This blog has provided a description of many current digital tools prevalent in the learning environment. Perhaps the most common and suitable for a standard classroom and providing the most benefits for students would be Concept Mapping, PowerPoint Presentations, Blogs, Learning Management Systems and Learning Styles. Not only are these tools easily accessible to Learning Managers and students, they are simple to use, effective and provide skills transferable to further careers and endeavours. There are many current theories and frameworks which support the concept of ICT use in the classroom and the students can become more engaged with the content and the world around them. “a powerful computer learning environment is characterized by a good balance between discovery learning and personal exploration on one hand, and systematic instruction and guidance on the other, always taking into account the individual differences in abilities, needs, and motivation between students.” (Newhouse, 2002, pg.9)
Ideas, thoughts and concepts created within the brain are developed through linkages to prior knowledge and relative ideas. Concept Maps display this thought process in a diagram and display a hierarchical procedure characterising the main elements and relationships in a physical and visual sense. When developing Concept Maps, many theorists explored the difficultly for some people to create linkages and relationships between new and old information. “The fundamental idea in Ausubel’s cognitive psychology is that learning takes place by the assimilation of new concepts and propositions into existing concept and propositional frameworks held by the learner.” (Novak & Canas, 2006) In the digital era, technology provides programs and websites specifically created to generate concept maps and diagrams, which can be very useful when planning lessons and activities. This helps to not only cater to more learning styles but also make knowledge meaningful. They can particularly relate to Dimension 4, Use Knowledge Meaningfully which helps students to develop Complex Reasoning Processes and transfer them to real life situations. There are many ways which digital concept maps could be incorporated into a classroom exercise. I would incorporate them through a brainstorm activity with the students using a Digital Whiteboard, this not only includes students in the thought process, it also identifies the linkages and demonstrates how to construct a Concept Map using particular programming. Although digital concept maps are very convenient and aesthetically pleasing, I would note that it is still just as effective and just as easy to write a concept map on the whiteboard or have students construct in their notebooks.
An important tool used in seminars, presentations and demonstrations is a PowerPoint presentation. PowerPoint’s provide a chance for the creativity of a student to be explored with various functions. This easy to use program caters for many learning styles including auditory (use of music and speech), visual (incorporation of pictures and movies) and informational content can be seen as well as heard, all which is very useful when teaching a diverse classroom of adolescents. They are also an engaging tool for adolescents who have grown up with technology, who are able to interact with their learning and identifying key elements of the information. In the classroom the teacher can incorporate PowerPoint presentations to make content more engaging, and also to break down large pieces of information so that students understand key concepts and ideas. Assessment programs are also integrating PowerPoint presentations into the students’ work, particularly in oral presentations as it gives students the opportunity to interact with the audience in a new manner, and also elaborate on their speeches. Giving students the skills to understand, use and create a PowerPoint presentation is a skill which they will use in their future careers and learning.
A blog is a versatile online journal which allows users to construct and publish their thoughts or information on a particular topic or on their own experience. Blogs are fast becoming a very popular outlet in the world of technology provides an avenue to get an opinion or experience displayed for anyone to view and follow. In the learning environment a blog allows students freedom to create, analyse and synthesise information and use their knowledge and understanding of ICT’s to create their own webpage which they can access from any computer at any time. This can provide a lot of fulfilment and satisfaction in students’ assignments, offering the opportunity to show family members and friends their hard work. It also allows for interaction between class members with online comments and threads developed through accessing each other’s pages. Being able to access peer pages helps to expand prior knowledge, create new concepts, and be open and diplomatic to the thoughts and opinions of others creating an inclusive environment. A blog is a very useful tool in the classroom as it allows freedom of speech encourages independent opinion and work and incorporates ICT in an inventive style.
All students are individual in the way they act, the way they dress, the way they interact and also the way that they think and learn. As a Learning Manager it is essential to understand that each students brain is wired differently and that they must create an inclusive learning environment and a positive learning experience for each of their students. "Many schools still rely on classroom and book-based teaching, much repetition, and pressured exams for reinforcement and review. A result is that we often label those who use these learning styles and techniques as “bright.”" (Learning Styles Online, 2007) With the knowledge and research on learning styles students can recognize their personal intelligences and work accordingly. The use of Learning Management Systems is particularly prevalent in tertiary educational facilities. The use of programs such as Blackboard and Moodle are very common in university level education for their ease of use, cost, and accessibility from a large range of students from varied locations. These systems provide an avenue for course information to be accessed including content, links, readings, assessment, forums, and contact information. This is a very useful online tool as it creates a forum for users to become independent learners, to develop their learning journey at their own pace and gradually filter through set work, and also have discussions with other students undertaking the same course. At secondary level education these programs could also be in place for students to interact with each other on a technology based level. I would incorporate this technique if students where working with a school overseas on the same subject, giving them the opportunity to gain new ideas, feedback from other students with a different background and have general conversation accessible online.
In the twenty-first century it is inevitable that ICT’s for learning will gradually become more prevalent in the world of education. Students must learn to adapt to life with technology as it begins to consume the world around us and careers ahead. That is why it is important to integrate ICT as frequently as possible and begin giving students the opportunity to become independent life-long learners as the ability to adapt to change and access information and research are key skills which are transferrable in any area of work or study. As found through this synopsis and through the blog entries thus far, there are many digital tools which are available to Learning Managers which are free of charge and generally user friendly, providing many opportunities for use as educators to familiarize ourselves also to an ever-changing technology environment, as change in teaching and learning is already evident.
Comment was made on Rebeccca Munns blog regarding how E-Learning supports student learning. A full reading of the blog and discussion can be found at http://rebeccamunns.blogspot.com
Technology is a very large part of the current generation in schooling, I think you are correct in saying that they "talk the language". I agree that an important aspect of ICT is collaborating and analyzing. Information is readily available to students but they have to learn how to synthesize, find the relevant information and bring it all together :)
REFERENCES
Learning Styles Online (2007) Overview of Learning Styles, viewed 26 August 2010, http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview/
Newhouse, P (2002) The Impact of ICT on Learning and Teaching, viewed 24 August 2010, http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/downloads/pd/impactreview.pdf
Novak, J & Canas, A (2006) The Theory Underlying Concept Maps and How to construct them, viewed 24 August 2010, http://cmap.ihmc.us/publications/researchpapers/theorycmaps/theoryunderlyingconceptmaps.htm
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