Module 9

Hi there - this module has taken me on a tour of many different and exciting things.

Firstly, there's Scootle. What a fantastic repository of resources. I've created my first 'learning path' (ES1 Literacy learning objects) and have managed to share it as a school learning path. My next step will be to set up PINs for all the Kindergarten students at school and then I'll start working on integrating Scootle as part of the literacy and mathematics group work we do in Kindergarten.

Secondly, it was a jump to social networking sites. I've actually had Facebook and Twitter accounts for a little while now so I am somewhat familiar with them. I joined these networks after watching a documentary on the ABC Four Corners program about bullying. One of the stories featured involved a one young man who tragically ended his own life. A Melbourne couple were being interviewed about their son and his involvement with social networking sites on the Internet and his use of mobile phone technology. The couple were well educated, involved and caring parents. They described their relationship with their son as being close and loving. They assumed that being home in his bedroom, their son was safe and sound. What they were unaware of was how involved their son was with technologically based social networking and the pitfalls that were befalling him. Unbeknown to them, their son was exposed to bullying via the Internet and on his mobile phone from friends he had had a falling out with. The upshot was that the young man felt so overwhelmed with the situation he found himself in that he jumped off the Westgate Bridge in Melbourne. This happened only in February of this year and here was this amazingly brave couple sharing their story in order to help educate parents about the importance of being aware of what their children are doing on the Internet - especially in relation to social networks. With children of my own I decided to make myself familiar with social networking in order to be aware of some of the problems they may encounter - I thank that couple for their bravery in sharing their story as I'm sure many other parents do. I've decided that banning access to such sites is not the answer. Spending time helping your children, or the children that you teach, navigate these sites is the way to go. "Ignorance is bliss", as they say does not apply here, rather I would go with the saying "being forewarned is being forearmed" - it's all about empowering children.

Thirdly, it was a trip into Second Life - a 3D virtual world where you can travel back in time to the Middle Ages or any other place you can think of. The applications of this technology are possibly greater for secondary education, although I could see our upper primary students effectively engaging with it - particularly the students who are currently using Google Earth to take them back to Ancient Rome as part of the Gifted & Talented Program at school. Second Life could provide them with a more detailed virtual world to travel through. As far as infant students go, Second Life reminds me of a virtual world called Club Penguin which I know my children have had a great time exploring (and me too if truth be told). Like most e-Learning tools, application is only limited by a teacher's imagination!

I am looking forward to exploring the last module of the course now - take care - Cara