Week 11 Blog: Assessment and Database Design

This week in the lecture we discussed the online resource Pbworks. I was fascinated with this particular resource and wanted to learn more about it.

 

Upon visiting the web site I found this short video which gives you a basic lowdown of pb works and what it is and how you can use it. Pbworks is an online resource that allows you ‘Capture knowledge, share files and manage projects within a secure, reliable environment.’ (PBwiki.Inc, 2012)

The thing I love about Pbworks is that it is not only useful in the professional world but it can also be used effectively in the school environment. Pbworks encourages students-centered learning allowing young students to build web pages, embed images and video and post documents. It will allow me as a teacher to communicate with my students, hosting and sharing information between the students and the teacher. It also allows more distant learning to be interactive and collaborative which supports group work between students. (PBwiki.Inc, 2012)

Te Pbworks website also provides you with several case studies that were done based on educational users and what they thought of Pbworks which is a really interesting read for anyone who is interested in using Pbworks.

PB Works Case Studies

 

Database Design:

This week in our tutorial we were given a presentation on Database Design. I was fascinated by this particular subject and wanted to find out more about what it is and how I can use it. Upon researching on the internet I found this fantastic article put together by Microsoft which discusses database design and the different subjects that are involved in it.

Microsoft Office Database Design Basics

I found that this would be a great quick reference resource as a teacher as it also shows examples in reference to Microsoft’s Access which is a common program that would be used and taught in a classroom. (MicrosoftCorporation, 2012)

 

References:

MicrosoftCorporation. (2012). Database Design Basics. Retrieved May 18, 2012, from Microsoft Office: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/access-help/database-design-basics-HA001224247.aspx#_Toc270678227

PBwiki.Inc. (2012). PB Works Online Team Collaboration. Retrieved May 17, 2012, from PB Works: http://pbworks.com/

Technology in the workplace & Software Development and Programming

This week in our lecture we discussed different online resources that are useful to both teachers and students. One resource that stood out to me was the Power House Museum Website.

After visiting the site myself I found it to be a great resource for students with unlimited information on a variety of topics. One idea that I could use as a teacher would be to set as a case study assignment on a particular subject that the powerhouse offers. The website also offers an Education Program for teachers to check out what is happening in the current semester at the powerhouse. This is a fantastic resource as it enables teachers to organize excursion for their class as well as themselves as they powerhouse run sessions for teachers.

Click to take you to the Powerhouse Website

                Software Development and Programming 

This week in our tutorial we had a presentation of software development and Programming. Within the activity presented I was introduced to a new program called scratch.

Scratch is a programming language that makes it easy to create your own interactive story. It is an easy to use program that is free to download. This is great program that you could use with the younger students in years 7 and 8 to give them an idea of basically how softaware programming would work.

Click to go to the Scratch Website

References:

              LifelongKindergartenGroup. (2012). Haunted Scratch. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from Scratch: http://info.scratch.mit.edu/node/165  

              LifelongKindergartenGroup. (2012). Scratch. Retrieved May 1, 2012, from Scratch: http://scratch.mit.edu/

              Powerhousemuseum. (2012). Education Programs. Retrieved April 2012, from Powerhouse Museum: http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/education/  

People and Networking Systems

This week in the lecture we discussed how IT as a subject and job choice is becoming less and less popular within the female population. I decided to research why this might be and the IT industry is less appealing to women than it is to men. Upon doing this research I came across this study done in the US.  It gives a great overview of of why this may be and what could be done to encourage girls from a young age to get involved in the Information technology community as for most of the girls that do get involved they succeed and become very successful within the industry.

Link to the Article

Networking Systems 

This week in our tutorial we were given a presentation on networking systems. 

One aspect that I found really interesting was a video that was shown.

I found that although it was quite long you could easily show little snippets to your students as it was a great resource and explanation of networking systems that students would be able to understand.

Another resource that found would be useful as a teacher is the textbook Multimedia: Making it work by Tay Vaughan.  This textbook provides a great understanding of networking systems and how they work. This would be a great resource as a teacher if you would have to teach this subject.

References:

                 Ali, S. (Director). (2010). Ericson-The Dawn of the NET [Motion Picture].

                 Ramsey, N., & McCorduck, P. (2005, February 5). Where are the Women in Information Technology? Retrieved 2012, from Antiaborg: http://anitaborg.org/files/abi_wherearethewomen.pdf  

Software and Robotics & Automated Systems

This week in the lecture we discussed different ways of presenting a task to a class using the technologies and facilities that are available to us today and that are more importantly...free! One of the sites which interested me was Google sites. This is an easy to use site that would be easy enough to create a page for the students to follow for an assignment. Also, it is a great exercise for the students to make their own website that is quick, easy and is something they could relate to and enjoy, therefore making ICT a fun subject for students to interact with each other at the programs the internet has to offer.

Another great aspect about the site is it has a quick instruction video which the students could watch all together or individually over and over again until the grasp the idea of what they have to do. Over all a great resource in website building and design.

                Robotics and Automated Systems 

This week in tutorial we were given a presentation about robotics and automated systems. I was interested in the robotics and decided to research further into the subject. I found through researching on the internet a website I found this site ARAA (Australian Robotics & Automated Association). This is fantastic resource for teachers and students. It provides information on robotics as well as links for students to different competitions they can get involved in. This is a great resource to show students who are particularly interested in robotics.

Link to ARAA Website

References:

Google (Director). (2009). Introduction to Google Sites [Motion Picture].

Roberts, J. (2012, February 2). About us. Retrieved April 2012, from Australian Robotics & Automation Association: http://www.araa.asn.au/

Past, Current and Emerging technologies and Artificial Intelligence, simulation and modelling – The Horizon Report

This week in the lecture we discussed the Horizon Report. The Horizon Report is a research report that was established in 2002 that identifies and describes emerging technologies likely to have a large impact over the next 5 years in education around the world. Within the 2012 issue it includes technologies such as mobile apps, Tablet computing, game based learning and gesture based computing.  This is a great resource as technology teachers to keep up to date with these new emerging technologies that will hopefully be introduced into the classroom within the next 5 years.

Link to NMC Website

Artificial Intelligence, Simulation and Modelling 

This week in our tutorial we were given a presentation of AI, Simulation and modeling. One part of the activity that stood out for me was 2 simulation games that were given just as an extra activity. I found these to be a fantastic representation of simulation proving a fun activity for the students  and also showing them the different kind of games they could produce through simulation. 

Link to Helicopter Simulation Game

Link to DrivingSimulator Game

References:

Consortium, T. N. (N/A). The Horizon Report. Retrieved April 2012, from NMC: http://www.nmc.org/

Hammerback, A., & Edin, N. (2005). Helicopter Games. Retrieved March 2012, from Learn 4 Good: http://www.learn4good.com/games/simulation/bump_copter_2.htm  

Kobayashi, K. (2012). 2D Drving Simulator. Retrieved March 2012, from Geo Quake: http://geoquake.jp/en/webgame/DrivingSimulator/  

Piracy & Digital Media

In this week’s lecture we talked about several different Issues that arise in IST. One that I really wanted to focus on was Piracy especially in adolescents. I found an article that states that fewer than 1 in 10 teenagers believe that music piracy is morally wrong.
                             
                              1 in 10 Teenagers believe that music Piracy is morally wrong

I found this to be an astonishing statistic and want to highlight that music piracy is morally wrong. I found this article to be an excellent teaching resource if not shown to the students it would be an eye opener for them. Discussing an issue like this would be a good lesson to almost try to convince the students why it is wrong and try to change their mind about Piracy whether it is music, TV or movies.

This week i decided to write about the lesson that we experienced this week and the different techniques and strategies that they used that i found to be effective.

Within this week’s tutorial we participated in another class that was based on Digital Media. I found this lesson to be taught quite well. The presentation included several video s that would be very useful within a class room. One of the YouTube clips was about the Disney movie tangled and how digital media is used within the creation of the movies.

This is a great example that could be shown to a class that they will enjoy and relate to as they would have probably seen the movie.

One other aspect that was great about this lesson was the activity of where we needed to make a short 30 second video using apple imovie. One thing that I felt could have been done better was maybe a little bit more instruction on how to use imovie as I personally have never used it. A way to improve this could possibly have the students watch a short you tube video such as this one so as they can bet the basics and go back to video to check or watch and learn again.

The teaching methods that were used included presenting the information about digital media, introducing the activity and then leaving the students to their own work. I found this to be very effective however more instruction on how to use the program would have just made the lesson slightly better than it already was.

I found that the activity was really fun and exciting and something that the students could work on together and work collaboratively. This was a quick and easy activity that it getting the students to play around with imovie and learn about the program whilst having fun doing it.

References:

Animation, D. (Director). (2012). A Tangled World: Creating the look [Motion Picture]. Retrieved From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awlBswjJC-g

Group, B. (2009, April 26). Fewer than 1 in 10 teenagers believe that music piracy in morally wrong. Retrieved March  2012, from Barna: http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/5-barna-update/139-fewer-than-1-in-10-teenagers-believe-that-music-piracy-is-morally-wrong

Poult, K. (Director). (2011). iMovie in under five minutes [Motion Picture]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J79_0h3ozS0&feature=related

Hardeware & Multimedia and Authoring Software

This week in the lecture we discussed Hardware. I understood it myself however I wasn’t too sure how I would teaching to my students. I therefore gathered some teaching resources for Hardware. One site I found was a computer Quiz of Hardware,

                                               Link to Computer Hardware Activity

I found this to be a great resource just a quick quiz you could give the students to refresh or find out what they know. I also found another website that would be great as a teaching resource giving you the basics about hardware and the topics within hardware.

                                              Link to Hardware Teaching Resource

This week it was my turn to be the student. Another 2 groups presented their overview and lessons this week. I found the topic to be very dry however the way in which the group presented it was interesting and captivating.

Teaching strategies that the group used were not done on the internet or laptop which is a good resources to have as not everything needs to be taught on the computer. One aspect I did like was the group started out their lesson with a little crossword puzzle. This was simple yet a good way to motivate the students and get them into a working mood. The cross word was created using a website called Eclipse Crossword.

                                                                  Link to Eclipse Crossword.com

 This is a free service that allows you to create any crossword you like.

Another aspect that the other group used was group work. The tables were separated into 3 groups and as a group we all had to agree on the answers to the work sheet. The answers were then discussed as a whole and the activity was done on the smart board.

I found this to be an effect way of teaching as not everyone likes to complete work alone. Students like to discuss their answers with others to get the best answer. This group also talked about Gardener and his 7 multiple intelligences.

I found this to be a good link as to explaining the different intelligences.

                                                             Link to Inelligences Website

Overall this was a successful lesson and will be a good resource for an activity that does not have to be completed entirely on the computer.

References:

clipse, G. (2012). Welcom to Eclipse Crosswords. Retrieved March 20th, 2012, from Eclipse Crossword: http://www.eclipsecrossword.com/  

Design, H. W. (n/a). The Seven types of Intelligence. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from Professor Lamp: http://www.professorlamp.com/ed/TAG/7_Intelligences.html  

Khanna, S. (n/a). Computer Hardware. Retrieved march 20, 2012, from Pitara: http://www.pitara.com/activities/quiz/online.asp?qname=computer

Welch, C. (n/a). Computer Connections: Lesson 1 0 Outer Hardware. Retrieved March 20, 2012, from Kaboose: http://parenting.kaboose.com/education-and-learning/learning-resources/comp_les1.html