Is Gaming the Way?

                      Could using games in the classroom enhance student learning?

Today for on of my university courses I was asked to play a computer game called DragonBox. I couldn’t believe my luck, this didn’t feel like learning but in fact it was could be utilised to enhance my mathematics (Algebra) skills. I spent a while absorbed into this game, like many of our students do with their games on their IPhones or Xbox or PlayStation. On one of my previous practicum placements one of my professional development lessons talked about how students spend copious amounts of hours on these games but we, as educators often struggle to keep students engaged/applied for a 70 minute lesson. Could gaming can answer to helping students stay engaged and motivated in the classroom?

This blog by a primary teacher highlights how he utilised the very popular game, Angry Birds in the classroom to teach students about Anger Management.
Jaime, in her blog highlights that there is a common teacher perception to see games as a distraction to learning. I admit I was apprehensive at the start, However I research and trialled games and now I am from the viewpoint, like Schon, that games can be addictive and engaging and thus can enhance learning outcomes. There are many great educational games out there, I found this website particular useful. This is a new tool which I can add to my toolbelt, I am looking forward to trialling games on my practicum placement!

Banning Mobiles in the Classroom Fails our Students

Are we failing to provide students with a 21st century education by banning mobile phones in the classroom?

In the education world there is an acknowledgement that learning experiences need to be linked to student’s prior knowledge. However, it is also important to ensure our practices link with students prior experiences in using and interacting with particular types of text. It is imperative teacher’s make connections between the technologies students use outside of school.

However … Studies have found that many schools only use laptops and desktop computers as digital texts in the classroom (68). Even though research shows that many students perceive desktop computers as old fashioned, out-dated and slow. This was certainly the case when I was at school. Furthering this, what is the use of getting students to loan or buy out-dated texts, some five years old ? When we can find up to date and reliable information online. Similarly, Hannah points out in her blog, that ICTs allows students to explore the wealth of information on the internet.

Based on this evidence I have come to the conclusion teachers need to be aware of current technological trends. Today there is a rapid rise of teenage mobile phone use, with many using this as a main tool for internet access. Considering this I find it interesting that many schools have banned mobile phones in the classroom. In many schools where the computers or textbook are out-dated why shouldn’t we let students access this information on their phones? Many teachers site the main reasons as it allows students to be off task and get distracted. While this many be true, students can still be off task in classroom without the use of mobile phones? I’ve seen many students off task on a computer! I see this as a behaviour management and lesson planning issue, don’t blame it on the technology! I am interested in hearing your thoughts – should mobile phones be banned in the classroom?

Does SES status make you a winner or a loser?

This week we have been talking about Postman’s 5 things we need to know about technological change. Many students have shared there understandings of the 5 ideas and offered examples of each category.

Max in his blog when discussing idea 3, technology has winners and losers, uses an example of lower socio-economic level students having difficulty being able to source necessary technology, which could lead to a “winners and losers” mentality where kids with better tech access get better grades. However, I am not entirely sure I agree with this statement. Most schools offer various technological devices and lending schemes and many public libraries offer free computer access… Therefore, I believe those from lower SES status still have access to technological resources. I argue what is most important in the classroom it HOW the teacher makes use of the technology.

What is their strategy for technology and the purpose of its use?

If the teacher cannot use these tools effectively, instead utilising technology to simply transmit information it doesn’t matter how old or how much technology they have access to. Similarly, a U.S study found the role of technology itself is not a catalyst for change, change and reform were a result of teachers pedagogical beliefs, it is how they use the tool that makes the difference.

5 little things that may change your view on technology

According to Postman there are 5 things we need to know about technological change

1 Technology is always a trade off

Whilst new technologies offer advantages there will also be disadvantages. Personally, since using technologies with spell check my spelling ability has dropped. Interestingly Schon in his blog also highlights this as an issue. Sometimes I am not even aware I have spelt words wrong as it automatically corrects them. This becomes an issue when I handwrite essays or letters.

2 Technology creates winners and losers

The advantages and disadvantages brought about by technology are not evenly distributed among the population. For example, big companies such as supermarkets or chain stores benefit from being able to track customers purchases and gain personal information. This data provided to companies makes citizens easy targets for targeted marketing.

3 Embedded in every technology is a philosophy, epistemological, political or social prejudice

This prejudice predisposes users to certain perspectives and accomplishments. For example during the national election News Corp which controls 70% of the newspaper industry in Australia used their various media outlets – website, digital and print newspapers to run a slam campaign against Labour, with many suggesting it was instrumental in helping swing voters to the Abbot and the Liberal government.

4 Technological change is not addictive; it is ecological

Introducing a new medium such as standardised testing changes the way we think about education. Additionally, Rossco in his blog highlights how internet has changed education, bringing about the introduction of online learning, changing traditional teacher and student roles and the age old perception that higher education occurs on a campus.

5 Technology tends to become mythic

A tendency to view many everyday technologies as part of the natural order of things. For example, most of generation Y have grown up surrounded by mobile phones and the internet that they don’t question who invented it or cannot imagine a time before it these technologies existed.

Don’t Blame it on the Technology, Blame it on the Man/Woman

Does Technology make us antisocial ?

Many of my fellow students have made comments this week about this notion. Dirk questions whether we are over exposing children to technology, which could dull their creativity and make them boring. Conversely, I believe it doesn’t make us any less social, it just alters the way we socialise. Personally, I am kept up to date and communicate more with my friends, as technology allows us to share our experiences without having to be in the same location. One particular friend named Natalie, well, I could tell you what she eats for dinner each night and what time she goes to bed haha.

I believe Dirks question raises many other questions…

What is excessive technology use?

Where do you draw the line between normal and excessive use? 

A recent study has found ICTs are regarded by many as an essential tool for life, work and study. I believe it is not that technology makes us antisocial, its is how some people use technology that makes a select few antisocial. Benjamin in his blog echo’s a similar sediment, he believes it is not the technology it is how and when the person chooses to use that technology that can make their actions antisocial. Serge Benhayon believes antisocial behaviours such as cyber bullying, internet trolling, abusive language etc. can arise due to the faceless nature of the internet. Considering this, when using ICTs as a strategy in the classroom, teachers need to ensure students are taught digital literacies, such as, finding and evaluating information, appropriate use of technology and netiquette etc.

ICTs and HPE I didn’t think this was a possibility

At the beginning of the course the idea of implementing ICTs in the classroom seemed daunting however the idea of integrating ICTs into Health and Physical Education (HPE), particularly the practical side seemed impossible! I am not alone in my view; Schon in his blog post highlighted this as a concern as well. Previously I have implemented what I thought was ICTs in a theoretical lesson, generally every lesson I utilise a PowerPoint presentation with accompanying videos. However, I have come to realise this is a superficial implementation of ICTs. Socol, the inventor of the Toolbelt Theory points out it’s not the implementation of technology that increases student learning it’s how this technology is utilised. A direct teaching approach where I lecture with aid of a PowerPoint is not integrating ICTs. It does not teach students how to use ICTs, analyse tasks or make decisions, all purposes of ICT integration. I have seemingly limited myself by thinking ICTs can only be implemented into a theoretical HPE lesson. Upon researching I discovered some ICTs tools which can be useful for the practical side of HPE. Jarrod Robinson provides a comprehensive lists of ICT integration ideas. Additionally, Schon suggests another website for HPE teachers which I found useful, particular the heat rate applications (something I could have integrated into my last practical placement!). Discovering these ICT tools was quite easy, however utilising them effectively, considering the context and learners is another challenge all together. I am looking forward to testing out some of my new tools on my next practical placement.

Broadening My Horizons

So my first week of university is down. How did my attempted to utilise ICTs for my study work? Well…this picture is a visual representation of my feelings after day one.

I started off the week by installing an application called AnnotDoc, so I could digitally make notes to my lecture slides. I found this very frustrating. I did not know how to write notes on each individual slide, I could not make the textbox bigger, etc. By Wednesday I have reverted to my faithful pen and paper method. However, on Friday when writing on my printed out lecture slides I was thinking, I am making this harder than it has to be. This week while challenging and overwhelming has opened my eyes to some of the benefits of ICTs ,such as having all documents stored in one place which is accessible on multiple devices or being able to keyword search to find relevant documents (tell that to my four boxes of old lecture notes and handouts I find myself shifting through to find that useful bit of information I read once in what course and what week). Ultimately I realised utilising ICTs could save time. I repeat SAVE ME TIME! Whilst initially ICTs will require you to invest a lot of time, I can see how it will enhance my learning and teaching.

 

Preconceptions and Misconceptions

This week’s learning path exposed me to the concept of schema. Piaget’s (1952) schema theory believes each individual has a collection of preconceived ideas which have arisen from past experiences, serving to influence and limit our perceptions and actions. The learning path activity required students to fill in the blanks below:

The questions that p________ face as they raise ch________ from in_________ to adult are not easy to an _________. Both f______ and m________ can become concerned when health problems such as co_________ arise anytime after the e____ stage to later life. Experts recommend that young ch____ should have plenty of s________ and nutritious food for healthy growth. B___ and g____ should not share the same b______ or even be in the same r______. They may be afraid of the d_____.

As I aspire to become a teacher and have an interest and passion for working with children I filled in the blanks with parenting and children associations. I thought my response was the obvious one; however I was surprised to discover this paragraph was about poultry! This activity got me thinking about my preconceived ideas about the role of ICTs in education. As a learner I prefer the old fashioned pen and paper method. It was what I utilised in school and have been using for over two years of my university degree, it works for me so why would I change… However, William Pollard (1996) once said “learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow”. Similarly, Jaime makes an interesting point in her blog. She highlights the importance of incorporating relevant ICT strategies to equip students for the future. She warns that utilising and teaching students the tools of yesterday, stops society from moving forward. I was unconsciously biased in my practical placements as I have always taught the way I preferred to learn. I have limited myself due to my preconceived ideas about the role of the teacher and learner, which were influenced by my schooling experiences. I have not allowed myself to step outside my comfort zone and incorporate ICT strategies to cater for the diverse learning needs of students or to make learning more effective for myself. In order to step outside my comfort zone I have set myself a goal of utilising technology instead of pen and paper for my first week of university. Wish me luck, I will keep you posted on know how I go.

Hello world!

Hi All,

My very first blog post, exciting but terrifying at the same time. Whilst I have grown up surrounded by technology I would say we have a temperamental relationship as I only use it to the bare minimum. This runs in my family, with my father having no idea how to turn on the computer, send a text message or even work the blu ray player! I look forward to sharing my experiences of implementing ICTs in secondary education, specifically the Health and Physical Education and English context.

Happy blogging!

Danielle