I was talking to a friend last month. They are a qualified maths teacher and we discussed some challenges of using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in maths.
I can understand their viewpoint that traditional methods of teaching and learning such as writing on the board and students presenting their work in an exercise book is much more effective. At the end of the day students won't be tested on a computer and hence need practice in presenting their work by hand. The teacher does use a wide variety of resources such as learning kits etc to help in students develop their practical understanding.
After some personal reflection, I realise that there is more scope than ever for using ICT to help students learn.
Many students despise maths and ICT can make maths more interesting for students.
The rise of Ipads in the classroom has given opportunities for teachers to use to satisfy ICT requirements.
Last year, I was asked to identify suitable apps to support teaching and learning. This site contained a list of apps that are available for Maths. Calculators, quizzes, instructional videos are some of the apps that are available. As time progresses they will surely be refined.
And just browsing around today is helping me to identify possible resources that can help teachers. A wiki that I located has a list of resources that a maths teacher can use in a lesson. I like the fact they provide teaching resources to allow students to develop their mathematical understanding by using online sites such as Google Earth. I can even see a cross curricular link right there with Geography.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Anaphylaxis NSW schools 4.0 Online Course
Just a few thoughts from the online course that I did last week:
Generally I enjoyed it because its a handy life skill. This situation can happen with anyone, anywhere at anytime. It will help me not just at school but in the wider community.
It was interesting to learn the difference between an allergic reaction and a Anaphylaxis attack and being reminded that when in doubt, just inject the Adrenalin into the patient because it can make the difference between life and death.
I was taught last year by my mother in how to inject the needle with Adrenalin last year and impressed with how easy it was to do, yet it shocked me how the teacher at Ashfield Boys High would end up stabbing himself with the needle while trying to treat the boy who later died.
The only downside is that being an online course, practical training was quite limited. I think there needs to be some hands on training attached to the course and actually be assessed on it as well to make sure that the person knows what to do in such a situation.
Generally I enjoyed it because its a handy life skill. This situation can happen with anyone, anywhere at anytime. It will help me not just at school but in the wider community.
It was interesting to learn the difference between an allergic reaction and a Anaphylaxis attack and being reminded that when in doubt, just inject the Adrenalin into the patient because it can make the difference between life and death.
I was taught last year by my mother in how to inject the needle with Adrenalin last year and impressed with how easy it was to do, yet it shocked me how the teacher at Ashfield Boys High would end up stabbing himself with the needle while trying to treat the boy who later died.
The only downside is that being an online course, practical training was quite limited. I think there needs to be some hands on training attached to the course and actually be assessed on it as well to make sure that the person knows what to do in such a situation.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Graduation Time & Year in Review
I want to congratulate those who are graduating with me this week from my Master of Education (Teacher Librarianship) Degree.
I decided to graduate in absentia so I will not attend the graduation ceremony in Wagga Wagga tomorrow.
Looking back at 2012, I'm thrilled that I finished my masters especially when you hear of the stories of those who have struggled to complete the course; the fact that some pull out because of time committments and not complete the course. Some have to scale back their studies to the one unit per semester and the talk of people failing units.
Just finishing a course is a big achievement in itself.
I got there because I was focused and committed. I wouldn't let any challenges outside of my studies intrude on it. In fact I let the challenges encourage me to work harder because the rewards that await will be far greater than anything.
If I look back, I am glad I undertook certain actions like volunteering at All Saints Grammar. It boosted my self esteem and it helped me develop as a professional in a more relaxed setting where I did not have to be as scrutinised as in the classroom. I was amazed by the professional relationships that I actually created there. I hope to continue that committment next year.
I was also glad that I did my professional experience there too. Small schools have helped me thrive as a teacher and the fact that everyone knows and helps each other makes the work alot easier.
The volunteer work also helped in the classroom as well as a casual teacher as well. I noticed that I was alot more relaxed and confident and prepared to face up to the challenges of teaching even better than ever. I was eager to help kids in the classroom as well as much as I could even outside my subject areas. It might be helping students to locate information and seek clarification about something that they do not understand. Some might need help writing and presenting information. I found myself in that situation many times of helping and guiding students in their learning. I could go home with my head up knowing that I did something other than "babysitting". I am not a casual teacher that likes to sit at the front of the room and reads a book like other casuals. I like to interact and support the learning process as much as possible.
I did not predict at the start of 2012 that I would do a paid casual block as a teacher librarian either and that gave me a full immersion into what I will face as a full time teacher librarian. I was lucky too I managed to learn alot more about my professional role, which sadly was overlooked in my actual studies. There was alot that had to be learnt but it was done and done well. I'm grateful that Waverley College gave me such an opportunity and the students liked my presence there.
I still felt that my knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies was lacking and I decided to take advantage of the offer by the Catholic Education Office Sydney to do a Web 2.0 course for teachers. Immersing myself in some new web tools has stimulated my interest in using them for teaching but even for leisure too. Students don't even know that some of the tools even exist. I cannot wait to teach them how to use them and they will surely love using them in their learning. I'll admit to having a lot of fun myself playing around with the tools.
It was encouraging that so many teachers in the schools that I have been involved with have been supportive in my studies and endeavours this year. I've also enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge with them as well. I hope to continue this next year
I can hold my head up high at the end of the year with these achievements. I may not have a full time job for 2013 but if I can keep the good work up, the full time job will come. I'm ready to face up to the challenges of being a teacher librarian. Even if I have to work in a classroom, I will be able to undertake that role even better than when I completed my post graduate studies. I am better informed about pedagogy and practice. I want to apply it and help the kids aspire to their full potential.
I decided to graduate in absentia so I will not attend the graduation ceremony in Wagga Wagga tomorrow.
Looking back at 2012, I'm thrilled that I finished my masters especially when you hear of the stories of those who have struggled to complete the course; the fact that some pull out because of time committments and not complete the course. Some have to scale back their studies to the one unit per semester and the talk of people failing units.
Just finishing a course is a big achievement in itself.
I got there because I was focused and committed. I wouldn't let any challenges outside of my studies intrude on it. In fact I let the challenges encourage me to work harder because the rewards that await will be far greater than anything.
If I look back, I am glad I undertook certain actions like volunteering at All Saints Grammar. It boosted my self esteem and it helped me develop as a professional in a more relaxed setting where I did not have to be as scrutinised as in the classroom. I was amazed by the professional relationships that I actually created there. I hope to continue that committment next year.
I was also glad that I did my professional experience there too. Small schools have helped me thrive as a teacher and the fact that everyone knows and helps each other makes the work alot easier.
The volunteer work also helped in the classroom as well as a casual teacher as well. I noticed that I was alot more relaxed and confident and prepared to face up to the challenges of teaching even better than ever. I was eager to help kids in the classroom as well as much as I could even outside my subject areas. It might be helping students to locate information and seek clarification about something that they do not understand. Some might need help writing and presenting information. I found myself in that situation many times of helping and guiding students in their learning. I could go home with my head up knowing that I did something other than "babysitting". I am not a casual teacher that likes to sit at the front of the room and reads a book like other casuals. I like to interact and support the learning process as much as possible.
I did not predict at the start of 2012 that I would do a paid casual block as a teacher librarian either and that gave me a full immersion into what I will face as a full time teacher librarian. I was lucky too I managed to learn alot more about my professional role, which sadly was overlooked in my actual studies. There was alot that had to be learnt but it was done and done well. I'm grateful that Waverley College gave me such an opportunity and the students liked my presence there.
I still felt that my knowledge of Information and Communication Technologies was lacking and I decided to take advantage of the offer by the Catholic Education Office Sydney to do a Web 2.0 course for teachers. Immersing myself in some new web tools has stimulated my interest in using them for teaching but even for leisure too. Students don't even know that some of the tools even exist. I cannot wait to teach them how to use them and they will surely love using them in their learning. I'll admit to having a lot of fun myself playing around with the tools.
It was encouraging that so many teachers in the schools that I have been involved with have been supportive in my studies and endeavours this year. I've also enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge with them as well. I hope to continue this next year
I can hold my head up high at the end of the year with these achievements. I may not have a full time job for 2013 but if I can keep the good work up, the full time job will come. I'm ready to face up to the challenges of being a teacher librarian. Even if I have to work in a classroom, I will be able to undertake that role even better than when I completed my post graduate studies. I am better informed about pedagogy and practice. I want to apply it and help the kids aspire to their full potential.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
The DET Suitability Interview
There are a few websites out there that do talk about the DET suitability interview for teachers wishing to work in NSW Public Schools.
Some even go into the liberty of posting all the possible questions that one could be asked.
I sat the suitability interview last week as I need to be approved for full time teaching. Before the interview, I had only been assessed as suitable for casual teaching in NSW public schools.
You might be asking me the question - What did they ask you?
The questions are based on the professional teaching standards for NSW teachers and the questions do encompass more than one element. Generally you will be asked questions about your professional knowledge, professional practice and professional commitment.
What they may have asked me last week, may be different for your interview.
I recommend viewing the information about the interview on the DET website because it guides you well in how to prepare for it and that has to be the best site to go to.
If I have to give some tips to help you I think you should:
Feel free to contact me if you want help. There is no shame.
Some even go into the liberty of posting all the possible questions that one could be asked.
I sat the suitability interview last week as I need to be approved for full time teaching. Before the interview, I had only been assessed as suitable for casual teaching in NSW public schools.
You might be asking me the question - What did they ask you?
The questions are based on the professional teaching standards for NSW teachers and the questions do encompass more than one element. Generally you will be asked questions about your professional knowledge, professional practice and professional commitment.
What they may have asked me last week, may be different for your interview.
I recommend viewing the information about the interview on the DET website because it guides you well in how to prepare for it and that has to be the best site to go to.
If I have to give some tips to help you I think you should:
- Make sure you understand the professional teaching standards and what they mean. Practicum reports can act as a guide. I know ACU list examples of evidence for each element to guide mentor teachers in assessing practicum students.
- List suitable experiences that you have been through for each element. If you are a graduate teacher or lack experience in an aspect of teaching, think about how YOU would go about it for example - How would you plan a unit of work?
- View relevant documents as listed on the DET website link that I have provided.
- Don't be afraid to share your own research and understandings of professional knowledge and teaching practice, particularly if a question is asked about possible challenges relating to teaching such as the use of ICT in the classroom.
- Obviously dress in professional attire for the interview. Give the interviewer the impression that you are serious about wanting to work as a teacher and that you take your professional role seriously. Remember first impressions count.
- Be familiar with what the syllabus requires you to do in your subject areas.
- Avoid memorising answers from websites like those listed above and don't worry about preparing answers for them. Just read them to see and feel what you could experience.Just looking at them is time consuming in itself. At the end of the day you don't know what could be asked. It's like an exam. Anything could be tested.
Feel free to contact me if you want help. There is no shame.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Cyberbullying is "overrated"
I have viewed some interesting emails relating to this article.
I feel I have to throw my two cents into this matter.
To me cyber bullying is a problem not matter how often it occurs in comparison to bullying that occurs offline.
If we look at NSW, the vast majority of school students in Year 9-12 now have a laptop due to the Federal Government's laptop rollout program.
Virtually every school student that I have come into contact with as a teacher owns a mobile phone or smartphone. Simply technology is around us.
We are proliferated with it. With this rise in technology, this provides the perfect setting for cyberbullying to occur.
The internet is a public place like the town square. Views can be said or heard by the entire world. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying, like physical or verbal bullying.
Unlike the physical world, it can be done anonymously and the offender can get away with it without penalty unless their identity is published. in the physical world, the perpetrator is often known to the victim and is more likely to get caught.
In the classroom as teachers, we have a challenging job controlling a group of up to thirty students in a room. I find that I have to move around the room quite frequently if students are using computers to ensure that they are on task that they are not using communication tools (facebook, phones etc). Even then Its extremely easy for a student to put their phone in their lap or under the desk and text or message away. I have caught students doing this. Its akin to passing notes in the old days from student to student, except it is now done electronically.
But for the article to say that cyberbullying is not as prevalent as it seems because 16 % have reported being bullied electronically as opposed to 39 % who might be bullied offline bemuses me.
16 % of students being cyberbullied is still a very high number.
There is no way that cyberbullying is overrated at all.
The article does not mention what percentage of students have been bullied either physically or verbally. There is also silent bullying (excluded from peer groups, not invited to social outings, being delibrately ignored by peers etc). And I will also add that a small percentage of students are bullied by their teachers. I was actually subject to bullying by a teacher when I was in Year 10. As one of my peers said it was done because in that teachers view that I "needed to be a man". If you were to break the offline bullying into the categories that I have mentioned, I think you will be amazed at how common cyberbullying is compared to other forms of bullying.
I feel I have to throw my two cents into this matter.
To me cyber bullying is a problem not matter how often it occurs in comparison to bullying that occurs offline.
If we look at NSW, the vast majority of school students in Year 9-12 now have a laptop due to the Federal Government's laptop rollout program.
Virtually every school student that I have come into contact with as a teacher owns a mobile phone or smartphone. Simply technology is around us.
We are proliferated with it. With this rise in technology, this provides the perfect setting for cyberbullying to occur.
The internet is a public place like the town square. Views can be said or heard by the entire world. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying, like physical or verbal bullying.
Unlike the physical world, it can be done anonymously and the offender can get away with it without penalty unless their identity is published. in the physical world, the perpetrator is often known to the victim and is more likely to get caught.
In the classroom as teachers, we have a challenging job controlling a group of up to thirty students in a room. I find that I have to move around the room quite frequently if students are using computers to ensure that they are on task that they are not using communication tools (facebook, phones etc). Even then Its extremely easy for a student to put their phone in their lap or under the desk and text or message away. I have caught students doing this. Its akin to passing notes in the old days from student to student, except it is now done electronically.
But for the article to say that cyberbullying is not as prevalent as it seems because 16 % have reported being bullied electronically as opposed to 39 % who might be bullied offline bemuses me.
16 % of students being cyberbullied is still a very high number.
There is no way that cyberbullying is overrated at all.
The article does not mention what percentage of students have been bullied either physically or verbally. There is also silent bullying (excluded from peer groups, not invited to social outings, being delibrately ignored by peers etc). And I will also add that a small percentage of students are bullied by their teachers. I was actually subject to bullying by a teacher when I was in Year 10. As one of my peers said it was done because in that teachers view that I "needed to be a man". If you were to break the offline bullying into the categories that I have mentioned, I think you will be amazed at how common cyberbullying is compared to other forms of bullying.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Web 2.0 Course - My Learning Journey
It has been a very exciting journey for me. I was motivated to do this course for the following reasons:
Some highlights from my learning journey include:
I've started to share with students some of the tools that are available to them and many of them have been amazed at the fact that Web 2.0 tools are easily accessible especially Google Docs. I filled in for a Year 11 Economics Class at one school recently and I explained to the students how they can use Google Docs to share notes with their peers as some of them share their notes via "old" methods online such as Email.
Hopefully as I get full time work as a teacher librarian, I can share my knowledge and experience of using Web 2.0 tools with other teachers, especially those that may be reluctant to use them and suggest strategies in how they can be incorporated into their teaching even if they have to start with something very simple and basic. I found that taking small steps does make a difference. The students I feel will welcome any use of technology even if it starts with something simple. Then I can work on teaching more complex tools and strategies. Rushing does not help.
If I do end up in a classroom role, this course gives me the scope to become more creative in my teaching. I'm lucky that I have a background in expressing myself creatively (photography) and I need to capitalise on it and use it to provide positive and engaging learning experiences.
- My university studies (particularly undergraduate) placed little emphasis on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT's) in the Classroom. I graduated with little knowledge in this area.
- Eagerness to integrate more Web 2.0 tools into my classroom teaching.
- Become better informed on latest teaching developments.
- Highly relevant to my career as a Teacher Librarian and my role as a manager of information. I also would have to lead classroom teachers in incorporating online technologies such as Web 2.0 Tools into teaching and learning programs.
- Allowed me to build up my knowledge of ICT's in the classroom from my Master of Education (Teacher Librarian) Course.
Some highlights from my learning journey include:
- Creating pages through IGoogle & Google Reader that allow me to centralise the flow of information from sources that I regularly visit, instead of going to each site individually. The internet experience becomes much more simplified and centralised. With so much information around us, we need a location where we can view the information that is important to us.
- Google Docs - Out of the tools that I have used in this course I have found this to be most useful resource for classroom learning. It allows for groups to collaborate in real time and removes the barriers associated with machines and emailing. It makes learning more productive and even better, students don't have to be in the classroom to learn.
- How to engage in Digital Storytelling - It encourages creativity and expression. Even though I may question the features of online tools compared to offline tools, I think its a great method for students to learn but also to communicate their information in multiple forms. Students love their technology and digital storytelling responds to their interests. Even I get excited and I have ideas in my head about some stories I want to share.
- Prezi - Adds a new dimension to the presentation of information and goes beyond the functions of Powerpoint. It encouraged me to be more creative in presenting factual information and summaries. Anything that is brief does not require Powerpoint slides. I think students will love it especially in subjects like history where creativity might stimulate interest. I'd still use Powerpoint for presenting information that more abstract or detailed. In fact I think both can go hand in hand like embedding Prezi into a Powerpoint slide.
- Bubbl.us - An excellent tool for mindmapping which is no longer limited by the size of the paper.
- Using Twitter as part of professional networking.
- Consolidating my knowledge with Web 2.0 tools such as Blogs, Social Network sites and Photohosting websites and reflecting on their potential use in the classroom.
I've started to share with students some of the tools that are available to them and many of them have been amazed at the fact that Web 2.0 tools are easily accessible especially Google Docs. I filled in for a Year 11 Economics Class at one school recently and I explained to the students how they can use Google Docs to share notes with their peers as some of them share their notes via "old" methods online such as Email.
Hopefully as I get full time work as a teacher librarian, I can share my knowledge and experience of using Web 2.0 tools with other teachers, especially those that may be reluctant to use them and suggest strategies in how they can be incorporated into their teaching even if they have to start with something very simple and basic. I found that taking small steps does make a difference. The students I feel will welcome any use of technology even if it starts with something simple. Then I can work on teaching more complex tools and strategies. Rushing does not help.
If I do end up in a classroom role, this course gives me the scope to become more creative in my teaching. I'm lucky that I have a background in expressing myself creatively (photography) and I need to capitalise on it and use it to provide positive and engaging learning experiences.