Week 6 Activities & Reflections
1. Animations & Simulations
These are just some of the resources that I have started collecting:
1. Animations & Simulations
Animations and simulations are something I have known about for a while but never had the opportunity to learn much about. Being for a classroom context where the students all have different learning styles, this comes in handy as it offers substantial advantages over general print based texts. They offer a virtual experience where some things for the classroom are impossible due to cost or location and they are made possible due to the tools accessible through the internet. However, like most of the digital tools I have discussed already, they take a lot of time, effort, creativity and imagination to design them just how you want them and for the exact purpose of your class.
Interactive learning objects that are readily available on the internet are Education Queensland’s ‘Learning Place’ or the ‘Learning Federation’ just to name a couple. Most of these come with a subscription fee or some sort of cost additive. However, if your school can afford to do this, they are definitely well worth the exploration as students become completely engaged in the topic you will be teaching.
Interactive learning objects that are readily available on the internet are Education Queensland’s ‘Learning Place’ or the ‘Learning Federation’ just to name a couple. Most of these come with a subscription fee or some sort of cost additive. However, if your school can afford to do this, they are definitely well worth the exploration as students become completely engaged in the topic you will be teaching.
- My Place
- Reading
- SOSE
2. Google Earth
3. Online Concept Mapping
A concept map is a diagram showing the relationships between different items. Generally it is used as a graphical tool for organising and representing knowledge (Wikipedia, 2011). The items or concepts can be grouped and displayed in bubbles, circles, boxes and so forth with lines or arrows representing the connection between them. It is a strong visual tool which is commonly used for many different things.
The concept map I designed encompasses the digital technologies I have learnt this far in ICT's for Learning Design.
4. Zooburst
Whilst I originally downloaded Google Earth back in 2006 to show my family the houses I lived in France in 2005, it was astonishing to everyone then and yet it still amazes me every time I use it. More recently, a fellow student of mine from America visited her college and parents house back in The States on my laptop just to show me how different Australian houses are compared to theirs.
I could compare it to travelling only this time it’s online instead of physically ‘being elsewhere’.
Google Earth is described as being a virtual globe, map and geographical information program from which the images are obtained via satellites, aerial photography, and other sources.
Google Earth for Educators is a phenomenal resource for teachers. It encompasses classroom lesson plans and ideas, tutorials and tips, as well as communication between other teachers that are or have previously used it and a showcase of students work.
For use in the classroom there are plenty of examples given online such as a few of the following.
Biology: Track routes of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe Forest. See the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee blog here.
Ecology: Create a short quiz about anything like this one.
Environmental Science: Have students check Alaska's global warming problems. See how the Sierra Club used Google Earth to depict this problem here.
Geology: Find images, links, and descriptions, with information about thousands of volcanoes around the globe, thanks to organizations like the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program.
Global Awareness: Study the Crisis in Darfur with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's unprecedented project.
History: Explore Tutankhamun's Tomb.
Humanities: Have your students scout film shoot locations like this teacher did with The Golden Compass.
Literature: Bring class or contemporary tales to life with Google LitTrips.
Math: Explore distance, velocity, and wave properties of tsunamis.
There are many more ideas on how Google Earth can be used for all subjects across the board. So why don't you go check it out for yourself at Google Earth for Educators.
There are many more ideas on how Google Earth can be used for all subjects across the board. So why don't you go check it out for yourself at Google Earth for Educators.
3. Online Concept Mapping
A concept map is a diagram showing the relationships between different items. Generally it is used as a graphical tool for organising and representing knowledge (Wikipedia, 2011). The items or concepts can be grouped and displayed in bubbles, circles, boxes and so forth with lines or arrows representing the connection between them. It is a strong visual tool which is commonly used for many different things.
The concept map I designed encompasses the digital technologies I have learnt this far in ICT's for Learning Design.
In my teaching context I could use concept maps for just about anything. Some examples include;
- assigning a topic to students and their homework is to brainstorm some ideas about their thoughts on that topic
- creating a food chain web
- create a map to show connections between letters, sounds and words that start with each letter
- For maths it could be used for summarising a unit so students are able to see the big picture
- To categorise or group different types of things (animals-mammals, amphibians)
- Create a family tree
Concept Map SWOT Analysis
Strengths:
- Is a great tool for the classroom
- Explores knowledge and shares information
- Students can work collaboratively or individually
- Can be used in ranges from simple to advanced
- Can be used as assessment (understanding concepts & relationships)
- Free to use
Weaknesses:
- Requires some training
- Some programs are not interactive
Opportunities:
- Can be used for one or several concepts
- Plenty of different types of mapping tools available
- Organisation tool uses
Threats:
- Can become boring if over used in the classroom
Zooburst is one of the latest digital technology tools available to the public through their website at Zooburst. It creates interactive, third-dimensional (3D) pop-up books. The 3D books can be viewed in augmented reality mode (if you have a webcam) or like a video online. A printing option is also available and the online book can be rotated for viewing purposes or even from different angles by holding down the left clicker on your mouse. Currently some already made examples can be viewed when you sign up for free or you can start by making your own digital storytelling book. On the website there are also simple step guidelines on how to create your own project which would be perfect for your students.
In the classroom context this could be a very useful tool. I am imagining in English, the students can put together their own personal story about an experience. As with many of the other digital tools mentioned over the past couple of weeks, this tool has endless opportunities in which to create contextual books for use in any subject at school. I personally believe that I might actually use this in my teaching career and that it caters for all students to put their personal work into a work of art!
No comments:
Post a Comment