AnyMeeting

Distance learning has become very popular and a valuable tool. An online software which allows this is Any Meeting.

 

This software allows teachers / lecturers to create online classrooms or meeting where students can interact via webcams and microphones. The PGCE group tested this but due to work commitments I was unable to join, I have used similar software while in university.

 

Its to my understanding after speaking to my peers that this test did not work and there where some issues with this. Throughout my time in UWIC  every time I used such software it was successful and it allowed us conduct lectures and lessons from our own homes. I believe such software is beneficial to lecturers or teachers as it allows groups of learners to come together without physically being in one location.

TedTalk

How Augmented Reality will change sport.

Chris Kluwe a former NFL player, looks into the future of sport and how technology can help the players, coaches and especially the fans. The TedTalk shows how augmented reality can allow the fans to experience the sport as if they are directly on the field. The application tested was Google Glass and this was piloted underneath a NFL Helmet. The pilot showed a NFL Player running and tackling another individual. With this developing in sport, it could change the view for many fans, but also give them a real feeling that they are a part of the team.

From an educational point of view, such technology could be used to show learners correct movements or techniques performed by elite athletes, which will allow them to learn from and use themselves.

Barriers to the use of ICT for teachers

The term barriers in ICT is defined as any factors that effect the teachers use of ICT within the classroom. The use of ICT in the classroom is very important for providing different opportunities for students to learn (Bingimlas, 2009).

 

Research shows barriers to the use of ICT for teachers is categorised into teacher level barriers and school level barriers (Becta, 2003).

 

Teacher level barriers

• lack of time
• lack of confidence
• resistance to change

School level barriers

• lack of effective training
• technical problems
• lack of access to resources

In order to overcome these barriers its vital for schools to provide relevant training for teachers and ensure this training is kept up to date. It is also vital that teachers are willing to change their ways and experience with different types of ICT in order to enhance learners experience.

 

I am both confident and competent in the use if ICT within the classroom, from the completion of this module I will learn about different applications that are available for me to use with learners and will look to incorporate these in future lessons.

 

References

Bingimlas, K. (2009). Barriers to the successful Integration of ICT in teaching and Learning Enviroments: As a review of the literature. Eurasia of Journal of Mathematics, Science & Technology Education. 5 (3), p235-236.

 

British Educational Communications. (2003). What the research says about the barriers to the use of ICT in teaching. Available: http://www.mmiweb.org.uk/publications/ict/Research_Barriers_TandL.pdf. Last accessed 16/12/2014.

Personal experience using Microsoft PowerPoint

The use of Microsoft PowerPoint in the classroom

Microsoft PowerPoint is a fantastic teaching and learning tool for both student and teacher. 

According to Finkelstein & Samsonov  (2008) PowerPoint is one of the most user-friendly programmes available, and can become not only a teaching tool but yet a tool to aid learning.

Howells (2007) suggests that PowerPoint can assist greatly in the organising of ideas and provides the visual aid to show significant points and data. This is why I believe that PowerPoint can help teachers as it allows them to create a structured lesson, providing the relevant information in a simple form.  

From my own teaching experiences, PowerPoint is the simplest and most beneficial tool for teaching Sports modules. With many sports modules looking at different sporting activities or movements, the ability to embed a video clip into the PowerPoint allows the option to ask the learners to complete different activities, such as analysing a performance and to gain understanding of different fitness tests.

References

Finkelstein, E & Samsonov , P. (2008). Teaching Powerpoint in Elementary School. In: Wiley, J PowerPoint for Teachers: Dynamic Presentations and Interactive Classroom Projects (Grades K-12). USA: Jossey-Bass. p279-280.

Howells. K. (2007). Powerpoint: Friend or Foe?. In: Sigafoos, J & Green, V Technology and Teaching. New York: Nova Science Publisher. p138-140

What is a Mind Map?

Budd (2003) suggests that mind mapping is based on organising information via hierarchies and categories .  Categories which are associated with the main central idea are linked with branches outwards from the centre. Lesser categories are linked to the relevant branches (Budd, 2003).  This includes words, phrases or pictures.

The online mind mapping application I have found the most effective is www.popplet.com. 

Popplet is user friendly. It allows you to draw outwards and around your centre concept. This includes pictures, your own drawings, changing colour, re-sizing the text boxes and is easy to draw lines between different ideas.

 

 

 

Benefits of Mind Maps

• Mind Maps are adaptable. They can be used for note making, essay planning, lectures, exam revision.
• Students can add ideas at any time.
• Very useful tool for condensing a large amount of information.
• Helps focus on the links and relationships between different ideas.
• Able to add pictures, symbols and colour to personalise, which makes things memorable. 

I believe that mind mapping is one of the most effective way to help students to note make, revise and plan and I will be using this as a task for students while I plan future lessons. 

References

Budd, J. (2004). Mind Maps As Classroom Exercises. The Journal of Economic Education. 35 (1), p2.

Socrative Review

Socrative is an online application which allows teachers to set up quizzes and questionnaires for students to answer in order to test subject knowledge. Students are given details to log in, where there are questions or quizzes. The students log their answers and this is  immediately shown on the teacher's computer device. Teachers can display the answers to multiple-choice, true/false or short answer questions. Also, the teacher is able to choose whether the student can see if the answer was correct, or provide an explanation to any wrong answers. 

I feel this application is not beneficial as a teaching tool. Firstly, in order for this to work, every student needs to either have a laptop, tablet or a mobile phone. With a big student group this could be time consuming setting the process up for the teacher and also the student. Therefore, in my opinion the more traditional way of using paper copies of quizzes, or asking direct questions to the students is a more effective way of testing subject knowledge.

(www.socrative.com) 

The start of something new

Welcome to my blog. . This is a brief introduction of the content of the blog over the next few months!

I'm new to all of this and have never thought about blogging until it was one of my assignments on the PGCE course where I study at Pembrokeshire College. The main aim of the blog is to look the different ways ICT can be incorporated into the classroom. I will be sharing my own experiences and opinions.