Final Synopsis

Introduction 

Since this is the final posting I will encapsulate all that the last seven weeks of class and online collaboration has taught me. I will take a look back at the technologies that I have encountered and how the ethical, safe and legal use of these can be implemented as more than a learning aid into a ICT rich 21^st century classroom.  I will also move through some of the fundamental frameworks that show the levels of change that ICT can bring to a class such as Blooms Taxonomy and the SAMR model. 

Technology used

Through the learning experiences there has been a plethora of e-learning teaching tools that have been shown to me, with most not being encountered before. Along with the tutorial session and practice with the tools themselves I was able to apply them to my pedagogy to further support my teaching strategies. I have also come to the realization that technology can no longer sit on the back burner but is a pivotal tool in the engagement of our students.

 The platforms and tools that I have covered are;

• ·         Text to Mind map
• ·         Website creation
• ·         Using tech to present information (PowerPoint)
• ·         How images/audio/video files play a part in the classroom 

SAMR & Blooms Taxonomy & De Bono’s thinking hats

The SAMR model would have to be one of the biggest ideas that was introduced to me throughout the past week, it offers a method of seeing how computer technology might impact teaching and learning.  It also shows a progression that adopters of educational technology often follow as they progress through teaching and learning with technology (ted 2014).

Anther scale that before this class was very foreign is Blooms Taxonomy, it is simply a pyramid that shows the different levels of learning forms that a student or teacher can have. With the use of ICT the level of students learning can increase to the higher ends of the scale Bloom, B. (1956).

These two learning methods encompass all the last seven weeks has been about. Giving teachers a pronounced idea of how they can change the way in which the classroom uses ICT to readily engage their students. 

Six Thinking Hats is a time-tested, proven, and practical thinking tool. It provides a framework to help people think clearly and thoroughly by directing their thinking attention in one direction at a time (de Bono Thinking Systems. (2013). —

• ·         white hat facts
• ·         green hat creativity
• ·         yellow hat benefits
• ·         black cautions
• ·         red hat feelings
• ·         and blue hat

Safety first 

These pedagogical advances are not without risks, and by far the biggest risk is increased online presence that this type of ICT based learning brings. This means that teachers need to ensure that students are safe while posting or surfing the internet. There is also the ethical mine field that students/teachers need to be aware of when using information from the internet, such as the heightened risk for plagiarism and copyright infringements.

Some of the measures I would take to ensure safety for my class when using ICT;

• ·         Ensure students understand what plagiarism is and how it can be detected
• ·         Students must understand what cyber bullying is and the consequences attached
• ·         Model ethical, safe and legal ICT
• ·         Show students how to reference and the reasons behind it

These are just a few of the actions that a teacher can take to ensure that the ICT in the classroom is being used for the greater good and no harming a child or their education.

Final Reflection

It all started 7 weeks ago with a person walking into a tutorial that had almost no idea how to incorporate, let alone design, ICT learning for a classroom. Since that point I have found that ICT has to be an integral part of any classroom to deliver what 21s century students need in the way of education. With model such as SAMR the light was really put on how I could use a piece of technology to redefine a lesson or activity and this has led to some high level critical thinking. The fact that SAMR is so simple yet effective makes me feel like it can be adapted to either of my two teaching areas ICT use (math or PE). 

The use of tools such as texttomindmap or wiki spaces goes far beyond the realm of pure information, it is a premium example of being able to engage students in learning. Which leads to the bigger picture of creating a collaborative class, and thus student centred learning. 

Over all, the information I have gained about ICT and how it can redefine a class, clearly has many more benefits than negatives. However it is imperative that technology is used and monitored in the best way possible, keeping in mind the safety of society’s most valuable assets, out students.  

References

TED Ed. (2014). SAMR Model. Retrieved from Technology is Learning: https://sites.google.com/a/msad60.org/technology-is-learning/samr-model

de Bono Thinking Systems. (2013). Six Thinking Hats. Retrieved from de Bono Thinking Systems: http://www.debonothinkingsystems.com/

Bloom, B. (1956) Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning Domains, Retrieved from http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/bloom.html#cognitive