Well I think overall, taking this online course has been a great learning experience and has opened my eyes in many regards to different skills and approaches of learning that can be used.
Creating a blog was a great way to make sure I was reflecting and comprehending what was being said and discussed every week.
Jeorge
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Week 9 Reflections
Well other then my conclusion this is my last blog entry for EDU 5472, I can hardly contain my emotions ;)
This week the major focus was on the copyright licences that accompany the software when purchased. This was all reality new information for me and I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn this information before I am placed in a school.
My discussion post this week contains some of my thoughts for which I think is relevant.
I thought about all the software installed on my computer and which of that software I would still have a legitimate copyright licence for and unfortunately there were a lot where the copyright had expired or I never had an appropriate licence for.
So I’m not even going to mention how much it came to but let’s just say it wasn’t a small figure.
As I’m not in a school yet I have a question for all my peers here who have been teaching for many years. Is it common in schools for many educators and ICT personnel to ignore copyright issues and for them to just share and copy as they wish with out any regards for the licenses?
I ask this because some schools I have taught in have had a wide range of software which was installed on every computer in the school and to my knowledge these schools did not have a huge ICT budget. So now that I am thinking about the licensing I am thinking that their software set up could be a little dodgy.
Jeorge
This week the major focus was on the copyright licences that accompany the software when purchased. This was all reality new information for me and I’m glad I had the opportunity to learn this information before I am placed in a school.
My discussion post this week contains some of my thoughts for which I think is relevant.
I thought about all the software installed on my computer and which of that software I would still have a legitimate copyright licence for and unfortunately there were a lot where the copyright had expired or I never had an appropriate licence for.
So I’m not even going to mention how much it came to but let’s just say it wasn’t a small figure.
As I’m not in a school yet I have a question for all my peers here who have been teaching for many years. Is it common in schools for many educators and ICT personnel to ignore copyright issues and for them to just share and copy as they wish with out any regards for the licenses?
I ask this because some schools I have taught in have had a wide range of software which was installed on every computer in the school and to my knowledge these schools did not have a huge ICT budget. So now that I am thinking about the licensing I am thinking that their software set up could be a little dodgy.
Jeorge
Week 8 Reflections
This week the topic had to do with the many different types of software that could be found in schools. Many different examples where given on how educators can use these types of software that did not only include information gathering and presentation.
I compiled a list of some of the different tasks that I as an educator could accomplish with these software tools as well as a list of the different activities my students could accomplish with each software.
Word Processing
Teacher: Teachers are able to create worksheets and overhead projector sheets.
Students: Students can write letters, stories and assignments.
Spreadsheet
Teacher: Teachers are able to make electronic class lists and mark books.
Students: Students are able to create graphs from the data inputted from the rows and columns.
Database
Teacher: Teachers are able to input formulas and queries allowing the database to retrieve and calculate information from different spreadsheets.
Students: Students could create a database that included many Australian animals and when an animals name is typed in the database would find all the relevant data for that animal including habitat, food, location etc.
Graphic Applications
Teacher: Teachers are able to download photos from a digital camera and edit the photos on screen. These could be placed into a PowerPoint presentation or poster.
Students: Students could use programs like Photoshop or paint to create and design a picture in art.
Presentation Software
Teacher: Teachers could input all the photos of the students taken throughout the year and place them in a Powerpoint presentation as a farewell gift.
Students: Students could create a talking book in powerpoint that successfully demonstrates there acquired knowledge on a particular subject.
Web authoring software
Teacher: Teachers could create a website that contains relevant files and documents for the wider community to access.
I have now caught up with all my uni work for this subject and am actually a decent amount ahead with my readings and activities for this course. I’m glad to finally be ahead rather then behind. Definitely takes a lot of the pressure off.
Jeorge
I compiled a list of some of the different tasks that I as an educator could accomplish with these software tools as well as a list of the different activities my students could accomplish with each software.
Word Processing
Teacher: Teachers are able to create worksheets and overhead projector sheets.
Students: Students can write letters, stories and assignments.
Spreadsheet
Teacher: Teachers are able to make electronic class lists and mark books.
Students: Students are able to create graphs from the data inputted from the rows and columns.
Database
Teacher: Teachers are able to input formulas and queries allowing the database to retrieve and calculate information from different spreadsheets.
Students: Students could create a database that included many Australian animals and when an animals name is typed in the database would find all the relevant data for that animal including habitat, food, location etc.
Graphic Applications
Teacher: Teachers are able to download photos from a digital camera and edit the photos on screen. These could be placed into a PowerPoint presentation or poster.
Students: Students could use programs like Photoshop or paint to create and design a picture in art.
Presentation Software
Teacher: Teachers could input all the photos of the students taken throughout the year and place them in a Powerpoint presentation as a farewell gift.
Students: Students could create a talking book in powerpoint that successfully demonstrates there acquired knowledge on a particular subject.
Web authoring software
Teacher: Teachers could create a website that contains relevant files and documents for the wider community to access.
I have now caught up with all my uni work for this subject and am actually a decent amount ahead with my readings and activities for this course. I’m glad to finally be ahead rather then behind. Definitely takes a lot of the pressure off.
Jeorge
Week 5 Reflections
Well I had some spare time this week and was able to catch up on both this weeks and last weeks tasks.
I am finding the information we are learning in this course quiet relevant to what we will need to know for our classrooms which is what many courses seem to lack in my opinion.
I was interested to read about the hardware this week as I find that type of information quiet interesting. I was especially interested and intrigued to read about how to maintain and set up an ergonomic workstation for my students. I did not know some of the damages that an incorrect setup could have on my students both in the short and long term.
This sort of opened my eyes in regards to how I have my computer setup at home as I mentioned in my discussion post….
“Well unfortunately my home computer set up is not a very ergonomic environment. I only have a small place to fit everything to do with my computer and as you can imagine that’s a task in itself.
My computer screen and keyboard distance would not be appropriate for my height and this could allow me to gain vision strains and incorrect posture. If I had the money I would surely improve my setup but until that time I’ll have to carry on under these conditions.”
Jeorge
I am finding the information we are learning in this course quiet relevant to what we will need to know for our classrooms which is what many courses seem to lack in my opinion.
I was interested to read about the hardware this week as I find that type of information quiet interesting. I was especially interested and intrigued to read about how to maintain and set up an ergonomic workstation for my students. I did not know some of the damages that an incorrect setup could have on my students both in the short and long term.
This sort of opened my eyes in regards to how I have my computer setup at home as I mentioned in my discussion post….
“Well unfortunately my home computer set up is not a very ergonomic environment. I only have a small place to fit everything to do with my computer and as you can imagine that’s a task in itself.
My computer screen and keyboard distance would not be appropriate for my height and this could allow me to gain vision strains and incorrect posture. If I had the money I would surely improve my setup but until that time I’ll have to carry on under these conditions.”
Jeorge
Week 4 Reflections
This week I fell behind with my workload once again. I have so many commitments with other courses at the moment that it is making it really difficult to keep up with this course.
I have just made an action plan for what uni work I want to do over the break and by no means is this a little list. I plan on catching up and going as far ahead as possibly with the activities and readings so that I do not fall behind again and also that I am not even more over worked when I go on prac.
Well this is now 4 weeks down, and way too many to go.
Jeorge
I have just made an action plan for what uni work I want to do over the break and by no means is this a little list. I plan on catching up and going as far ahead as possibly with the activities and readings so that I do not fall behind again and also that I am not even more over worked when I go on prac.
Well this is now 4 weeks down, and way too many to go.
Jeorge
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Week 3 Reflection
Week 3 Reflection
(Anything in Italics was my discussion post, anything else in my reflection now)
Again a very busy week making it hard to keep up in the discussions but I’m doing my best. This week the discussion topics included blogs and web forums. I am quiet familiar with both of these topics as I have had to create and use both on numerous occasions. There are many benefits that blogs and forums contain and in fact I’ll probably write my assignment on forums and include those advantages.
My Main Post This Week
“The only types of online chat I have been involved in are online discussion boards and talking via emails and MSN. I have only used these online communication methods for personal use but I know that when I do become a qualified teacher I can easily incorporate these and other tools that I have not experienced into my classroom. I plan on using forums and blog sites to display information, offer assistance and online communication and keeping the community updated and involved are all things that can be utilized with these tools.
Here is a link to my blog (Link). As you can tell there is not much in it yet but I will have some reflections posted shortly to add to my introduction. Anybody who would be kind enough to post a comment on my blog can guaranty that I will return the favor.”
Well I don’t see the need to post much else this week as my post says a fair bit and than I’m going to write a report on forums so I think I will just be repeating myself otherwise.
Jeorge
(Anything in Italics was my discussion post, anything else in my reflection now)
Again a very busy week making it hard to keep up in the discussions but I’m doing my best. This week the discussion topics included blogs and web forums. I am quiet familiar with both of these topics as I have had to create and use both on numerous occasions. There are many benefits that blogs and forums contain and in fact I’ll probably write my assignment on forums and include those advantages.
My Main Post This Week
“The only types of online chat I have been involved in are online discussion boards and talking via emails and MSN. I have only used these online communication methods for personal use but I know that when I do become a qualified teacher I can easily incorporate these and other tools that I have not experienced into my classroom. I plan on using forums and blog sites to display information, offer assistance and online communication and keeping the community updated and involved are all things that can be utilized with these tools.
Here is a link to my blog (Link). As you can tell there is not much in it yet but I will have some reflections posted shortly to add to my introduction. Anybody who would be kind enough to post a comment on my blog can guaranty that I will return the favor.”
Well I don’t see the need to post much else this week as my post says a fair bit and than I’m going to write a report on forums so I think I will just be repeating myself otherwise.
Jeorge
Week 2 Reflection
Week 2 Reflection
(Anything in Italics was my discussion post, anything else in my reflection now)
I’m finding this course quiet interesting now. Many valuable points of discussion are being raised and I’m astonished at some of the responses my peers are supplying. I guess those responses are coming from wisdom as most of my peers have had a number of years in the teaching field. This goes to show that there is so much I can be learning but so little time to learn it.
My Main Discussion Post This Week
“When you really think about it, it is amazing how all these computers communicate with each other and thus allowing us to send information to another user nearly instantaneously. I’m one of those people who have grown up around computers my whole life (a digital native) so I often take for granted the technology advances that have made my life so much easier. I see many online bullies with the forums I visit. I particularly like visiting and posting on IMDB which is a movie database. Many people do tend to bully people especially if they are a “Noob” to that particular forum. I have no idea how people can act that way over such small problems or details and I have always wondered if those people act that way in real life. I never need bully or “flame” or act like a “troll” because that is not how I would act in person. I’ve spent days trying to think of which historical figure I would be and I have really come up with nothing. The closest person that has come to mind is Thomas Edison. I didn’t choose him because I thought I shared his intellect or even his fear of the dark, but rather because I felt that we shared the same determined will power to keep at a task until it is completed. I also feel we are both very creative people. I do think Edison would like the internet as he was so involved with new technologies that I’m sure he’d jump at the opportunity to try something new. He would get involved with everything online and would love Google. The use of online chat makes a huge ripple in the lake we call literacy. Students are exposed to new words, new abbreviations and even new ways to use existing words. These things than become a part of each child’s literacy and will start to be used in both online and offline communication. The use of online communication can have many advantages in the education system. The use of chat rooms and emails can make group tasks simple as no in person group contact is essential in comparison to the old ways of trying to get every member of a group in the same place at the same time.”
This post well received by the forum community and a large discussion with many excellent viewpoints was started from this post.
Jeorge
(Anything in Italics was my discussion post, anything else in my reflection now)
I’m finding this course quiet interesting now. Many valuable points of discussion are being raised and I’m astonished at some of the responses my peers are supplying. I guess those responses are coming from wisdom as most of my peers have had a number of years in the teaching field. This goes to show that there is so much I can be learning but so little time to learn it.
My Main Discussion Post This Week
“When you really think about it, it is amazing how all these computers communicate with each other and thus allowing us to send information to another user nearly instantaneously. I’m one of those people who have grown up around computers my whole life (a digital native) so I often take for granted the technology advances that have made my life so much easier. I see many online bullies with the forums I visit. I particularly like visiting and posting on IMDB which is a movie database. Many people do tend to bully people especially if they are a “Noob” to that particular forum. I have no idea how people can act that way over such small problems or details and I have always wondered if those people act that way in real life. I never need bully or “flame” or act like a “troll” because that is not how I would act in person. I’ve spent days trying to think of which historical figure I would be and I have really come up with nothing. The closest person that has come to mind is Thomas Edison. I didn’t choose him because I thought I shared his intellect or even his fear of the dark, but rather because I felt that we shared the same determined will power to keep at a task until it is completed. I also feel we are both very creative people. I do think Edison would like the internet as he was so involved with new technologies that I’m sure he’d jump at the opportunity to try something new. He would get involved with everything online and would love Google. The use of online chat makes a huge ripple in the lake we call literacy. Students are exposed to new words, new abbreviations and even new ways to use existing words. These things than become a part of each child’s literacy and will start to be used in both online and offline communication. The use of online communication can have many advantages in the education system. The use of chat rooms and emails can make group tasks simple as no in person group contact is essential in comparison to the old ways of trying to get every member of a group in the same place at the same time.”
This post well received by the forum community and a large discussion with many excellent viewpoints was started from this post.
Jeorge
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