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.

Images Online

Flickr is online website which allows its users to upload images onto the internet either privately or publicly. Below is a link to view one of the images I uploaded within my Flickr account.

A sleeping student

I found this image through creativecommons.org, where I was able to search for images suitable for commercial use.

Images (as with all efficient multimedia), are of great use in engaging students, and student engagement goes hand in hand with effective learning.

PowerPoint Presentations

Uses of Powerpoint:

PowerPoint presentations can be used by students to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of content, and to practise digital skills.

PowerPoint presentations can be used within an oral presentation to help students to engage their audience and to outline key points which they themselves, can then elaborate on verbally.

PowerPoints can also be interactive in nature, allowing its participates to move through the slides at their own choice of direction. The use of multiple pathways in a PowerPoint means that multiple choice quizzes can also be set up within the presentation.

By duplicating a number of slides, then slightly altering one after another, a digital animation can be constructed by students.

Pedagogical Advantages:

PowerPoint Presentations are great for the more visual and auditory learners. They are also far more engaging to an audience. If a student can become emotional engaged in content (which can often be evoked by powerful images) they are more likely to remember what they are learning.

Websites

I have made a free website at weebly.com. It can be viewed by clicking here.

Creating a website could be used to the support the learning of students in many ways.



A classroom website could..

• Include links to websites which relate to curriculum content.
  
• provide information, task outlines, homework and other resources to assist student learning.
  
• Show and tell what students are learning and achieving in school.
  
• Connect students with their teacher, parents, other students in their class and around the world.
  
• ..and so much more. (KinderArt 2006)
  

Here are a few good examples of classroom websites which I have found for inspiration:

Mrs. Pearce's Classroom Website

School Days Top Classroom Websites List

Wikis

A wiki is an online space where any user can edit, modify, add and remove information. The most famous example of this is Wikipedia.

It is different from a blog in several ways:

• It is not soley controlled by one person.
  
• It is not composed of postings but pages.
  
• There is no chronological order to wikipages as there is to blog postings.
  

Please look at this website for further clarification on the differences between the two: CoverStations. The videos on the website are particularly useful.

In the learning context, wikis can be used in so many ways. Some examples include:

• student groupwork organisation (communication, to do lists, resources lists & planning)
  
• creating an online group texbook with videos, audio and pictures if so desired.
  
• presenting information of group projects.
  
• and so much more...
  

Through the use of wikis, students can work together and practise being editors, publishers and evaulators of their own work.

For some wonderful ideas on how wikis can be useful in the classroom please look at this website: SmartTeaching.Org

I made my first wiki. To view it just click here.

Multiple Intelligences Framework Table

The following is a table which briefly outlines what ICT learning activities & tools could be used to teach each of Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences:

Intelligence	Key Aspects	Relevant ICT learning activites/tools
Logical/Mathematical	Number sense, puzzles, solving problems, measuring, graphs, logical reasoning etc.	Spreadcheet software (e.g. Microsoft Excel), Mindmapping software (e.g. bubbl.us), quiz designing (e.g. quizilla.com), online & offline maths games (e.g. jigsaw puzzles, jigsawdoku.com), survey creation (e.g. surveymonkey.com) etc.
Social/Interpersonal	Sharing, social understanding, presenting, explaining etc.	Conferencing (e.g. Skype,), social networking (e.g. eblogger.com, wikispace.com, delicious.com), PowerPoint presentations etc.
Nature	Observing patterns, enjoying scenery, gardening, cooking etc.	Encyclopedias (e.g. Encyclopedia of Life), Recording documentaries (e.g. video cameras, iPods, Photostory 3, MovieMaker), virtual exploration (e.g. Google Earth), online & offline nature games (e.g. Zoo Tycoon) etc.
Body/Kinsthetic	Movement, roleplay demonstration, action, fixing, hands-on etc.	Cameras (presenting evidence), video cameras (roleplaying a scenario), recording (e.g. voice recording on iPods etc), editing (MovieMaker) etc.
Self/Intrapersonal	Reflection, journalling, self assessment, religion etc.	Mindmapping (e.g. bubble.us), journalling (eBlogger.com), researching (search engines, delicious.com), Powerpoint presentaions, quiz designing (quizilla.com) etc.
Musical	Recognising patterns of sound, music appreciation, memorisation, musical creation etc.	Creating & presenting music (e.g. Garageband, Audacity) podcasting (e.g. Audacity, iTunes, podomatic), listen to/download music (online radio, YouTube, jamendo, iTunes) etc.
Visual/Spatial	Showing, illustrating, interpreting, perceiving, decorating etc.	Art creation (Windows Paint, ArtPad), Photo editing (Adobe Photoshop), timeline creation, digital book creation, PowerPoint presentations, slideshows, animation software etc.
Verbal/Linguistic/Word	Writing, articulating, listening, expression etc.	Storytelling (e.g. YouTube, podcasting, Photostory 3, PowerPoint), blogs (eBlogger.com), mindmapping (bubbl.us) etc.

Topic 1 Concept Map

Here is my concept map for topic 1 in my managing eLearning class, which is Active Learning, Diversity & Theory. (see below)












I found the concept mapping tool at bubbl.us extremely useful. A great learning tool for congnitivism.