Wednesday, 9 May 2012

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.

 
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.


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/


Wednesday, 2 May 2012

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.


                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.





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/