Week 3 Reflection -Websites

This week, I managed to start my own webpage. I decided to use content from the subjects that I am studying for the Bachelor of Learning Management course. The two areas that I am interested in are Manual Arts and Junior Maths. Therefore, my pages are based around these subject areas.

For Manual Arts and Graphics, I would include a daily overview of the lesson with video clips showing examples of how to do the activity shown that day. I would also include information covering Occupational Health and Safety and instructional information on use of tools and equipment. Plans of jobs that are in progress could be uploaded and students work could be recorded by taking photos, these also could be shared on the website. It would be easy to include links for any other tutorials needed. Students could also be involved in group project work and create their own websites. Manual Arts and Graphics students could create business webpages that include their designs and products.

For a Maths website, I would have links to fun, interactive activities. I would also have a daily overview of the work completed each day. This would be a good place to include revision work, even reminders of the homework (therefore parents would also be aware of the set tasks!). A Help thread would also be incorporated to prevent the repetition of some questions. There is also the option of using the website for a ‘flipped classroom’, this is when some of the teaching is delivered through video at home then the students are able to ask questions and problem solve with their peers back at school. This creates a collaborative learning environment.

 

I quite enjoyed the creating of a webpage and found the instructions simple and easy to follow. I managed to add dropdown menus, pictures and YouTube videos. I discovered that I was able to change the font colour, add forms and include written content. I was discussing this activity with my own children (18 and 22), both of them commented that they would have loved to have access to a resource like this when they were at school, as when they had forgotten how to solve a maths problem and they were home they would give up whereas with a class webpage, they would simply be able to review the information on the website.

I would prefer to use the Learning Place Virtual Classroom to create a webpage in as you can put the content from the entire term into the webpage, perhaps over the holidays, with each lesson under a different tab. These tabs are then closed. Then you could open the content in each tab when ready, rather than all at once. The danger of students going ahead too far would be the fact that they could create misconceptions if the information available was not clearly explained or discussed. Another positive is that The Learning Place is not accessible by the public.

Strengths:	21st Century learners, simple format, student centred, ICT, can link to high quality resources, relevant, customisable, can cater to individual learning styles.
Weaknesses:	Open to everyone, students would have access to all content, one author, time consuming.
Opportunities:	Collaboration, increased communication, individual.
Threats:	Students ability to access from home, accessible by all members of the public, parental concerns, would need to be aware of students or school being identified, need to be aware of copyright and plagiarism.

 

You can follow this link to my website (Remember it is 'Under Construction')

http://990207444914996845.weebly.com/index.html

 

References:

Learners Cloud. 2013, 23 April. Bart Simpson in flipped classroom. Retrieved from http://learnerscloudblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/whats-all-fuss-over-flipped-classrooms.html

 

Pretty Good Plan. 2013, 14 June. WWW. Retrieved from http://prettygoodplan.com/2011/06/how-build-a-successful-website/

 

DeBono’s Hats


One of the activities for Week Two was to put on DeBono’s hats and record our responses into a wiki. Until a couple of weeks ago I didn’t even know what a wiki was! I asked a ‘techie’ workmate and he replied that it was an acronym for ‘What I Know Is’.

After completing the set activity and having read about the learning theories I concluded that this wiki’ activity is an example of Social Constructivism. The activity was clearly scaffolded by getting us to use DeBono’s hats, therefore we just had to write our opinions by answering some simple questions. The graphic organiser enabled easy access for input and collaboration. The ‘hats’ also ensure that I considered the question from different perspectives to ensure that I was looking at the whole picture rather than taking a bias stance based on my previous experiences. Additionally, wiki provided the opportunity for peer mentoring as we were able to both publish our thoughts and comment on each other’s responses. This evidently led to the clarification of any prior misunderstandings and a deeper understanding of the concepts covered. Therefore leading to the construction of new and valuable knowledge on this topic.

Use of wiki's in the Manual Arts class could be for collaboration on design ideas.
For an explanation of DeBono's Six Thinking Hats follow this link:
 

http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php 

 

 

 

 







 

Week 2
Pedagogy

This picture sums it up for me!!

Week 1 Reflection

To be a good learning manager we need to have an understanding of how learners learn.

Learning Styles

Most educators recognise that all learners are individuals and all have preferred methods of learning. Usually, learners have a mix of these preferred learning styles and some have a dominant style.

These styles can change within individuals depending on the task. It is also possible to develop our less dominant styles.

 

Multiple Intelligences Test

In the following model, there are eight learning styles used. These are:

Visual/spatial: Prefers using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.

•Musical: Prefers using sound and music.

•Linguistic: Prefers using words, both in speech and writing.

•Kinaesthetic: Prefers using their body, hands and sense of touch.

•Logical: Prefers using logic, reasoning and systems.

·  Naturalistic: Enjoys working with and understands nature and environment.

•Interpersonal: Prefers to learn in groups or with other people.

•Intrapersonal: Prefers to work alone and use self-study.

The following model was created for myself using the questionnaire found here: http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/index.htm

This model shows me that I am predominantly a Logical and Kinaesthetic learner, which explains why I have chosen to study maths and Manual Arts! Knowing what a learners learning styles are can enable us to consider the way in which we present learning materials to ensure that individual needs are met.

 

Learning Theories

Although, there are many theories on learning, I will be discussing behaviourism, cognitivism, constructivism and connectivism

Behaviourism  

John B Watson is often considered the father of behaviourism. It is centred on Behavioural Psychology. Behaviourism is based on the concept that behaviours can be measured, trained and changed. This theory is also based upon the idea that behaviours can be acquired through conditioning and this occurs through interactions with our environment.

It studies behaviours in a systematic and observable manner as it is suggested that other states such as cognition, emotions and moods are subjective. It is argued that behaviourism is one dimensional and doesn’t account for different types of learning.

Cognitivism

Cognitivism is a theory that thought processes determine human behaviours. This is often described as information processing.

This process is when information is picked up by the senses and transferred into memory. It this information is not used immediately, it is discarded, if it is perceived to be important, it goes into short term memory. If this information is reinforced and linked to other ideas, it becomes stored in long term memory.

It could be described as the acquisition of problem solving abilities with intelligence and conscious thought.

Social Constructivism

In this learning process, modelling and scaffolding by a teacher is important. Social Constructivists maintain that social interaction has a large influence on learning and the support of others helps to construct new knowledge. This can be in the form of explicit modelling, collaboration and internalising of new knowledge.

A Constructivist teacher facilitates and encourages learning by engaging learners in interesting activities. They also guide students and encourage them to tackle problems and challenges that are often linked to real life situations.

Social constructivism can be supported in many ways by Information Technology. Tools such as email, wiki, blogs and more, can provide pathways to encourage discussion, debate and dialogue, all which can assist in the social construction of meaning. Simulations can be used to put real world activities in context.

 

Connectivism

Connectivism is the digital age learning theory. It is the idea that learning can come from many different sources and that knowing where to find information is more important than knowing the information. Information can be obtained from the community a network or a database.

I have enjoyed going back over the information that we have touched on in previous subjects. For myself, rewriting the information is a method I like to use remember and get a greater understanding of what we are covering.

Here it is - My first attempt at a blog

Hi, my name is Sue Marshall and I am currently in my first year of Bachelor of Learning Management (Secondary).

I am not feeling particularly confident coming into this subject but I am looking forward to improving my skills.

As you can probably tell, this is my first attempt at a blog and I hope it improves as the subject progresses.

Good luck to all!!

Sue