Week 5 E-learning blog

I kind of want to just skip ahead to what, for me, has been the find of the course so far and just talk about how awesome it is and that the world is now a better place. Surely that would reduce my marks though, which would make me sad. I do not wish for that. This week we are considering the use of three presentation tools as well as a host of technologies that can be used to aid learning. I will save my fave for last, so here is just a couple of comments on the others.

The first tool we came across, can be used for both good and evil; the infamous PowerPoint. I have sat through many a presentation, hating the PowerPoint creators with no small amount of passion. I am sure I am not the only one. This tool, more than any other we have discussed, encompasses the concept of not using something just because you can. Used well, the PowerPoint slideshow can be dynamic and make for a compelling experience. Used badly and it harks back to Uncle Marvin’s holiday slides.

The term scrap booking put me off from the start, though I am sure Glogster is much more than that. The idea of incorporating a variety of virtual media on the one space, I am sure could be fun and exciting. Collaborative projects could be put together with ease and vibrant displays made with the students working from wherever they may be. The fact I was unable to get an example to download onto my screen though, highlights an issue with all such technology and could well lead me into a diatribe about the NBN, download limits and, so-called, comparable access. I will have to look more closely at this one in 2020 when we should have a reasonable connection at home.

There really is a whole world of tech out there to explore; we had a nice little list of examples to consider. Google maps and earth are tools that most would be familiar with. The ability to explore the world through your computer screen is incredibly exciting. Just today I was checking out the size of Central Park in New York; amazing how big the city is compared to a city like Sydney, let alone downtown Proserpine. A simple comparison such as that could be used to give students perspective, or, using the photos and information embedded in the program, more in depth explorations could be made. The other really cool thing, one that I have seen in a number of TED talks, is Gapminder. An interactive graphing tool, Gapminder is a way of displaying information, statistics in particular, that is both interactive, easy to understand and fun to use. There are heaps already to use or you can make your own. This one, shows the growth of CO₂ emissions since 1820. There is also a map tab, so that the growth by countries is more easily seen. Many, many classroom uses across all subjects are imaginable.

Now to the really good bit.

As stated earlier, PowerPoint has its place. That being said, its place is no longer near me. My world is now Prezi. Combined with the snipping tool, the other great find of this course, I very quickly started putting together the unfinished lesson displayed below. It seems to be everything PowerPoint is, but easier to use and more dynamic. Video, text and images are able to be quickly dumped on the page. Titles can be aligned using the guides that pop up at the appropriate time. If you require guidance, there are premade templates as well as many Youtube clips to assist the development of your vision.

For the lesson I am teaching next week, this term is being spent looking at domestic violence, I am in the position of being unsure exactly what will be covered by the regular teacher or the DV counsellor between now and then. Therefore I am setting up a flexible lesson that can flow wherever it needs to. We can look at what to do if your friend is being abused, how to know if are being abused yourself and I want to finish with looking what constitutes being strong. I can present this like I would a normal slide show, or I can easily zoom in and out, jumping to where the classroom conversation leads us. I can see it being used this way exclusively, or a whole terms learning could be placed on the canvas, allowing students to access the learning as they desire. Add a smart board to the classroom and any board work could be dumped on the canvas at the end of the lesson. This could create something similar to the maths galaxy on Khan Academy. I know I am only scratching the surface and am sure I will be utilising this with great regularity.