Final Reflection- My Learning Journey

Well I guess this is it. Yes the final reflection.

During the time of working through these course modules, I was able to view new and existing tools that could be helpful in the classroom and professionally. I really like the way the course has been set out and explains what to very easily. The clips that were posted explained things very well.

Overall, I am very happy that I have partaken in this course, as it has shown me a number of avenues to take in an educational and professional setting. The students will really enjoy the different tools that can be utilised and open there eyes up to what is out there in the cyber world. 

This course was easy to follow and the content provided was great. Alot of the tools I currently use in my classroom, but always great to have a refresher of different ways of using the tools. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with all teachers at school. My hope is that they too see the educational value in using technology in the classroom and not be afraid by it. 
It has been great working with my colleagues on this course.  The discussions, ideas and our plan for next year will be supported by all of us to lead and support the use of Web 2 in the classrooms.

Thank you 

Module 10

I found this module very interesting and can definitely see the many benefits of virtual learning environments, for both teachers and students.  I currently use  blogs within our school for students(managed by teachers) and am looking toward using these for students (eg. digital portfolio) I find this a very safe and secure platform which is designed specifically for education.

Wiki:
Allow people to change what appears on a website by only clicking a button, erasing and re writing it. You edit and save. When you edit something, it transforms the webpage into a document. Once you click save, the document becomes a webpage once again, until someone edits it again. Edit, write and save are the main features.

Use in the classroom can occur for research task type activities, where students may collaborate to create a website full of information on a topic or topics. You can also create links to your wiki page so topics and sub topics can be created for a collaborative research task - like a fact sheet booklet, but in digital format.

EDIT   SAVE   LINK     processes that can be repeated many times within the wiki.

This has been used in Wikipedia - it is always updating constantly.

At the moment I am using Google Apps as our platform for collaboration and is working really well for me. Keen to use wikis in the future to broaden the student's knowledge of using and creating wikis.

Google Sites

I have had the opportunity to be involved in the implementation of Google Apps at a school level. This being the case I was able to easily create and share websites with my students. Some of which directed the learning for a all of my Key Learning Areas:  I was lucky enough to find a similar website through an online learning community. That is one of the best things about education and technology. The willingness of those involved to share their ideas with others for the betterment of all students.

Module 9

There is so much to learn about social networking sites!!

As a teacher, there are many ways to view social networking sites. Firstly, its how young people communicate, so as teachers we need to develop our knowledge of how students access and use these sites and teach students online etiquette and how to be safe online. Then it can become a great tool for students to extend and engage in their learning.

I can see that second life has huge potential for upper primary students learning and am looking forward to spending time researching how to use this in the classroom and make "virtual experiences"  happen in the classroom.

Twitter and LinkedIn are both sites that I am currently using for professional development and interacting online with other educators, but would not be suitable tools to use for interaction with students. Twitter will be used in our school, embed it on our websites to communication with teachers/parents for discussion and feedback and to promote a positive way to contribute to school news. I would not use Facebook as an educational tool, but would discuss issues regarding online safety and responsibility with students to ensure that they know how to interact appropriately online in a safe environment.   

I have looked at Scootle before, however again have found myself filing these wonderful resources away where i tend to forget about them. I research and came across Symbaloo. I t is a neat and really easy way of visually bookmarking all these resources and also embedding it on our site for all teachers to use. It is a powerful web tool and love using it.

Module 8

I haven't used RSS Feeds before. After watching the RSS in Plain English video I have a much better understanding of what RSS Feeds are and their importance. 
I'm not sure if ill be using RSS in the classroom. I guess I would probably use it for my own personal and professional use but very unlikely to use with students. I have set up my Feedly through Google and have added a few websites. 

I am not sure that I would use Feedly with my year 4 CLASS that much . To try and make it relevant to my class, I did add educational sites that were both child and Feedly friendly. One was from National Geographic and a few maths websites.

Module 7

So... I have actually signed up to diigo and delicious but haven't used them.  I think it's a really good concept, but not for me.  I am just finding that I am signing up to so many things, and I am being a bit selective about what I seriously think I will use or not.  I have a favourites bar,organise my sites in folders and use Google drive for my files. I also use symbaloo as a resource bank for our staff to share and add to. If you are interested I also use live binders which is fantastic.   

Module 6

Picasa is another tool I am familiar with but dont use it as often.  I think Picasa is not user friendly and don't really like to use it. I have managed to find other tools for my editing. I upoad using youtube which is very simple and user friendly.

Module 5

I have only used  Bubble.us a couple of times. it is a great online tool for students to use when brainstorming or creating mind maps. As a class we used Bubble.us to make a mind map of word families. Next year I would like students to create their own mind maps using this tool. I think they would find it more engaging than creating a mind map on a piece of paper.

I have alsoused Glogster before. Great tool for having all the information in one spot, text, images, links and videos.  Next week we will create a poster of Healthy eating. I really like how the teacher can set all students up with a Glogster account that she/he can access to see what the students have created. Being able to create an online poster will engage students who find art and drawing difficult and they will be able to use their own creativity to make a poster which displays their knowledge of a topic. Students can create their own layout and colour schemes and even embed creative videos. I really enjoyed playing with Glogster and creating my own poster.

Prezi is another tool that some of my students use. The class was intrigued watching this. I would like to investigate Prezi presentations further as I haven't used it before.

Module 4- Podcasts/Vodcasts

Love this Module!!!! I have had a huge learning curve this module! I had an understanding of what a Podcast and used it once or twice, however I didn't realise that if you subscribe to one you are interested in that it will automatically send your device the most recent podcast. I decided to have a browse around the iTunes store and came across interesting podcast and downloaded a few to my iPod and have been listening to them as I head to bed. Really interesting stuff! I could see how Podcasts would help as an educator as I saw lots of educational shows to subscribe to. I have started to use podcast in the classroom in Guided Reading, spelling tests and leaving instructions for the children. My students have created their own and recording themselves when reading to listen to after and evaluate. They give feedback on own recording and they love do that. Here is a sample of my podcast embedded in my blog. The concept of digital storytelling using Animoto is very creative and powerful tool to use to engage the students. I'm thinking this is just what I would be looking for to use with my students in Drama lessons this term. This project can them be uploaded on our blog and students can reflect on the making process to evaluate what they have gained and what would they change for next time. I have been using youtube in creating presentations of photos and music. Its very easy to embed into our site. I am currently now working on vodcasts. I will keep you posted.

Module 3 - Google Docs/Drive

Google Drive/docs - Love the way the documents, images, etc can be accessed by me or others anywhere anytime through a google account. Web tools like this could be useful in so many ways in the classroom - for homework tasks to be posted and replied to or by students who are doing a joint project/activity and are unable to get together physically but can all work on the project from home or somewhere else. ( Collaboration ) This facility could also be used for anonymous opinions or voting in classroom settings. Being able to bring documents previously created on a computer across to google drive/docs is also an advantage as well as being able to create new documents for future use. It is also used for staff meetings and for staff to collaborate and work together as a team on the same doc to save time. At school I use Google Apps to collaborte and share ideas instantly with others.

Module 2 - Blogging/twittering

Hi All I have completed Module 2. Just finished checking my Twitter account, it is addictive, the amount of #PLN ( professional Learning Platforms) that are available is insane. I've joined some chats and left them thinking "WOW", its a different world!!! It’s a fabulous tool for keeping up to date with the latest thinking in Education. I started blogging with the students last year 2013, with grade four. I have a class blog this year as well and the students enjoy reading my daily blogs and reflecting back on their work, videos and photos. Last year I used a different blogging platform however I must admit that after viewing the videos that show how to use ’Blogger’ end of last year, it seems a lot less cumbersome and user-friendly. So this year I decided to use "Blogger"!!

All about me!! (Module 1)

My name is Nancy Ayad. I am currently the e-learning facilitator and year 4 teacher and at Regina Coeli School. 

I signed up for this course to refresh my skills and support my colleagues through the wonderful experience of using WEB tools and to experience how powerful they can be for learners and educators. I have always been interested in integrating ICT in my daily teaching to enhance the student's learning, creativity and curiousity.

I have found all the learning from Module 1 a revision of knowledge I already have about the internet, blogs and the use of technology in todays society. 

I have been blogging now for about 2 years.With my students, I have an online learning blog. We use this to share our learning, collaborate on things, gain perspectives, think… and also have fun!