are not in the students best interest.
Reference List
Good, R. (2007). Online Social Networking And Education: Study Reports On New Generations Social And Creative Interconnected Lifestyles. Retrieved 14th October 2009 from Robin Good http://www.masternewmedia.org/learning_educational_technologies/social-networking/social-networking-in-education-survey-on-new-generations-social-creative-and-interconnected-lifestyles-NSBA-20071109.htm
REACTION: TOP TEN TIPS FOR USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM »« REACTION to the GC Blog ‘Using mobile phones in the classroom’
Link: Using mobile phones in the classroom
In this blog Giulia discusses the endless possibilities of m- learning (Mobile Learning). It is something we have not seen a lot of in Australia but it is making its way into popular culture. The case and point for this is in a recent episode of The Simpsons. The show is American but reaches a world wide audience and has a satirical look at popular culture.
In this episode there is a new teacher who is shown to be “the new style” of teacher. He excites his class by sending them an sms that tells them their homework is 20 minutes of twittering. Bart (one of the shows lead characters is then shown at home) quotes “The Zack (teacher) skyped us, live blogged our spelling bee and friended us on facebook”.
This shows just how close that this kind of technology is to being used in our schools on a mass scale and as teachers we will need to be re educating ourself in how we teach otherwise we will be left behind.
To see the clip that has been discussed watch from 1:46-2.32 of the following You Tube video.
The Simpsons on M-Learning
Michael Stevenson
School Book »« Talking Technology (Laptops in NSW Schools)
In 2009 year 9 students have been provided with laptops as tools to help them with studies. This has been highly publicised in the news with a range of different responses. The media aren’t the only ones to look at this.
A debate was being held recently by a year 5 class at a school in the Hurstville area in NSW that I am glad that I was able to witness. The debate was primary students should have the same access to these laptops? with the affirmative team members arguing about the improvement in writing skills, the ability to self mark and have neater writing. The Negative points were about battery power and expense.
I am of the personal belief that all students should have a computer on there desk but not one to take home. Do you think that students should have personal computers supplied to them?
Michael Stevenson
REACTION to the GC Blog ‘Using mobile phones in the classroom’ »« Technology and The Tuckshop
Source: http://www.medowie.ps.education.nsw.gov.au/images/canteen_two.JPG
According to Sydney’s Daily Telegraph on Monday 5th October 2009, school tuck shops and canteens are the latest to benefit from the technological age. In a trial across New South Wales which includes both private and public schools parents are able to create a lunch order online and pay using a credit card over the internet.
The benefits of this program range from parents being able to help choose what their children are eating to stopping bullying for a child’s lunch money, from the convenience of not having to make sure the child has the right money to take to school to making sure that food is what the money is spent on.
This is just another way that technology is making our school system better.
Michael Stevenson
Reference List
McDougall, B. (2009). Cash-free tuckshops. Retrieved from The Daily Telegraph Monday the 5th of October 5th 2009.
Talking Technology (Laptops in NSW Schools) »
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