Websites and Wikis the online data hubs for learners!

Good day everyone!
Once again I am blogging about my thoughts on E - Learning specifically Websites and wikkis being used for educational purposes. Firstly Here is the link to my website.

http://disastermanagementprojectcquglad.weebly.com

This website that was designed was for a project that was done earlier this year. The idea was this website was going to be used as a call point for teachers, parents and students to have access to information on natural disasters. The site is quite extensive and had been a working progress for a couple of months. I found that the longer I used the site the more I was aware of its features and the easier i was able to manipulate the design of the site to my liking. In an educational setting which is what this website is for I found that it was a port of call for people wanting to find information on the local area and natural disasters in general. I added a blog feature that encouraged people to network with each other on the topic giving others useful information that they have found. there was also a page where there were external links to other websites that users may find useful. Another aspect that was added in was a teachers resource page and a Kids corner page both of these have been great to their respective audience with relevant resources being used. Knowing how to use a website can be key to its success or failure. Being able to interact with your intended audience is needed to get feedback and information to help make the site more useful and interesting.

Wikis used today are like data buffet. They are contributed by their audience and very interactive in many ways. In a classroom setting a wiki could be used throughout the whole school year by a class, thus learners having access to information and knowledge gained throughout the year. As well as being online which means having access where ever internet is avaible, learners are able to inteact with the site and infomation in the site more directly. allowing for self directed learning. Wiki would still need to be mointered though as some people may put misleading infomation on them. Overall websites and wikis would be one of the most common used online tools used in education weather it be a cooking class or a maths subject. the main point I think to come from this is the use of the sites. If you know how to use the site learners are better able to use the site to making learning gains.

   

Mobile phones - a learning tool or distraction

After completing an activity to see how viable Mobile phones are in the classroom, I have come to a number of conclusions. Firstly the concept of bringing technology into the classroom is foremost related to 21st century learning, a change such as implementing Mobile devices into classrooms is necessary for students to learn. A Mobile phone in the classroom represents more then just a learning device it has the capabilities of communicating and networking on social levels which may be detrimental to the learning in classrooms. However such usage of devices in the context of learning and education can be extremely beneficial. I think that Mobile phones in this time are primarily used to network and socialise therefore  I believe they have no place in the classroom, but a similar device such as an electronic tablet with a structured and limited network capabilities confined for classroom use would be a much better tool to use.   

Reflection on E - Learning so far.

Hello all!
From what I have achieved over the past 2 weeks in this course I can see how important it is to keep up with and understand technology. Having a basic Grasp on technology before starting this course I believe has given me a great advantage in understanding the subject. Reflecting on what I have gained from the course I have a gained further understandings on technology and E tools therefore allowing me to see how they are connected to education. The skills and resources that I have explored, I can picture the concepts being used in the classroom. I also firmly believe that E - Tools and technology to be one of the greatest means to achieve outcomes in learners for the 21st century.  After sharing information with fellow class members I can clearly see how important it is to network with others to understand concepts related to E learning and building relationships. A great example of this is the wiki that we  have been contributing to, this allows us to bring together information that others have found to be useful and revalant. These skills are truly essential in our career's as learning mangers.

E - Learning Tool Multiple Intelligences test

Multiple intelligences

 In 1975 Howard Gardner designed a theory on his observations of learners of different abilities. This led him to suggest that everyone has a set of 8 intelligences with varying degrees of strengths in each category.  This Multiple intelligences theory has a test online which I took part to find out my predominant intelligences. As you can see from my results I have strong focus in natural and interpersonal categories and from this information I am able to help create learning programs to my strengths giving more understanding and producing better quality learning outcomes.  





The use of this E - learning tool in a educational environment would have many benefits for both learner and teachers. Being based as a web quiz learners would acquire skills to only only navigate around the web but after the test was complete have a better understanding of there strengths and weakness thus allowing them practices better mind set ideas about learning. Learning mangers will also be able to gauge students knowledge of technology and Internet navigation skills resulting in having a better understanding of what learners require to meet learning outcomes.

21st Century Learning What this means for society

When one thinks of the future, they often think about the destination and not the journey. As society on a global scale enters an era of information and technology we need to rethink education and how people learn. Schooling and education was based on industrial era foundations of the 19th century and was used well into the 20th century. However we are headed into the 21st century and whats needed is individuals being able to contribute to an era of technology.
 If practice of schooling and learning was to remain modeled from the industrial age this would not only disadvantage the learner but society as well. In the 21st Century, learners require complex skills to tackle future endeavours some of these skills include directing one's own learning to become a life long learner and thinking critically about a topic or issue. A major change that is greatly highlighted is what tools that technology can offer in a learning environment. One such example is that South Korea is implementing to replace all text books with electronic tabs by 2015 thus helping their students become more familiar with technology in this digital age.
It is this change in education that the journey is far more important then the destination.

Introduction

Hello fellow bloggers, and any of those who have a general interest in E-Learning! This blog will be used as a means of helping me learn about how effective and profound technology is in education. As a 'Tec head' myself this topic greatly interests me and I look forward to what new skills I will be acquiring in assisting me in my future career as a learning manger. So feel free to leave any comments, thoughts and ideas as I delve into the amazing world of technology used in education.
To begin this journey I would like to start off with this blog. I have made sure that this site is as user friendly as possible, and during the course of the next 10 to 12 weeks I will ensure to add many useful tools and link that will help me and my followers understand what managing E-learning is all about.
I have currently added an RSS feed (top right hand corner of the page) from a site called The Next Web which delivers information on the latest news about technology around the world. Feel free to take a look as it is up to date and informative.