Why games are good for learning?

Games benefit children in many areas like those of cognitive, social, emotional and communication and language development too.  Also it will capture children’s attention in learning. Take a look at the info-graphic below for an overview of why games are good for leaning.

Why Games are Good for Learning

I like to play treasure hunt, word games and many more with my niece and nephews. They really enjoyed it. In the treasure hunt game, in order to rescue Pirate Jack from the tree, they have to make four words using the letters on the coconuts. They can repeat this game as many times as they wish. I am thinking of using these games for to play with the children during my practicum period.

Constructing a tower using blocks

While searching the web I found this musical chair reading game for Miss Sporn's class. They invented musical chair in a new way. They placed books on each of the chair and played the music. When the music stopped children needed to stop, sit down and start reading! Then when the music started again they walked around in a circle until the music stopped – then sit down and start reading again.  It seems very interesting and lot of fun and something different to develop our reading interests.

Lining for a game of hopscotch

Don't underestimate child's play. It may look like leisure time,  but when children are playing house, fighting imaginary dragons or organising a game of hopscotch, they're actually developing crucial life skills — and preparing their brains for the challenges of adulthood.

PKM PROCESS AND YOUR PLN

Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) is about taking a personal or individual perspective to Knowledge Management rather than an organisational or corporate one.

In short we have to say PKM is taking responsibility for what you know, who you know- and what they know.

PKM Concept

PKM is mostly focused on individuals who must negotiate and transcend the artificial barriers between their teams, communities of practice, and networks. Inside that person’s head, there are no knowledge barriers. However, discerning with whom and when to share, remains a key part of effective PKM. Social learning requires social intelligence, but organisations have to establish ways to support the multifaceted knowledge worker, or continue to face the knowledge sharing paradox. Understanding that people, not management systems, enable knowledge flow would be a good start.

Reading Alicia's blog  I found she posted some relevant information about PKM and explains it very clearly.

Reflecting on PKM, my thinking is that it connects personal philosophy very well. My personal philosophy of education is primarily based on the ideas of behaviorism. I feel that a behaviorist approach will be necessary in a special child as well as normal child. Behaviorists believe that reinforcement is crucial when it comes to mastering a skill. This is definitely true as most of the students’ need repetition for mastering their skills.

I believe that an effective learning environment begins with a positive climate. Establishing positive classroom environment and strong relationships with students is the first step in proactive behaviour management and individualization. In order to establish these relationships it is imperative to express sensitivity, provide specific positive feedback, and have consistent two-way communication with the families of my students.  The information these relationships will provide will allow me to have greater regard for my students’ perspectives and to better engage my students.

TOOLBELT THEORY

Thank you  Safee  for sharing an insight of "toolbelt theory". I had never come across this theory until I joined EDC3100 module. I fount it is an amazing and very interesting theory as I read through “Toolbelt Theory for Everyone” posted in Ira David Socol's blog. The article  is based on the concept that students must learn to assemble their own readily available collection of life solutions. They must learn to choose and use these solutions appropriately, based on the task to be performed, the environment in which they find themselves, their skills and capabilities at that time, and the ever-changing universe of high and low-tech solutions and supports.

Toolbet of "Information"

According to Socol(2009) “ We as humans differ, our tasks differ, our environments differ, our circumstance differ and we pick the appropriate tool”

So, the Toolbelt theory is designed to:
• Break the dependence cycle
• Develop lifespan technology skills  
• Limit limitations
• Empower student decision making
• Prepare students for life beyond school

All these information inspired me to look back over the weeks and find the ICT tools that I have added to my own personal and future teaching Toolbelt,

Reference

Scocol,l.(2009) .the Toolbelt and universal Design Education for everyone, Retieved  march 6 2014 from http://speedchange.blogspot.com/2008/05/toolbelt-theory-for-everyone.html

21ST CENTURY LEARNER

I really want to share this YouTube video with my friends. I enjoyed watching this video because it made me think critically about my future classroom in terms of my teaching and how my students are learning. I really enjoy finding new information and integrating new forms of technologies in my teaching. I truly believe no one sees more clearly than us educators, how the technologies we use in our daily lives influence how students learn. Students have changed, educators have changed, and learning itself has changed. Also learning tools have evolved accordingly.

This is a student's final video project for Master in Education Media and Design Technology.  This video asks faculties that teach students of different age categories to consider "What if they incorporate appropriate technologies to help prepare their students for success in the 21st Century".

INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARDS (IWB)

I did not have any clue or any experience about the IWB before starting my BECH programme. During my journey of education I learned a lot of new versatile digital tools that can help increase students’ achievements in all levels. 

As a future educator I want to encourage all the teachers to make use of resources like IWB or other forms of ICTs in their activities to make it more rich and interactive.

IWB allows teachers and students to interact with the content projected from the computer screen onto the whiteboard. Virtually anything that can be done in a computer can be done on the large screen of the IWB.

Functions of IWB

Using interactive applications on IWB

IWB are educational tools that increase levels of interaction, communication, collaboration and engagement in learning and teaching situations (Northcote, 2010). I believe IWB is a digital tool that helps students to manipulate with text by using their fingers and pens, making learning more active, kinaesthetic, and engaging. The whole class can be engaged in interactions; and lessons can be saved and played later for students who need more time. IWB can be used in all levels of learning including Preschools and higher education.

Below YouTube video explains how to use the IWB and its function that can be used for educational purpose. I believe IWB is a great technology, in fact the best educational resources for integrating ICTs in early year setting.

I found some interesting games and activities which is suitable for preschoolers to explore specific topics using IWB through the websites:

1) PBS KIDS Whiteboard Resources

2) 10 excellent ways to use an interactive whiteboard in your music classroom

3) The best, free interactive whiteboard resources 

Reference:

Northcote., (2010). Interactive whiteboards: Interactive or just whiteboard? Journal of Education Technology 4, 494-510.

Oxford University Press ELT. (2014, march19). An Introduction to Interactive Whiteboards [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIHg3F3C56I

Midnight music. (2014). 10 excellent ways to use an interactive whiteboard in your music classroom. Retrieved March 9, 2014, fromhttp://www.midnightmusic.com.au/2011/02/10-excellent-ways-to-use-an-interactive-whiteboard-in-your-music-classroom/

WHAT IS "ICT AND PEDAGOGY", DO YOU KNOW?

ICT – What is it?

ICT (information and communications technology - or technologies) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning. ICTs are often spoken of in a particular context, such as ICTs in education, health care, or libraries.

What is Pedagogy? 

Pedagogy is the way we teach, the strategies behind our teaching and the focus of our teaching. Pedagogy is also about learning; one cannot teach without being a learner. Understanding what is involved in the process of being a learner is part of pedagogy.

Today, this understanding is more important than ever. Educators need to encourage learners (including ourselves) to be creative, adaptable and innovative to fulfil this future. According to Thibault (2000) visual aids are key tools in learning and development since they help increase a student's interest in a subject. They help break the mundane cycle in certain settings, such as in classrooms. Visual aids also tend to be more interactive, helping an audience become more engaged in their own learning.

In one of my colleagues blog I found that the blogger Sanna posted a link to a YouTube on versatile tablet and her reflection. As I read the post and watched the video I felt truly inspired by it. Visit Sanna's blog here Sanna Ahmed's Blog

It reminded me of my childhood education. We never get any opportunities to explore and play with tablets, computers or any ICT tool in our education setting. But today with the aid of these ICT tools children can learn things in different ways. Children focus their attention and interest to the lessons when ICT is incorporated. Due to this factor I strongly believe it is important for educators to be ICT literate and is capable of using ICTs smartly in classroom to maximise student’s learning. 

Watch the YouTube video and follow the link below for better understanding of ICT and  how it help in our education today. 

ICT and pedagogy: A review of the research literature

Reference:

Rouse, M. (2005). What is ict. Retrieved March 15, 2014,

from http://searchcio.techtarget.com/definition/ICT-information-and-communications-technology-or-technologies

CONCEPT MAP

Week 2 of EDC3100, my journey starts with developing a mind map of what I thought of ICTs and how I could bring it to my classroom.

Click to enlarge

I have broken the map into the categories what, why, when, how and who. This is a very beneficial resource that took me the whole week to develop. Also it is great way to organise new information and brainstorming topics. Now my plan is to research into what I want implement my classroom activities.

Reading Kathleen blog post “ICT - a Teaching Transforming” I found one particular post discussing about Smart Board or Interactive White Board (IWB), which I would like to see in the classrooms of today. Follow the link to read about this post

ICT - A Teaching Transformation

This post is very interesting she wrote her experience about smart board and how important if for our classrooms today.

Experiencing a Smart Board

Yes as we know it is a very great ICT tool used today.

From my understanding and my friends saying smart board or IWB is a new instructional technology, which is used in many schools as a replacement for traditional chalkboards. Many of the educators see Interactive whiteboard (IWB) as a versatile digital tool that can help increasing student’s achievement in all levels. I will find out it and write more about on my new blog posts. Please stay with touch.

If you would like to know more about the importance of mind map or the concept of it in teaching please feel free to go through the following link.

Concept Map in teaching

BENEFICIAL ICT IN DIVERS CLASSROOM

Incorporating Information and communication technologies (ICT) has benefited in the process of learning (Pohio, 2009). However, the impact of ICT has also brought bad influences to children. Children are gaining access to inappropriate content for their ages. This leads to violence and aggression among children (Van Evra, 1990). Children often use computers as a communication tool and use abbreviated forms and incorrect spellings, which lead to corruption of language and the degradation in spelling among youth (Vosloo, 2009).

This is what our older generation thought.

As a future educator, I believe that the advancement of technological gadgets has brought many noticeable changes towards teaching and learning. Now learning can be taken anywhere, any place, as technology is part of our daily lives. ICT are valuable tools for developing thinking skills, and facilitate critical thinking and higher order learning (Chan, n.d.). Besides this technology helps to teach students with learning difficulties such as visually impaired students, kinesthetic or tactile learners, deaf and hearing-impaired learners and other special need children (Smart technologies, 2006). This enables students to develop higher order thinking skills increasing the ability to better present the learning material, provide clarification, using models and explanations to teach complicated concepts (Kennewell et al., 2007; H. Smith et al, 2005).

Below are very useful websites that will help us understand better the importance of ICT for our future education. Tell me what you think 

Why is ICT important for our children?

ICT for Inclusion Project Outcomes

Reference 

Chan. P., (n.d.). the role of ICT in a Constructivist Approach To the teaching of thinking Skils PDF , School of Information and Communications Technology. Nee Ann Polytechnic

Computer-Mediated Communication in Distance Education. The American Journal of Distance

Education, 9(2), 7-25.

Kennewell, S. (2001). Interactive whiteboards - yet another solution looking for a problem to

solve? Information Technology in Teacher Education, 39(Autumn), 3 – 6.

Prof. Jamieson, R. (2010). Lecture 6-Number Sense & Numeration. Retrieved

September 18th, 2010 from

http://usqstudydesk.usq.edu.au/file.php/15747/Week_6/Lecture_6_notes.pdf

FILL IN THE BLANKS

Providing a list of words to fill in the blanks is fine, or perhaps copying and pasting the text and putting your answers in bold.

The questions that p________ face as they raise ch________ from in_________ to adult are not easy to an _________. Both f______ and m________ can become concerned when health problems such as co_________ arise anytime after the e____ stage to later life. Experts recommend that young ch____ should have plenty of s________ and nutritious food for healthy growth. B___ and g____ should not share the same b______ or even be in the same r______. They may be afraid of the d_____.

The questions that parents face as they raise children from infant to adult are not easy to answer. Both female and male can become concerned when health problems such as cognition arise any time after the early stage to later life. Experts recommend that young children should have plenty of sunshine and nutritious food for healthy growth. Boys and girls should not share the same bed or even be in the same room. They may be afraid of the dark.

I found this fill in the blank is motivating and enjoyable, yet inspiring.  I loved the open-endedness activity that has no right or wrong answer, so the language involved in formulating an answer can be extensive.

Young children are still in their developmental stage where they need open ended resources for learning to take place. A teacher is a very important person in a child’s educational life. When children are having trouble with their work it is the teachers’ role to explain and deliver the information in an easy to understand manner. This does not mean giving answers directly without explanations.

It is very common for children to make mistakes during the lesson. According to Mayeshk (2011), children make mistakes unintentionally and adults should not expect them to always perform their best but, to teach them how to live with self-affirming statements. Most of us believe that children can learn from their mistakes if teacher always correct them with proper guidance.

The freedom of choice and flexibility allows children to engage the task with more concentration, high quality work and better learning outcomes (Cunneen et al., 2010). Children are able to engage in learning, actively construct knowledge and reach a higher level of learning.

Due to my past experiences I do believe that when we use ICT appropriately in the classroom children will connect their understandings way better. Nowadays we can see a lot of multimodal text and other ICT resources from our environment. Why don’t we use it for our kids...?

Find the right time and implement multimodal text for our kids. For example during their circle time or story time take farm animal story read the story and pause between the different animal characters to ask your child “What sound does the cow make?”. Also use animal pictures within the text books. Read the words, pausing on the animal picture to let the child fill in the blank by making the animal sound and then continue with the story. It is a good idea to write a few sentences on the board, leaving space in the text where the character’s name would usually go.

Below is a multimodal text for my ICT beginning. This video was created for my EDX2170 module.

Reference

Cunneen, M., Cunningham, D., Hall, K., Horgan, M., Ridgway, A. & Murphy, R. (2010). Loris malaguzzi and the reggio emilia experiences. NY: Continuum International Publishing Group

Mayesky, M. (2011). Creative activities for young children (10th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage learning.

FINDING ICTs - "HELLO KITTY IN SPACE"

A wonderful video was shared in the first weeks forum (What ICT did you see in Hello Kitty in space?).

This video was produced by one of the 7th grader for her science project. She mounted a camera and used other ICT tools to create her very own space ship for Hello Kitty to send it to space. It was an astonishing project that grabbed the attention of older students. 

I could watch it over and over again. It opened my mind and made me think about my future projects for students. As educators we all know that children should be finding out about the uses of technology in their everyday lives, before it is implemented in the education system. They should be exposed to programmed toys and use computers to aid in their learning. Children need the opportunity to explore and play with computers just as they do with other forms of ICT, such as tape recorders. These kinds of play acts as the foundation for more structured use and applications later on.

After viewing this video I noticed that she is a very confident girl. She is very knowledgable with ICT tools like the camera for recording and tools needed to edit the video. Those who have seen the video can see her dedication and hard work in compiling this video project. It actually inspired me to do projects with my students during my practicum sessions.

Feel free to view the video clip and judge for yourself.