week 7

You tube has so much potential! I feel that using this technology would enable me to engage my students at a greater level. If I were to stand at the front of the class and drone on about how to do things, I am sure that my students would lose interest quickly. Using you tube to demonstrate a skill allows me to replay any part a student may have difficulty with as many times as I like.

Google earth was very interesting, as it allows you to look at so much. The technology is amazing, you can look at any country, city, town, streets, galaxies, oceans, mountains, canyons etc...not only in the sense of seeing a picture, but being able to manipulate a 3d image in order to gain information about the particular place you are looking at. Students could create a virtual tour of thier school to show to pen pals in another country. The research possibilities are also endless, geography, geology, global warming, oceanic movements, space, astrology etc...

Wikipedia was interesting to say the least. This would be a fantastic site if the information was reliable. I would encuorage students not to use this site for research purposes only, but rather a starting point. The useful part was to be able to create a word bank or a mind map of information to follow up research using reliable sources. Being able to edit this site allows room for error, although if students found that they had information that is worth adding, it would allow the students to donate their learned information.

Slideshare has not been one of my favourite learning experiences. I found it frustrating to use, although I must say, that I would like to learn how this technology works as I feel it would be a valuable resource in the classroom. Students would be able to create slide shows in order to show knowledge and understanding of learning experiences. They would be able to submit their work via a blog if that were the preferred method.

I felt Incompetech was a good site to use to teach students about stealing other people's work. I also downloaded a piece of rock music titled 'Zap Beat' I could use this music as an upbeat way to do some brain exercises in class. I found this book 'Brain Gym Teacher's Edition'
(By Paul and Gail Dennison) rather interesting. http://www.braingym.com.au/index.php?page=cart&cart_section=product&cart_product_id=574