Week 1

Welcome to the 21st century primary classroom.

This workshop really opened my mind to how many ways I as a teacher can include technology in the classroom. The times have changed since I was in primary school where we had a computer room of Apple Macs with only enough computers for probably 1 computer between 2 or 3 students. All I can remember doing was typing games and a jack and the beanstalk, choose your own adventure type game. Wow how things have changed!

It was great to hear all of Greg's ideas and ways he has included technology into his classroom in the past and not just as a research tool. During my first practicum the school I was at was very keen on technology and had lots of different options for the students to use. There were great possibilities to include these technologies into their every day schooling, throughout all subjects. I found they used it really well during their integrated subject but only occasionally used during maths or literacy.

I believe that it is about making a culture in your classroom which includes constant use of technology and not getting into the mind set where including it is a burden. Just like Greg spoke about, don't say you don't have time to fit in it. Make time. Have set tasks set up for children to do when it is their time to use the classroom computers, which will hopefully keep they are engaged. I found that when students in my first practicum were on the computers during their integrated subject, a lot would not be engaged in the task and become distracted and waste time, as it was simply exciting to have time to use the computer. I believe making computers a part of their learning and something they do on a regular basis would help with this engagement levels.

Good pointers when teaching ICT:

• show students the program you are going to use.
• Give students 5-10 minutes to play with the program, so they can attempt to figure out the program prior to being shown specific aspects.
  
• After they have had a play, give students the instructions they require to complete a specific task or tasks.
• After students have had time to create their piece of work, let the students walk around and see other students work, as a group share exercise. We did this during the lab and I found it a great way to extend my learning with the program. It shows me a vary of creative ways to use the programs, ways I had not thought of.

Pointers to help me use Inspiration IE 8.0:
What is it? Inspiration IE 8.0 - some schools may have it. If not you can download a free 30 day trial, all you need is an email address.
The inspiration website (www.inspiration.com) states that the program is used for "visual mapping, outlining, writing and making presentations, use Inspiration, the ultimate thinking and learning tool. Brainstorm ideas, structure your thoughts and visually communicate concepts to strengthen understanding with the Diagram and Map Views."

The program gives you the option to great these diagrams and mind maps, with the use of words or pictures(obtained from a range of clip art in the program or pictures files from other sources can be imported into the program).

Would I recommend it?

It was brought up by a fellow student during the class why would you bother using this program for diagrams and mind maps? when you could do a similar task on Word. Something students and adults alike need to use much more frequently.
At first I agreed with this, thinking that teaching students to use word was probably a more important task than a program like inspirations that only has a few set functions.
However, after fiddling with the program myself and seeing what other students in my class came up with. I really like how inspiration works as a program. It is simple to use and given some creativity can look really fantastic.
If you were to create a similar mind map in Word, then decided to add a few extra pictures and arrows, the formatting would take a long time to fix, therefor students would probably not bother. This is the aspect I really like about Inspiration, the ease of being able to adjust and move sections of your mind map.

I think it is valuable for students to learn to navigate around different computer programs. It teaches the students how to find things in programs that aren't your typical Microsoft programs which I think is a value lesson and will definatly give students the confidence to use new programs in the future.

Being able to use the program on a 30 day trial makes it accessible for short periods of times. However ethically, you you just continually take the 30 day trial with different email addresses?

I would definatly recommend using this program in any classroom.

When Creating a diagram -

• With Inspiration, if you save the file it will be a .isf file. This file cannot be opened in any other program. So when students are finished their diagram or mind map, it is a good idea to get students to save their work to a word document. Go to File, Transfer to create word document. (However once in word you can't change the information).
• you can also save the file as a graphic file (File - Export- Graphic File)
  
• under certain headings - use drop down box from symbols tab.
• can thicken lines between relationships with the button on the bottom of the toolbar.
  
• can add sounds and video
• notes function
• Can create links between two pictures. Click link, then draw the arrow , once the arrow is there you can add text to what the relationship is between the two pictures.
• Example: One student in our class did a flowchart of how they get to school. What travel they take, on the arrows put how often they use this mode of transport.

Concept Maps/Mind Maps:

In same program when in the opening page click mind map.

A good feature of the mind maps, was the rapid fire.

1. type and click enter and their views will be shown straight away, in different bubbles. A great way to brainstorm with all the children. The flexibility of being able to move sections easily once they have been typed, means that this could be an effective tool when grouping ideas after the brainstorm.

My mind map from the workshop: