Update: This morning’s post was put up in haste – before I left for the unconference. Thanks to Kathryn Greenhill (libsmatter) for this great example integrating technology at libcampperth09
Unfortunately only one java script will run on this blog so I have deleted the twitterfountain for the LibCampPerth2009 [It can still be viewed on The LibrariansMatter blog and a number of other places on the web]
Enjoy the show – wherever you are.
Visit Librariansmatter for Kathryn’s CoverIt Live window or the LibraryCampPerth2009 wiki where session notes, photos and videos will be uploaded as they become available.
education.au have released two new reports – just in time for the holiday break (over here in the West)
21st Century Learning Spaces provides an overview of what are the characteristics of new learning and learning spaces in the 21st century.
Web 2.0 site blocking in schools briefly describes Web 2.0 in terms of opportunities for teaching and learning and places site blocking in context within an overall framework that includes cyber-safety and 21st century learning.
Thanks to the education.au team for providing an Australian perspective on technology in education issues.
I have just finished reading a very impressive review of ‘Alice in Sunderland’ by Bryan Talbot – Thanks to Joy Lawn
As part of my background research I found a Google book about Bryan. I usually restrict myself to Full View books but even though this one was Limited View (ie the ENTIRE book is not available on-line) this one was so good I added it to my library anyway.
And here it is embedded in this post…
Now I just need to figure out how to stop the script embedding books I have previously featured !
Any suggestions? Note Added 11/4/09 - this site http://code.google.com/apis/books/docs/preview-wizard.html provides more customized scripts
I came across the Immersive Media site at work today and wanted to make sure that I could embed the code into edublogs. (Edublogs has been a bit touchy about embedding code recently)
As you can see below, the embed code works – now all I have to do is persuade the ‘powers that be’ at work that it is a suitable topic to write about on the work blog. Wish me luck!
Instructions: Click the Play button. Wait for the splash screen to play then use your mouse to click and drag to look in any direction in the video.
This first video is
New Guinea Immerse yourself in the native traditional song and dance**
and this is
Fiji Coral Reef Underwater and on deck in the South Pacific.**
A number of incidents and conversations at work over the past few weeks started me thinking (again) about Western Australian schools’ access to social networking sites and new Web2.0 applications. At present a number of well known networking sites – MySpace and Piczo included – are centrally blocked by the DET WA filters. Many schools apply ‘blacklists’ at a local level – teachers and students at these schools will probably find they cannot access Facebook, Bebo, Habbo Hotel and YouTube and a variety of other sites that have been deemed non-educational or too band-width hungry.
All this research indicates that young people construct social spaces as part of their ‘normal’ communications and who could blame them for feeling disconnected when they are denied this method of accessing both formal and informal information networks at school.
As an educator I believe I have a responsibility to help my students acquire the skills they will need to cope and succeed in their rapidly changing world.
I don’t want to get into a debate about central filters vs ‘roll-your-own’ blacklists vs ’smoke-what-you-like’ approaches – those sort of decisions are made by people on a much higher rung of the corporate ladder.
What is really concerning me is the impact social networking is having on our students and on us, their teachers. My experience in the classroom has convinced me that one of the most important factors influencing worthwhile interactions in the classroom is the free exchange of ideas between all participants. As educators we cannot expect our learners to do it all on our terms, we must be prepared to meet our students on their ground. I have a long-standing interest in incorporating ICTs into my classroom teaching in a meaningful manner, to benefit the teaching/learning process and I feel reasonably comfortable in most digital environments. I am quick to acknowledge that my students have been instrumental in helping me feel more at ease using newer technologies – they have been great teachers and I really appreciate their willingness to share their expertise with me and other class members. [Just in case any of you read this - Thanks You're great.]
What I would like to know is how classroom teachers (who are already under a great deal of pressure) can best be helped to develop the skills they need to take advantage of social networking sites (especially when the sites are blacklisted so they can’t even explore them?)
Last comment of a long post: (from Peter Spicer-Wensley)
This reminds me of a truism that the internet sees filters as faults and routes around them.
I need to do more thinking about these issues. Another post will follow.
Subscribe to this blog
Entries (RSS)