Week+9

= Week 9: Multimedia in the Classroom = = = =I would like to note that the formatting features of wikispaces are not working. After working and editing this page for the last 48 hours, attempting to format text and pictures only causes the wikispaces site to crash and a complete loss of all data occurs. Therefore I will continue to work in this format to ensure that my data is present. After the data has been recorded and saved I will attempt to format the page to make it visually pleasing. If formatting attempts do not work I will leave this message on the screen as an explanation for the "rough" look to this page.=

I was unable to attend class this week. However, I have learned from my classmates that the following material was covered. 1) Adobe Photoshop 2) Smartboard of YouTube 3) Reading: "Literacy is Not Enough" by Ian Jukes

Adobe Photoshop[[image:0805-Photoshop.gif width="142" height="179" align="right" caption="http://www.hal-pc.org/journal/2005/05_aug/0805-Photoshop.gif"]]
= = I have used this program during my undergraduate degree to edit and format images. I find this program very useful when attempting to edit or manipulate images. This program would be very useful for students to use in the classroom, however, it does take some time to get used to the features and understand the different applications that can be carried out using this program. I am teaching a Grade 11 unit on media manipulation during my second practicum and if time permits one of the final assessment activities would be to use a program such as this to edit and fabricate one photo to show 2 different stories.

Today the class continued to investigate the usefulness of smartboards within the classroom. Through the exploration and viewing of Youtube videos, students were able to formulate their own opinions surrounding Smartboards. Through my personal use and research of these interactive whiteboards I have come to the conclusion that they are only as as useful and as good as the individual using them. What I mean by this is that they are only as good as a teacher would want them to be. If they put the effort in to find or develop strong lesson applications then they will lead to a positive learning experience. If they are simply used as "filler" for lessons then the students will not experience learning in the strongest environment possible. Therefore, if we are to use them in our classroom I believe we should take the time to develop quality applications that students will find meaning in.

Literacy is Not Enough by Ian Jukes
In this article, Ian Jukes explains that the development and implementation of technology into the classroom has has altered the traditional methods used in education. We no longer teach, assess or evaluate in the ways that we did in previous generations. Coupled with this is the fact that students do not learn in through the traditional methods that were used by their parents. Jukes explores the concept that students learn best by interacting with the information. This interaction should take the form of student centered learning where teachers act as "discussion facilitators" instead of the traditional "knowledge dictators". By implementing this type of teaching/learning activities into the classroom, teachers take a back seat in the learning process which allows students to investigate concepts on their own, which eventually leads them to become self advocates for their own knowledge development. Through student centered learning initiatives, teachers can aide in the development of the student's higher order and analysis thinking skill and in today's global and interconnected society, these are the skills that are valued most.

Jukes then explores the notion that as teachers we must not become fixated on simply teaching technology within the classroom. We must remember to teach traditional skills such as literacy, numeracy, reading and writing. Jukes notes that students must possess important skilsl to be fully functioning members of modern society. These skills are deemed fluencies and are listed as follows: Solution Fluency: deveoping problem solving skills Information Fluency: understanding and synthesizing information, developing conclusions supported by the information. Creative Fluency: using creativity and imagination to develop, assess, evaluate and explore. Media Fluency: interpret media messages and how they affect us. Collaboration Fluency: working cooperatively within the digital cloud environment.

As a teacher, I believe that these skills are integral to have in order to achieve success. On a personal level, I believe that creative fluency and collaboration fluency have an enormous effect on both the level of success and overall satisfaction with a completed task. It is through these two fluencies that students develop new and interesting ideas that help them solve the problems they are presented with. By working with the ideas and notions of other students, group members are able to come up with unique solutions and responses.

For a copy of today's reading, open the PDF below