Has technology changed the way we learn

It could be said that we currently live in a ‘Knowledge society’ or ‘information revolution’ where information and data are downloaded or uploaded into our personal space on an hourly basis. Crawley believed that although there are positives in that “It can draw people and communities together”(Crawley, J. 2011: p57), it also could create a ‘digital divide’ in society. The information overload itself could be questioned. Although knowledge is now so very easy to access in the class room or out of it, in seconds a student can research just about anything.

 

 Accurate and solid information is a different matter. The student now has to be educated in the value of the content of the research. Crawley again suggests that we “ a media society where we are information rich but content poor”(Crawley, J. 2011: p57). For the student it is not as simple to go to the local library and pick up a book as any one can write on the Internet. So although the student not only has to be a where of the potential poor content but also tort how to filter through all the dater and fined true academic sources.
Not only dose the student have to change to adapt in the knowledge society but it could be argued that the teacher or lecturer has to change also. Currently students spend less then 5000 hours of their lives with their noses in books, but spend double that on video games and double that again on Ipad's, watching TV, Ipod's, phones and computers. In the words of Marc Presnsky, (2001) internationally acclaimed leader in critical areas of learning and education, "Our students have changed radically, today's students are no longer the people our educational system was designed for". The list of apps that aid learning is endless. A few examples are Collins revision apps, bitesize maths, IBM think, and Atlas by Collins the list goes on.

Using an interactive white board and power point ineffectively both can be counterproductive in the classroom as well as an aid to teaching.

The interactive white board being used as literally a board of which to write on, in this instance the teacher is not utilising the full potential of the interactive nature of the board. Power point also can be used inefficiently limiting the presentation to a mere slide show of built point after built point. Slides ladened with text and in the words of Petty (2009 p380) “failure to exploit the medium”.

The interactive white board has the potential to enable the teacher to engage the class and as the board suggests, interact with the class. Not only are there pens for the board, but also the computer screen can be put up on the board for the whole class to observe and take part, as well as a number of different activities. Both the board and power point allows the teacher to integrate with the class and become more approachable for possible questions. (Bennett/Dunne(1992) believed that joining in on an activity in the class was much better than just supervising the activity. joining in raises the possibility of dialogue. Feeling comfortable and able to ask questions enables effective learning.

For example if the teacher wanted to assess the class on the lesson of that day, they could construct a quiz on the board using the pens and dragging the answers with their fingers. Geoff Petty (2009,p247) believed that “games can produce intense involvement, and a quality of concentration no other teaching method can match”. It could be said that playing games like a quiz in a learning environment heightens interest and motivation, also a game that stimulates good feelings and laughter encourages positive feelings towards the topic being tort.

The interactive white board along side power point could be a very powerful tool in the classroom if used effectively. Over 80% of information that enters your mind is visual; also visual information is easier to remember.

Power point with the interactive board allows for multisensory learning, which is considered one of the best ways of learning. Auditory, visual and tactile learning could be met with visual aids, areas for discussion and a virtual interactive game. With so many digital contributions to the class room and with an audience already geared up to accommodate and thrive of it, it could be said that it has changed the way we learn and the way we teach.

References


Bennett, N, Dunne, E, (1992) Managing classroom groups ,Stanley Thornes (publishers) LTD

Crawley J. (2011) In at the deep end Perth: Prepress rojects LTD(cited Goethe 2009) p57


Castle, S. Explain Everything App in the class room (10,3,2013) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Cr9sZycBYLM. Accessed 19,9,2013

 Petty,G. (2009)Teaching Today, Nelson Thornes LTD, (Cited page 247)
 
Presnsky, M. Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants (5,10,2001) http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky%20-%20Digital%20Natives,%20Digital%20Immigrants%20-%20Part1.pdf. Accessed 19,9,2013


Sawers, P. 12 of the best educational apps of 2012 (27,12,2012) http://thenextweb.com/apps/2012/12/27/12-of-the-best-educational-apps-of-2012/. Accessed 19,9,2013

What is learning?

I have always thought leaning was a part of growth as an individual, gaining knowledge, basically knowing something you didn't know before. Now I think there is a bigger debate over what exactly learning is and when it stops being the natural growth of a person, but something extra.

The best example of leaning given to me was a stircase and on each step was two words.

 unconscious incompetence -> conscious incompetence -> conscious competence -> unconscious competence.

(this whole sentence is a dyslexic nightmare.)   

It basically means not being aware that you don't know something, realising you don't know something, knowing something but not with out thinking first and then knowing something so well that it becomes second nature. 

Also kolbs learning cycle which helps me understand were I have not been able to learn before and also could be used as a basic starting point to a listen plan. The student would experience something, reflect on it, come to a realisation and learn from it.

we also discussed why learning was important and what could block your learning experience. I found the discussion extremely helpful with not only a realisation on my own personal learning blocks but how I could apply everyone elses' experience as well as my own to my teaching.  

'Read everything properly'
 It turns out that after trying to download Smart not book of the internet, while waiting I open power-point to copy images on an existing presentation, then I closed down all my open windows to expose power-point that I then mistake for smart note book. I have recently tried to download smart note book again to rectify the original mistake. I have just realized that I am trying to down load a windows application on to my mac. I have now successfully downloaded the correct one.

It seems patience is extremely important to stop the extreme frustration and to remember the correct way to upload an image.

The first time I came across power-point was only three years ago. then, I used power-point as a slide show of images to illustrate what it was that i was trying to convey, and as prompts to help me stay on track during my presentation.
Although power-point can be used in this way, I didn't use it to its full potential. I have learned to hyperlink to other slides and to websites, and to return home to the slide i started on. I can also leave notes for myself at the bottom of the screen but out of sight of students.
I understand the importance of the layout, and how an image will appear on the slide. I have also learned to interact and demonstrate a point with the audience using the pens directly on the board.
I believe it is important to make learning interesting and captivating when possible, allowing the student to best enjoy and therefore understand the topic. power-point (used effectively) is a tool that I would use; although I am aware that my subject would have benefited from a film or more step-by-step images.

I find it extremely frustrating when you plan to do something as simple as copy and paste on to this blog, even using ctrl and v, or ctrl and c but to no avail.

Simone Brizzell Browning

When people look at my website they have the option to follow or like it.
A thumbnail icon will appear at the bottom of my page mandylanesculpture and allows me to click on it to see their blog and website. my page also brings up people with similar interests to me so that i can network. Simone Brownings liked my website and so i clicked on her thumbnail icon. Her website not only interested me with her amazing sculptures but also tells me when I can catch her next exhibition. She has a links page so I can look at other websites if they interest me, and also links to organizations that i could possibly join like sculpture cymru. I found her site extremely helpful and useful as well as interesting.

Explain everything App

After experimenting with the app Explain everything, I found it easy to use and believed i would use it in my teaching in the future. However, i used the app incorrectly - like a power point. Now after being taught the right way and after watching tutorials, I feel the app has even more to offer than i first experienced.

The link is below shows how the app can be used and demonstrates how a young student works out his maths problem.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cr9sZycBYLM

Barriers to the Effective Use of Technology in Education.

Barriers to the effective use of technology in education.

Technology is in the classroom. The question is how effective is it being utilised. Playing an active part in your own learning experience rather than merely enduring lectures or the monotonous tone of the teacher or pages and pages of text can be hugely beneficial to the learners learning practice. Skinner and Wellborn argue (Wery, 2003) “students who are involved in creating the project assignment or the project checklist gain valuable experience in setting their own goals and standards, in addition, this gives students a sense of ownership and control over their own learning”. It could also be said that participation in the learning experience heightens the student’s motivation to wards the objective of the class. Researchers suggest that motivation is a key part of the success in learning and is defined as “the individuals desire to participate in the learning process; it involves the reasons or goals that underlie their involvement or non-involvement in academic activities” (Wery, 2003). It seems the more inviting the learning process becomes it appears the more motivation to engage in the learning process. It could be said that technology in the classroom could enhance the interaction with the students and the students’ motivation towards their work.  Januszewski and Molenda (Januszewski, A. M. (2008) believe that “in education, technology increases the options and opportunities for educational practices”.

Availability used to be a problem for teachers to use technology to aid their teaching, but as computers, white boards and even ipads are now in most schools, availability it seems is know longer a main contributor. It could be said that the mane use of technology by teachers is to complete administrative jobs instead of a vital part of teaching the class. A lack of training opportunities could be a key factor "educational innovations usually do not succeed if teachers are not provided with the skills and knowledge needed to carry them out" (Mentz, M. Mentz, K. 2003). If the teacher does not know how to use the technology with confidence it is less likely to be used in the class room as an integral tool. Fear of change could also be a contributing factor. If technology has a common place in the class room then teachers have to adapt their whole teaching strategies. " To fully integrate technology into class room teaching and learning, teachers must use new instructional strategies" (Mentz, M. Mentz, K. 2003 p559).

One barrier to the effective use of technology in the class room is the presumption that technology in the classroom would only be used to teach students to use it. In the book teaching for tomorrow, a guide for teachers to help them become better informed teachers, over half way through the book was there a mention of technology. The author Ted McCain did state recognition for this but that technology was mealy a tool and the fundamental teaching was still relevant. He states 'technology is a tool' 'the mind that controls the technology is far more important than the technology itself' (McCain, T. 2005:p36). He then went on to mention how technology would be good for the students to learn to make graphs and build a website. He did not however mention the possibility of teaching with the technology to engage and involve of class.
Lawless and Pellegvino states " technology can make it quicker or easier to teach the same things in routine ways, or it can make it possible to adapt new and arguably better approaches to instruction and or change the content or context of learning".

Januszewski, A. M. (2008). Educational technology intergration. different values, different understanding , 3 (55), 223-252.

Skinner,E,A, Wellborn, J, G. and Cconnell, J, P (1990) What it takes to do well in school and whether i've got it: a process model of perceived control and childrens engagment and achievement in school. Journal of Educational psychology, 82. 22-32.

Wery, J. Thomson, M, M (2003)motinational strategies to enhance effective learning in teaching struggling students. support for learning british journal of learning support;28,3p3 (cited in Dev,P.C (1997)instrinsic motervation and academic achievement. Remedial and special educations, 18,1,12,19.)


 

First day of reflection journal

First day of reflection journal

9.30 to 3.00 IT lesson with a very enthusiastic and patient lecturer. I was computer illiterate up until 3 years ago when I enrolled on to my degree course. It’s amazing how long you can get away with out learning through avoidance. Being Dyslexic I found finding my way around a whole system that uses words extremely scary as well as a lot of hard work. I have always been worried about pressing the wrong button or getting caught up or tangled in a virtual web.  Surprisingly today I found myself in the same shoes as every one else. It seems that if you don’t keep up with technology it can run away with out you.

The topic of today was social networking and how effective it could be as a tool in teaching. Examples to this would be Facebook, twitter and blogging.  I found it quit easy to transfer my skills in building my own website into starting my own blog but found that old habits do not die and just go away. My confidence in completing the task asked of me was often lost and so I needed reassurance that I was right or at least on the right track, also my spelling let me down when I typed an address, if you spell an address wrong then your never going to get there.

My first post

My first Blog

My name is Amanda and I have recently graduated  with a 2-1 BA Hons degree in fine art sculpture.

I have not always been as passionate about art, but art has always been a part of my life.

After only gaining 14 credits out of a possible 30 in an access course to higher education but not wanting to clean toilets for a living, I decided to play on my strengths and enrolled in a foundation art course where i fell completely in love with sculpture. For a creative mind, having no limitations in your media can only be a plus!

During the final year of my degree, I also wrote a book - ‘My Name Is Soldier’, which is the core of my current work.

I feel that art is completely subjective and is something that in practice and with enthusiasm can only receive praise. I would like to teach the subject to support others on their journey, to imbue in them an enthusiasm and freedom to express themselves and enjoy art.

my map