Educational Computing

I have become quite fascinated by all the amazing things that teachers from around the world are doing with Google Earth, and how they are integrating GE into the curriculum as a great learning tool.

In particular, there are some great ideas about incorporating GE into the study of literature. Teachers and students are creating “trips” that take us on the journies of the characters in the books they are studying:

Google Lit Trips

I am inspired to have a go at one, and will post my attempt here, eventually.

These have definitely become “flavour-of-the-month” must have teaching tool. Schools use them as an advertising point to attract potential parents, and promote them enthusiastically if they have them.

But are they being used to their full potential, or are they mostly being used as extremely expensive overhead projectors, with a few add-ons? Is the technology going to become old very quickly, and the boards relegated to the storeroom within a short time?

I have been researching them a little, and shall continue to do so, as I am not yet convinced either way. My own daughter’s school has invested a large amount of money into these over the past year or so, and I think they now have about a dozen boards…maybe more. One teacher is particularly enthusiastic about the technology and has been to a number of training sessions regarding using them effectively in the classroom. Definitely this training is essential if a school is to purchase the boards, to gain the full educational benefit from them.

But there are detractors, who present strong arguments against investing in the whiteboards, but rather directing time, money and training into other areas of education.

I shall leave you, the reader, to investigate, via all the usual sources, to make up your mind on this issue, as I will continue to do so. But let’s keep in mind the question “WHY are we using the Smartboard for this activity?”

Here is a short video of three children commenting on how they use computers, both in school and at home.

kids-computer-use.mp4

I enjoyed this video posted by Scott.  It was an innovative way for the students to get their point across.  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to present some assignments in digital form (other than PP), and have that modelled to us during lectures occasionally?

It always strikes me as slightly ironic how we sit in rows at desks in front of the board, being told how we should try not to teach children sitting in rows at desks in front of the board

I think that Jenni raises some great points.  I agree that the virtual classroom has some great potential.  From what I have been researching over the past few weeks, it seems that there is much being done in this regard in higher education, but not a whole lot at the primary school level.  I feel that 3D programs could be utilised as virtual classrooms just as well for the younger students. The video below was put out in the 1940’s, but it is worth watching (besides for the quaintness and horror of it!) for John Dewy’s closing words.  they are as true today, as they were 60 or so years ago: we must prepare children for *their* world; the world of the future.

This site is offering a free music program with lesson plans podcast, downloadable from iTunesU. I don’t know a whole heap about teaching an instrument, so I won’t comment on how well it will work in the classroom. I am also not exactly sure how to embed a link from the iTunes Store (any tips welcome), but you can find the podcast by going to iTunesU - Little Kids Rock

http://www.google.com/doodle4google/

Unfortunately this competition is only open to schools in the US, but it looks fun, and Google have supplied some downloadable lesson plans to do with Doodle of Google that could be adapted for the NSW curriculum.

It is great to see Google supporting education in such an active way. And the prize money is great, so if you are a teacher from the US, it’s worth a shot!

There is an interesting article in the Nov ‘07 edition of the “Learning & leading with technology” journal entitled “Is chatspeak destroying English?”. Linda Howard takes up the Yes position, with Greg Monfils arguing for “No” in the debate.

Linda’s main argument is that chatspeak “is destroying students’ command of written English”, andthat is no place in either academic, business, formal writings in in society at large. She says that even though there are many differences in our lingustics due to ethnicity, family and friends, the “English language must be used effectively to understand and be understood”.

Greg, who is an English teacher in the US at a school where every child is given a laptop upon enrollment, argues that children know the difference between formal English and chatspeak., and can “codeswitch”. He says this is standard practice amongst emails/chat between students and teachers. He gives the analogy that “we don’t fear that a Spanish class will diminish a student’s command of English”. He also makes the point that even though we have standardised English since Chaucer, there is nothing wrong with children pushing boundries and perhaps updating our language along the way.

My response

I would be interested in other people’s thoughts on this, especially in regard to education