Technology+Resources+Reviews

Sites that explore Technology Use in the Classroom
This 21st Century Skills WikiSpace has a section where USA teachers have reviewed technology resources that support learning in schools. It was created to support a course for teachers in 2011. They consider what they think best practice means then provide a range of other links with some specific recommendations. It particularly explores the use of Web 2.0 tools which I think create new possibilities for interactive learning. For example, they created a list of what they think best practice Blogging would involve. You could spend hours browsing the links, so I'm wondering if there is enough information in the reviews. One link I found that I thought was really helpful was the: Cool Tools for Schools Wiki. This provides an overview of different **//Uses//** of technology, not just the technological tools. I thought the way this teacher has reviewed the tools was excellent - very specific with lots of practical application related to authentic and purposeful use. (Maureen)

Classroom 2.0 is a social networking site for educators, and a vast resource for 'cutting-edge' PD. There are conference recordings, discussion groups, weekly teacher talks, external links, and much more. This site is not recommended as a quick-stop for browsing, it is a place to get involved in a global sharing of ideas. Recordings of online conferences like the 'Social Learning Summit' are available. The most recent 'Teacher Talk' recording is entitled: Student Publishing using the iPad, and each talk is followed by a long list of related resources. This site is full of ideas and information about teaching in the 21st century.

International Computer Driving Licence I thought that my ICT skills were a bit patchy...OK with applications I use often but not so brilliant with some others. I'm taking the International Computer Driving Licence which seems to give a good grounding and is something tangible to verify ICT skills and currency on the CV. Visit www.icdl.com.au or www.itfutures.net.au for further information. || Posted by AnnDon6
 * = [[image:http://c1.wikicdn.com/i/user_none_lg.jpg width="48" height="48" caption="JohBel2" link="http://www.wikispaces.com/user/view/JohBel2"]] ||< [|JohBel2] May 24, 2012 3:16 pm

iPads for Education I wanted to share a resource that would help teachers see how iPads can be used in teaching and learning. This site was set up to report on the Victorian schools iPads for Learning trial and includes specially selected apps, classroom ideas and technical tips. There are case studies which describe how the trial worked in individual schools. The trial included primary, secondary, special developmental and deaf students from across Victoria. Teachers and students share their experiences and responses to the trial. There are links to interactive publications (in their hands: 21 steps to iPad success and in their hands: Classroom ideas for learning with the iPad. The first of these publications gives a step-by step guide to ways of introducing iPads into a school's learnng program. The second publication gives information on the nitty gritty of making the iPad part of the teaching/learning environment. Both publications have links to other material including curriculum guidelines and VELS, issues of cybersafety and online learning/teaching resources. There are also descriptions of available apps. I'm always suspicious when I find no adverse reactions on site that is reporting on a trial. All the case studies give glowing reports. So I'm not sure if iPads in schools are as fabulous as this site makes out. Be interesting to hear from anyone who has come across a trial where the results were less than perfect. However, it does give the novice device-handler a look at how the iPad can be introduced to teachers/learners.

Posted by Maureen (EdP team) Thanks Ann for you insightful post questions posed. I have engaged in research in schools to identify how information and communication technologies can support learning. Our findings were that pedagogy, i.e. how learners were learning, was the most important determinant of success. If teachers designed learning experiences that were soundly guided by effective learning principles, then the way technology was being used was often innovative and successful. If technology was being used simply to replicate things we could do without technology, the outcomes were generally either more or less efficiency (in one case attempts at collaborative online projects resulted in diminished learning outcomes). Another significant finding was that multiliteracies and understanding how to employ all of our communication modalities was essential to get the most from ICT. These findings would hold true for iPad use I would imagine, with the added dimension of heightened interactively now in play.