Blogs, Wikis and Websites.
My exploration for all three of these tool was to create one of each and to view other students' blogs, wikis and websites. I have chosen to PMI analyse wikis.
Plus
Readily accessible to all
Can create private groups for members only (good for schools)
Editable by all members
all versions saved in history (in case a mistake is made)
can ask questions of others and answer said questions
Minus
can accidentally delete the work of others (although this can be retrieved)
can get confusing with who wrote what (different coloured font is usually used to combat this)
can be tricky to use for first time users
Interesting
I find the fact that all wiki members can edit the pages interesting because I have never come across something like that in my educational studies. Most educational tools have fact and can only be commented on to preserve the integrity of the original work. I like the fact that wikis are more like giant discussion boards rather than pages that tell 'fact'.
I feel that I would definitely use wikis in my experience as a Learning Manager and feel that they would be very effective if used in the right context.
A possible future use in my classroom: when completing EEI assignments in science, students will have access to a specifically set up wiki with an appropriate scaffold (thinking hats, PMI, etc) to direct their thinking and to allow them to discuss their queries and findings with one another.
Group 2:
Digital Images
Podcasts
Digital Video
I have had previous experience with all of these tools before with both images and video being used in my own high school assessments. I have never used podcasts in an educational context although I can certainly see their positive possible uses.
Image exploration: I have had alot of previous experience with image manipulation and upload, here are a couple pictures that I edited around 3 years ago: (pictures of myself and my best friend so no copyright on them)
Plus:
Easily manipulated
Easily accessed (google images)
Referencing available
Can be embedded into virtually any type of webpage
Can be used for visual learners in a classroom
Minus
hard to control: once it is on the internet it is likely to be used without referencing as many people on the internet do not understand the legalities of other peoples intellectual property. (this is why teaching ethical and legal online skills is important in schools)
Interesting:
there is an image for nearly anything anyone could ever think of on the internet. The sheer vastness of the information available is astonishing to me.
A Future use in my classroom: I will expect students to use images in some of their assignments and will need to teach them how to find appropriate images and how to reference them correctly.
Group 3:
PowerPoint
Prezi
Glogster
I, like many students my age, have been using PowerPoint for many years in my education. I feel that I have an above average grasp of the abilities and constraints of PowerPoint. I would like to add that myself and Marc Sains completed a PMI activity on skype and would like to link it here because I can't upload a PowerPoint directly to blogger.
PMI - Skype
PowerPoint future classroom use: nearly all classrooms use PowerPoint nowadays, I will endeavor to provide my students with the correct conventions for using PowerPoint and to teach them how to use PowerPoint effectively. I will also provide alternatives to PowerPoint as it can be overused in today's classrooms.
Group 4 - animation and simulations:
In this class I have enjoyed exploring Voki's. Although I do find them annoying because i cannot stand the computer generated voice that they have. Although using a voice recording of my own voice would solve this problem and still interest students in the talking monster/baby/skeleton etc on the page.
Voki PMI:
Plus:
Interesting
Eye Catching
would be useful for students that had difficulties reading text
Minus:
annoying staggered computer voice
could be distracting in the long run for students (this was shown in a tutorial where a class member kept pressing the button to hear it speak)
Interesting:
can record own voice
can embed in any website
is free
Future Classroom use: to put on the wiki main page when using as a class. also to suggest a voki could be used on the students' personal wikis or blogs, to add interest to the page
My Voki for exploration purposes:
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