Module 9

What is scootle?

Scootle (www.scootle.edu.au).is an online environment that provides access to digital curriculum content developed by The Le@rning Federation.

Scootle is great for teachers because:

• the search and browse tools allow quick and easy access to TLF resources.
• you can view or download resources.
• save searches as Favourites that can be shared with colleagues.
• use Favourites to create Learning Paths for students – each with a unique 6-digit PIN - that can be printed or saved

What is a 'learning path'?

Within scootle teachers can set up learning paths.

These paths can be saved and organised as favourite digital curriculum resources in themes or topics. These lessons can easily be accessed by students with a personal pin number. Teachers can share  resources and lessons with colleagues. Students can use the learning paths as part of group activities.

This is one area that I will need to spend more time researching as I can see that it would be of benefit to me and my students.

What is social networking?

I always thought that social networking involved being with people face to face, talking and socialising...

however I find that in this instance it means...

'The interaction between a group of people who share a common interest; Using social contacts to network; Using internet's network groups (such as Facebook and Twitter) to network and communicate between consumers and businesses'

What is facebook?

'Facebook is a social networking website that is operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc.'

I am aware of the benefits of facebook and other similar websites...especially if you are travelling or living and working a great distance from family and friends. It is so convenient and inexpensive to keep in contact using a site like these.

However I also know of the many dangers involved in being part of these websites and the traps young people can fall into...you only need to tune into news reports to hear of athletes and innocent young people who have suffered through the websites as well.

What is twitter?

'Twitter is a social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets. Tweets are text-based posts of up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to the author's subscribers who are known as followers.'

I have not yet worked out the value of twittering...
I did see on a colleagues blog a link on:

25 ways to use twitter in the classroom 

here is the link to her blog

http://wolise.blogspot.com/2010/08/module-9-social-networking-i-found-this.html

Perhaps it will be of some use to other teachers looking for ways to incorporate twitter in their classes. 

However this is one area that does not interest me...

...it may be the time aspect of handling a facebook account or twitter account (from what I've seen of teenagers and other young people much of their time is spent on these social networking sites)...

...or that I cannot think of what I could possibly have to say that would be of any interest to anyone. 

Call me old fashioned but I would much rather go to lunch with friends and do my socialising that way!

What is second life?

'Second Life (SL) is a virtual world developed by Linden Lab and is accessible on the Internet. A freeclient program called the Viewer enables its users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars (An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself/herself). Residents can explore, meet other residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities, and create and trade virtual property and services with one another, or travel throughout the world (which residents refer to as "the grid").'

Wow this part of the module really blew my mind!!! 
I had heard of Second Life, but really did not know anything about it. The best way to try and get an understanding of Second Life is to view the two YouTube videos provided for us:

• Second Life: Explore the Possibilities

• Educational Uses of Second Life

After viewing these I began to contemplate the possibiliites of using Second Life for educational purposes. I imagine that for high school it would be a worthwhile tool.

By far, for me, this was the most exhausting module to trek through...

This module had so many tools to explore within it, that it took me quite some time to get through and to get my head around. 

These were all tools that I had heard of and that my children and friends were part of but that I chose not to explore in the past, as they did not interest me.

I am glad that I took the time to look at each individual tool and tried them out...however I am not interested in pursuing any of the social networking tools.


It may be a privacy issue...

or maybe it's because...

I like to have control!