Assessed Blog Activity 3.3 (2016) Skills for teachers.

IT skills which are desirable for teachers to develop courseware using DLT are as follows:

Basic:

• Productivity Apps – Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentation Tools, Note taking and organization apps
• Use video content to engage students
• Use Social networking sites to connect with colleagues and grow professionally
• Curate web content for classroom learning
• Find and evaluate authentic web based content
• Internet Search and Research skills
• Self learning of tech and where to go for help

Intermediate:

• Use Social bookmarking to share resources with and between learners
• Understand issues related to copyright and fair use of online materials
• Use blogs and wikis to create online platforms for students
• Exploit digital images for classroom use
• Create screen capture videos and tutorials
• Use and provide students with task management tools to organize their work and plan their learning
• Use digital assessment tools to create quizzes

Advanced:

• Create and edit digital audio
• Compile a digital e-portfolio for their own development
• Be able to detect plagiarized works in students assignments

(Kharbach, M. (2015). The 20 Digital skills Every 21st Century Teacher Should Have. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/06/33-digital-skills-every-21st-century.html)

(Andrade, D. (2012). 10 Technology Skills Every Educator Should Have. Retrieved from http://educationaltechnologyguy.blogspot.co.nz/2012/06/10-technology-skills-every-educator.html)

(Image retrieved from http://blog.vodafone.co.uk/2015/02/25/understanding-mytechfamily-the-psychology-behind-our-digital-learning-styles-quiz-revealed/)

Assessed Activity WS2.2 (2016) Wikieducator

My Wikieducator user page can be found be found here.

As for making changes on the user page of another person, – I felt uncomfortable about making changes to another user’s page, as it is their own page which I feel that only they should have control over. The implications of anyone being able to change and write anything on anyone’s page could result in unwanted edits being made. On the other hand, it allows for collaborative updating of information, so that anyone who has something to add can do so.

This is an edit which I made to Wikieducator user Sonya Payne‘s page:

Assessed Blog Post 3.2 (2016) Implications of DLT in Organisations

Assessed Blog Post 3.1 (2016) Implications of DLT in Organisations

The organisation that I have decided to look into in terms of the use of digital learning technologies is Bethlehem Tertiary Institute, as my sister is currently studying there.
The three main digital learning technologies which she listed as being used in her classes are discussion forums, powerpoint presentations and online quizzes.
Discussion forums – these are used as a space for the students to discuss with each other what they are learning and for them to ask each other for help. It also serves as a method for students to communicate with their lecturer.
PowerPoint Presentations – these are used in classes as a teaching tool, to convey information to students. PowerPoint Presentations mean that information can be taught in a way which combines text with multimedia elements such as photos and videos. If used correctly, it be a very effective way of teaching, but if not it can be very disengaging.
Online Quizzes – these are used as a form of self-assessment, which students can use to gauge their learning and determine what it is that they still need to work on.

H.L. Jones (personal communication, March 9, 2016)

Bethlehem Tertiary Institute (2015). ECE & Teaching. Retrieved from http://www.bti.ac.nz/ece–teaching.html

Assessed Activity 2.2 (2016) Technologies

One example of integrating technologies into learning which I find to memorable is actually a current example, and is a part of project I am working on for my Project Multimedia class. For this project I am working with a friend, Juliette, to develop a website for her new business. She lives in France and this means that I need to utilize digital technologies in order to communicate with her about the project. One technology in particular that we are using is Google Docs. This technology allows us to collaborate on the project in real time and means that information, ideas and questions can easily and quickly be shared and accessed. Not only can I use this technology to work with my friend on the project, but it is also a way to learn about communicating with a client when they live remotely.

An instance where I feel that technology has been a barrier to my learning is sometimes in the use of powerpoint/online presentations in the context of teaching a class. There are times when the person up the front will rely too much on a static powerpoint, which mostly just consists of text, to teach the material. This type of teaching is extremely disengaging and does not work at all for my learning style.

Assessed Activity 2.1 (2016) Pedagogies

There are different types of learning, which includes case-based learning, inquiry-based learning, project-based learning, resource-based learning and game-based learning. When I was studying for my Bachelor of Visual Arts & Design a lot of the learning that occured was project-based. This kind of learning involved trial-and-error, working with other class mates to solve problems, and otherwise figuring things out for oneself, through the process of the project. I found the the things I’d figured out for myself were the things that stuck with me.

One way that E-Learning can be integrated into project based learning is through the use of digital media as an aid for sovling problems. For example, when I was working on a project and found myself at a point where I didn’t have the skills or knowledge to proceed, I could look up tutorials etc on Youtube to help myself progress. This method of learning can promote both individual and group based learning.

Assessed Activity 1.2 (2016) Learning Styles

The acronym VAKOG stands for Visual, Auditory, Kinaesthetic, Olfactory and Gustatory, which refers to the human sensory system.

The acronym NLP stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. The concept of NLP revolves around the fact that everyone interprets the world in which they live through the VAKOG system of senses. According to NLP, each individual has their own preferred system of processing and interpreting information – which has lead to the development of different “learning styles”.

The learning style debate basically revolves around the validkity of learning styles as a concept. While those who support learning styles would argue that adapting teaching methods to suit the way in which a student learns best, some would say that there is little evidence to back this up.

Wikipedia (2015) Representational Systems (NLP). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Representational_systems_(NLP)

NLP World (2008) NLP Training – VAKOG. Retrieved from http://www.nlpworld.co.uk/nlp-training-vakog/

Assessed Activity 1.1 (2016) Learning Theories Video

Ubiquitous learning refers to learning which takes place anywhere and anytime. As most people these days have access to portable, online devices such as smart phones and tablets, this means that individuals are able to learn information which is of interest to them, in their own way. Advancements in technology mean that the way in learning occurs is evolving, and classrooms are beginning to operate in a way that is vastly different to how they would have operated say 5 or 10 years ago.

Core Education (2013) Ten Trends 2013 – Ubiquitous Learning. Retrieved from http://www.core-ed.org/thought-leadership/ten-trends/ten-trends-2013/ubiquitous-learning

Education 2025 (2011) Ubiquitous Learning. Retrieved from https://education-2025.wikispaces.com/Ubiquitous+Learning