WEEK 4 - PART TWO - Microsoft Excel

MnMs on Mircosoft Excel

The second part of our week four workshop in Learning Technologies, we were required to design a bargraph using mircrosoft excel. We were required to use different colours. It was based m&ms. We needed to sort out each coloumn seperately by using the m&ms colours. Graphs can be used to sort out information in a numerical order. When i was in primary school, we were introduced to Mircrosoft Excel - when we gathered data the easiest way to organise this data was in a form of a graph - Personally when i was younger, i didnt know we can actually design graphs using excel; i always thought they can only be drawn on paper. Excel is such a useful tool in that sorts infromation calculating the total on its own. Some may find it hard to use, they may find it difficult to split the cells on the excel page; alot of guidance is required as a teacher - however it is important to know that it isnt hard to follow. Once a clear explanation is showen and explained thoroughly, students will be able to understand how to use it and the reason as to why this program is used.

All sorts of graphs can be design on Microsoft excel; pie, bar and pictographs. Charts are also designed using microsoft excel. The graph above basically shows what we needed to do during our workshop this week. As a student in my final year of study, over the years i have become quite confident in sorting out information using graphs and charts on Mircrosoft Excel. Microsoft Excel is an important tool and i believe students should be introduced to such a successful and useful program in their primary years or study.

WEEK 4 - Integrating ICT in the classroom; Dust echoes

ICT in the primary classroom:


In the 21st Century education, ICT use is the prime focus in the primary classroom. Although we may still use books and pencils as well as worksheets, computer use is important in that it allows students to learn how to use various educational programs which will inturn boost their confidence in having more then one successful way to learn. ICT is beneficial in the sense that it recognizes students skills and weaknessess and it later advances students fluency in a range of areas of study. ICT use in the classroom also promotes creativity to students work; not only should the internet be used but also programs such as Microsoft office to aid in presenting an academic peice of writing and the use of powerpoint presentation to show different forms and layouts.





Week 4 Lecture - Critical Thinking

Basically critical thinking refers to the the individual thinking clearly and deeply. When thinking critically, one will also develop a sense of thinking independently. Critical thinking involves solving problems on his/her own, construct and evaluate arguments, the ability of justifying arguments etc. Thinking Critically also involves promoting creativity.

A useful website on critical thinking is provided in the link below:

http://www.austhink.org/crticialthink.org/critical/


Workshop: Dust Echoes

This week in our Learning Technologies workshop, we were required to visit the Dust Echoes website and watch Aboriginal Dreamtime stories. The purpose of this lesson was to carefully choose a dreamtime film from the dust echoes wesite and to retell the story in the form of a concept map - i used the program 'inspiration' as it makes it quite easy to develop a concept map and make links from scene to scene. The Dust Echoes website is a useful site for students to visit as it clearly talks about Aboriginal history which can aid in literacy as well as ART learning units. The website is user friendly as each story has its own explanation, activities to follow and learning focus. Nowadays in primary schools, Aborginal studies is incorporated in certain subjects as it is important for all Australian students to learn and know about Aboriginal culture. This website is useful and it will help students understand Aboriginal life and history.




The link for this useful website is below:

www.abc.net/dustechoes

week 3 - QUIA WEBSITE/Protecting Students Online

WordSearch

Workshop:

During this week in Learning Technologies, we were introduced to a website known asn QUIA - Quintessential Instructional Archive. This website is quite fantastic for both students and teachers. It includes many activities in which students are able to test their own knowledge and receive fast online feedback. Activities include various quizzez, wordfinds, and many more. Teachers can use QUIA to create their own quiz for students int their classes in order to test their knowledge on various topics. The great thing about QUIA is that you may use your own personal content in setting up activties for students. Some other activities that can be used in the primary classroom by young students include jumbled words, hangman, ordered lists, flashcards and matching words. QUIA is a useful tool in assessing students knowledge other than using pen and paper. Students need to be able to use the internet and computers quite often in order to imporve their ICT skills and to make learning much more enjoyable.

During this lesson, as shown in the images above, i created a quiz about the seasons of the year as well as a word search. Our lecturer Greg asked all students to form a quiz using this website and had us rotate at least once and complete a quiz that one of our peers formed. This was a great experience and it was quite interesting to see the different type of activities students put together. Sometimes quizez handed out on a peice of paper may seem quite stressful for students in a primary classroom; computer work is always more enjoyable and students are more eager to learn.

The link below will lead you directly to this beneficial website - QUIA



http://www.quia.com.au/



Week Three Lecture: The protection of Students Online.

ICT has become quite important in terms of education, but we as educators must be aware of the dangers that may result when a student is using the internet. Teachers must always monitor and be around students when using the internet during class time. Primary students aren't always aware of the 'bad' websites therefore it is the schools duty to bann all websites which may cause harm to a students learning whilst browsing the internet for educational use. Students must also be warned of the risks and therefore they too need to responsible for how they use the internet.

The Department of education has provided teachers and schools with recommendations on how to prevent dangers so students whilst using the internet - The DEECD use heading such as lead, educate, manage, support, empower, and participate for cyber safety. Teachers are told to reinforce and act upon these headings in order for the risks to be prevented.

WEEK 2 - Microsoft Publisher

This week in Learning Technologies, we were expected to visit Microsoft Publisher and create our own brochure about a country of our choice. Microsoft Publisher can be used not only to create brochures but also newsletters, awards and advertisments as well as your own personal e-portfolio. Many students nowadays use computers to complete their homework tasks and are quite familiar with microsoft office - Publisher is an easy tool to use in terms of creating cards, resumes and different templates.

Students in the primary classroom will find it easy to navigate around the program and experience using different templates espescially if they are quite familiar with Microsoft word as these programs are all linked to one another. In the primary classroom, publisher in my opinion will be quite a useful tool for students to use when completing tasks such as brochures etc. Publisher can also be used by primary students to help them produce a letter to their friend/family using a template and background of their choice; also students will be able to create banners and produce their own personal post cards.

Microsoft Publisher has its many functions and this program itself is quite creative. I am a frequent user of Microsoft Publisher and i feel it has given a great sense of creativity and layout to my work. In a primary classroom i believe creativity should be a main focus and as a teacher, i aim to teach my students how to be creative and how to use programs that can aid in designing tasks to a great level.

ePortfolio for students and Teachers:

An ePortfolio can be used as a successful tool in reflecting what the student has learnt and achieved over time. One of our assessments for Learning Technologies unit is to design our own e-portolio and include in it our educational philosphy, Resume, Practicum reflections etc. It is a fantastic tool due to the fact that it gathers all the important information needed in order to reflect on a students learning and engagment throughout his/her study period. The use of Microsoft Publisher also helps in creating an e-portfolio, basically designing it to suit an indvidiual's wants in terms of colour, backrgound and layout.

Personally i wasnt familiar on how to create an e-portfolio, i created my own folio in the form of a large folder with plastic pockets however visiting Mircrosoft publisher made it so easy and much more understanding. An ePortfolio is definitely what should be taken into a job interview nowadays; the use of ICT is so important in schools and it is thus a manin focus on learning.

An ePortfolio should be introduced to students in order to reinforce how organistion is always needed in order to be successful and academic.