This week’s innovation presentation was very interesting, probably because I have some experience in using Face book. I found some information that I did not know about, for example, the security and the information that is available about me online. This is quite a scary thought.
I do not think that I will use these innovations in the classroom because of the age group that I hope to teach. The children that I will be teaching will be in years K-3 and so they are not old enough, by regulations, to participate in Face book or My Space.
I think it could be beneficial for older children, particularly with communicating with other students and other schools, around the globe, but I fear that the time spent online will be wasted by the students merely playing or messaging their close friends. (This is what I do when I am supposed to be studying!)
If the innovation was closely monitored by the teacher and the allocated time limited to 30 minutes or so, I think this could be a great addition to the classroom and would probably overtake emails and letters for pen pals.
Although I see the potential of Google Docs, I would not use the innovation until it has been improved and completed. For use in the classroom, I feel that the students would get extremely frustrated with how temperamental this is.
I can see the potential behind this innovation, particularly for creating collaborate works such as newsletters and presentations. Also, being able to collaborate with other classes in other schools, around the world.
The benefits of this innovation would be the opportunity to work together on a project without having to send countless emails. Being able to go online and see what your group members have done and add to it anytime you have access to a computer is also a bonus.
Google Docs is a fantastic idea and hopefully when I need to use it next, it will be greatly improved.
This weeks innovation was web based videos presented by Matt and Simon.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much I learnt about YouTube and teacher. TV. I am positive that I will use these applications in the classroom to give my students a different resource when researching a topic. These applications will allow me to use videos to create a learning environment that will engage and interest the students.
Matt and Simon introduce the topic well and although I do not feel that confident in using this application, I do feel that I now have the interest and enough knowledge to explore and experiment with these. I am particularly looking forward to using teacher. TV to see how they can help me with lesson ideas, useful hints and to further my knowledge in the subjects that cover.
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