Learnings from experience:
I can admit that a blog is an effective form of ICT to be used with primary aged students. Students may independently, in pairs, groups, whole class create a blog and add snippets of information they feel they have learnt or is vital to their learning. Teacher direction/guidance and support would be required. A blog is a form of a multimodal text whereby it combines the use of image, text, and assumably, audio and video, however I have not yet come across the latter although undoubtedly I am sure this is possible, therefore in order to construct a blog, one’s multiliteracy skills will be utilised.
Difficulties:
First challenging task, determining a name for my blog… I don’t classify myself as very creative so I confronted my peers at uni and eventually I came up with furtureMrsX! After this, I struggled with posting information. I eventually discovered this out. My major challenge with posting, was photos. I know this wasn’t a requirement but it was a part of the blog-learning process for me. I posted the photos and somehow they cut themselves in half. Since then I figured out a way to stop this and that was to change where the photos would layout on the blog. I would still like to be able to minimise the size of the photos I have posted as they appear very large however I have no idea how to do this. I admit that I did cause myself stress as I kept forgetting where to go to post a new piece of information. I still struggle with this task, however, with some navigation of my own, I manage to get there in the end. The only link I am hoping to come across is one that might be titled: ‘How to change the order in which blogs are posted’. I am still looking though and have worked out that I could just delete it and add it in later as the newer posts seem to be the ones appearing first. Otherwise, apart from the obvious stated, I can’t recall any other difficulties encountered.
Simple tasks:
Setting up the actual blog was simple as the instructions are very basic (useful for a classroom). Selecting a layout and changing font colours became simplistic after investigating the site through navigation. My preferred learning style is rather practical, so I encountered little trouble toggling between links to discover new and exciting effects that can be placed on a blog. I did not find the adding in of my selected website a problem as I had already investigated with the blog by this stage. I consider myself relatively mediocre with ICT’s therefore, in my opinion, I am multiliterate!
Connection with theory:
I perceive a strong connection between this assessment task of creating a blog and the relevant theory that has been taught, to this point, in this unit. Jon Callow (lecturer) has focussed strongly on the differing forms of literacy evident in education nowadays and he stresses the importance of ensuring students are offered opportunities that allow them to deconstruct these literacies and gain an understanding/awareness of the differing forms of literacy and the purposes they serve.
The readings set for this unit make significant links with the content of the unit as a whole thus this assessment task. Many theorists focus on the increase in ICT’s in the classroom resulting in students needing to be multiliterate, that is, being able to interpret and respond to a range of literacies; multimodal texts. Therefore, this blog and the theory correlate as the blog covers a multitude of texts ranging from visual, audio and written.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Information to support selected website
Why I chose this website and how it's appropriate for the primary classroom?
I chose this website as I feel it has fewer links than others researched, therefore making it seem less confusing for students, and however the navigation between the links/pages is at times confusing. The links are relatively self-explanatory with where each leads. The pages are bright and not too overloaded with literacies, although I do feel more visuals may enhance the site a little more. This website is appropriate for primary students as I feel obesity is becoming an increasing issue in society therefore this site (being health/fitness based) enables students to gather information in regards to health/fitness and apply it to their lives. The site focuses around 5 ways of becoming fit and healthy with each way suggesting hints/tips to make this happen through suggested lesson plans/activity ideas. The downloadable templates for activities additionally provide an effective tool for reflection.
Stage/grade best useful for:
I feel this site would benefit a stage 3, however modifications can easily be made to suit stage 2. Support and guidance from the teacher would be required with these modifications.
Analysis of written text on site:
The text and the context it’s used in is well written and could be easily interpreted by a stage 3 class. Some parts of the site contain too much written text that could result in boredom by some. Expression is used in activity ideas to better include the audience and gain their interest.
Persuasive, procedural and descriptive text types are apparent in the text, eg. text persuades audience of the importance of health through facts/descriptions of ways to best maintain a fit/healthy lifestyle. Procedural and narrative type languages are used together in explanations of ‘learning quests’. Quests are presented with an introduction, background/learning task and reflection/discussion/teachers notes.
Some grammatical features apparent on the website include: facts regarding health; adverbial phrases to describe lesson ideas/quests; hyperlinks; proper nouns (eg. Kellog’s, Heart Foundation); opinion (telling children the activities will be fun); and future and present tense.
The font is clear; however a larger font may be more beneficial in some sections. The font is bright in colour adding a positive effect.
Analysis of visuals on site:
Types of visuals included are: animated images (still), headings and diagrams.
These images are effective in terms of clarity and relevance to the concept of the text. Similar to the text, colours are bright and stand-out therefore enhancing the image as a focal point. In my opinion, extra images would be useful as in comparison to other educational sites, or sites of interest to students, not many visuals are apparent and these assist in drawing one’s attention to a site.
The most salient point is the diagram on the homepage as it is located directly in the centre and has been consciously created slightly larger than any other feature on this homepage to make this the focal point and increase its saliency.
2 eg's of how to incorporate this into unit/theme in classroom:
With this site, students could complete an integrated PDHPE unit on Health and Fitness. Examples of inclusion of this site include:
The class could be instructed to first start with downloading the template from http://www.kidshealthandfitness.com.au/lq/docs/aboutme_chart.doc to fill in the blanks which will give them an idea of the types of foods they eat and the forms of physical activity they participate in. With this information in mind, students could then construct their own personal goals through downloading the template http://www.kidshealthandfitness.com.au/lq/docs/goals.doc.
After further learning quests/lessons have been completed from the website, the whole class could arrange for a picnic in the school playground. The template on the organisation of the picnic (location, guests, resources, etc) http://www.kidshealthandfitness.com.au/lessonideas/docs/Fun_Friends_student_work_sheet.doc could be completed as a small group then analysed as a whole class to determine the most suitable to consider.
I chose this website as I feel it has fewer links than others researched, therefore making it seem less confusing for students, and however the navigation between the links/pages is at times confusing. The links are relatively self-explanatory with where each leads. The pages are bright and not too overloaded with literacies, although I do feel more visuals may enhance the site a little more. This website is appropriate for primary students as I feel obesity is becoming an increasing issue in society therefore this site (being health/fitness based) enables students to gather information in regards to health/fitness and apply it to their lives. The site focuses around 5 ways of becoming fit and healthy with each way suggesting hints/tips to make this happen through suggested lesson plans/activity ideas. The downloadable templates for activities additionally provide an effective tool for reflection.
Stage/grade best useful for:
I feel this site would benefit a stage 3, however modifications can easily be made to suit stage 2. Support and guidance from the teacher would be required with these modifications.
Analysis of written text on site:
The text and the context it’s used in is well written and could be easily interpreted by a stage 3 class. Some parts of the site contain too much written text that could result in boredom by some. Expression is used in activity ideas to better include the audience and gain their interest.
Persuasive, procedural and descriptive text types are apparent in the text, eg. text persuades audience of the importance of health through facts/descriptions of ways to best maintain a fit/healthy lifestyle. Procedural and narrative type languages are used together in explanations of ‘learning quests’. Quests are presented with an introduction, background/learning task and reflection/discussion/teachers notes.
Some grammatical features apparent on the website include: facts regarding health; adverbial phrases to describe lesson ideas/quests; hyperlinks; proper nouns (eg. Kellog’s, Heart Foundation); opinion (telling children the activities will be fun); and future and present tense.
The font is clear; however a larger font may be more beneficial in some sections. The font is bright in colour adding a positive effect.
Analysis of visuals on site:
Types of visuals included are: animated images (still), headings and diagrams.
These images are effective in terms of clarity and relevance to the concept of the text. Similar to the text, colours are bright and stand-out therefore enhancing the image as a focal point. In my opinion, extra images would be useful as in comparison to other educational sites, or sites of interest to students, not many visuals are apparent and these assist in drawing one’s attention to a site.
The most salient point is the diagram on the homepage as it is located directly in the centre and has been consciously created slightly larger than any other feature on this homepage to make this the focal point and increase its saliency.
2 eg's of how to incorporate this into unit/theme in classroom:
With this site, students could complete an integrated PDHPE unit on Health and Fitness. Examples of inclusion of this site include:
The class could be instructed to first start with downloading the template from http://www.kidshealthandfitness.com.au/lq/docs/aboutme_chart.doc to fill in the blanks which will give them an idea of the types of foods they eat and the forms of physical activity they participate in. With this information in mind, students could then construct their own personal goals through downloading the template http://www.kidshealthandfitness.com.au/lq/docs/goals.doc.
After further learning quests/lessons have been completed from the website, the whole class could arrange for a picnic in the school playground. The template on the organisation of the picnic (location, guests, resources, etc) http://www.kidshealthandfitness.com.au/lessonideas/docs/Fun_Friends_student_work_sheet.doc could be completed as a small group then analysed as a whole class to determine the most suitable to consider.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Welcome to FutureMrsX's blogspot
Welcome to my blog! Thank you for having a browse... Have a nice day/night/morning/whatever it is when you read this!
Process of creating this blog
Well, the task of creating this blog for uni is slowly becoming a success - when I say slow, I mean very slow. I am succeeding in posting photos onto my blog, however, as I am sure you have already noticed, the right side of the photos is being chopped off... If anyone knows how I may resolve this problem, then do not hesitate to assist me! Cheers
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