Module 3 Using technology in teaching Part I

Module 3 Using technology in teaching. Part I: Tools for Teaching TED 367 Methods in Sec. Ed.

Module 3 Explain and demonstrate how teachers can use various technologies to present instruction in secondary education.

Reading • Read the following in the Duplass textbook: – Topic 36: “Media- and Computer-based Resources”

Contents Introduction to Sympodium Open Source/Cloud Computing Virtual Online Tools Virtual Learning Environments Wiki Blogs

Introduction to Sympodium and Smart Tools

Introduction to Sympodium • Orientation to the Sympodium. • Using multiple monitors. • Synchron. Eyes: Monitoring and controlling student computers. • Using Smart. Board tools.

Wiki Web 2. 0 Technology

What Is Wiki? • Wiki – Comes from the Hawaiian term, wiki (meaning "quick").

What Is Wiki? • Wiki is a “quick” Web page that readers of the Web page can edit (make permanent changes to). • Press the edit button to make changes to the Web page for everyone to see.

Wiki Examples Wikipedia Using Wiki in Education (Online Book) Wikiversity

Changes in Communication and News • How many people don’t trust Wikipedia as a primary news/info. source? Wikipedia (and the Web) is becoming the sum of all human knowledge and experience.

Reasons for Validity of Wikipedia • • Everyone uses it. Many editors. Becoming a trusted source Easy to track the editors and remove vandalism. APA (version 6) recognizes the following sources: Newsgroup, online forum comment, electronic mailing list message, web log post, video file.

Using Wiki in the Classroom • Democratic process of knowledge construction. • Students negotiate: – Meaning, relevance, wording, accuracy. • Students learn to respect: – Intellectual property. – Work and ideas of others.

Using Wiki in the Classroom • Facilitates collaboration. – Teachers: compile and share best practices. • Allows students to learn from the work of other students (along with edits by the teacher). • Enhances student motivation. – Work can be made “public” (class, school, or everyone). • Can provide more student control and independence in learning activity.

Using Wiki in the Classroom • Can invite contributors/editors from outside of the class. • Allows student to demonstrate work over time (deter online plagiarism). • Allows students to participate in a meaningful, real-life project. • Facilitates construction of knowledge.

Student Wiki Use: Dr. Steve’s Personal Research • Students are: – Excited to try the new technology. – Excited about producing a meaningful, usable product (being producers of information). – Appreciate a break from traditional assignment formats.

When/Why Would Teachers Use Wiki? • Facilitates collaboration. • Allows students to learn from the work of other students (along with edits by the teacher). • Enhances student motivation. – Work can be made public (class, school, or everyone). • Can provide more student control and independence in learning activity.

When/Why Would Teachers Use Wiki? • Can invite contributors/editors from outside of the class. • Allows student to demonstrate work over time (deter online plagiarism). • Allows students to participate in a meaningful, real-life project. • Facilitates construction of knowledge.

How Can Teachers Use Wiki? • • Set up a knowledge base (class or school). Essay writing. Collaborative writing of a play/story. Develop classroom rules or constitution.

Student Wiki Use: Dr. Steve’s Personal Research • Students are: – Excited to try the new technology. – Excited about producing a meaningful, usable product (being producers of information). – Appreciate a break from traditional assignment formats.

Tracking Student Work • Methods of tracking student work: 1) View history. 2) RSS feed in my browser: • For edits. • For discussion.

1. Select a feed to follow. 2. Then choose a feed to view from your favorites.

Examine • Examine the following items online: – History of edits. – RSS feed. – Communication: • E-mail. • Discussion. Music Methods Wiki

Mod 4 Wiki Assignment • In Mod 4, we will engage in creating a collaborative Wiki regarding methods of teaching. • The premise is that if you can teach it, you will learn/understand it better. • You will be asked to complete an online survey form and participate in ongoing research on using new technologies in teaching.

Blogs Web 2. 0 Technology

Blogs • blog: Shortened form of the word weblog. Blogs are Web-based journal pages which are added one at a time, with the most recent on top. • Blog posts normally allow readers (many times members) to comment on each post, opening the possibility for dialogue.

How Are Blogs Being Used? • Provide content/news/information. • Update information on software/hardware products. • Allow people to interact with the news. Citizens Voice Times Leader

Ways to Use Blogs • Students can: – Post material to show/document their progress on a project. – Post material that they learn as they research a topic. – Make comments about each other’s writing/work (peer reviews). Promotes critical, analytical, and reflective thinking.

Ways to Use Blogs • Teachers can: – Create a online book discussion. – Have students reflect on progress of a projectbased learning activity. – Post examples of student work for parents. – Build a class newsletter. – Have students comment on news items or issues. (Richardson, 2009)

Teachers and Blogs Writing • Assignment ends. • Monologue. • Thesis. • Written for teacher. Blogs • Blog continues. • Conversation. • Synthesis. • Written for world. Blogs allow a teacher to teach new writing skills, support Constructivist learning, support reflection, and support social interaction.

Educational Uses of Blogs • Students can post material to show/document their progress on a project. • Students can post material that they learn as they research a topic. • Students can make comments about each other’s writing/work (peer reviews).

Educational Uses of Blogs • Engages students in conversation about learning. • Allows students to become information providers online. • Allows students to build skills to communicate more effectively.

n io s s u Disc Use of Blogs for Your Course 1. How might you utilize blogs in the blended course you are proposing? 2. What type of information could you blog about (for you to be an information provider on the Web)? Blogger. com

Open Source Programs and Cloud Computing

Open Source Programs • Open source refers to programs that: – Are freely distributed. – Provide access to the source code for modification. – Can serve as a replacement for expensive software. opensource. org

Open Source Programs • Get a list of open source programs at the following URL: opensourcewindows. org

Open Office • Open Office is a product very similar to Microsoft Office. And best of all, it’s for free! Open. Office. org

Cloud Computing • Cloud computing refers to a new way of how to work with PC applications. • Instead of a user purchasing an application and storing it on a PC, the application resides on a company’s server and users log in to use the application.

Cloud Computing • Benefits: – Don’t have to purchase software. May just purchase a subscription to use (unless it is offered for free). – Don’t have to maintain software. – Don’t have to upgrade software: constant incremental upgrades. Google Docs

Virtual Learning Environments (Course Management Systems)

Virtual Learning Environments • Virtual learning environment (VLE) (also known as a course management system) is a software system designed to support teaching and learning in an educational setting. • While originally created for distance education, VLEs are now most often used to supplement face-to-face classroom, commonly known as Blended Learning.

Blended Learning • Blended Learning is the combination of multiple approaches to learning. In the strictest sense, blended learning is when an instructor combines two methods of delivery of instruction. • Most commonly refers to a combination of technology-based materials and face-toface sessions used together to deliver instruction.

Blended Learning • Example: Give an introductory lesson in the classroom, and then provide follow-up materials, communication, and activities online.

Virtual Learning Environments • Tools provided: – – – – – Assessment. Communication. Uploading of content. Return of student work. Peer assessment. Administration of student groups. Collecting and organizing student grades. Questionnaires. Tracking tools. Blogs and RSS.

Virtual Learning Environments • Used presently at MU: – Blackboard – “My Courses” in e. MU – Wimba: New at MU. • Moodle: Open source tool for free. • Elluminate: Used in many online schools.

Using Virtual Tools in the Classroom

Virtual Tools • Virtual tools provide: – An opportunity for students to more concretely experience material. – A way to bring the material to life (make it understandable and relevant) for students. – A way to motivate and gain attention of learners. – Hands-on experience.

Virtual Online Tools Virtual Chemistry Lab Virtual Chemistry Experiments Virtual Frog Dissection Virtual Frog Builder Virtual Math Manipulatives Virtual Math Museum

Virtual Online Tools Virtual History at Discovery. com Knowledge Matters Ancient Egypt Virtual Globe Theater Virtual Poetry Reading What other virtual tools can you locate online?