Workshop Activities
The website DoppelMe is a great platform for creating avatars that can be used to depict oneself or even one’s friends and relatives. The website can help students to explore their identities and share their views on themselves and others. This will make students’ interactions more informative and creative.
The website Bubbl.us is another easy-to-use tool to create graphic organisers. It can help students to learn some material through organising the most meaningful details in an orderly manner. It can also help them do various assignments. The website can help educators create efficient visual aids within short periods.
Microsoft Publisher is a great tool used to create various leaflets, flyers, and even newspapers and magazines. The tool can help students to attract their peers’ attention to various events and projects. Of course, it provides insights into some details of publishing.
The website Storybird can help develop students’ creativity and encourage them to read more. Students can write their own stories and this process can be easier as numerous pictures are provided and can be used. Students can be encouraged to read their peers’ stories and then to read more professional works.
The website Myths.e2bn is very helpful for teachers who can create visuals to tell some stories (myths, legends and so on). This tool can also be used as a teaser to introduce a novel or a short story. Students can also use this website when talking about books and stories they have read.
The website Scootle is very helpful for educators who can share their ideas, develop and share numerous resources to improve their teaching. The website can also help students to access valuable resources, especially when it comes to tests and language learning.
The website Splash.abc contains various resources that can be used by both teachers and students. There are many videos, visuals and facts that can be used to teach different topics. There are also interactive games that can help students to grasp the material better and learn more on the subject.
The website Zimmertwins can help students develop their creativity as they can make up stories and make movies. Clearly, this is a fun way to tell a story. This resource is helpful for educators as well since they can tell some stories to students especially when teachers want to stress some moral principles that will teach students to behave themselves.
The website Tagxedo is useful for teachers. They can introduce a topic with the help of word clouds. The process is very quick and easy and the teacher can attract students’ attention by using creative images. Key words used can be easily memorised and can help students to organise the material properly.
The website Makebeliefscomix can be helpful for teachers, parents and students. Teachers (and parents) can find various materials to teach different topics. There is information on teaching techniques and peculiarities of students (including some disabilities). At the same time, students can also develop their creativity through making their own comic books.
The website Bronxzoo can be used to teach students (usually young learners) about animals. It can also be used to teach English when it comes to the topic ‘animals’. Students will have fun creating their animals and they will also memorise important things about wildlife.
The website Scratch can be used as a creative assignment for students who will make their short cartoons. Educators can also create numerous videos to engage students or provide some information. Students and teachers can make games and share them with others. These games can be devoted to specific topics.
Edutopia (2015) can be very helpful for teachers who can find a lot of interesting information on teaching. Teachers can share their experience and ask for advice. Educators, researchers, students and parents upload their articles and materials. All this information can help teachers (especially novice ones) improve their teaching.
The website Pixar can be a helpful complementary resource for teachers. Teachers can use it to show the way animation films and cartoons are created. Students may learn about various processes (creating characters, writing stories, directing, producing and so on) that are often left behind the scenes.
The website ZooBurst can be used by teachers to tell stories and introduce some material. Students can also use the website to create their own books. They can also make some reports or presentations with the use of the website. Clearly, it will be very engaging for students who will do assignments and have fun.
The website Quia is very helpful for teachers. First, educators can find loads of materials for their classes (quizzes, activities, surveys and so on). These materials can be easily found as they are placed under corresponding topics. More so, teachers can create their own quizzes and activities.
This is very important, as teachers will be able to adjust to particular students or specific materials they are using. Students can also use the website for self-study, as there are many interesting quizzes on many topics. Students can check if they have grasped the material properly as answers are also provided.
The website Xtranormal can be used to make short cartoons. Teachers can introduce topics, illustrate some points or deliver important messages (concerning students’ behaviour, ethical issues, news and so on). Students can also use the website to make presentations when doing their assignments.
The website Powtoon can also be used by both teachers and students. Teachers can introduce material in a more engaging way. They can also highlight major points of the topics in their short videos. Students can also make various presentations and have fun while working on their projects.
Design Brief.
Lectures
Digital Technologies for the 21st century
This lecture focuses on the essence of education of the 21st century. It is clear that the goal of education is to develop students’ ability to solve a variety of problems, think critically and communicate effectively. Of course, knowledge in specific disciplines and a number of skills are still a part of the curriculum. It is also mentioned that technology plays an important role in education of the 21st century.
People as well as children are surrounded by technology and they are accustomed to using it in various settings. Of course, technology helps to make education more effective, engaging and interesting.
Importantly, globalisation is another factor that affects education and one of the most important features of the contemporary education is accessibility. At the same time, there are still many areas where young people cannot access proper education. However, technology makes it possible for many people to access high-quality educational services.
Protection of Students Online
The lecture dwells upon safety of students as well as educators when it comes to the cyber space. It has been acknowledge that the Internet is a great source of information and students are encouraged to search for data, facts and so on online. At the same time, cyber space is associated with various hazards. Thus, students and educators have to be careful when sharing their or one’s personal information or photos.
This information can be misused by some people. Thus, careless users can get a lot of spam or advertisements. Students can also be exposed to cyber bullying that is quite common. To avoid negative experiences, students (starting with young learners) should be taught how to behave safely and responsibly.
Students should share information carefully and they should make sure they do not offend anyone. One of the most effective ways for an educational establishment to promote cyber safety is to have specific codes of conduct, policies and certain staff that will focus on cyber safety.
Educational Soundness in the Digital Age
It has been acknowledged that technology can significantly improve various learning outcomes. It can help students to access a lot of different information and communicate with people from all over the world. Importantly, technology should not be used as a complete replacement of more traditional resources (hand-outs, libraries, field trips and so on). Technology should expand the boundaries.
It is necessary to add that technology provides numerous opportunities for educators who can develop curriculum that will be effective for the diverse Australian society. It is also mentioned that educators have to encourage students’ interactivity, creativity and desire to learn.
Technology can help achieve these goals. The lecture includes a number of helpful links to websites that can make teaching and learning more effective, creative and engaging.
Animation in Schools
The lecture deals with the benefits of using animation in school. It is clear that teachers can create animation films or clips to engage students and make them more involved. However, it is more important to encourage students to create their own animation. There are various positive outcomes.
Many websites provide loads of opportunities that can enable students (even those who have difficulties with creating stories) to tell their stories.
Hence, animation contributes to development of students’ creativity. Apart from that, it can help develop logical, spatial and mathematical skills as well as language skills. Of course, it can help students learn how to collaborate with peers while working on projects. The lecture contains numerous links to helpful websites.
Reading
Active Learning through Multimedia
Schank (1994) focuses on ways multimedia should be used in education. The author first makes it clear that existing programs are sometimes based on principles of conventional education that is different from the world of technology and is more restricted. The author emphasises that learning by doing should be the major principle of the contemporary education.
Schank (1994) also adds that incidental learning should be widely used when developing multimedia. Thus, numerous games or projects should be designed so that students could focus on some interesting goal (winning a game, scoring and so on) but they should also simultaneously memorise facts and data without drilling (through using and being exposed to certain data).
Multimedia should also empower or provide autonomy to learners who will be encouraged to proceed.
Tus, the author articulate 10 major principles that should be used when developing educational software: learn by doing, first problems and then instruction, recall instead of recognition, tell proper stories, experience is crucial, empower students, availability of a safe place to fail, navigation to answers, the software involves evaluation of progress, fun is crucial.
Opinion of Teachers’ Towards Using Multimedia Learning Package
Sharma and Kakkar (2011) examine teachers’ attitude towards using multimedia in schools. The researchers state that teachers mainly welcome the use of multimedia as they think that it facilitates the process of teaching and learning. Educators report that multimedia enables them to make the class more engaging, interesting, informative and, hence, effective.
Notably, teachers also report about some troubles they face when using technology (these are mainly technical issues). However, they all agree that multimedia is essential and students are more active and attentive when technology is used. Thus, teachers are trying to utilise technology and learn more about effective use of multimedia in education. Educators are also willing to use multimedia more extensively in the future.
Sex and Tech
The present survey can be effectively used when considering and teaching safety in cyber space. According to the survey, a quarter of teenagers and even more young adults send or post nude pictures or videos (Sex and tech, 2008). When it comes to sexually suggestive pictures and videos, the numbers are even higher as 40% of teenagers and 60% of young adults do that (Sex and tech, 2008).
The report also contains valuable information that can keep people from behaving in such an irresponsible manner. It is mentioned that these pictures are often displayed to other people, they are also available for a long period and can become an obstacle for getting a good job.
The survey also includes some tips to parents who want to ensure their children’s responsible behaviour in the cyber space. Of course, talking and providing data from the survey are major instruments for parents.
Learning with Multimedia
Neo (2007) stresses that technology has become a part of the curriculum and teachers as well as students benefit from its use. The learning process has become more creative and engaging. Students have acquired more autonomy. Technology helps students to develop various skills (specific academic skills, critical thinking and communicative skills and so on).
The researcher reports about a multimedia project that involved students who had to work in pairs and develop certain multimedia. It is clear that the projects have had numerous positive effects. Students have acquired the necessary skills necessary for effective collaboration with peers and teachers. Admittedly, this is an important learning outcome.
Reference List
Edutopia. (2015). Web.
Neo, M. (2007). Learning with multimedia: Engaging students in constructivist learning. International Journal of Instructional Media, 34(2), 149-158.
Schank, R.C. (1994). Active learning through multimedia. IEEE MultiMedia, 1(1), 69-78.
Sex and tech: Results from a survey of teens and young adults. (2008). Web.
Sharma, H.L., & Kakkar, N. (2011). Opinion of teachers’ towards using multimedia learning package. International Journal of Education and Allied Sciences, 3(2), 27-36.