Engagement Activity

Website Reflection

Usually a website is classified as a 1.0 web tool. This is due to the fact that websites such as Weebly are static, generally this means that students are unable to contribute their own ideas and perspectives. When it comes to websites, under many occasions they are considered to be the “read only” webpages as no interaction can occur and documents may only be changed by the creator if they feel the need to do so. In relation to the SAMR model, websites would be categorised under the substitution level as they are created to produce the same content that may be presented on paper.

Blog Reflection      

What I love most about blogs is that you have the ability to participate collaboratively where thoughts, ideas and perspectives are able to be easily shared. Blogs are classified as a web 2.0 tool as they provide individuals and groups with the ability to publish, share, upload and download work. Blogs unlike websites are categorised as “read-write” pages as they allow for work one to easily and effectively work inside these set spaces regardless of prior knowledge.

Blogs in particular are constructed specifically to provide an educational platform which provides vast amounts of information that can relate directly to teachers and there students. This is done by adjusting the width of entire blog and right side bar, altering templates and backgrounds, layout, type of text and text size. Blogs consist of navigational bars which include but are not limited to: about, contact, email, posts, side bars and comment bars. A blog can be created by the teacher where students are able to deconstruct, evaluate and synthesise documents and other media. Generally, customisation comes in the form of changing the page layout, colours, themes, titles and fonts. These particular customisations can only be completed by the author of the blog. On blogger.com the author is able to post various media, these include posting an image, video, specific images from the web and also Youtube videos. Blogger.com provides the opportunity for educators and their students to connect via team blogs, comments and following others blogs in this web space.

Educational tools such as blogs offer various ways for students to learn. Personally, I will be sure to use blogger.com in my classroom as I believe that it would provide my students with the opportunities to:

-          Enhance their ICT skills

-          Form closer classroom communities

-          Form greater connections between school work and home work (class materials can be easily accessed)

-          Students have the opportunity to connect with other globally

-          Students literacy and numeracy is greatly benefitted

 

A blog can easily be used at each level on the SAMR model, these include:

Substitution- the change of specific content

Augmentation – As simple as commenting on a post

Modification – The ability to provide presentations that individually have varying multimedia presentations and content

Redefinition – Bringing a new way to collaboratively share ideas and perspectives whilst providing the opportunity for students to share content locally and globally while engaging in higher order thinking tasks.

Blogs are an educational learning tool that can be set up in a way that scaffolds collaborative learning. By doing so I believe that this allows for information to be analysed and synthesised, thus resulting in the use of higher order thinking.

Wiki Reflection

Wikispaces classroom is an online educational tool used by thousands of teachers and students. Educators and students are able to easily and effectively communicate with each other whilst interacting in collaborative learning or completing tasks on their own. Wikispaces classroom, allows for information and tasks to be easily accessed. The greatest benefit for teachers in relation to Wikispaces classroom is that the educator is able to monitor student engagement in the course materials and tasks provided. This therefor links to the benefit of teachers easily identifying where students may be struggling and then adapting teaching styles to accommodate particular student needs. Wiki is a technology teaching tool that allows and encourages collaborative learning, sharing of group and individual ideas and perspectives; ensuring that it is a tool for all to easily use.