Reactionary Post: Internet access during exams? Should this be allowed?
This idea focused by tomnaimee at The Inner thoughts of Tom and Aimee seems to be very controversial.
Here is a podcast of my thoughts about ‘involving online research during exams’:
URL: Houndbite
-A.Q
Facebook friends could be spies, agency warns
This article highlights the notion that online social networking may seem fun and entertaining, but it can be used for personal gains. In this online article posted by The Sydney Morning Herald on the 19th of May, 2009, they introduced the idea that Military personnel are gaining access on facebook to benefit themselves in obtaining data on the opposing country.
Parents should become aware of this threat because if their children use facebook, they may meet up with people they have never met before. This poses as a danger because the person that they are interacting with virtually is not revealed to them until they meet them face to face– the online personality may only be a facade. As a training educator, I believe that parents should know all the positive and negatives of an online media. Parents should remind their children not to post personal information up on the online web.
A recent occurance was mentioned on national television last week where a couple mentioned on facebook that they were going out for dinner. That’s when the accident happened. When they reached home after dinner, a thief had already stepped foot into their household and was long gone with all their posession.
Link to article: Facebook friends could be spies, agency warns
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A.Q
Reactionary post: TWITTER???????
The title alone had captured my attention. This post by aandf at Same Suburb Different Park. The idea of having Twitter in the classroom would be a nightmare. Personally, I believe popular social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook should strictly be accessed during the persons’ private time.
If students were given the opportunity to create their own accounts (to use for school purposes) it would be hard for the students to differentiate between their school and private life. Also, since it is accessible for the global web, a lot of ‘distractions’ would arise such as chatting and sharing social pictures would impede on the quality of the lesson. This suggests the idea that hundreds of millions of people can assess to the accounts of the students if they are not careful.
However, as aandf stated, it is far too early to judge social networking as it has only recently been established. Though, at this moment, I strongly disagree to it being used in the classroom. Twitter at this moment seems to only serve social means.
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-A.Q
Reactionary post: School Desks; The next generation
The Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) interactive school desk does sound very interesting. In the blog tomnaimee, at The inner thoughts of Tom and Aimee, they have introduced a piece of technology I have not heard or seen of it before. This stimulates my interest as I would love to come in contact with it during practicum. I feel that technology in the classroom will broaden the opportunities of the students and allows them to be more practical.
In today’s society, students are keen to learn from technology. Therefore, I believe that the TEL will have a positive impact on the student and the teacher. The students will be in complete control of what they create and feel pride towards their work.
Since students have their own TEL “desk”, this will demand more management techniques from a teacher. The teachers will have to have to battle against the TEL for the students attention. Being a teacher in training, I am unsure of whether I’d like to constantly strain myself to have the students attention, let alone possessing the ability to use the highly interactive and unknown TEL.
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-A.Q
Reactionary post: Does everyone get a say and a point?
A form of technology used in a classroom is a powerpoint presentation. The post from learningtech09 at Learning is fun… I promise! states that powerpoint allows no room for discussion. Personally, I find this untrue because powerpoint presentations are much more interactive and interesting for students to engage at because there is noise, colour and movement.
A teacher can incorporate activities and questions that can trigger the interest of the students. Since a powerpoint presentation is a visual piece of information, the interest of the students can be further enhanced. This can be achieved by including images or videos that can stimulate the opinions of the student.
Students do respond to powerpoint presentations. It’s just whether or not the visual communication created by the teacher or peer provides them a chance to discuss—let alone gain their interest.
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-A.Q
Reactionary Post: Teaching Generation Y
This post by aandf at Same Suburb Different Park, comments that Generation Y has much of their focus on technology. I highly agree with this because in every direction you turn, you see someone fondling with a piece of technology. For instance, people on the train are either listening to music on their mp3 players or they are busy playing a game on their mobile phones.
I think it is a positive movement that is taking action. Since students are generally more interested when using a technology at home, teachers should be able to take advantage of this, so that students can have fun while learning. It is also highly interactive as students are given the opportunity to work in groups to create a project with a recently introduced program. Working with technology will allow students to experiment and create things that they cannot usually do. It will help them develop skills that society expects you to have while working.
However, even though technology is receiving a lot of attention, I believe that traditional learning methods should also be incorporated into daily lessons. This is because some skills can only be learnt from pen and paper.
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-A.Q
Anita’s mid-semester overview
Since my early days in primary school, my primary teachers had always taken my class and I into the computer laboratories. In there, we were given the chance to create new things that we never imagine. We would play Maths and English game with much enthusiasm as it did not seem tedious and stressful.
It is only until I started this course that I’ve realised how much technology has impacted on my life since I was a young child. I now see the importance and value of introducing technology to students on a regular basis.
While attending the classes for “E-learning in primary schools”, I found out how much technology will impact on a child’s future. In today’s society, it is basically required for them to have a minimum level of knowledge with computer programs and tools. Most industries today involve the manipulation of technology, therefore, by incorporating technology into school lessons, students will slowly become sufficient and comfortable. In turn, this will broaden their future job preferences.
I had always known that technology should be used often in the classroom, but the problem was that I wasn’t sure how to do it. I simply didn’t have much confidence. However, through this subject, I have developed new skills and ideas that can be implemented into class lessons that the students can enjoy and learn from.
Until I enter the education field as a professional, I hope to further develop my skills that is associated with technology. I wish for my future students to enjoy the inclusion of technology into almost every subject. I believe it will definitely increase their level of motivation.
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-A.Q
Parents stuck in the past
Parents are often left out when it comes to technology. This video discusses the notion that parents do not attempt to keep up with computers as it is out of their comfort zone. Although parents are unfamiliar with technology in today’s world, they should still attempt to understand it.
Since young children have become accustomed to technology, they have excelled most of their parents. It is important for parents to learn how to use the computer so that they can keep up with the daily activities of their children and the precautions of using the internet. For example, parents should remind their children not to post up personal information of themselves as it is accessible for everyone—good and bad.
This video introduces a source where parents can learn off. It not only covers the positive attributes of their children using technology, but also the things they should keep an eye on. The video focuses on issues such as what to expect from technology, the benefits, dangers and assistance for parents that are reluctant towards computers.
Link to video: A Parent’s Guide to Technology
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-A.Q
The past and future of students
This video introduces the future possibilities that technology can lead students to. It discusses the difference between classrooms in the 20th century, to that of the 21st century. There is a brief video at 1:43 minutes of how interactive a primary classroom can be. Students are given the opportunity to learn modern skills that will help.
From this video, it can be seen how vital it is for students to have knowledge and experience with technology. This is because, in the workforce, there is an increase in the requirement of the staff to have knowledge with basic programs.
In the last century, technology had not been focused as it was not readily available for everyone. However, today’s technology is being introduced to a vast amount of working sectors. Therefore, it is important to implant technology into lessons.
Introducing technology at a young age will gain their interest. During their private times, students can explore and create works which will further increase their knowledge and understanding of technology. It will definitely broaden their horizons.
Link: Education today and tomorrow
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-A.Q
Reactionary post to Japanese Robot Teacher
After reading this post from MONKEY SCRIBBLES, it has triggered all the key factors that i think a teacher should possess. After a year of studying in the course of Primary Education, the ideas of what a teacher is, has repeatedly reminded me through every subject in this course. And that is attended to student feelings, in order to alter our teaching to suit majority of students’ learning style. Also flexibility is one of the main keys to gaining success as a teacher. My practicum teacher always reminded me that planned lessons will never go as planned and things will always appear unexpectedly.
In recent times, a form of technology such as robots, are being heavily relied on by humans. As the world is shifting toward the fields of advance technologies, many people and factories are over taken by robots and machinery. For instance, industrial workers are slowly being replaced by these advance technologies. I have heard from a friend studying at Maquire University, that they are constructing a new library that is operated by robots. I believe that a library operated by robots is a more efficient way compare to our normal campus libraries.
However, in the case of a robot teacher, I strongly disagree with that idea. I believe that teaching involves emotions and feelings. It is not something that robots can possibly replace, as MONKEY SCRIBBLES has mentioned in her blog “It is just a tool”.
-S.W
