Week 2 Activities

Activity 2- TPACK

TPACK- Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge.

Framework: Pedagogical Content Knowledge  

Must know:

-          Select appropriate content knowledge and processes for student learning

-          Know what pedagogies best support great learning

-          Consider ICT and digital tools to transform learning

Activity 3- Working in a wiki

Mobile phones- Should they be used within the classroom? I added my ideas and opinions and they are listed below.

 Process: Where are we now? What is the next step? Where have we been? What sort of thinking is needed?
In today's day and age I can understand the want not need for mobile phones in Education. We are living in a technological world but I think it is going a bit far and out there by wanting mobile phones in the classroom.
We need to ask questions like: Why? Why do we need mobile phones within the classroom? What benefits will there be? What part of the phone will be used? Facebook? Text? Phone calls? What if only half the class has mobile phones? What will the other half use? Who will pay for them? I will agree as long as the reasons for mobile phones is appropriate. There are other technology that can provide some applications the same as a mobile. Eg- Ipads, which are now used within the classroom.
Intuitive- Feeling: How do I feel about this? What do I like about the idea? What don't I like about the idea?
I do not believe this is a good idea. I think this is going too far. We already have Ipads and laptops in our classrooms. Isn't that enough? I realise technology is growing but I believe we are getting too technical when it comes to mobile phones in the classroom. Students are meant to learn within the classroom and that will not be happening if they are buying the latest clothes, fighting on facebook or replying to their school friends on their mobile phones during class time.
Objective- Information: What information do I have? What are the facts? What information do I need? What do I want to KNOW?
As there are negatives and very few positives maybe a 'vote' can be given out. The facts would be included with some for and against points given out.

Activity 4- Blog reflection on wiki

Is this forum reflective of Behaviourism, constructivism, cognitivism, connectivism? One, or all of the above?
I think the forum relates well with connectivism as it is the learning theory for the digital age. “If networked learning is the 21^st century way of learning, then access to a range of nodes of information, including static information and people who hold the knowledge is important. Critical information literacy is essential”.

What are the characteristics of the wiki design that lead you to that understanding?
I found I was able to understand better as each coloured hat was explained with questions to ask yourself. For example- Intuitive- Feeling: How do I feel about this? What do I like about the idea? What don't I like about the idea?

Reflect on your own personal participation in the wiki. What are the benefits, issues, drawbacks of participating in a wiki like this?
By asking myself the questions provided under each hat I was able to make an opinion of what I thought would be best for the students and the classroom teacher. Some issues were that when I completed my opinion there was only 1 other person who had voiced their opinion as well so it made it difficult to see where others were coming from since only 1 other person had participated.

How would it contribute to the learning of your students?
I was unable to make an opinion on the contribution of the learning of students by mobile phones.

How did the scaffold support the collection of a range of perspectives?

There was only my opinion and 1 others so I’m unsure as out perspectives were similar.

Activity 5- Optional forum activity

How do the two methods of collaboration compare?
I prefer to collaborate individually and usually face to face. I find it difficult collaborating via a wiki or email so when it comes to collaborating with others for a flex subject I try to pair up with someone from my campus as I am able to talk to them face to face and talk about the subject instead of emailing.

Which suits your learning preferences better?
Individual collaboration definitely works best of me.

Do you think either a whole-group or an individual collaboration approach would suit for every single activity in the duration of this course?
Individual but it depends on the other students as well but I do know it’s easier for me when it’s individual.

Would you select one or the other based on your learning requirements at any given time?
No, I’ve always worked best individually or one on one so I don’t think a whole group approach will ever be best for me.