Post - The Eighth

Discussion Boards

Using discussion boards is a really good way of reflecting and commenting on other people's opinions and ideas. We used a discussion board to comment on an activity where we had to comment on graphs.

Using a discussion board in this way allowed us to not only post our own findings but also look at other people's findings. This was a great tool in cooperative learning as we were able to see which aspects we may have missed off our own graphs.

Discussion boards can also be used in this way in the classroom. They would allow children to post their own views and comment on other people's. Group work is a very important strategy used in the classroom today and perhaps these discussion boards create a different opportunity for group discussion. Perhaps these would be more effective with shyer children.

However; in using the discussion board I am sceptical about how much they can be used. I think verbal discussion is far more effective and instantaneous as you don't have to wait for someone to make a post. They are perhaps therefore more relevant when used in a social context like Facebook than in the classroom environment.

Post - the seventh

Uses of Databases and ways in which you might use them to help children learn in any subject at school

Databases are a good way of evaluating and storing information for various purposes. Businesses will often use databases to store a wide variety of information such as contact details, bank details etc. They are useful in that they allow users to ask questions of them for example, how many men prefer to eat hamburgers compared to women. The result can then be manipulated and sorted and can also be transferred into graph format. They are very quick to search, they are easy to edit and to add to, they take up little space but can have contain a huge amount of data, they can also be used in relation to other programmes, for example word to create mail merges and they can be more secure than paper files. In the ICT lesson we saw how they can be used with history and gravestones. I would suggest that they can be useful in other subjects. They could be used by children for geography. This could involve putting details of various countries in the database and then could be searched for the country with the highest population for example. Perhaps they could also be useful in maths in data handling and interpreting as well as spreadsheets. In Science they could set up databases for the properties of plants or butterflies. I would suggest that databases are very versatile and can be used by children in lots of subjects

Other activities using ICT which you could use to make History more relevant to children.

To make History more relevant for children using ICT you could:-
· use websites to take virtual tours of museums
· Use CD-ROMs like Encarta to allow children to research
· Inspiration – to create mind maps or diagrams for certain topics. This is a way that pupils can display their own thought patterns and processes from bits of evidence for example
· Blogs and Wikis could be interesting ways in which children can record their thoughts about topics.

Post - The Sixth

Using Inspiration

I have decided during this post to evaluate the programme Inspiration and discuss its advantages for children in the classroom environment.

Inspiration is a piece of software that allows people to organise their ideas and thoughts in various diagrams. These include concept maps, idea maps, webs and storyboards. The programme also allows users to organise their ideas with pictures and symbols. The programme is also extremely straight forward to use which enables pupils to create effective diagrams in a minimal amount of time.

The programme is also useful in that it allows the diagrams to be exported and saved in various formats. This allows diagrams to be incorporated into other programmes such as word, power-point and even dropped into a web page, as I have done above. This would therefore seem to be an advantage of the programme above pen and paper as the diagrams are easily transferable.

For children this software has various uses. I would argue that children love using the computer so will put a lot of time and effort into making the concept webs so they would be better than if they did their maps on paper because of the novelty. The concept maps are also far more easy to edit if they are on the computer and editing is an important skill for children to master as they need to be able to realise that making mistakes is OK. The process is also extremely visual and this can help meet important learning needs.

Although this idea can be very very useful for children to map out their ideas in an effective, visual way. Also this programme may be faster for children to map down ideas, for me, I would rather use a pen and paper for my planning. I would argue that for some people then the software will never be as effective as a pen and paper, but I think children will really benefit from using this programme.

Post - The fifth

Using Spreadsheets to solve mathematical problems

When faced with a lengthy wordy problem for example what lengths of fencing should Mr Mcgreggor use to gain the maximum area for his vegetable patch with 15 m of fencing, a traditional pen and paper method would involve children undertaking a vast amount of calculations in order to solve it. They would have to calculate all the various combinations individually using number bonds to fifteen.

A Spreadsheet such as Excel allows a pupils to put in formulas and copy them and therefore the programme works out all of the calculations. Some people would suggest that this makes pupils lazy and gets them out of doing sums. However; I would argue that the pupils still need to know what cells and what sums to use in order to make the formula correct. In this way they are still going through the process of doing the sums but the computer is working out the answer. I would suggest that in using a spreadsheet the pupils become much more aware of the process involved to get an answer rather that fixating on just getting the right answer.

They can use a spreadsheet to solve calculations quickly and effectively and allows them to solve problems and reach conclusions more quickly than if they had to use traditional methods. This then allows them to come to a generalisable solution (introducing basic algebra) and they can then adapt their worksheet to solve similar problems.

Post - the fourth

Yes we all have it. We all use it. The latest craze to ultimately hit the web is Facebook.

It wasn't long ago that we were all busy communicating away with our MSN messenger and updating our my-space, but now it seems that the Facebook phenomena has replaced these two to become the biggest social network and means of communication.

Why is it so good?

• It is very easy to use
• you can share information and photos with other people
• You can upload pictures as well as text
• It is easy to create discussion boards and get opinions without having to send separate emails
• It is a very easy and effective way of contacting people from all over the world without them having to be online at the same time
• It is constantly updated and with wi-fi it can be accessed almost anywhere
• By setting up groups you can communicate with people with similar interests to you and also be updated with anything that may be relevant to your particular interest
• My drama group for example uses it to contact people in the group for rehearsal times and also productions going on that they may be interested in
• It is a fantastic tool to keep people updated with your news and keep updated with other people's news. In this way you are able to keep in contact than you would to if you had to email or call them individually

What might be some problems?

• It is consequently not very private, although providing you are careful not to put too detailed info on it, it isn't a problem. You can however control who can see your complete profile
• There have been incidents of identity theft from details people have posted
• It can be a means for bullying and nasty groups and the overseers are not very good or quick at removing these groups. This can be especially hurtful for children
• It is open access for anyone who wants to see it so don't get caught saying something nasty about someone!
• Their have been cases of people being refused jobs because of their Facebook profile
• police and administrators are cracking down on students who post pictures of themselves partaking in underage drinking and other illegal activities (this is not necessarily a bad thing, but an example of how easy it is to glean information from people's profiles)
• One blogger argues that Facebook has caused some students to lose touch with reality stating that 'My friend jokingly asked her boyfriend to ‘marry’ her on the relationship status option on Facebook. In response, her boyfriend rejected her offer and changed their “in a relationship” status to single. That is how Facebook ended their relationship.'

In conclusion I would argue that Facebook, if used correctly is a fantastic networking tool. If it is used irresponsibly it can become a tool of personal attack and in some cases identity crime. People after all have control over their profiles so as long as they're careful about what information is posted and as long as things aren't too seriously, Facebook should be a useful tool that can be enjoyed by many people.

Post - The Third

ICT Trial in School

This week, whilst on placement, I was lucky enough to be able to observe a free trial of a system for secret voting in the classroom. The company (who shall remain nameless) were offering technical support and hiring of the equipment for sessions on the interactive whiteboard.

What does the system do?
The main idea is so that children have the opportunity to vote on a right answer out of a choice of a few on the board (sort of a Who wants to be a Millionaire type idea). Each child has an individual handset with buttons that each correspond to an answer on the board. The computer can then remember the answers given for each handset and produce graphs, tables and reports to allow the teacher to assess who might not have grasped key ideas within lessons.

Why were they good?
The first thing that was brilliant about these devices is that the children in my class absolutely loved them. They really engaged the children and one boy even admitted that they got his brain working! It also allows them to each have the opportunity to answer a question without some people calling out and not allowing shyer children to talk. One boy admitted that the handsets were an excellent way of getting people to answer without 'getting a headache' from people shouting out. They provided excellent opportunities for assessment and were a great teaching tool as they could be incorporated into any part of the lesson. Because each child was expected to give an answer the teacher was able to see which children were struggling with the topics being presented on the board.

The handsets proved especially popular with the boys in the class as they were similar to the computer games etc that they might play. In this way they were a complete novelty.

What was bad about them
Although the idea of this technology is potentially brilliant, the company offering it seemed to have no idea what was involved in teaching. The technicians and the equipment had to be booked in advance. This means that if you wanted to use them on the spur of the moment you couldn't. Also the company made the slides for you or adapted your slides to the software needed. This really means that you can't have ownership over the slides which would be very frustrating. The company can be booked for an hour or for a day. However; the system would be brilliant to perhaps use just in an intro or a plenary so they would not be needed for a whole hour. The amount the company were charging per hour would mean that a teacher would have to use the system for the whole hour to make it worth while and this would not necessarily be the best way of using the system in teaching. As well as the company not really understanding how teaching works, they seem to be out of touch with the children as well. The slides were very boring and there were no flashes or cool sound effects that children seem to really love. If paying them to make the slides then they would have to be greatly improved.

What would be better?
The company that came into the school basically had a fantastic idea. However; the fact that they have to set each session up means that a teacher can't have ownership or use them last minute. Other companies such as Active Primary and Quizdom also offer a similar idea, however; a school is able to buy the software and the equipment to use as and when they want so they can be effectively planned in to a lesson. The teachers therefore can create their own slides and quizes so they can have full ownership of the software and the way it is used for teaching and learning.

Post - The second

Ok this post is slightly after a week (sorry Monty), but today I wanted to reflect on the esteemed 'wiki'. Oh yes... I've moved on from the wonders of blogging and have reached bigger and better things.

So what's the difference between a blog and a wiki?

Well the main difference is that a blog is something that is individual. Although a blog is not private, (as I discussed in post the first it can be read by anyone), it can only be edited by one person. A wiki is therefore something that many people can edit, add to and control if they have access to the site.

So What?

Yes I've asked the question so close to our hearts concerning the dreaded 'M' word! Why are they useful and who could use them?

They are an ideal tool to use in a classroom for collaborative learning. It is a tool ideal for projects that different children can add to, whether that be pictures, text, sounds or videos. Not only is it useful for children but also perhaps for teachers, (provided they are aware of how to use them). Collaborative planning is an activity that most teachers are involved in. So rather than having to organise meetings to plan collaboratively why not just add bits to plans, comment or change things from your own home? Indeed I am using a wiki to undertake the dreaded bean investigation with my group so we o not have to try and coordinate lots of meetings.

I think perhaps the main problem with this idea is the fact that it removes direct communication face to face directly out of the picture. So perhaps whilst this idea is good in principle, it may prove more time consuming as discussions cannot be had quickly and, let's face it, it would seem a tad anti social and take away teacher to teacher communication that is so vital in surviving the profession.

Despite this it would seem that a wiki can indeed be useful. Perhaps one of the most famous wikis around at the moment is Wikipedia. Wikipedia is a fantastic source of information although the fact that anyone can edit it means that each entry looked up has to be scrutinised carefully by the reader as not every source is reliable! Listeners of Radio One will know that the Scott Mills page on Wikipedia is a complete fabrication!

Post - the first!

And so begins the beautiful journey of blogging. As a blogging 'virgin' it seems like a rather daunting task to create a new blog from scratch and everyone seems to be scurrying along with theirs at about one hundred miles an hour! After all, isn't a dashboard something to be found in a car? Or is my knowledge of the motoring world as remote as my knowledge of the mystical realms of the 'blogosphere'?

However; blogs seem to be becoming a really useful tool within the classroom environment and this is obviously an aspect of ICT that I will need to get to grips with. I think that the ownership that children can have over their own blogs is a fantastic idea and gives them the opportunity for choice that is so important. The idea that the blogs can be read all over the world perhaps gives children the motivation to be aware of what they are writing and how important it is to present their work carefully and effectively. Children are surrounded by the world wide web so I think that allowing them to create their own corner of it is a brilliant idea to explore the world of the internet and to see how easy it is to post things onto it. This may also help them to think critically about what they read on the Internet. After all if they are able to post whatever they like then so are other people.

Perhaps an aspect of blogging that I had not considered is how useful it can be from a teacher's perspective. On class trips, for example, they can be used to send updated information and photos back to the school and to parents to keep people up to date with what's going on. The same can be said for sports teams for posting scores and reviews of matches.

The issues about child protection however have to be considered when allowing children loose on their blogs or creating blogs for the school. It therefore seems important to disguise photos and conceal identities. It may also be a better idea to make their blogs secure so only certain people can access the blogs with a password. This however seems to be a bit of a shame. By only allowing certain people to view the children's blogs it would seemt o defeat the whole purpose of why they might be blogging in the first place!

This therefore concludes post, the first. I have now embarked on the voyage of blogging. With the help of the trusty dashboard... off we go!