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!

Module 8

What is an RSS Feed ?

'RSS (most commonly expanded as "Really Simple Syndication") is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works—such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video—in a standardized format.'

I have been using a RSS feed while completing this course with a number of blogs that I follow. I receive an update every time they post a new blog...

that way I don't need to go looking for them...they come to me.

I particularly enjoyed the videos used to explain about RSS feeds as they were so easy to understand. I think that in my role as ESL teacher I would use this as a resource for myself rather than with or for my students.  


What is google reader?

 

'Google Reader is a feed reader. It allows you to subscribe to RSS and Atom feeds. You can manage feeds, label them, and even share your feed collection with others.'

 Life with Google Reader is 'easy as a b c ' because it really does all the work for you.

Ahh..there's no looking back when you've google on your side!

Module 7

What is del.icio.us?

'Delicious is a Social Bookmarking service, which means you can save all your bookmarks online, share them with other people, and see what other people are bookmarking.'

Mmmm.....my idea of delicious always looked something like this... 

 

However I know that in terms of Web 2.0 it really is more like this....

...whereby I am able to share my favourite websites with others.

Keep my favourite sites to access from any computer through a del.icio.us account. The beauty of this is that any sites that I find I can access from home or work without having to try and remember the URL or having to try to find it again through a search. 

Discover new sites that other colleagues have found through my account. 

Organise my favourite sites by tagging them with keywords.

 

I can make them public......

                      

or keep them private.

We have a del.icio.us account at school...

and I have access to another del.icio.us account as an ESL teacher through the Southern Region ESL Ning (another social network).

I also have my own del.icio.us account and through it can link them all together!

Access to all of these make my life easier!

Module 6

What is bubbl.us?

 

   

Bubbl.us is a simple and free web application that lets you brainstorm online. Bubbl.us allows you to:

• Create colorful mind maps online
• Share and work with friends
• Embed your mind map in your blog or website
• Email and print your mind map
• Save your mind map as an image

Here is one that I created for Web 2.0...

...it was quite simple creating this mind map.
I can see that it has many applications for use with my students, especially when exploring graphic organisers.

What is a Glogster?

'A Glogster is a Web 2.0 tool that allows users to upload photos, videos, text, audio and more to create a unique online, interactive poster.'

Wow this is a fabulous tool!

I enjoyed playing with all that it has to offer...but when I saw what some Year 3 students were able to achieve it really blew my mind!

They were able to manipulate and explore at such a rapid speed..it is just perfectly set up for their young minds. I learnt more from watching them than from the feeble attempts I had made by myself!

Module 5

What is Digital Storytelling?

'Digital Storytelling is the practice of using computer-based tools to tell stories.'

At last a module that contains content that is familiar to me!!

I absolutely love all that involves Digital Storytelling probably because I love storytelling!

• Podcasts
• Vodcasts
• iTunes
• YouTube

Some time ago now I was introduced to the world of ipods by a friend and have not looked back!
Not only on a personal level as my ipod is filled with the most wonderful podcasts (knitting, gardening,cooking) as well as vodcasts (First Tuesday Book Club...The Cook and the Chef) endless music (all my cd's are now on my ipod) and I might add these are all free downloads from iTunes.

At that same time I was fortunate enough to attend a CEO inservice with Ros Moran who quickly converted me to the wonders of podcasts in the classroom!!

We have a mp3's and mp4's at school that the children from K to 6 use on a daily basis.

I have recorded many levelled readers for classes to use as part of Guided Reading and especially with the ESL and Special Needs children.
I need to explore the use of podcasts for numeracy.

Our children record themselves using audacity as a means of self assessment 

and I have used it as a tool for language aquisition assessment.


As part of text types we have often viewed relevant clips from YouTube

to then use for talking /listening activities followed with some written work whether it be joint construction or individual writing.

It is wonderful to be able to take the ESL children onto a Goldfield or swimming on the Great Barrier Reef through You Tube, or bring a library book to life, also the use of video clips, online discussions etc for our older classes involve in the Jason Project.

At the moment I am exploring the use of Storybird with my ESL children. It looks absolutely fantastic.




Can't wait for our flip cameras.....to arrive!!

Module 4

What is flickr?

 'Flickr is an image and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community.  In addition to being a popular website for users to share and embed personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers to host images that they embed in blogs and social media.'

 

I have for quite some time enjoyed looking at other people's photostreams on flickr, however not really understanding how it was all done...thinking it was way too difficult for me...but thanks to Web2... I can do it...all by myself!!!

(Check out my photostream on the sidebar...)

 

 

My mind is absolutely in a spin as to how I would be able to use this fantastic tool with my students.

What a fabulous resource for language based activities...

 

• 
  
  vocabulary building and extension with real photos on a SMARTBOARD

 

• 
  
  picture talks to develop descriptive language using the most amazing photos from flickr gallery

 

 

• 
  
  narrative writing, again with photos from the flickr gallery

 

 

• 
  
  using photos taken by the students themselves while on excursions, or as part of class activities etc. students use the flickr tool to organise them into sets and then use these sets to write a factual recount of the event.

 

What is so wonderful is that you are able to use photos taken yourself as well as photos that are copyright free from flickr.

 

 

ESL children are often very capable and talented however unable to express themselves in English and I believe that using flickr as visual assisstance and stimulas is just another bonus for them in language aquisition.




 

 

I'm off to explore and play with the tools on flickr some more before taking the plunge into the next module!