Monday, August 30, 2010

Week 3 Blog - Cyber Bullying and Computer Games

This week's lecture was about cyber bullying. Although most people are aware of cyber bullying I didn't realise just how widespread it was among all the technologies (email, text, blogs, messenger, Facebook, Myspace etc), and how easily kids can access the ways to do it. The short clip on Lauren's story really bought it home how kids don't think about the consequences of their actions, how quickly situations can get out of hand and how quickly it spirals out of control and outside sources need to be involved (police).
I was quite impressed to see there are a plethora of resources available online to help educate parents, students and teachers on the issues of cyber bullying. Programs for students to play on to help give them an understanding on what is acceptable Internet behaviour. Also what details they can and cant divulge on the Internet.
If we are going to push technology upon students earlier and earlier in their lives then we also need to teach them responsible usage of the learning tool. I believe it is so important to spend a lot of time educating the students on the dangers of the Internet, especially since it is so unregulated.
It was also worthwhile to know that it is also about educating the students on reporting such activities, a concept I hand previously taken for granted that they would automatically do it. A real eye opener.
This youtube clip that was shown in the lecture really hit home http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW14kz3TKug

The workshop started with a learning activity involving getting a frog to jump. Rules were set before we began the task so that we knew exactly what was required. The task was to make the frog jump. In groups of 2 we were to use all the materials provided to make it jump. Very interesting the amount of different ways groups came up with!
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The second part of the workshop was to create a quiz using the QUIA program (quia.web). An awesome program, very valid for school children and so easy to use. I have posted a copy of my quiz on this blog.

The next part was to create a hangman program. I used a teddy bear having his balloons burst rather than hangman icon as it is a little nicer to see! I attached a post to see below.

The next part was to create just another type of activity. I chose word jumble. I had a cartoon theme. I posted a screen shot of the page below.

I really enjoyed this workshop, very good program to know about and will come in very handy in the future!


http://www.quia.com/profiles/tbarnes210

http://www.quia.com/hm/671342.html

http://www.quia.com/jw/388896.html

This is the Quiz - I chose Dogs



This is the Hangman Activity



This is the word Jumble I made - Cartoon theme

Thursday, August 19, 2010

First Official Blog - Week 1 official

Ok so Im not really a blogging person. Im up with facebook and everything but blogging is something I havent really gotten into so here goes.......
Im Terri, I've just gone back to uni to do my Dip Ed in Primary teaching. I work for a pathology company in the lab as well. Im obssessed with dogs, everything to do with dogs, I own 3 and I am a dog trainer.
Up until today I thought I was pretty competent at ICT stuff....until I used non microsoft products and realised there is a lot I still need to learn!!! Im all for technology in the classroom, I think it will make things a lot more accessable to students. I am not liking not having auto correct on this blog, shows up my laziness with grammar and punctuation.....

I loved the program inspiration that we touched on today, I really want it at home!!!! How many assignments I would have and still could do using that program is amazing. So easy to use and practicial.
Paintbrush...not so sure about. Havent used it much for a good reason. I dont find it user friendly at all so I'm going to have to do a quick refresher on it before next week.
The new (well new to me) ideas to educate children using the programs like inspiration are amazing. The concept mapping program, how easy it is to conceptualise and then to put together is outstanding. The bear concept map that Greg had prepared to show us was so simple yet kids would get so much out of creating something like that. Researching what the bears eat then finding a graphic and maybe a sound or two is not only effective for their ICT skills but research and creativity. I am definately keen to explore that program for its other functions.
The concept map I did, I grabbed a couple of images off the graphics provided in inspiration, but then realised I could add my own. I grabbed some pictures off my facebook site for my personal topics then googled pictures of other topics I had put in my map. I played around with colour schemes, fonts and shapes to make the presentation a little more exciting. It was so easy that primary school aged children would get great use out of an activity such as this, one for the memory bank to use on teaching rounds!

That is all for now....so much reading and research to do these days, on the countdown to mid semester break....hang on that means I have to work full time for both weeks....Il get back with which one is the lesser of 2 evils for that one.

PS just checking out the colour schemes

Over and out

VIDEO: Greensborough's 'million-dollar dog' - People - News - Diamond Valley Leader

VIDEO: Greensborough's 'million-dollar dog' - People - News - Diamond Valley Leader


This is a link to the website where my boy (my dog Oscar) was featured!! He is a star now even if it is local!!!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Week 1 & 2 posts - extra info

This is my about me project - A few things that float my boat!!!


This is from paintbrush

This is my mind map project - I am a simple person!!!

These are the projects I worked on in my first class - If only we had more time!!!

This isnt the official week one Blog, this is the images of them...Ive since learnt how to incorporate everything all into one!


Week 2 For some reason my week 2 blog comes up seperately to the rest of my blogs.....please search for it!!!
Here is a quick synopsis of what was in week 2 just in case!

We worked on our posters in publisher today. Publisher was chosen as it is widely available in schools through the microsoft office programs....
Here is my Venice poster

First Blog

This is my first blog....testing