Starrs - Information Technology

Online sharing can be done using various methods and it can be considered a personal preference depending on the audience, purpose for sharing and what feedback is required.  There are several types of learners so choosing to use either Wikis, Blogs, Audiovisual, Audio or Video has to do with the messages that needs to be transmitted and the audience that you are appealing to.  My personal preference in this exercise was the use of Podcasts because I was focused on students who for one reason or another was unable to attend classes, and could still benefit from having the lessons recorded using Podcast.  They would have the advantage of getting the information whenever or where ever they chose.  Podcasts are not for everyone but they are quite easy to create and very inexpensive, thus creating an appeal. Give it a try - no subscriptions necessary - and a wealth of information awaits you.  You just might be amazed.

Collaborative learning is a natural outgrowth of the trend in education toward active learning, whereby students become involved in constructing their own knowledge through discovery, discussion, and expert guidance. Collaboration gives students the opportunity to share their thoughts and interact with peers and their teachers. Listed below are some of the benefits of building effective online collaborative learning environments: It encourages critical thinking. Promotes creative thinking through social stimulation and sharing of ideas. In larger classes, online collaboration offers a more personal environment. It lends a social support system for students. Builds diversity understanding among students. Provides a safe place for questions.

This activity was extremely exciting and I learned so much.  I only wished that we had more time to explore more of the tools - so much more could have been had.  My team and I looked at several of these tools and chose Vyew to collaborate.  We were able to learn a new software while using the fundamentals to collaborate and communicate in meaningful ways.  The way we share information can be impacted by the introduction of tools which can assist us in our delivery methods.  No longer are we as teachers confined to classrooms as we know it but virtual communication is now an alternative method that bring lots of benefits to the learners.

The introduction of social media into the educational arena has significantly changed the way we are able to share information with each other.  Facebook, Twitter and blogs to name a few have contributed to a community of learners that span the globe.  No longer is information sharing restricted to a particular classroom, country/island or even geographical region.  The use of these media have led to a global classrooms where sharing is common place.  The use of social media can contribute to learner-centered environments rather than teacher-centered ones. It is very important to remember that proper planning and monitoring are key to ensuring the classroom environments are maintained as centers of learning. 

Real world collaboration can result in lifelong learners.  Advocates of 21st Century Learning believes that project-based learning, collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving and many other skills are very vital to the development of our students.  We need to assist our students in acquiring these skills as well as position them to become more responsible for their educational development.  If our students are channeled and challenged they can become very productive citizens.  

Engaged learning for the 21st century must have one key ingredient and that is to assume the role of an explorer. Interaction with the physical world and with other people allows students to discover concepts and apply skills. The introduction of MindMeister was one such discovery concept that was used in this activity. The introduction and use of these concept tools positively contribute to our students becoming producers of knowledge, capable of making significant contributions to the world's knowledge.

Another 21st century learning skill!!  Knowledge building is a tool in which a group can come together to create context for a particular topic.  It definitely fosters collaborative learning while encouraging group sharing ideas, planning techniques and lends to the use of technological tools.  New tools were introduced and that has provided us with options as we endeavour to build a better learning environment for our students.  Knowledge building as the name implies is a process of learning rather than an instant fix.  With this in mind we as the educators must ensure that the process is enjoyable and conducive to learning.  We must also that the process caters to the retention of information by allowing the direct involvement of the students.  Knowledge building can prove beneficial to students as well as to the teachers themselves.

Critical thinking when used in the classroom encourages us (both students and teachers) to become more analytical about learning.  It forces our students to think for themselves and to learn while doing. The process also encourages our students to participate in co-operative learning in which they can problem solve, be curious while they share knowledge.  Critical thinking should not be used in my opinion until proper checks are put in place as per the information that we were introduced to in this activity.  Critical thinking allows people to build knowledge and to be reflective with the information that is acquired.   Due to it's great importance I think critical thinking should be encouraged in our classrooms.  Not only in our classrooms but we have a duty to share this revolutionary learning strategy with our colleagues by fostering interdisciplinary learning.

This activity was quite an eye opener - forcing me to give greater consideration to the alignment of the 21st Century Learning Skills with what I teach and the methods that I use to impart information to my students in my subject area.  With Information Technology there is usually an inclusion of tools into the lesson but I am now more aware that just having the tools is not enough.  Making a greater effort to develop new strategies for learning and implementing them to ensure a better future was the lesson that am now more focused on, as a result of this activity.