Module 6

Hi there - I just keep enjoying this course and am constantly marveling at how straight forward using most of the e-Learning tools are. I think that with whatever e-Learning tool you're looking at using, the best approach is to just 'go for it' - yes, just keep pressing those buttons! What's the worst thing that could happen? Well, you might delete something you didn't mean to and all that would mean is that you'd have to start from the beginning - haven't we all be in that situation before.

The most appealing facet of the Web 2.0 course so far, apart from getting to play with heaps of fun things, is the confidence I'm gaining in being able to form an opinion about the educational value of many of these e-Learning tools. I accept that my opinions will change over time - but that too, I think, is a positive thing. Feeling confident enough to evaluate something is in itself empowering. I'm also realising that you don't have to be a brilliant technician of all e-Learning tools - you just have to be willing to attempt to navigate your way around a tool, be prepared to ask for some help, accept that you'll make mistakes and, seek and share knowledge.

Now onto bubbl.us - mind mapping is a valuable tool for students as a means of synthesising information and ordering knowledge and understanding across all key learning areas of the curriculum. In some aspects, I found the process of creating the mind map a little restrictive but that probably has more to do with my limited knowledge of the tool itself. I'm keen to check out what other similar tools are available.

I've enjoyed checking out Glogster and again can see the educational value of integrating such a tool into learning experiences. Integrating this into a Stage 3 unit on government could be interesting - students could use Glogster to create a poster of themselves running for Parliament or, perhaps a poster highlighting the effects of global warming. I think this tool, in itself, provides that 'open-endedness' we are always attempting to plan for - you are limited only by your imagination. I particularly enjoyed viewing one of the recommended glogs, 'Decision Decisions - A Trip to Europe' in which pairs of young children make recommendations for traveling to various parts of Europe. Once again, however, I am concerned with the privacy issues of students. Could sharing videos of our students (irrespective of the educational value of the learning experience) be inadvertently exposing them to the perils of cyberspace? I don't think it's satisfactory to say "Well, we haven't had any problems so far". I know that, as a mother, I have always ticked the 'no' box on the form that asks me whether I give permission for my children's images to be used as deemed appropriate on Internet applications. Surely this must present logistical problems for teachers trying to create something similar to what I've viewed on Glogster. Am I worried about nothing? I'd love to know what you think.

Here's a link to my first glog - not sure if it's worth sharing but here it is anyway.

Until next time - take care - Cara