I am working on an end of unit review that I want to use with all of the teachers in my faculty. The purpose of the review is multiple: I would like the students to give us feedback on the unit of learning they have just undertaken Assessment and learning objectives should be clear and [...]
Thinking about assessment – Diagnostic & formative We use Diagnostic Assessment to identify existing knowledge and establish a base to develop from. Diagnostic assessment guides our planning by identifying strengths and weaknesses. What do we need to teach explicitly to achieve the end goals and outcomes and what can we briefly reinforce or accept as [...]
This is a very useful site with a great list of different iPad applications sorted by subject areas and then these are broken down in to different categories. The applications are both free and paid subscription/purchase. For Example – Language Arts apps has sub categories for literacy reading practice hand writing spelling grammar graphical organisers [...]
Technology Use Audit Tool – http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/Tech_audit_tool The technology audit tool is a quick snap shot of how technology is being used in the classroom. It is based on the work of Bernajean Porter. There are three levels to consider: Literacy, Augmentative and Transformative. Each level has a place in the learning process. You have to [...]
This is a BBC clip about the hole in the wall experiment – This is about a computer made available to the young people in Gurjola. Professor Sugata Mitra of Newcastle University is setting up a ‘hole in the wall’ experiment to explore the impact of access to computers on learning. Watch the video – [...]
I have long valued and used a constructivist approach to teaching and learning. Tasks of short or long duration where the emphasis is on constructing the knowledge, process, product or understanding is core. Students develop ownership of the concepts, ideas, product or knowledge. Learning is practical, hands on, multi-sensory, collaborative experience. There must be engagement [...]
I have long been a fan of the work of Sash and Lee Le Fever of the Commoncraft show – http://www.commoncraft.com/ The videos they ahve produced have provide excellent professional development resources and I frequently direct my students and staff to these resources on their website. Earlier in the week I visited the commoncraft site [...]
This is an interesting Infographic looking at Games and education. I found the post here - http://www.knewton.com/gamification-education/ I think we are going to see the use of games in a learning context increase. If we consider the importance of feedback in learning,the level of engagement that games provide the users, the opportunities for genuine learning that [...]
Technology is increasing pervasive in all aspects of teaching and learning, whether it is the kindergarden student using the gesture based systems like the ipad to enhance their learning and to create objects and engage or the senior student researching, collaborating, communicating and socialising. No matter what the opinion of the teacher as to the [...]
I was asked yesterday what I considered to be the four components of effective digital learning. (Why four? The person who asked me wanted four, there may be more but this is the parameters I was given.) The question intrigued me. The focus was a little bit to do with tools to use for learning, [...]
