Learning Management Systems

I have to admit,I did not know what a Learning Management System (LMS)was a few days ago. Now I realise that is what our E-Learning course is one, Moodle. Another name for LMS is Course Management Systems (CMS), which is a virtual learning environment. Its software for delivering, tracking and managing education (Wikipedia, 2009). It allows for onlne collaboration, online assessment, automated record-keeping and student self-service and more.

This the first time I have ever undertaken a course online, and find the collaborating with my peers helps me. I have been responding and reading others blogs, following and replying to threads on activities and communicating with them through Skype and email. I suppose I'm showing my age, as I still struggle sitting
in front of the computer working and wondering if I'm doing the right thing or not.
It is this interaction that I find most engaging, when I can discover things that my peers already know, or I analyse and compare notes with my peers.

With the use of LMS students as Marzano & Pickering (1997) suggest, are able to do group work within a supportive environment ( 1997). Through collaborating together, diplaying and reporting their tasks, the students are constructing a shared learning environment (McInerney & McInerney, 2002). LMS or virtual learning environments are designed to aid Learning Managers in creating online courses with opportunities for student collaboration and interaction.




References
Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D. J., Arrendondo, D, E., Blackburn, G. J., Brandt, R, S., Moffet, C, A., et al. (1997). Dimensions of learning:teacher's manual (2nd ed). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

McInerney, D, M., & McIerney, V. (1998). Educational psychology: constructing learning (2nd ed). Sydney, NSW: Pearson Education.

Wikipedia(2009)Learning Management System. Retrieved 12 August 2009, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learning_management_system

Interactive Whiteboards

I have yet to have the opportunity to see an interactive whiteboard (IWB) in action in a classroom yet, but am excited by the possibilities. Last year I used a digital projector for my Learning experiences, using PFDs, photostory and powerpoints. I found it useful but difficult when it came to art classes and teaching perspective, as I could only show one slide at a time, with an IWB I would have been able to annotate the lesson better.

I have been investigating the capabilities of the IWB and must say I am amazed.I found that the IWB users can connect to the school digital video system, can interact with online shared annotation and interactive drawing sites. The Learning Manager can record annotated notes and print out for later which would save a huge amount of time.

It's like a huge touch screen computer, in which the Learning Manager and students can interact and record their findings. We all know how invaluable modelling skills for our students are and up until now, students were given instructions and sent of to their computers to work by themselves. Interactive whiteboards allow for class discussion,collaboration and the sharing of information between other classes. As much as IWB are effective tools the most important thing in teaching is the effective Learning Manager. As Kearsley and Schneiderman (1999)described learning that must be meaningfully and engaging for the students through interaction with others and worthwhile tasks. The use of the IWB increases the collaboration and engagement for all the learners and I'm sur that the will become common place in our classrooms of the future. What do you think?



Reference
Kearsley, G. & Shneiderman, B. (1999) Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 28, 2009 from http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.html

Google Earth

We all have used Google maps and are aware of its abilities such as viewing roads, 3D buildings, street view cameras, weather and terrain tools. Google Earth's capabilities are far more advanced with tools which will enable Learning Managers to take their students to a world beyond their classroom. As Jon Callow (1999) states, a diversity in images allows us to understand and appreciate various cultures and ideas that we would not necessarily encounter in our own environment.

Google Earth's tools are amazing and could be applied in all KLA's. Learning Managers could engage the students and explore, investigate and compare anywhere on Earth, under the ocean, on the Moon and even Mars. Here are some of the features that I discovered on Google Earth
* Historical Imagery button that allows you to explore and compare how locations have changed over time.
* Earth, Sky, Moon or Mars button which allows you to explore above and beyond Earth.
* Ocean tool that lets you swim and navigate the ocean floor and explore the underwater terrain.
* Touring allows you to record, share and play custom tours that capture your actions and movements.

I used Google Maps last term with my year 7 class as a way to hook them in. It was the beginning of a local Indigenous unit, and I started with a zoom in on their school, I then zoomed out and spanned across(2km) on to the local hospital and zoomed into a clearing in the forest next to the helicopter pad. There in the clearing is the Indigenous 'Noosa sacred serpent'. I then showed them the photo of the sacred sight in their backyards, to say they were surprised was an understatement.

Google Earth will engage the students and allow them to discover and explore the world and beyond. It is an essential tool for all Learning Managers.




References
Callow, J. (1999) Image matters: Visual texts in the classroom. Primary english teaching association: Erskinewille, NSW.

Youtube & Teachertube

Both Youtube and Teachertube (educational video sharing website) are invaluable resources for Learning Managers to use. They can engage and make the students think. Research (3M Corporation, 2001) has found that the human processes visual images at an astounding 60.000 times faster than text. As Learning Managers this means that by using visuals we can speed the learning process up 60,000 times!

'Youtube ' and 'Teachertube' are powerful learning tools, if used correctly. For safety reasons it is essential that the Learning Manager uses a program called 'Keepvid' so that they can save and store clips prior to lessons without the advertisements and related comments appearing next to them.

Last term I showed the following clip (Dove evolution) to my year 7 class as part of their HPE lesson. It provided a quick clip on image distortion in the media using photshop. This clip was a great hook for the beginning of the unit as well as an essential for 12 and 13 year olds to understand not to believe everything that the see. We had a discussion afterwards then in groups they went through some popular magazines cutting out pictures that they thought were touched up by photoshop. They then had to create posters with an image and had to display their posters in the school foyer. These learning activites relate to the engagement theory (Kearsley and Shneiderman, 1999) in which the students relate, create and donate thoughout the learning experience.

I recently had a presentation at uni on visual literacy and found this awesome clip, but due to limited presenting time I could only show half of it. It hooks you in instantly and the core meaning comes through with few words. I hope you enjoy watching it.




References
3M Corporation (2001). Polishing your presentation. Retrieved July 26, 2009 from, http://www.education.murdoch.edu.au/research.3M/docs/vis.html

Kearsley, G., & Shneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retreived August 2, 2009 from, http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.html

Powerfulpoints

Powerpoints can be an effective learning tool, not only as presentations but the ability to turn them into multimodes, such as webquests and online links. My knowledge of creating powerpoints was limited, but I do know what engages me and what doesn't. I have much to learn about creating powerpoint presentations, and found the 'Powerpoint in the classroom' boring and tedious but, it had some helpful information that I did not know before. I have discovered that you can

• create notes for each slide that can be printed out but will not show up on each slide.



• rehearse the time of your slideshow by using the 'rehearse timing feature'.



• that you could a movies via the 'movie from gallery' feature.

These features will be extremly helpful and will save me time and hopefully make my presentations more effective in the future. Another feature that I recently stumbled on was when I am creating vectors(animations) in Coreldraw and illustrator, that there is no need to cut and paste them onto the powerpoint, you just simply drag them and then create the movement there. This will save me a lot of time also.

Another way of using powerpoints is to create games so that you "make the students part of the learning process". I have included a link below to an interesting Youtube clip 'Using training games to teach in the classroom' it uses games to teach core content' which shows how it can be used to prompt students to think and answer, mainly through visual clues. By using powerpoints as gsmes, all the intelligences would be engaged. Through the use os Howard Gardners (1991) Multiple intelligences theory, the images, and videos will aid the visual learner, the hands on interaction will engage the kinesthetic learner, music and clips for the musical, group activities for the interpersonal and investigations for the intrapersonal, and finally music and verbal speech for the linguisyic learners.

Powerpoints can be powerful if used correctly. We all have seen the clip 'Death by Powerpoint', and understand that it should be used more as a visual cue not the crutch of the lesson. I find that keeping visuals and movements to a mininum has a greater impact as too much can be distracting and annoying. As Prensky (2005) discussed visuals it was not just about fancy graphics but about good ideas and how we use them. As a visual person a do prefer images and I think they are an effective resource if used creatively and correctly.

Links
Powepoint in the classroom - http://www.actden.com/pp/

Using traing games to teach in the classroom - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omnxZJPIuIs

References
Prensky, M. (2005). Engage me or enrage me: What today's learners demand. Retrieved August 4, 2009, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/erm0553.pdf

Gardner, H (2001). Gardner’s multiple intelligences. Retrieved July 24, 2009 from http://www.kurwongbss.eq.edu.au/thinking/MI%20Smarts.htm

Aggregators

Aggregate in Latin means to herd, so I relate an aggregator to that of a herder, a collector or assembler of things. An RSS aggregator, is a tool that collects and collates all your favourite content for quick and easy assess.

I had often wondered what the RSS symbol (logo) represented on my tool bar(I know, I'm a visual person). I then discovered that RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication which was is an effective tool for collecting your favourite blogs and websites in one place, so you can connect quickly and conviently thus saving time, which we all need. As I have a google account, I find that my google reader automatically updates and collates all my favourite feeds.

This tool has saved me numerous hours searching and can see the application being useful in the classroom as both Learning Managers and students have little time. Students can write, read their peers blogs and collaborate on learning experiences. The students can interact easily on group activities and worthwhile tasks (Kearsley, G.,& Shneiderman, B. 1999). The Learning Manager would be able to follow all the sites and respond to students questions in one convenient place.

Learning Managers and students should embrace Really Simple Syndication as it effective, efficient and a time saving tool.

Stay happy & healthy

References

Kearsley, G.,& Shneiderman, B. Engagement Theory: A framework for technology-based teaching and learning. Retrieved July 21, 2009, from,
http://home.sprynet.com/~gkearsley/engage.htm

Voki Avatars

Get a Voki now!


Avatars are simply a virtual self. Technology is no longer a simple tool but a collaborative communication tool that crosses many different forms of communication. Students can now connect outside of their school and communities so that the learning relates to the students, through "conectedness to their world"(Productice Pedagogies, 2006) and prepares them for their futures.
Animations which have been personalised both visually and auditory, make the students more comfortable in their cyber-environment so that the students experience a sense of comfort and order (Marzano, 2007). I find that the Voki Avatar communicates on many levels to different learning styles and can be used in a multitude of medias, such as myspace, facebook, mobile phones, blogs and many more.
I highly recommend you follow the link below and create a virtual you now. As Learning Managers of the future it essential that we understand and embrace these new technologies and virtual world as this is the way of collaborating, networking, sharing, and celebrating together.