ELearning is a journey of wonder, imagination, creation and discovery. Throughout the last 6 weeks I have been critically and positively reflecting on my learning as I investigate the new technologies that I have been introduced to. There are so many different technologies and facilities online that are freely available for the use of anyone for all different purposes. I would never have thought to look online to create a scrapbook using Flickr, investigate an old shipwreck under the sea using Google Earth, create an online wiki using wiki space or create an online glog using Glogster. These different programs allow so many opportunities for classroom enhancement and achievement. These four different programs contribute to learning in many different ways and are only going to benefit and succeed to engaging children and adults in lifelong learning.
How eLearning can transform Learning?
Transforming learning is such a broad term. Learning is transformed with the use of visual aids, auditory aids, changing the learning from sitting at a desk to dancing and singing about the topic. The traditional pen and paper is no longer a beneficial way to actively engage, learn and achieve credible outcomes. “Educational visionaries and reformers have long predicted a significant transformation of teaching and learning that would be facilitated by technology, essentially providing every learner with the equivalent of a personal tutor (Bush, D., & Mott, D. 2009).” This quote explains how technology can provide that individualised active learning environment for a child or adult and therefore can transform their learning into a more motivating eLearning environment.
For me eLearning has transformed my views on learning and teaching. I no longer look for teaching resources in a book, I go online and use learning objects. I no longer research using encyclopedias; I use the World Wide Web. I no longer take notes using a pen and paper, I use my laptop. Society’s transformation towards eLearning have been significant and everyday there are new changes, browsers, learning objects and facilities available to keep our online learning updated and relevant.
The Wiki and deBono’s six thinking hats:
Creating a Wiki was much like creating a blog. It was simple and understandable, easy to manage and plainly set out. This wiki space allowed me to broaden my perspectives and options of creating data collecting resources. Now that I have undertaken the role of creating a wiki space, I can see the benefits that it would create to a classroom or learning environment. This would be a great tool of communication for parents, other teachers/ teacher aides, principals and the community. This would allow parents to communicate with teachers and be frequently updated on the classroom progress and daily/ weekly learning schedule. Principals could post a short summary of upcoming school events. For example: Important parades when certain students may be receiving awards so parents and community members involved with those students can attend. By having a frequently updated online interaction from a classroom the community would be able to update themselves more frequently.
DeBono’s six thinking hats, elaborates on the six thinking methods: process, facts, feelings, creativity, benefits and cautions. These methods are used frequently without realization. When creating my Blog, Wiki, Glog or Website I would have continuously used the ‘red hat’: “The Red Hat signifies feelings, hunches and intuition. When using this hat you can express emotions and feelings and share fears, likes, dislikes, loves, and hates (The de Bono Group, n.d.).” This would have regularly been expressed when trying to attend the online tutorials on a Wednesday night. When the internet drops out, the connection fails, the webpage times out or the password isn’t working. All these things that cause your feelings to change mean that you are wearing the ‘red hat’. Throughout writing this synopsis and many of my blog postings I would have used the ‘white hat’: “The White Hat calls for information known or needed. "The facts, just the facts." (The de Bono Group, n.d.).” Many of these thinking hats are used in common circumstances and yet we do not realise we are using them. Most importantly the de Bono’s six thinking hats “requires each individual to look at all sides of an issue (The de Bono Group, n.d.).”
Four tools:
Over the last 6 weeks I have investigated and experimented with several online tools that were provided on Moodle. The four groups of tools were: Group 1 = Wikis, Blogs and Websites; Group 2 = Digital Images and Videos and podcasting; Group 3 = Powerpoint, Prezi and Glogster; and Group 4 = Learning Objects and Google tools. I must be honest and say I did not get time to investigate all tools that were provided on Moodle, although I tried to investigate and experiment with those that I have not heard of before.
From group 1 I created a Wiki space: http://saroder1.wikispaces.com/; a blog: http://sroder.blogspot.com/; and a website: http://saroder.weebly.com/index.html. I engaged the most highly in the creation of the blog, as I felt it helpful to reflect on the learning and thinking I went through as I investigated new online tools. As I did create a wiki and a website I did not engage in the journaling process with them as I did not find it beneficial to post the same thing twice or three times. As I create the wiki and the website it did make me realise how simple these online applications are and how little experience I have with eLearning. All of these three online tools could be used in a classroom context to enhance learning through allowing the students to update the classroom blog, wiki or website daily or weekly. This could be beneficial for parents, teachers, teacher aides and principals as they can log on and see how the classroom is progressing through their learning journey. I had heard of wiki spaces, blogging and websites before although I had never taken the time or had the opportunity to actively engage in the creation of them. Creating these URLs has transformed by learning to enhance my online skills and open my eyes to how we can engage in learning with the modern technology of today.
From group 2 I investigated MobaPhoto and Flickr. These are two applications I had never heard of before, although they are two applications that I was highly impressed with. I do feel that they achieve the same outcome, but I was still impressed with the editing options and creativity available through these applications. These online applications allow you the opportunity to create an online scrapbook or photo album which you can compile into categories and therefore permit only certain people to view. This idea of having your photo albums online transformed my learning from the simple photo book or shoe book into a broader more adventurous level of creativity. This could be used to enhance and transform classroom learning into an online scrapbook for the parents and principal to view at the end of each term.
From group 3 I only investigated and created a glog: http://saroder.edu.glogster.com/glog/. I was more engaged with this application and I am not absolutely sure why. At the start I found this application overwhelming and I could not work out how to change or create anything new on the page. After several minutes I did finally discovered how to resolve this issue, therefore creating my own individual glog. I think I was more engaged within this application because it was quite challenging and therefore made me really think about and search for the things I needed to change the introductory page. I love the fact that this could be used in a classroom setting where all students could contribute their ideas or suggestions into a different text bubble of their choice. This application also allows you to upload photos and pictures. This would create an online learning journey of the classrooms unit or day of learning. This opens a lot of doors for online learning in a classroom context. I honestly can say I love this application I really think it would create a very unique and personal approach as students can contribute easily to their own classroom glog.
From group 4 I experimented with a learning object and the Google tools. As mentioned in my blog, I use Google maps all the time to find distances and time frames from place to place when organizing an event. I have also used various learning objects throughout my Embedded Professional Learning days. I have mainly used Maths, English and Science learning objects. As I study Learning Management Early Childhood I have not come across a learning object that is as complex as “EdHeads Crash Scene”, although I do believe it would be highly beneficial to an older grade and would enhance and transform their learning through the investigating process it undertakes. I found Google Earth to be very interesting and as I have never used this program before I found it quite confronting with all the options available. If I had more time I would definitely have taken an under the seas tour of an old shipwreck. This transformed by thinking and learning, as when I read that I immediately thought: ‘How great would that be if you were investigating an under the sea unit in your classroom!’This will definitely stay in the back of my mind as a future teaching tool.
Legal, Safe and Ethical Guidelines:
When using online application I would definitely set boundaries and make sure a good anti-virus is installed and block all pop-ups occurring as these can sometimes be rude and irrelevant to a student’s knowledge. There is a favourites toolbar that would be listed with the appropriate applications URLs and there would be limited access to any other online browsers. This would be limited through the use of a teacher password. Therefore, securing the online safety and making sure there are ethical guidelines and understandings about what we will be using the World Wide Web for.
Moving ahead:
After all the learning I have undertaken and am still undertaking, I have learnt that eLearning can enhance all learning types and areas. An auditory learner would benefit from most learning objects as they generally involve a sound feature explaining the task and instructions. Kinaesthetic learners would benefit as they would be actively reading, researching, answering and typing in the answers to complete tasks and Visual learners would benefit as they would be able to see everything on a computer or be sitting in front of an interactive whiteboard.
For me personally I will keep learning as I grow as an Educator and I believe that this course has given me that head start to a world of possibilities and different teaching and learning methods.
References
Bush, D., & Mott, D. (2009). The Transformation of Learning with Technology. Retrieved from http://arclite.byu.edu/digital/et_bushmott.pdf
The de Bono’s Group. (n.d.). Six Thinking Hats. Retrieved from http://www.debonogroup.com/six_thinking_hats.php
