Reflective Synopsis (Assessment item 2)

The definition of effective learning and pedagogy is always changing. Our learners are changing, our society is changing, and the way technology is being accessed by learners outside the classroom is also changing. The conventional methods of teaching and learning (such as whiteboards, pens and paper, and lecture-style lessons with ‘no talking’ between the students) do not suit, nor do they engage the learners of today (Lynch & Knight, 2010, p.2). Mark Prensky (2005) states that outside the classroom “all the learners we teach have something in their lives that’s really engaging – something that has an engaging, creative component to it.” We as teachers need to capture this engagement and bring it into the classroom, and that is where eLearning comes in.

ELearning can be defined as “using information communication technologies (ICTs) to engage, enhance and extend learning in pedagogically sound , flexible and innovative ways” (Fasso, 2010). As well as engaging students and giving teachers new teaching tools, eLearning is versatile, portable, and can strengthen communication links between students and teachers (Lynch & Knight, 2010, p.46). However, for eLearning to be most effective for students, the ICTs used must be integral to the learning, therefore ensuring that the facilitation of the learning is done so in a way that is not possible without the use of ICTs (Fasso, 2010). ELearning can enhance most areas of the curriculum and improve the motivational levels of the learners (Snowman et al, 2009, p.455).

ELearning enhances learning and can be linked to several learning theories including behaviourism, cognitivism, and constructivism. Good and Brophy, 1990 (as cited in Mergel, 1998) state that behaviourism focuses upon studying observable and measurable overt behaviours. In an eLearning context, applying a behavioural approach to learning involves the implementation of small steps, and the integration of both positive and negative feedback (Lein, n.d). Behaviourism in eLearning is mostly evident through educational video games. According to Snowman et al (2009, p.454) “the main characteristics of educational video games include systems of rewards and goals, a narrative context for the activity, a set of rules, learning outcomes relevant to the content of the story, and interactive cues that prompt learning and feedback.”

ELearning also aids the cognitivism approach to learning. “The term cognition is used to describe the ways in which information is processed – that is, the ways it is attended to, recognised, encoded, stored in the memory for various lengths of time, retrieved from storage, and used for one purpose or another” (Snowman et al, 2009, p.279). In eLearning, cognitive theories involve using schema or mental maps to sort and organise content or materials (Lein, n.d). Online or computer concept-mapping using programs and websites such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Inspiration, Kidspiration, bubbl.us and text2mindmap are great examples of how the theory of cognitivism can be applied to eLearning (Smith, Lynch, & Knight, 2007, p.49).

Constructivism is also evident in eLearning. “Constructivism is the view that meaningful learning is the active creation of knowledge structures rather than a mere transferring of objective knowledge from one person to another” (Snowman et al, 2009, p.28). “Constructivism is often applied in an eLearning context through real world simulations, collaborations with other students, and by giving the learners access to point-of-need knowledge and responses” (Lein, n.d). Web 2.0 tools allow for peer collaboration and interaction and assist with knowledge construction and the ideals created through the theory of social constructivism (Lynch & Knight, 2010, p.47).

ELearning can be embedded and applied to many teaching and learning contexts, however I have chosen to focus my eLearning journey on a Primary School context. I have explored and experimented with a variety of eLearning tools including blogs, online/computerised concept mapping, wikis, glogs, webpages, LMS, voice recording, images, podcasting and digital video. The four tools that I have chosen to focus on and analyse are online concept mapping, blogs, wikis and digital video.

A range of computer programs and websites can be used to create an online (or computerised) concept map. When experimenting, I used the websites bubbl.us and text2mindmap.com. You can view the two concept maps that I created by clicking here.

Using an online concept mapping tool has many benefits. For starters, they are easy to use, fun, engaging, and they cater for a wide variety of different learning styles. They can be created individually or as part of a collaborative project in pairs or in groups. They can help a learner organise content knowledge or display what they know, while at the same time building upon their ICT knowledge and skills.

As well as having benefits, online concept mapping also has some drawbacks. The main one that I discovered is that not all learners organise their thoughts in a concept map way. Some learners may prefer lists or tables to sort out their thinking processes. The other drawback that I discovered was the question which one is best? With so many different types available these days how do learners work out which one to use? Of the two I explored, I preferred bubbl.us, however looking at some of my peers’ blogs, others preferred text2mindmap. The question (which is best?) is answered differently by different people.

Within my teaching context (Primary School teaching), I believe that online concept mapping is a great learning tool. It can be used as a successful higher order thinking tool that can help a learner analyse, compare, contrast, relate or organise information (Teachnology, n.d). They can be used when working in a wide variety of curriculum areas, and can be used as part of a unit constructed using the framework Learning Engagement Theory. The Learning Engagement Theory involves learners in a group context creating a project, relating the project to something meaningful, and donating it, emphasising the value of making useful contributions while engaged in the learning process (Kearsley & Schneiderman, 1998).

Blogging is the second tool that I chose to analyse. A blog is a web 2.0 tool that has many uses. It can be used as an online journal, a place to discuss a particular topic, a source of news, or as a learning tool within a classroom. An educational blog (classroom blog) can also be used for a variety of purposes (Downes, 2004). It can be used by the teacher as a means of displaying student work and notices for parents (Downes, 2004). A blog could also be created by the learner for creative writing, a place to outline thought processes or to show the steps taken when completing a project. A key feature of a blog is the fact that comments can be placed by viewers. This means that the teacher is able to place comments on a student’s blog to provide guidance and to scaffold learning.

Using blogging within a classroom has many benefits. Firstly, there are many different ways that you can use a blog. Also it has a section for comments. Another benefit is that only the owner of the blog is able to edit, change, or delete the blog postings on the blog therefore giving the learner total control over their own work. Images and digital video can also be embedded into a blog.

As well as having many benefits, blogging does have its drawbacks. A blog does not really allow much room for collaborative learning. While a blog does have some level of interactivity (from the comments feature), the postings are all posted by the owner of the blog making it a fairly individual activity. Also if you do not constantly update your blog postings, you run the risk of your blog disappearing. I was personally not aware of this drawback until I saw it on a peer’s blog.

If scaffolded correctly, within a blog learners could demonstrate levels of higher order thinking. The learners may demonstrate their ability to analyse, compare, contrast, outline, research, construct, create, design and produce (Teachnology, n.d). A blog could also be constructed applying the Learning Engagement Theory. Learners could create a meaningful blog that relates to a topic that they are passionate about and donate it, that is create it for a particular purpose (Kearsley & Schneiderman, 1998).

Like a blog, a wiki is also an example of a web 2.0 tool. However, blogs and wikis are not the same. A wiki is more interactive than a blog because it allows learners to work in a collaborative fashion. Learners can build upon the ideas of others and strengthen their own. A wiki takes a very constructivist approach to learning as using one that is scaffolded correctly allows learners to construct knowledge rather than merely receiving it (Mergel, 1998).

After exploring and experimenting with wikis I created a SWOT (strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats) analysis of a wiki. You can view my analysis by clicking here.

By exploring the potential uses of a wiki I discovered that they would be a great tool to use within a classroom. They can enhance learning and they promote collaboration between peers. Collaboration is a fundamental element of the Learning Engagement Theory (Kearsley & Schneiderman, 1998). Higher order thinking is also promoted by the use of meaningful learning within a wiki.

Digital video is the final tool that I chose to analyse. Digital video can be something that is shown to learners, or something that you get the learners to produce. After experimenting with digital video I created a SWOT analysis of digital video which you can view by clicking here.

Digital video allows learners to express their creativity. It can be created collaboratively and it requires learners to use higher order thinking skills and processes. It is an excellent tool to use in a classroom with older learners requiring little to no guidance for the actual creation of the video. Creating a digital video is a great project for learners to complete. It relates well to the Learning Engagement Theory as learners are creating, relating the video to something, and are able to donate it (use it for a particular purpose) (Kearsley & Schneiderman, 1998).

Throughout my eLearning journey so far, I have learnt a great deal about how these and other digital tools can be applied and used in the classroom and how they enhance learning.

References:

Downes, S. (2004). Educational blogging. Educause Review, 39(5), 14-26

Fasso, W. (2010, term 3). Active learning diversity and the theory. Retrieved from CQUniversity e-courses, FAHE11001 Managing eLearning, http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=142865

Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1998). Engagement theory: A framework for technology- based teaching and learning. Retrieved from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm.

Mergel, B. (1998). Instructional design and learning theory. Retrieved from http://www.usak.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm

Lein, K. (n.d). Elearning pedagogy. Retrieved from http://elearning pedagogy.com/index.html

Lynch, D, & Knight, B. (2010). The theory and practice of learning management a text for the student of learning management. Frenchs Forest, Nsw: Pearson Australia

Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me, what today's learners demand. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir.library/pdf/erm0553.pdf.

Smith, R., Lynch, D., & Knight, B. (2007). Learning management transitioning teachers for national and international change. Frenchs Forest, Nsw: Pearson Education

Snowman, J., Dobozy, E., Scevak, J., Bryer, F., Barlett, B. & Biehler, R. (2009). Psychology applied to teaching. Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons.

Teachnology. (n.d). Bloom's taxonomy verbs. Retrieved from http://www.teachnology.com/worksheets/time_savers/bloom/

Appendix 1 Comments list

Blogs

Blogs vs Wikis

Online concept mapping

Online concept mapping #2

Online concept mapping #3

Glogs

Glogs #2

Glogs #3

Digital video

This video I embedded from Youtube and it shows you how to use windows Movie Maker

Here is a SWOT analysis of digital video:

Strengths:

- Fun way for learners to show what they know about a particular topic.

- Easy to make

- Can be made using a video camera or through the use of still images (or photographs) imported into a program such as Windows Movie Maker

- Great assessment tool. It involves learners demonstrating content knowledge as well as ICT competencies/skills

- Can be constructed as a group (promoting collaborative learning)

- Contains a mixture of sounds and images.

Weaknesses:

- May be time consuming to create

- Referencing and plagiarism need to be discussed with learners before the commencement of creating a digital video.

Opportunities:

- Can allow learners to express themselves creatively

- Can be created on practically any topic

Threats:

- Students may spend more time playing with the movie effects than focusing on the content to put in the video.

Below is a quick movie that I created using Windows Movie Maker and Microsoft PowerPoint:

Podcasting

Podcating is a great way to interact learners in the classroom. It is a way of communication as well as something that you could get learners to produce as an assessment tool.

Some great podcasts that you can download include things by the discovery channel and also National Geographic. I did a search and was amazed at the podcasts that you can download and show your students. Most of the ones that I found were free and able to be used in a classroom.

SWOT of a Podcast:
Stengths:
- once they are downloaded you can listen to them over and over again.
- some podcasts are not just audio, they have images and movies too.
- come in a range of topics.
- Fun and engaging.
- You can create your own and get your students to subscribe.
- You could use podcasts as a form of assessment.

Weaknesses:
- Need to download iTunes or a similar program to subscribe to podcasts.
- Some podcasts are not free.
- Younger students may need help if they are creating their own podcasts.

Opportunities:
- Can be used for a variety of activities.
- So many to choose from

Threats:
- Need to be careful of copyright laws.
- Access to technology.

Links to theory:
Getting a student to create their own podcast could be regarded as constructivist learning as the learner is building upon their own learning (Lein, n.d).

Links to Frameworks:
An activity that you could get your learners to do in regards to podcasts that links to the frameworks of Blooms taxonomy and Learning engagement theory:
1. Get the learners to create their own podcasts (in groups or individually). This would be the create part of the learning engagement theory (Keirsley & Schneiderman, 1998).


2. Have them choose the topic that they are creating the podcast about but make them relate it to something they are currently studing. This would be the relate part of the learning engagement theory (Keirsley & Shneiderman, 1998).


3. Have them present the podcast to the class. This could be done as a presentation or they could just get other learners to subscribe to their podcast. This would be the donate part of the learning engagement theory (Keirsley & Schneiderman, 1998).


This activity would also (if you scaffold it correctly) allow learners to model the higher order thinking skills present in Bloom's Taxonomy (Teachnology, n.d)





References

Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1998) Engagement theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved from: http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Lein, K. (n.d). Elearning pedagogy. Retrieved from http://elearningpedagogy.com/index.html

Teachnology. (n.d). Bloom's taxonomy verbs. Retrieved from: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/time_savers/bloom/

A picture can say a thousand words.....



Above is a photo that I uploaded to Flickr and have now decided to embed into my blog. With Flickr, by copying and pasting the HTML code into your blog posting you are able to insert images. This is a great activity to have your learners do. However, be aware that if the image isn't your own you need to make sure that you reference appropriately and give credit to the person who actually owns the image.

Learning Management Systems (LMS)

Before starting university, I had no idea of what a LMS was or its potential, but now I do.

CQU uses the LMS moodle. It seems to work ok for what it is needed for. In a school environment different LMS may be used depending on the context.

A SWOT of Moodle:

Strengths:

• Great communication for distance students. They can just log on and access notes that have been put up, powerpoint slides etc.
• Assessment can take place on the moodle site. Online quizes that can assess all sorts of knowledge plus submission of assessement items can take place online.
• You can send a message to other users who are enrolled in the moodle site. For distance ed students this can bridge the gap and stop students from feeling isolated.
• Usage and time spent on the site can be monitored by the teacher (or lecturer) and whether or not a learner is spending enough time engaging with materials can be assessed.
• Other users can post profiles to the site which can be viewed by other members and this can form networks and partnerships between learners.

Weaknesses:

• Some learners may view a moodle site as being fairly static in regards to communication when they compare it to a social networking site such as twitter or facebook.
• It can take a fair amount of time to set up a moodle site that is usable for learners.
• Face to face communication may be preferable to learners.
• Learners may feel that if everything is on the moodle site then they don't need to attend classes or go to school. Face to face contact (where possible) is IMPORTANT.

Opportunities:

• has the potential to make distance learning more easier

Threats:

• Some learners may not have internet access and therefore disregard using the site as important for their learning

Powerpoint in the classroom


Powerpoint... Now there's a term that practically everyone would know. But what about the potential that it has for classroom learning?


Many people (myself included before commencing the eLearning course) think of powerpoint as a way of presenting information to aid a presentation. Ok so it can be used in this way, but wait....it can do much, much more.


Forget static boring presentations with powerpoint, you can create interactive powerpoints.


There is nothing worse (my opinion here guys so you can totally disagree if you want) with sitting through a boring presentation where a person is speaking and there is a powerpoint in the background but it's static and nothing interactive or interesting is happening. So sometimes this may be an effective way of transferring information, but it doesn't require the viewer to think much nor does it give the person much of an opportunity to apply their own ways of thinking to the information/konwledge they are acquiring. Where's the constructivist learning?


I must admit that I have seen a few presentations on powerpoint, that if you asked me what they were about I would not be able to remember, they just did not hold my attention. Was the learning then effective?


On the other hand using powerpoint in an interactive way can be very effective. For example you could create a powerpoint (interactive) that allows the viewer to click on items in the slide that take them to different slides depending on what they are interested on learning about. That way you give the learner the control and allow constructivist learning to take place. Keeping in mind that for learning to be constructed the knowledge learnt is not a mere transferrence of facts (Mergel, 1998).


Other interesting things that you could use powerpoint for that are not boring:

• Powerpoint can be used as an assessment item. You could create a click and drag on your powerpoint and have your learner show you what they know about something. This could be tied into a science topic of classifying the learners would be able to classify items on the screen. This is a great way to assess lower and possibly higher order levels of thinking.



• It can be used to create mind-maps. Concept mapping is a great thing for learners to be completing and has many advantages for learners. See an earlier post on concept-mapping for a list of advantages. Cognitive learning benefits a lot from this kind of task (Lein, n.d)



• The powerpoint slides can be saved as jpeg files and imported into windows movie maker so your learners can create their own movie.
  

The list can go on. It's practically endless. But the main thing is that powerpoint has endless uses for the classroom. A bit of creativity and fiddling around and it's amazing what you can come up with. Powerpoint is a tool that all learning managers should be using in their classrooms.

References

Lein, K. (n.d). Elearning pedagogy. Retrieved from http://elearningpedagogy.com/index.html

Mergel, B. (1998). Instructional design & learning theory. Retrieved from http://www.usask.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm