Synopsis

In 2003 Garrison and Anderson stated “E Learning will inevitably transform all forms of education and learning in the 21st century. This statement has certainly come true where E Learning has transformed education in ways that extend beyond the efficient delivery or entertainment value of traditional approaches to teaching and learning (Garrison & Anderson (2004). It has opened up new and exciting ways to collaborate and learn through digital tools and pedagogies. E Learning has created an online and digital learning environment that offers the 21st century learners opportunity to engage in deep, rich and collaborative learning. This new way of learning that is being used for many education purposes has not been able to be ignored by those who are seriously committed to enhancing teaching and learning and therefore has become imperative to the 21st century classroom. Garrison and Anderson (2004) state that the "essential feature of E-Learning extends beyond its access to information and builds on its communication and interactive features.
With such learning taking place in education ICT's are being incorporated to transform, support and enhance learning. Such ICT's are being used to create learning environments that are digitally rich and support the many differing learning styles of students. These learning environments are enhancing students’ lifelong learning through equipping them with skills and processes that would not be obtained without interaction with such digital devices.

In the primary classroom digital tools such as websites, wiki's, YouTube, Google Earth, Digital Mind Mapping, Blogs, Videos, Flickr etc. are being incorporated into classroom teaching and learning. These digital devices and tools are allowing students to develop higher order thinking skills, collaborate with not only their peers but with the wider community, research and use information that would not be available without such technologies, and connect with real world, authentic and meaningful tasks.

Although such technologies can be seen as imperative to students learning in the 21st century there are some barriers and limitations to E-Learning in the primary school classroom. Teacher’s knowledge and ability to use some digital technologies are limited therefore they do not feel confident in incorporating such technologies into learning. This is leading to students missing out on the opportunity to engage in some rich learning tasks. Other limitations are the time and resources available are limited. Such limitations affect such learning being implemented as there is insufficient time for learning to be scaffolded enough for students to make learning gains and with limited digital resources available in many classrooms such learning cannot be implemented. A futher limitation for E-Learning in the Primary School Classroom is the level of the digital device. Some digital tool and technologies are either too low or at a too high level for different age groups and therefore cannot be implemented into classroom practice effectively.

Whilst there are some limitations to E Learning in the Primary Classroom there are many more opportunities. Such opportunities are students being engaged in learning experiences that would not be possible without the use of such digital tools and devices. With E-Learning environments students are able to connect with people outside the classroom. Online collaborative technologies such as wiki's and blogs allow students to communicate with their peers and outside community. These ICT's being used are making new learning possible through allowing students to discover and access information in ways that are only possible with these technologies and communicate and share such learning in creative learning environments. E Learning is allowing a change from transmission of knowledge to collaborative generation of information. Kruse (2004), states “the vast movement towards e-learning is clearly motivated by the many benefits it offers”.

It is clearly evident that through the implementation and incorporation for digital tools, technologies and devices through an E-Learning classroom environment student’s are given opportunities to make many valuable learning gains and such a learning environment supports the 21st century learner’s lifelong learning. Thus the following synopsis will give you an overview of my learning journey through a range of educationally sound digital technologies. This synopsis aims to give you an insight into four digital tools that I believe to be imperative to the primary classroom as they allow students to access and gain information, collaborate and share information, and to transform information to develop deeper understandings. I also believe these technologies when implemented into the classroom effectively provide opportunity for students to develop higher order thinking and deep learning as they collaborate with their peers and the community to solve problems and access information for a variety of purposes and tasks. All learning tools provide students with the opportunity to engage in authentic, real life and problem based tasks.

The first digital tool I would like to discuss is Microsoft Power Point. This digital tool is used to present information to an audience for a particular purpose. The Learning Manager and Student can use this tool to present their work in a still or interactive presentation format. The presentation can be created to engage and involve the audience with certain interactive features incorporated in Microsoft Power Point. This tool is able to be used by any age and level learners making it a useful and easy to use digital technology for classroom practice.

There are numerous ways in which Power Point can be incorporated into the classroom to enhance students learning. As cited in my blog, through using such a digital learning tool in different ways in the classroom learners would be able to engage in deep learning supporting higher order thinking (The State of Queensland, 2004). Implementing and using such a digital learning tool as a form of assessment would engage students in deep learning and understanding of a particular topic as well as allow them to develop higher order thinking skills. How you could use such a tool in the classroom would be to have students create an interactive powerpoint for their peers on a particular topic (example animals or climate change). Students would submit this PowerPoint to be marked for assessment purposes showing their level of knowledge on a learnt topic as well as their ICT skills and processes they have obtained. This would engage students in the task creating an authentic and meaningful assessment task.

If this tool was used in such a way in the classroom time would need to be taken for effective scaffolding to ensure learning gains were achieved. The Learning Manager would need to provide students with sufficient time to complete the tasks. Using a framework such as the Big 6 would support such learning with an interactive Power Point. It is here where students would engage in a learning experience where information search skills are used with effective technology tools. Students learning would need to be scaffolded in a systematic process to find, use, apply and evaluate information for a specific task. Students will be given opportunity to identify information needed, use information seeking strategies, locate and access sources as well as use, synthesis and evaluate information (Eisenburg and Berkowitz, 2001).

In taking time to scaffold and incorporate such learning experiences in the classroom would allow students to engage in a rich tasks where deep learning would occur. This learning would assist students to obtain the skills and processes that would enhance their lifelong learning.

The second digital tool I would like to present is Google Earth. Google Earth is a fantastic digital tool that allows students to access information about their world. Google earth can be used as a research or creative tool with endless possibilities for use in the classroom learning environment.

Google Earth allows for students to engage in learning experiences where they can discover things that would not be possible without such a fantastic digital learning tool. It allows the outside world to be brought right into the classroom learning environment. When used in the right ways this learning tool has the opportunity to enhance the learning of any age and level learner. There are some examples of what Google Earth can be used for on my blog.

Through using and implementing such a tool into classroom learning students are engaged in authentic, real world and problem based learning in which they can collaborate not only with their peers but the outside community.

This digital tool links with E Learning Frameworks such as productive pedagogies higher order thinking, connectedness, and knowledge integration (State of Queensland, 2004). The engagement theory also supports learning with such an effective digital tool where students engage in collaborative learning tasks that involve real world and authentic contexts and meaning (Keirsley & Schneiderman, 1998). Students would be given opportunity to relate, create and donate their learning using google earth.

The third digital tool is wiki’s. A wiki is an online database where people can view, add and edit information or data as they like. It is a collaborative internet tool that allows for easy and organised communication.

Through the use and implementation of wikis in classroom learning the learning manager is allowing students the opportunity for collaboration with their peers. Social learning is able to be established as well as allowing students to engage in rich tasks where they can complete projects in groups to deepen their understanding as well as learn from their peers. Through the implementation of wikis into the classroom the learning manager is encouraging participation, collaboration and interaction in the classroom. This aligns with the productive pedagogies (State of Queensland, 2004). Through the use of wikis in the classroom the educator is catering for different learning styles. The use of a wiki allows for those quieter students who may not feel confident to express or share their opinions or information, a space to put forward ideas and their own learning in a different way.

In my blog I have provided some classroom examples of uses of wiki’s. The learning that occurs through the use of such classroom learning experiences with wiki’s is supported by the Engagement Theory where there is an emphasis on collaboration among peers as well as a focus on experimental and self directed learning. Keirsley and Schneiderman (1998) support such learning where they state that “students are intrinsically motivated to learn due to the meaningful nature of the learning environment”

The last tool I would like to discuss is Movie Maker. Movie Maker is an easy to use digital video program in which you can create video’s using still and moving images and audio. My blog shows a YouTube clip of Movie Maker and its uses in the classroom.

This digital tool has many benefits for classroom learning as it is a simple and easy to use programme that keeps the focus on learning the content not on the tool itself. It allows students to be able to express their knowledge in a subject area in an engaging way. This digital tool can be used by all age learners as well as by the teacher for presentation purposes.

The implementation of this tool links with the engagement theory where students work in groups to solve a problem and create a video with the solution. There would be decision making, problem solving, reasoning and evaluation taking place in this learning experience creating a digitally rich and deep learning environment.

You should now have a sound knowledge of the importance of using digital learning tools to support, enhance and transform students learning. The above tools that have been discussed are essential to the 21st century classroom and should be incorporated into classroom learning where possible.

Thankyou for reading my blog.

References

Eisenberg, M. & Berkowitz, B. (2001). The Big 6. Retrieved 13, August, 2010 from; http://www.big6.com/

Garrison, R & Anderson, T (2003). E Learning in the 21st Century: A framework for research and practice. Routledgefalmer: London.

Kearsley, G. and Shneiderman, B. (1998). Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 27, 2010, from; http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Marzano, R. & Pickering, D. (1997). Dimensions of Learning: Teacher’s Manual. Colorado, McREL

State of Queensland (Department of Education), (2004). Productive Pedagogies: Classroom Reflection Manual. Retrieved from http://education.qld.gov.au/public_media/reports curriculum-framework/productive-pedagogies.

My communication

Youtube - Justine

Digital Video - Justine

Power Point - Leah

Weebly Website - Conversation

Wiki - Conversation

Google Earth

Google Earth is a FANTASTIC resource for classroom learning. There are endless possibilities for rich learning using GoogleEarth. It can be used as a research or creation tool. Google Earth allows for students to engage in learning experiences where they can discover things that would not be possible without such a fantastic digital learning tool. It allows the outside world to be brought right into the classroom learning environment. When used in the right ways this learning tool has the opportunity to enhance the learning of any age and level learner.

"Google Earth can help you bring a world of information ALIVE for your students"

GoogleEarth.com

There are teacher uses and student uses for Google Earth. Some interesting uses I have researched are

• Using the tool to explore the animal kingdom and endangered species using the national geographic layer and other content.
• Allowing students to investigate their local area in ways that could not be done without the program
• Study their environment (climate change and the effects of global warming)
• Track natural disasters such as earthquakes
• Teachers can use it to set the scene for learning experiences
• Involve students in proactive engagement in a wider range of google outreach projects
• Adapt learning experiences to the real world

Such learning experiences using Google Earth can be established in all of the KLA's.

Through using and implementing such a tool into classroom learning students are engaged in authentic, real world and problem based learning in which they can collaborate not only with their peers but the outside community.

This digital tool links with E Learning Frameworks such as productive pedagogies such as higher order thinking, connectedness, and knowledge integration. The engagement theory also supports learning with such an effective digital tool where students engage in collaborative learning tasks that involve real world and authentic contexts and meaning. Students would be given opportunity to relate, create and donate their learning using google earth.  

Youtube

Youtube is a free to use website where you can view and download videos/clips for different purposes.
In relation to the teaching environment I find that youtube can be an effective digital tool for the teacher to use for specific teaching purposes, though there are some downfalls with using this digital tool in the classroom environment.

Benefits of Yotube:

• Engage learners 
• Use to hook students into a learning expererience or topic
• Use to teach a content on a particular topic
• Students can upload their own videos for sharing

Challenges of Youtube:

• Not suitable to allow students to search for video clips as their is alot of inappropriate content on the website
• Alot of junk so can be time consuming to find what is needed

To overcome such challenges their is a website called teachertube with educationally sound video clips that can be used for teaching purposes. Here a link to a video clip that could be used to introduce students into a learning experience about the environment.

http://www.teachertube.com/members/viewVideo.php?video_id=164987&title=Environment&vpkey=

Students could view this clip at the beginning of the learning experience to be hooked into a topic. From then the teacher will scaffold learning experiences around this video clip where students reflect on what they saw and the ideas that the video possessed. 

Movie Maker

Movie maker is an easy to use video programme in which you can create videos using still images and audio.

This digital tool has many benefits for classroom learning as it is a simple and easy to use programme that keeps the focus on learning the content not on the tool itself. It allows students to be able to express their knowledge in a subject area in an engaging way. This digital tool can be used by all age learners as well as by the teacher for presentation purposes.

Through the use of such an effective digital tool in the classroom learning environment students learning is enriched. Students are able to create and present information on a particular topic in many different ways. They are then able to communicate the information with their peers and school community through sharing and presenting their video.
I would use this digital tool in my own classroom due to its effectiveness on students learning. The tool engages students in the learning where students may not be engaged if it is not used. There are also so many different ideas for the use of such a tool in the classroom .Students could use it to solve maths problems and present these to their peers with the video, as well as for writing tasks where students create digital stories. The possibilities with movie maker in the classroom are endless.

Links can be made here with different E Learning frameworks such as productive pedagogies and blooms taxonomy. The implementation of this tool also fits with the engagement theory where students work in groups to solve a problem and create a video with the solution. There would be decision making, problem solving, reasoning and evaluation taking place in this learning experience creating a digitally rich and deep learning environment.

Here I have added a youtube clip about movie maker in the classroom. It gives examples of great ways to use such a digital tool in the classroom as well as states the benefits for students learning.

Flickr

Flickr is an image and video hosting website. It allows people to upload their own images onto a web database for others to view an download. Peoples personal photographs are able to be shared and viewed by the public eye.

Images can be used for many purposes in the classroom context where students can be presented with images for different purposes.

Learning Managers can use images to evoke feelings from students to then influence their writing or other work. These pictures can be used as hook to engage students in a learning experience or a stimulus for learning.

Through the use of such still images there are many possibilities for rich learning, where students can create imaginative and creative work that would not be achieved without such digital tools.


Image courtesy of Phillip Klinger at http://www.flickr.com/search/?s=int&w=all&q=water&m=text

Power Point

After completing this tutorial for powerpoint I discovered some very interesting uses for powerpoint in the classroom that I did not know about. Before taking on this tutorial I thought the use of powerpoint was for presentation purposes only where still images were put onto a presentation with text to inform an audience and where mainly used as a teacher tool rather than student. Although this seemed to me to be a simple and easy way to present information I found it to be overused and for myself, boring.

After learning about interactive powerpoints and completing the tutorials I have come to realise the powerfulness of powerpoint as a learning tool. Through using such a digital learning tool in different ways in the classroom learners would be able to engage in deep learning supporting higher order thinking.

I believe that using such a digital learning tool as a form of assessment would engage students in deep learning and understanding of a particular topic as well as allow them to develop higher order thinking skills. How I would use such a tool in my own classroom would be to have students create an interactive powerpoint for their peers on a particular topic (example animals or climate change). They would submit this powerpoint to be marked for assessment purposes showing their level of knowledge on a learnt topic as well as their ICT skills and processes they have obtained. This would engage students in the task creating an authentic and meaningful assessment task.

If this tool was used in such a way in the classroom time would need to be taken for effective scaffolding to ensure learning gains were achieved. The Learning Manager would need to provide students with sufficient time to complete the tasks. Using a framework such as the Big 6 would support such learning with an interactive powerpoint. It is here where students would engage in a learning experience where information search and use skills with effective technology tools. Students learning would be scaffolded in a systematic process to find, use, apply and evaluate information for a specific task. Students will be given opportunity to identify information needed, use information seeking strategies, locate and access sources as well as use, synthesis and evaluate information.

I believe in taking time to scaffold and incorporate such learning experiences in the classroom would allow students to engage in a rich task where deep learning would occur. This learning would assist students to obtain the skills and processes that would enhance their life long learning.

Learning Design Frameworks

There are a number of learning design frameworks that Learning Managers are using to support students engagement and learning in many different contexts. Such frameworks are employed to support and develop students learning. These frameworks give the Learning Manager skills and processes for different learning contexts.

The E-Learning design theories and frameworks are used in the same way as other learning frameworks to support an engage students whilst learning. Through the incorporation of ICT's into the learning context students are able to engage in real life, authentic and meaningful tasks where they can acquire skills and processes that will enhance life long learning.

One of the E Learning Design Frameworks that I found interesting was the Learning Engagement Theory which was established by Kiersley and Schneiderman (1998). This Learning Design Framework supports students interacting with others on worthwhile tasks. It puts a large emphasis on collaboration with peers and supporting a community of learners. Whilst students engage in such collaborative learning there is a focus on experimental and self directed learners. This framework was created based on the idea of creating successful collaborative teams that work on ambitious projects that are meaningful to someone outside the classroom. The framework employs three principles Relate, Create and Donate.

Learning activities that would be apart of the engagement theory framework would

• occur in a group context
• be project based
• have an authentic focus

Students activities would involve active cognitive processes such as creating, problem solving, reasoning, decision making and evaluating. This framework supports students engaging in higher order thinking processes as well as deep rich learning.

Kiersley & Schneiderman (1998) state that "Students are intrinsically motivated to learn due to the meaningful nature of the learning environment and activities".

Weebly Website

Weebly is an easy to use free website creator in which you can drag and drop different elements onto a page and add content to suit your website needs. You can easily add text, pictures, links, contact forms, Flickr galleries, files, Google maps, feed readers, YouTube videos, and Google videos.

The weebly website creator allows for easy creating and editing of your own personal web page making the tool user friendly for first time website creators and school age students.

The difference between the Wiki and the Weebly is that the weebly is only able to be edited by the creator where as the wiki allows for students to collaborate through anyone being able to edit and add to the pages. Websites are more informative where as wiki's are more collaborative.

Although the website is not as collaborative as the wiki there are many ways the website can still be used for collaborative and social purposes.

A classroom website is one way the weebly can be used in the classroom context. Pages that could be incorporated into the website could be:

• Announcements
• Class calender
• Homework Assignments
• Supply lists
• Pictures
• Post students work
• Parent involvement/volunteer opportunities
• Classroom rules and practices
• Links

Students learning would be supported through such a website where they can view their online tasks/assignments as well as information is collaborated through to teachers, parents and students. Students would also be able to have their work uploaded to the website where it can be showcased to parents and peers. Weebly also allows for the creation of Blogs onto the website. This could be used as a form of collaboration where students can self assess and peer assess each others work.

Some examples of Weebly's being used in the classroom context are linked below.

1. Mrs Shields - 3rd Grade
2.  Mrs Boggess - Kindergarten 
3. Mrs Mittons - 5th Grade 
4. Whitgreave Primary School’s site, with a different page for each class 

 Please click on the image to view my website created on Weebly. 

Wikispaces

A wiki is an online database where people can view, add and edit information or data as they like.

It is a collaborative internet tool that allows for easy and organised communication.

A wiki provides a space for people to collaborate with others and share, organise and edit information for particular purposes.

A wiki space makes it easy to swap ideas and information.

"Wikis literally get everyone on the same page" (Wiki.com).

Classroom context 

Wikispaces are a very effective tool to use in the classroom. Through the use and implementation of wikis in classroom learning the learning manager is allowing students the opportunity for collaboration with their peers. Social learning is able to be established as well as allowing students to engage in rich tasks where they can complete projects in groups to deepen their understanding as well as learn from their peers. Wikis are appealing and fun for students to use. They encourage participation, collaboration and interaction in the classroom. This aligns with the productive pedagogy's (QSA, 2008). Through the use of wikis in the classroom the educator is catering for different learning styles. The use of a wiki allows for those quieter students who may not feel confident to express or share their opinions or information, a space to put forward ideas and their own learning in a different way.

There are numerous ways to utilise wiki spaces in classroom learning. Some ways in which I have researched and would use in my own classroom learning environments are:

• 
  
  To create presentations (instead of PowerPoint and other typical forms of presentation tools).
• 
  
  To share and collect information for particular purposes
• 
  
  Peer review
• 
  
  Students portfolios
• 
  
  Peer editing
• 
  
  Group Projects
• 
  
  To create special places for the class (expectations and rules, must read books, resource areas)
• 
  
  Reach out to the community with resources everyone can appreciate (menus, recipes, book lists etc.

Please click on the link to take a look at my own wiki: http://torisutherland.wikispaces.com/

Mind Mapping

This is mind map created on Bubbl.us. The mind map gives a simple overview of the topics covered in the first week of this course managing e-learning. I found this tool easy to use and very useful. I feel confident in using this tool both in and outside the classroom. For me this tool is very beneficial to my learning as I am a visual spacial learner so using something like a concept/mind map I am able to visually see my current learning and understanding.

Concept maps are an effective tool in which students can use to store and organise information in useful ways. Marzano et, al. (2006) supports the use of using concept maps to help students not only construct meaning but also helps them to store, or remember, the information they are learning. Students can use this program in many ways in classroom learning. Students may create a concept map in pairs about what they learnt in a lesson or can create a concept map to show what they already know about a topic. This program can also be used in whole class learning where the class can create a concept map using a smart board about a topic. The learning manager can also use these mind maps as a way to assess students learning.

By using a program like bubbl.us students and teachers are able to easily create a mind map for any given purpose and save and retrieve that map for later use. Students are also able to view other students and feedback and discussion is able to be given or generated around the mind map.

I believe this program to be extremely valuable to all students learning and through using such a tool in the classroom students are able to effectively store knowledge from their short to long term memory.

All about Blogging

What is a Blog?

Blogs are simple web pages, made up of short, informal and frequent web posts. The web page and posts are maintained by an individual who frequently posts commentary, descriptions or other materials such as pictures or videos.

Blogs can function similar to a journal or diary or can be used to provide information on a particular topic or subject. All reader can leave comments and feedback on individual blogs.

Blogs are an online form of communication for people to share their thoughts, feelings or knowledge to others.

What are the implications of blogging in the classroom context?

Before engaging in this course content I had very limited knowledge as to the benefits of using a blog in the classroom context. My thoughts on blogging were negative as I was being closed minded to the technology available to learners and learning environments. I guess I could also say I was a bit scared to engage with such technologies and learning as I was unfamiliar with how to use them myself let alone teach them to my students. This perspective has now changed since learning to create my own blog. My eyes have been opened up to the creativity and enriched learning that can come from such tools as blogs.

I have learnt that blogging can be used to engage students in research, exploration and discussion. That they encourage collaboration and peer interaction. Blogs enable students to take ownership of their learning. Students social learning is supported through blogging through peer interaction of discussions and reflections on individual blogs. Such social learning is supported by Vyotsky (1978) "social learning".

Although blogs can enrich the learning of each and every student and can also support the different learning styles that make up a classroom there can be some negatives. One major negative is that blogging can be seen as time consuming.

In my own classroom I would support the use of blogs and would definitely implement them into my students learning. Some ideas for learning would be using blogs for students daily writing activities where they can add each day posts to their blog instead of using pen and paper. Blogs could also be used as a individual learning journey or diary where students can log their learning on a particular subject or topic over a period of time. This blog can then be used as a form of assessment to show students learning.

There are many more ideas and implications for using blogs in the classroom and as I continue on my own learning journey I will hopefully learn and become more confident with the uses of blogs.

Image courtesy of Google.com (www.sarahintampa.com/.../2008/09/blogging.jpg)

My first blog entry

This is my very first blog and to be honest this subject seems a little daunting although I am also excited to learn how to use the online tools and become familiar with their uses in the classroom context. I believe such tools are essential to all children's learning in the classroom and through me learning how to implement such tools will enrich my students learning.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Tori

Image courtesy of ImageBase.com (http://imagebase.davidniblack.com/main.php?g2_itemId=81)