Week 5

The tutorial started as usual with a discussion about the weekly readings. A summary is shown below.


The Smart Classrooms Digital Pedagogies ICT expectations for students: 

• having the ability of touch typing. Should it be taught as a part of english or ICT? It is a development of a specific skill. 
• teaching students how to use a mouse- the correct use.
• finding information- by using databases and search engines properly and efficiently. 

Skills that students in QLD are expected to develop:

• inquiring- using search tools, using ICT for research. 
• creating- making videos, games or books. 
• communicating- using emails, podcasts or blogs. 
• ethics- cyber safety. 
• operating- being able to print and save documents, use a mouse. 

NET Standards for Students: 

1. Creativity and Innovation
2. Communication and Collaboration
3. Research and Information Fluency
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making
5. Digital Citizenship
6. Technology Operations and Concepts 

The first part of the second hour was spent looking at the iMovie software. Dr. Zagami showed the class how to record video and edit it using the software. Additional add ons were available such as adding music, text and themes to the video. This is relevant to our Learning Adventure 1 which requires us to make a short movie about a selected topic. 

Presentations followed the movie making tutorial. Again, my group was the first to present and continued our topic of Operating with ICT. The rest of the group presentations were as follows: 


Google tools- Google Sketchup

•        Need to install onto computer
•        Functional with google earth.  Students can put their buildings onto google earth and they can see where they put them.
•        Engage visual learners
•        Exclusive websites for teachers.
•       Initially focused on teaching autistic students, who are visually and spatially gifted.
•        Students are able to design their own buildings and layouts easily.
•        3D modelling- can be used for animation/short films.

Early Phases of ICT- the animated classroom

•        Students are exposed to animation texts every day
•        Can use stop motion animation sequences
•        Can be used across the whole curriculum
•        Equipment needed- art supplies, digital camera, software
•        How to create an animated classroom- 
•     step 1- idea or design brief
•        step 2 – brainstorming/planning
•        step 3 – storyboard
•        step 4 - making models and steps
•        step 5 - capturing the photos
•        step 6- putting the sequence together
•        Students can pick their favourite story and make it an animated story
•         Teaching students how to make their own animations we are teaching them how to deconstruct the texts which they see in every day life, e.g. movies such as finding nemo.

Games in Learning – Science games for kids

•     Games in learning for specific curriculum areas
•        Good tools to use in the classroom without needing direct access to the subject. E.g. plants, animals.
•        Provides a safe learning environment, kids are not told that they are wrong.
•       Useful resources for teachers

One to one – Cyber safety

•        Can include- bullying, inappropriate content, digital footprint, netiquette etc.
•        Staying legal
•        Keep personal details private
•        Know how to block people, tell someone you can trust, call kids helpline.
•        Keep evidence of cyber bullying, e.g. screenshots.
•        Know how to ‘escape’ from websites.
•        Different websites that are useful for teachers to utilize to ensure that their students are well informed.