Generation Wed 2.0

When reading the article Generation web 2.0 i didnt realise that there was such a resource such as this one out there for us teachers to use. Generation web 2.0 would definitely a great resouce for teachers and students to use in the classroom and one in fact that i would consider using myself.

Instead of just having the students type up there assignemts the same old ways they always have Generation web 2.0 allows the students to take their assignments and presentations just that little bit further by allowing them to incorperate tools such as pictures and the internet into their projects . Another great thing that i loved about this tool was that it allows students and teachers to interact with other teachers and students from around the world ,this would be a great way for an S+E lesson when exploring the different cultures and by having this pen pal type of interaction could really help in that area. I think that this program could be used for all ages from showing students in the lower years pictures of an excursion they had been on to those students in high school studying multimedia and exploring the different ways this tool could be used . Being a university student myself i would use this tool for my presentations as it can take your presentations to the next level.

Teachers Pedagogical Beliefs by Peggy A Ertmer

When reading Peggy's article on teacher pedagogical , I first noticed how long it was. As I read through the 12 pages i had realised Peggy had really done her research and really looked at the other peoples views on how our beliefs are formed and put into practice within our classrooms. In the first few sentences she wrote "Although the conditions for successful technology intergration finally appears to be in place , including ready access to technology , increased training for teachers and favourable policy environment , high level technology use is still suprisingly low. This suggests that additional barriers , specifically related to teachers pedagogical beliefs , maybe at work." I believe that this ,ay also relate to the older teachers that are set in their own ways and don't want to learn the new technologies of today. Then there are also the teachers that work in schools with small budgets and that can't afford the new technologies such as computers. My solution for this however is for the government to provide those schools that are less unfortunate with computers , even if it's only a couple of computers between a few classes. This is so the students are given the opportunity to work with technologies of today so they are able to easily adapt to the technologies of the future. There is also the fact that ICT is part of our curriculum. Peggy also did some research and revealed that only 81% of teachers have either moderate or high levels of access to instructional computer.

Today their are many workshops that are available for teachers to attend, however the teachers need to be willing to learn and try to incorperate it into their lessons , after all it's all about taking risks. During my schooling years i only used the computer for web research when doing an assignment and word processor. Then when i got into high school i only used power point once, but in doing the workshops at uni i have learnt and picked up many helpfull and affective ways on how to process information that i can take out with me into the work force. As i read on i then came to the conclusion that our beliefs are based on our experiences. From our own experiences we then choose what works and what doesn't which then determine our beliefs. Take for example a teacher that has good experiences with computers within the classroom may believe that computers are an essential intergration into the classroom based on those experiences. However a teacher that has bad experiences may believe that computers have no relevance within the classroom setting.

So what do i believe?. I personally havn't had many experiences in usng ICT within a classroom but based on the experiences that i have had i think we should intergrate ICT into our learning areas. However i don't believe that every student should be given a lap top to work on and all their work is based on that lap top. I still think that students need to use the pen on paper as it gives their work a personal touch , it has also been said that it is a lot easier to wrte heart warming felt things with pen and paper . Another issue i think i would have with this would be the noise level of the classroom with students talking adding to the noise of belting keys on each students lap top .

A Social Constructivist Learning Approach

The first thing that caught my eye in Sara Bradshaw's article was when she talked about the "Chalk and Talk Method " as it was kind of a trip down memory lane . Back in my school days I personally remember this method as most of my childhod teachers used it and i totally agree with Sara when saying it was boring and it becomes very hard to stay engaged with the subject. It does not appeal to students at all because of this. As she explained further into her article she said "Many refine the art of obtaining good grades by memorisation without actually understanding the subject matter".Again I was one of those students . Before tests and exams i would read and memorise all my notes i had taken off the board without really understanding anything about what I had written.

Further on into the article she wrote about the 5 key elements that define constructivist learning environments:

• Personal constructions of reality
• Stimulated authentic learning environments
• Multiple representations of data
• Active learning
• Collaboration

All 5 elements however can be incorporated and linked into using todays technology.I believe that by using a computer or even a smart board can accomplish all 5 of those key elements.

Doolittle (1999) said "The teachers job is to motivate, provide examples, discuss, facilitate, support and challenge, but not to attempt to act as a knowledge conduit".With this statement i agree with Doolittle when he says we have to motivate , provide examples and to challenge the students etc , etc . However I do feel that we may sometimes have to act as a knowledge conduit to help us support and challenge our students.

Doolittle then continued on by saying "I believe many teachers would find this transformation dificult as there is a false belief that this kind of teaching and learning encourages loss of control".Personally with this change in teaching i would find the transition o.k.I also believe that it does not encourage the teachers position as a loss of control, i think it al depends on the way you manage it and put it to practise.

Computers as a Mindtool

When first reading David Jonassen's article on Computers As Mindtools For Engaging Critical Thinking And Representing Knowledge I tend to have disagreed with what he had to say. For example : when he said " Using computers to "teach" students in this traditional way is not appropriate because it does not mindfully engage students in mind making meaning". Where as I saw computers as a teaching device. I believed that students could use computers as a teaching device and could learn al sorts of new things and expand their knowledge by using a computer.For example, when a student does a research project most students today resort to the computer where there is a large range of information you an trace down. If a child finds a suitable website that states the right true facts, the student will be able to learn new iformation.

However when i read on in the article it explained that the computer is pretty much a teachers resource and it's more of a tool/guide with our learning, because it builds on the knowledge that we already have.David also said "How we construct knowledge depends upon what we already know , which depends on the kinds of experiences that we have had , how we have organized those experiences into knowledge structures, and what we believe about what we know". I totally agree with what he had said. We develop our knowledge on things that we already know and from ou personal experiences , then from there we organize it into knowledge structures then decide weather to believe or not believe in what we already know.

Computers are more like a learning support system that helps us build on the knowledge that we already have. Now I no longer see computers as a "teacher" like i did when i first began to read the article but instead I see them more as a tool that can help students engage more into their subjects and a guide that helps build onto their prior knowledge.