Learning Tech

Technology

2008-09-18T19:45:00.004-07:00

Oh boy....where to start?! There are some terrific tools and gadgets out there. So how about I chat about a gadget or two I have been exploring of late...

Everyone these days is talking about Interactive Whiteboards, and why not, they can bring new interactivity to the classroom. But why limit interactive presentations to a classroom? By arming a teacher with a Tablet PC and a portable wireless data projector the Interactive Whiteboard travels with you, anywhere anytime. How cool!

A Tablet PC is simply a fully functional laptop that allows you to spin the screen around and write on it! Imagine that, you can type as per usual or you can spin the screen and touch the screen or draw. You can simply natively interact with the device. So for those of us who often think better when we are scrawling on paper, the Tablet PC allows you to scrawl away but with the added benefit of digitising your scrawl so you can instantly transform it into ordinary text or a diagram.

But wait there's more!!...now partner it with a portable wireless enabled data projector and you can interact with the presentation like you would with a fixed Interactive Whiteboard. What you do on the Tablet can be seen by the audience and once again you can directly write or draw on it.

Now you can combine the way you use a laptop with the way you use a paper based notebook with a projection screen. A great way to capitalise on your scrawling and notetaking. I can't wait to see how teaching teams use these devices. I love using one and am eager to push the boundaries. Heck I struggled to get it back from the last 17 year old I handed it to!!! Oh, oh.

You don't have to know everything or be good at everything....you just have to be willing to play...learners will love you for that.

Web 2.0 Award Winners

2008-09-18T19:45:00.003-07:00

Wow, more cool things to explore. Okay, I chose StumbleUpon and installed the toolbar. Very easy set up and to use. I like the fact they have an intro video explaining it.

I have used it briefly and it returned some websites I never would have found otherwise. Some sites were very interesting, others bizarre. Literally a great way to ...stumble upon... websites and information.

Some may have privacy concerns about it, but overall I think it merits exploration. I think tools that help users effectively explore and access the overwhelming amount of information on the Insternet are necessary and worthwhile.

Web 2.0

2008-09-18T19:45:00.002-07:00

Finally the evolution of the Web we needed. The possibilities are infinite. I just love the instant access, communication, collaboration and the mere fact there is always something new....something to explore...something changes...

I can't wait to see how we can use Web 2.0 in our organisation. It is such an exciting time. Web 2.0 allows us to capitalise on the fact learning takes place everywhere all the time. The classroom should not be the focus of learning, it is just one of the tools available.

Flexibility, creativity, imagination and responsiveness are paramount. It is our responsibility to be not only abreast of Web developments but actively participating and contributing to them. Be what we ask of our learners...

Twitter

2008-09-18T19:45:00.001-07:00

Well I am now on Twitter and it will be interesting to see how it compares to FaceBook. It is good that you can be public or private:)

The limit on characters is a good idea and the fact you can link it to IM and SMS is cool. Could be a good way to get learners to engage online in a less threatening fashion as there is no expectation to write volumes.

Image Generators

2008-09-18T19:45:00.000-07:00

Have to admit, these tools didn't blow my hair back like some of the others, but then I'm not renowned for creative inclinations. Some of the tools could have application within teaching and learning, particularly among the more creative bodies out there.

Just have to watch out for some image tools as they often are associated with some more 'interesting' aspects of the Internet.

I do like the way tools allow easy manipulation and have templates for the less creative of us ...

iGoogle

2008-09-10T02:30:00.000-07:00

I have used iGoogle on and off over the last couple of years. Absolutely loved it at first, but then it gets a bit old. Can be really useful to centralise interests and resources. I think I need to explore it again to see just how much value it can provide. It is probably better now that it has more Google products to link into.

It is great that you can customise and contextualise. Could be a good home page or launching pad.

Google Docs

2008-09-10T02:23:00.000-07:00

Just terrific for collaboration and for people who don't have Office on their computer or who travel from computer to computer a great deal. Also provides the benefit of safeguarding against data loss.

On the downside it requires a good Internet connection and doesn't have as many features or the speed of Office installed on a PC.

But hey, this world is not about one solution to fit all....one suits one person best doesn't necessarily bring a smile to another. I love it's potential and intend to promote it as a collaboration tool.

Google Maps

2008-09-10T00:15:00.000-07:00

I love the way you can drag the images and simply double click....who needs arrows and traditional navigation?!

I remember when Google Earth first came out, it has drastically improved since even then. I look forward to the images being even more recent.

Very cool.

Podcasts & Vodcasts

2008-09-07T20:08:00.000-07:00

I love the concept of being able to listen and watch resources rather than always having to read about it. A great way to engage more types of learners.

Can't wait to create some of my own and to encourage others to embrace a new way of teaching and learning. The possibities are really only limited by imagination.

Edit a wiki

2008-09-07T18:38:00.000-07:00

Too easy :) Take a min to learn one tool and the rest just get easier and easier.

If we could just make such tools a part of life at Chisholm, there would be a lot more collaboration, communication and the quality of our products would dramatically increase.

Wikis

2008-09-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

A fantastic tool for simple web page creation. Takes the geek out of the web. Can't wait to see how it is used in the Student and Staff Spaces.

What a way to get students working on a project. They can easily leverage and share other web 2.0 resources through their wiki. Very cool.

Delicious

2008-09-07T17:54:00.000-07:00

Could be a great way for teaching staff to share the websites they use. Users would need to be aware of private versus public use. I like the concept of tags. Could be something that could be used in conjunction with the Staff Space when it is released.

Social networking - Facebook

2008-09-07T17:21:00.000-07:00

I have quite enjoyed using Facebook as it is a great way to get in touch with people and keep up to date with their activities. I do honestly find the array of little apps and tools a little overwhelming at times but overall it is simple and customisable. It could definitely be used within a teaching context.

SlideShare

2008-08-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

warms a learning technologists heart :)
Did you find useful presentations? - absolutely, very cool
How might Slideshare be useful in the classroom? - both storing and accessing presentations, an adjunct to YouTube
....oh the possibilities

Creative Web 2.0 Learning

view presentationtags: web 2.0 library creativity

YouTube video

2008-08-28T23:06:00.000-07:00

Being the geek that I can be on days ending in 'Y' here is the video I chose...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zz5sc7Ta4kA

Photo link to Flickr

2008-08-28T22:46:00.001-07:00

Found this colourful image, very well captured...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sudergal/1440040887/

Blogs are cool

2008-08-28T21:52:00.001-07:00

Making it possible for anyone with basic digital literacy to have a voice and engage is terrific. There are of course dangers of assuming the authenticity of information simply because it appears to be published but what a wonderful way to encourage people to expand their communication and articulation skills.

RSS readers & Blogs

2008-08-28T21:44:00.000-07:00

So much information to explore, so little time. RSS readers are cool and so are Blogs when used well. I love the fact I can put my finger on required information so readily. It is tricky to balance acquiring information and overloading oneself with perhaps a few too many subscriptions....oopsie

23 things first comment

2008-08-28T21:23:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed the extend web browser exercises. It was great to explore expanding the browser capability. So many tools, so little time. I found if you can do it in IE, you can easily manage it in FF and vice versa.