Interactive white board

Reading my friend safee blog I found very interesting post that is using the technology of today in the classroom .This post let my mind go searching IWB.

I have been searching for visual demonstration of successful use of interactive white board in early childhood. I have discovered slideshares a site that has wonderful   educational slide show that can be share with colleagues. I found one about the interactive whiteboard which I have found very informative and relevant to the early childhood classroom.

IWB are educational tools that increase levels of interaction, communication, collaboration and engagement in learning and teaching situations (Northcote, 2010). I have chosen this topic ‘IWB’, as I believe IWB is a digital tool that helps students to manipulate with text by using their fingers and pens, making learning more active, kinesthetic, 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.

Reference 

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

Digital smart pen

Digital smartpen, I think some people heard about this before and some might not. So, let’s me share something about this digital smartpen. A digital smartpen is looks and writes like a ballpoint pen. There is a small computer inside the digital smartpen, and a tiny camera to record the position of the pen tip (Coursey, 2011). Moreover, with the use of special paper, the digital smartpen can records whatever the child taps or touches or the parent writes or draws. At the same time, the audio recording digital pen plays back the sounds recorded when the pen taps the paper or is used for handwriting. Recorded audio and text can be played back by touching the pen to the dot paper at the desired point. By using digital smartpen, children are able to read with others or by themselves.

The other thing i found  was  leap reader pen. leap pen  helps to  built-in speaker as they trace out letters in the provided workbook and eggs them on with encouraging words, flashing lights and sounds.

The paper in the workbook incorporates embedded ink, which means a child just needs to press down with the pen to make a stroke. The pen doesn't write on any other paper or surface apart from the special paper provided in the workbook, which means we don't have to worry about kids using it to scribble on walls.

If you want to know more about it, there are some extra readings about digital smartpen as below

http://www.gizmag.com/top-ten-high-tech-toys-for-kids/30173/

Reference 

Coursey, S. (2011). Digital smartpens learning resources for helping kids read. Retrieved on October 1, 2014 from http://digitalsmartpenreviews.com/uses/digital-smartpens-learning-resources-for-helping-kids-read/

Kidblog

After reading through my friend Sana blog post Martha Stewart Craft studio. I would like to do some research about the kids app and sites a found this kidblog. kidblog  is a wonderful resource for student blogging. According to kidblog website, kidblog.org "is designed for elementary and middle school teachers who want to provide each student with their own, unique blog. Kidblog's simple, yet powerful tools allow students to publish posts and participate in discussions within a secure classroom blogging community. Teachers maintain complete control over student blogs."  Kidblog has several advantages over other blogging sites:

·         create classroom discussions

·         learn digital citizenship

·         practicing writing skills

·         create an e-portfolio

·         reflect on learning

·         formatively assess writing

Since kidblog is free so I think it is very good opportunities for children to have this blogging experience. But teacher needs to be aware on what children are sharing if it is very personal or related to the family background or religion. 

Reference  

Teachers with apps. (2014). Kidblog – simply wonderful classroom tool. Retrieved April  29, 2014 from http://teacherswithapps.com/app_reviews-kidblog-simply-wonderful-classroom-tool/

Raising good digital citizens

What is digital citizenship? Why digital citizenship important to us? Actually digital citizenship is a concept for teachers and parents to understand what children should know to us technology appropriate ( Ribble 2014). Digital citizenship is more than just a technology tool: it is a way to prepare students / technology users for society full of technology.

·         Today's kids need new skills to behave safely and responsibly online.

·         Good digital citizenship follows the same basic rules as good citizenship in the offline world.

·         Filters only prevent some kinds of unsuitable material being accessed via your computer; parents still need to be vigilant.

·         It's important for parents to model good online behaviour – such as courtesy, obeying the law (not downloading something illegally) and protecting yourself.

For extra reading click on the title blow:-

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/digital-citizenship

http://digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html

Reference

 Ribble, M. (2014). Nine elements of digital citizenship. Retrieved may  11, 2014

ICT in education and learning

Technology is ubiquitous, touching almost every part of students live, student’s communities, student’s homes, schools. There are varieties of technologies tools available like computer, tablet, digital camera .iPad and video games are great tool to support students learning.

 Seen below YouTube video I understand students love using new technologies in their learning. And It makes life easier to teachers and increases their own learning.

ü  Increased ICT capability – once teachers understood the value of utilising ICTs for learning and had increased their own capabilities with the technologies, they were able to incorporate their new expertise into the curriculum. Over time the teachers also developed confidence and encouraged the children to increase their usage of the available equipment. There was evidence across all of the centres of children’s increased capability in using ICTs and the children largely chose the activities that they wanted to be involved in.

ü  Transformation of pedagogical practice that leads to an enhanced community of practice – a shift in power relations transformed teachers’ practice, and children were given the autonomy to lead their own learning. A number of teachers indicated that they had made changes to the way that they interacted with children, the teachers listened more and were less directive, allowing children the opportunity to voice their ideas and thoughts.

ü  Enhanced learning outcomes for children – ICT tools were regularly used to enhance children’s learning experiences through the diverse learning opportunities that they provided. ICTs provided methods that helped the children to become more engaged and enabled them to consider their existing interests in new ways. Literacy, in particular, was an area that saw significant enhancement in the ways that children were able to engage with and develop their literacy skills.

I agree my friend ymtengkunuraulia blog post disabled  but highly capable. she mentioned that many ways we can help child with disabilities increase their skills and abilities using ICT tools . 

Reference

Hatherly, A. (2009), ICT and the greatest technology: A teacher’s mind. Early Childhood Folio, 13, 7-11

Amplivoxsound. (2011). Top 10 reasons to use technology in education: iPad, tablet, computer, listening centers. [Video]. Retrieved March 11, 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzi2RIt8_nk

Cyber smart

Did some readings and activities from Study Desk, one of the activities require us to sign up to Connected. Which is an innovative, self-paced online Cyber smart educational program that offers teachers the knowledge, confidence and resources to help students stay safe online. i seem to be very important activities for our kids as well as teachers have to know about it . 

 My friend Kathleen blogs she provides information about gateway to online safety resources. read it and get to know more information about the cyber smart. 

On Saturday class our lecture also understanding about online risk and unsafe behavior are important. as teacher we have to be aware children of cyber safety issues and how safety they behave online .

Here are some ways teachers can help students:-

Give them a quiz like cybersmart . this quiz will find how cyber smart are you? 

How does the quiz work?

You will be guided through 11 questions by Sam. She will help you and tell you what you need to do. In each question you will need to make a decision about what you would do. 

Another good website I found is commonsensemedia

 Materials are designed to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate responsibly in our digital world.

Through these  kind of videos and quiz’s we can encourage students to stay connected to supportive family and friends online and offline. 

Thank you 

First week PRAC reflection

I started my teaching practice a week ago and now I am heading for my week two.

I believe my last week teaching was good and gain lot of knowledge and experience s. But I found quite challenging this time because we need to implement ICT in our learning resources. In this school most of the teacher like to teach traditional teaching style but they use commuters and other ICT tool in class room context.

Last week my focus was science (planting)

In this activity the students are taken out to observe nature. They will be looking at tees, little plants, leaves and also collecting the leaves that have fallen on the ground. They also will be looking at the animals and the little creatures that live in the trees. According to John Locke learning occurs through senses, moving simple to complex (cited in Gutek). Which supports my teaching methods? The students are observing nature through their five senses and learning what they see and moving on to the complex methods like learning to name the different parts of the plant.

In second day we plant seeds and we keep planting pot different location of the school indoor, outdoor and observe every day same time.

In this lesson students understand respect for the beauty and value of plants and the nature environment. Student learned various condition affect the growing of plants. They also compare the love and care needed by plants to the love and care needed by people also. Students also measure and observed the growth of their seedlings.

End of the week we compiled all the pictures we took and make video presentation.  Have a look