Digital learning seems to be creating different
experiences to those that just included a pen and paper. According to the
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, “Digital learning is
any type of learning that is facilitated by technology or by instructional
practice that makes effective use of technology. Digital learning occurs across
all learning areas and domains.” Digital learning; also known as elearning, can
include a spectrum of different practices, which include, game based learning,
geographical learning, digital content, and much more. Elearning helps the
students to connect with their different pedagogies associated with their
learning in general. Many e-learning activities are set to support different
learners. Each website has visual and verbal instructions, which help students
to understand and experiment with the task. Many ICT’s have visual stimuli that
help the student’s to stay focus and enjoy their task. Students can also
control their learning of an ICT tool, which creates a more positive outcome to
the student’s learning.
Education Queensland
Education Queensland
Through this synopsis I will be discussing my past
weeks contributing and experience e-learning and the legal and ethnic sides to
using e-learning in the classroom. Through the weeks I have participated in
Blogs, Glogster, Photo Editing and the use of Mobile Devices for learning.
Different wikis, websites, games and applications
can be endorsed into the learning environment. “To be well informed and active
participants in our changing society, students will need to be self-directed
learners, able to identify issues, pose questions, synthesise ideas, determine
solutions to problems and develop capabilities and confidence with a range of
technologies.” (NSW Education, n.a). Teachers use wikis to help students
complete and demonstrate their work, with even attaching a presentation aspect
to the students work. Wikis can be designed to accommodate across the
curriculum and even add a few different aspects across each curriculum topic in
the one wiki.
Once the course started, we were made to reflect
using de Bono's hat and state an individual opinion on using mobile phones in
the classroom. At first, I had a negative review and just one statement in
mind. I did not see how it was possible to use a product that had no boundaries
for students. Then I started to think about other possibilities about the use
of mobile phones. Upon looking into the use of the devices more, I found that
there were legislations and obligations when using the electronic devices and using
online environments as stimuli. In fact, I found schools and practices must
"Ensure policies, practices and systems are in place that are consistent
with ethical and legal obligations;" (Queensland Government, 2007). This
source indicated to me that a Learning Manager is responsible in making sure
that learners are aware of the safety about using technology in a safe
matter. Week 6: Mobile Devices. I found that
participating in that week that mobile devices could be quiet effective in the
learning process of the students.
Queensland Government
Queensland Government
Week 4: Photo Editing I became aware of
what teachers can do to teach their students about photo editing. In fact, I
wasn't aware that teachers were able to introduce picture-sharing software to
the students until I participated in this week. Photos can be used to show
students pictures of people and place they have never seen or heard about
before, better yet, photos are unlimited to how you work with them, so they can
be used across cultures and religions. When using pictures, teachers must be
aware that "Obtaining informed parental/guardian permission if details of
students, including photographs, are to be published as per the policy
for Publishing Student and Staff Information on School Web
Sites by filling out the appropriate consent form" (Education Queensland,
2012).
What was new to me were the Blogs and the Glogster.
It wasn't till mid into my course of Education that I was aware of making a
website. The software I used to participate in managing a website was Glogster.
Glogster opened many opportunities and ideas for teachers to use to create a
learning experience for their students, in fact, the website I created, week 5: Glogster , took in the point of view
of the student. Websites can range from different cultures and can connect to
different curriculum sectors.
Blogs allowed students to participate in online
forums to connect their knowledge and understanding amongst peers. Teachers and
students are then covered by policies when using blogs in the classroom, the
policy states
"When publishing information on personal web
pages (as provided by the MIS (Managed Internet Service), teachers and students
should also consider conflict of interest, breach of legal implications
(copyright, intellectual property, privacy), ineffective resource usage, and/or
breach of duty of care." (Education Queensland, 2007).
The blog post I undertook, Week 3: Blogging, indicates how a teacher can
use blogging as an activity, also using the de Bono hats.
The use of the SMAR chart helps students with
their high order thinking and helps to create higher opportunity for longer and
more informative lessons. This course helped me with understanding how to use
different technologies and applications in the classroom and helped me
determined if I thought using mobile devices in the classroom were acceptable,
and the policies and legislation to help the students and myself be safe when
using technology.
Reference:
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Delveopment. (2014). Teaching with digital technologies. Retrieved from http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/support/pages/elearningcurriculum.aspx
Education Queensland. (2012). Risk
Management. Retrieved from http://education.qld.gov.au/web/schools/riskman.html
NSW Government. (n.a). Science and Technology:
Computer-base learning in schools. [PDF for Digital Edition] Retrieved
from http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/primary/scitech/assets/docs/computer-based%20learning.pdf
Queensland Government. (2007). Use of Internet and electronic
mail policy and principles statement. [PDF for Digital Edition] Retrieved from http://www.psc.qld.gov.au/publications/assets/policies/internet-and-electronic-mail.pdf