Emily’s Blog

I have just read an article entitled “Constructionism vs Instructionism” which discusses the need for students to be learning through constructing their own ideas about learning rather than just following instructions.The article states that “teaching is important, but learning is much more important”. This suggests that teachers should be enabling students to learn and to constructs things for themselves rather than just teaching them all our thoughts and ideas.

In terms of computer use, teachers should be using computers for interactive learning rather than a tool for instruction.

Students can learn a great deal through using the computer, participating in activities on the computer and sharing their work with their classmates and the wider community.

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I have just read Trisso’s blog posting entitled “Can teachers use the technology being given to them?” Trisso raises a good point here, that even if schools were able to have access to computer use, would teachers be able to use them effectively?

This is an issue that needs to be considered when looking at computer use in schools. There needs to be some form of education given to teachers to train them in using computers in the classroom. This needs to be something that all school are investing in so that the benefits of having computers in the classroom is not wasted.

Computers can be so beneficial for use in the classroom, but need to be use properly for the benefit of the students.

I have just read Trisso’s blog posting on the use of interactive whiteboards in the classroom. The research found makes sense that using interactive whiteboards would increase student engagement. Students can feel that sense of accomplishment when they can present the work they have just completed to the whole class.

Interactive whiteboards also are effective for students who do not usually get recognition in class. I have experienced this in watching students who usually struggle in school get to go out the the front of the class and use the interactive whiteboard to show their work to the class. This increases students self-esteem greatly and they feel like they can achieve at school.

I believe that interactive whieboards are a really effective way to increase student engagement and self-esteem.

I have recently read the article entitled “Building software beats using it” which discussed how research has shown that students learn best through interactive learning where they experience things for themselves rather than passive learning in which they learn from what they are told. The article suggests that computers could be used to help students become active learners.

Students need to be educated in a way that maximises their learning, they need to be participating in interactive activities where they have opportunities to learn things for themselves. This could be in the form of research or also developing their own ideas using computer programs.

The articles also says that we should be allowing students to participate in interactive activities on the computer, rather than using the computer for passive learning. Rather than using the computer for a multiple choice quiz, have students use the computer to design their own activities and actively use the computer.

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I have just read Maree’s blog posting entitled “Who’s teaching who?”. It is interesting that the internet is now older than all primary students and as Maree said they do understand what life was like before they could use the internet. Students are using all different types of technology in their everyday life and have come to rely on it to a certain extent, especially in regards to mobile phones and computers.

Therefore, it is vital that teachers are keeping up to date with where students are. As teachers we need to have just as great understanding of technology so we can teach our students in a way that is relevant and interesting for them.

I have recently read the article entitled “How to bring our schools out of the 20th Century” by Claudia Wallis in TIME magazine. This article states the need for primary schools to adapt in the 21st century as other aspects of life have. Wallis comments that children in this era are coming to school with ipods in their ears and are communicating via mobile phones and chat rooms. They are coming home and are spending hours watching television and playing on the computer. However, at school students are still sitting at desks and copying what their teacher writes on the blackboard.

This is an issue as children are relying on computers for so much of their life and yet school is not accommodating this. Many students are becoming restless in school and unable to concentrate.

However, if technology could be used in schools this is likely to increase students motivation and result in more positive feelings toward school and a greater level of learning taking place.

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I have just read an article entitled “Using the Internet in the Primary Classroom” written by Judy Beal (2004). This article discusses the use of the internet in schools and talks about the benefits of using the internet and how using the internet can benefit students more then anything they could do without the internet. Beal states that “the experiences that the technology could provide to be unique, interesting, engaging and purposeful”.

I agree with the notion that teachers could be using the internet in a way that would be more beneficial than some activities without using the computer. However, the issue is that there are not enough computers in most schools to allow students to all be using computers at the same time. Meaning that students would have to be working at different times in using the computers and this could be challenging to do on a regular basis.

It is clear that computer use in the classroom would have many benefits in terms of student engagement and enjoyment, however, for computers to be really integrated into schools, there needs to be more available computers in schools, which requires a large amount of expenditure which is not practical at this point in time.

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I have just read Renae’s blog posting in the use of interactive computer software in the classroom. I agree with the use of interactive software in the classroom and can see the potential benefits of using this type of software in the classroom. It allows students to participate in interactive activities while using technology, both of which provide much enthusiasm and excitement for students.

However, as Renae says, when using interactive software or any activity in the classroom, as teachers, we need to make sure we have a purpose for using them and have a goal in mind. Interactive software can be really beneficial in most classrooms, teachers just need to make sure they are using this technology for educational purposes.

I have just read Sarah’s blog posting on the use of websites for students. I completely agree with the use of websites for students, it can be a real encouragement and joy for students to have their own work published somewhere as big as the internet. I agree that it can be a real self-esteem lifter for students, especially for students who aren’t given as much praise in the classroom.

The benefit of the internet is that students don’t have to be worried about being compared to others, instead they can just focus on their own work and achieving their best.

However, as I have mentioned in previous blogs and as Sarah mentions in her blog posting, the safety of students is an issue that needs to be considered. There are many websites that are inappropriate for students to look at and this is an issue that needs to be remembered when discussing internet use in the classroom.

emily-tuohy

This is a podcast explaining my views on education.

I have also just read an article entitled “Equal opportunities in education” written by the Training and Development Agency for Schools.

This article states the policies in place in schools in regards to equal opportunities for students. It states that all teachers are responsible for their own class and ensuring that all students learn to the best of their ability. This is vital in education, because school is a place where students go to learn and to achieve their best and so school needs to be a place where all students can learn and reach their greatest potential.