To think I am almost halfway through this course. There has been a lot to learn, and I have all these tools at my disposal to make my teaching more productive and enjoyable to the students. I know I might have paid more attention at school if the teachers had these tools back in the day.
This week is group 4 tools. Wow there are some amazing tools this week however I have chosen to discuss and make an analysis on the following.
1) Google Maps
2) Google Docx
3) Mobile technology(I-phone, I-pad, android)
Google Maps, Google maps is a digital map of the world. As most people today have smart phones, this technology may be supplied with the phone or as an application. You can also access it via the internet on your PC. Google maps is not a paid site, making it available to all. I am sure we have all used Google maps at some stage, I know it has come in handy for me when traveling. One of my favorite features of Google maps, is the ability to get down to street level as a pedestrian. This technology is available in the time it takes to enter and location, from there you can zoom in and start exploring the area. You can see the world from the screen in front of you. As a teacher this resource could be used in many ways. Assignments, class excursions, discussion points, history and I could go on. I am using the PMI analysis tool for this technology.
Plus:
* The world is available to be explored at the click of a mouse
* Major landmarks have more photo's from various angles, locations
* Images are clear, and you can zoom in and out to get the look you are after
Minuses:
* Images are not always current
* Time of day can't be altered
Implications:
* Can be used for research, comparing early photo's of landmark to how they look today.
* You don't have the costs associated with traveling to travel to see the world
* Excursions can be held in the classroom
I have attached a copy of how they achieve these images. Google maps have a team of staff traveling the world to take these images. I think this would have to be one of the best jobs going, getting paid to see the world. Who wouldn't want that job.
Google Docx, what is it?
It is an online collaboration tool that allows real time changes to been seen by all those using the document, spreadsheet or presentation. Multiple users can access a document at once, hence the term "many hands make light" work suits this technological tool perfectly. In a class setting this tool has the ability to involve all the students at once. If for example you were reflecting on an excursion, you could have the class all adding their own evidence from the trip:
* Photos
* Text (what they thought was interesting)
Some other interesting facts with this tool:
* It isn't limited to a class setting. Users can be spread around the world as long as they have access to the internet they are able to contribute.
* What you add is instantly shared with the group.
* It allows for comments and real time editing
* Has a chat window to allow interaction with others in the document.
* It also has the ability to inspire the user when they watch what is evolving in front of them on the screen.
* When saving all input is saved.
I found this image below to show what a Google Docx looks like when in use.
Mobile Technology, today's society is engulfed in mobile technology, many have access to smart phones both Android and I-phone, tablets or I-pads. Have these replaced the laptop? I think so.
We seem to replace our phones as quickly as technology creates new ones. Students today also have this desire to keep up with mobile technology. The use of these devices in the classroom for some schools is limited and others compulsory. When used in a learning environment the student has access to the internet, emails and a huge array of educational apps designed to work on these devices. These are not limited to older students either. there are a range of educational apps from K - UNI. I believe that my I-pad is actually easier and faster to use then my laptop some days.
3 Key points for this week
1) We can all use both of these tools from either a PC or smart phone.
2) There will always be positives and negatives with these tools, it our job as educators to see past the negatives and engage the students with the positives.
3) They are creating or improving more Digital tools daily, however the latest is not always the best it is up to us to decide.
Image Acknowledgement
* Google Photographer : http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2013/05/24/1226649/606070-google-maps-galapagos-street-view.jpg
* Google Docx image: http://markmarshall.edublogs.org/2010/10/05/using-google-docs-with-students/
* Quote: Katie Salen: http://www.pbs.org/parents/digital-media/images/quotes/5.png
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