A Reflective Synopsis on eLearning

I have put together a reflective synopsis on eLearning and in particular the correlation of popular learning theory and four popular digital technologies (including: wikis, blogs, learning objects & PowerPoint Presentations).

Please feel free to have a read. It can be assessed by clicking here.

Google Earth & Google Maps

Google Earth is a program which can be used to explore images of the earth from a birds eye view. Sites can sometimes also be viewed at a closer range in a photograph etc. Some sites can also be viewed at a different point in time. Below is a picture of the Fitzroy River in September 2003, followed by one at the same location in December 2004.






























Google Maps is a program which can be used to view maps of the world online. Below is an image of the Fitzroy River as a map (outlining street names etc).




View Larger Map

There are many educational projects which explore interesting aspects Google Earth and Maps in different ways at the Google Earth Outreach Showcase website.

Here is a project that I found through exploration of the website, which explores evidence of the impact of global warming on the earth.


There are lots of pedagogical uses for Google Earth & Google Maps. Students can search for an image of their local river, their city or even their neighbourhood. This can help them to relate their learning to the real world, it is thereby another great tool for constructivism.

Students can learn about SOSE and many more subjects, by exploring these images of their world. They can make inferences about the features of the environment and the impact upon the people and wildlife of the area. They can look at the impact of oil spills. They could undertake a role as city council and look at maps to plan where they would place a sewage plant or the new town library.

It is really up to the learning manager to consider where Google Earth & Google Maps may be of use to them within their curriclum. Above all other advatages, when students use these programs, they are connecting their learned knowledge with real world imagery to help ground the "facts" in reality and gain a deeper understanding.

Online Quizzes

I just finished creation a quiz on "The Science of Water" at quizilla.com. I am having a bit of trouble with the link for reasons I am not yet sure of but if you can, please take a look. The password for the quiz is water.

Learning Objects

A learning object is an interactive online tool which can be used to teach students about a particular subject. Some learning objects can also be downloaded.

There are many interesting and useful learning objects out there but it is important to make sure that any objects used are used with a clear learning purpose in mind. Students should not simply be wasting time by using them aimlessly.

I feel that often learning objects are most useful in extending and refining knowledge after the basis of a topic has already been established and understood.

Many learning objects are great tools in cognitivism,(in the way that they require students to organise information), behaviourism (as students are rewarded for correct answers) and sometimes constructivism (when the learning object places students in a demonstrative "real-world" scenario).

You Tube

Below is a video I found on YouTube about the Water Cycle. It has a catchy song and is, I feel, an excellent tool for engaging students and to assist in extending and refining their content knowledge.

Digital Video

Below is a video I have made using Windows Live MovieMaker.

The images were all found through creativecommons.org. The songs used are: Raindrops by Basement Jaxx, Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head by Burt Bacharach & Butterfly Wings by Owl City.

This video was created for independent use as a stimulus for educational purposes. I would consider using it as a "hook" to get students interesting in and thinking about water at the beginning of a unit about water.



Digital videos could be used for a variety of pedogogical purposes in the classroom for example: as a stimulus for thought, for students to analyse advertisements, as a research tool, to record interviews, presenting school news, demonstrating knowledge about different cultures, student reflection, explaining concepts or activities in maths, science, art etc.

Podcasts

Image courtesy of Flickr


A podcast is a sound file which can be streamed or downloaded from an online source and contain useful or entertaining information. You can subscribe to a series of podcasts. You can also record and upload your own podcasts for others to download.

Podcasting can be a useful tool for learning. There are many valuable podcasts available on the web which can be downloaded using iTunes or a similar program, or sometimes assessed directly from the website. Here is an example of a podcast I found at the ABC3 website, which is an interview of the famous children's author Graeme Base.

I also found two other podcasts which could be useful for educational purposes:

SBS's Insight and
ABC's EdPod

Resources such as this can assist students in their own research and learning and are again a useful tool in engagement. It caters directly to the verbal and/or musical learners in a class.

Students can also create their own podcasts to present their work or demonstrate the information they have learnt. For example: a Year 3 student could record a podcast of themselves describing and explaining a picture they have drawn of their own invention. This podcast could be uploaded alongside a picture of their drawing on a class website.