MODULE 4

Podcasts are very beneficial in the classroom as they enable the students to download, listen to and use a variety of audio files in a variety of KLA's across the curriculum.

Vodcasts give a more visual experience, for example, students are able to make their own video which then can be viewed within the classroom/school environment, by other members, using a program such as Youtube.

MODULE 3

I found google docs very interesting. Google docs enables you to share documents, presentations, spreadsheets and so on with other members efficiently. It makes doc attachments in e-mails unnecessary. By using google docs, documents can be more easily shared without the "clutter." It makes managing articles more time saving and efficient. When creating documents they can be shared with other teachers. This could be beneficial when programming whereby teachers wouldn't have to be in the same room. Documents can be accessed and worked on from anywhere, anytime of the day or night. Google docs definitely makes sharing documents simple.

Children would be able to benefit from using google docs whether they are at school or home.Children can access their documents at home and at school anytime and can work together with their peers on particular assignments. The writing process continues to be developed. Children can brainstorm, draft,revise, edit and publish their documents.

By sharing their ideas and opinions the workload is spread and children develop their learning through interactive and collaborative sharing. What a student can produce individually greatly differs and improves  from what can be produced by  sharing as a group. Learning is opened up and children gain different perspectives on their work. By publishing their work students gain greater satisfaction from the idea of a whole audience who is reading and appreciating their efforts as compared to just having the class teacher privy to their work. The wider audience raises expectations and motivates the students to do better, to be creative,unique and to achieve the best possible outcome. Google docs has many educational benefits once the students grasp the basic skills needed to create and develop  their documents.  

Module 2 Reflection

This module helped to clarify and develop a better understanding of blogs- What is a blog? How to blog? Why blog?  etc...

I've learnt how easy it is to become a blogger and how it's a great tool for  sharing your ideas and learning. Your "news" becomes news to share with others. Blogging also allows for an audience to not only view, but to comment, add and give feedback.

I found the You tube on the privacy issues very important. This needs to be carefully considered when using blogs and I feel students need to be aware of ways to limit the viewing of there blogs when they desire to.

Again the You tube video was a great help. It really made it easy for me to understand the whole concept of blogs and why people would blog. I had a little help with creating my blog with Blogger as well as my igoogle page. The support was great  and got me through this part of the module. I enjoyed using the Web 2.0 Course Wiki to view the blogs of the course participants. I began my blogging journey by commenting on some of my colleagues work which was lots of fun. It also helped to give me a better perspective of the course and it's requirements.

As a tool in the classroom blogs can have many benefits.

Children can develop their writing and creativity by creating their blogs about the various topics learnt in the classroom. They can share articles, journal entries, photos,and videos. Children can respond to each others blogs adding their ideas and opinions. On a social level children can develop relationships with others by finding common interests and working together on these areas of interest.

Learning becomes fun, interesting and interactive. Through blogging children become more motivated and challenged to learn. They want to learn more. I believe blogging is a very beneficial tool to introduce to my Year 3 children and I am looking forward to the educational benefits and the open communication it will bring to my students learning. 

Overall  I'm very pleased  with what I have learnt through this module not only for my personal use but for that of my students.

Module 1 Reflection

Module 1 was a good introduction to the Web2 course.Greg Basford came to our school and helped some of our staff to get started. I felt a little anxious before beginning the course, feeling that it may be overwhelming and that I would get lost along the way but with great support and encouragement from my colleagues I've found it to be not so daunting.
Module 1 was very interesting and I am looking forward to the Web2.0 journey. The You tube videos are easy to understand and explained what Web2.0 is very well. I feel I have a better understanding of what this is all about and where we are heading. I comprehend the idea of Web2.0 being made up of the 3 main elements

• A way users can create and contribute to content through the internet.
• Use Web bases applications
• Develop social interactions 

 I also feel, as a teacher, how important Web2.0 is to the teaching and learning process. There are so many opportunities for the students to become more engaged in their learning. There are opportunities for collaboration of content, sharing of ideas, using creativity, developing skills needed for the future, taking ownership of work and so on. How can Web2.0 not raise the quality and standard of learning from our students?
I also acknowledge the concerns which come from using the web such as privacy, copyright, reliability of information, and children's access to the internet. These are issues which will need to be addressed with the students through the development of internet use in the classroom.