Reflective Synopsis

From following the blogs placed on My Uni Blog, you are able to see the different e-learning styles that were presented in the courseware for FAHE11001 – Managing E-Learning. Each blog explains what each e-learning tool is and how it can be used in the classroom. It is also then analysed in accordance to the ICT learning design and the active learning frameworks.

After analysing the vast range of e-learning tools, there are some that I would definitely use as a first preference over others and in a teaching environment. These include the following: YouTube, Interactive Whiteboards, PowerPoint, learning Management Systems, Voki avatars, e-portfolio, RSS Aggregators and Blogs. I have chosen these as I believe that they are the best examples of e-learning tools that I would use to help engage the student’s learning.

YouTube is something that I am very familiar with, and I think this is a contributing factor as to why I would use it in a classroom situation. An effective way to use YouTube in a classroom would be to give each student (or group of students) an aspect of a set topic. Then get them to search on YouTube and find the best video that they believe portrays and give correct information about that topic. Then they would share their links to each other and therefore gain a wider and broader understanding of the overall topic. This creates a Learning Task by getting them to search individually, a Learning Support when the students are showing each other’s findings and YouTube itself is the Learning Resource. According to Oliver (1999) learning design combines the following three elements: Learning Tasks, Learning Recourses and Learning Supports. Therefore YouTube is an e-learning tool that would help to enhance student’s learning.

Learning Management Systems or (LMS) are essential to online learning, especially at university level. In saying that however a LMS could even be used in primary school teaching. For example a LMS could be created as a Homework system. This would have the different weekly teachings and homework on it. The teacher would teach the children the lesson in class and then the students would be able to access the lesson again at home on their computer when they are doing their homework. They can then do the exercises relating to each lesson while still being able to access the lesson itself. This would enhance a students learning because it would limit the amount of notes they would have to take in class, allowing them to spend more time actually listening to the teacher.

Voki Avatars are, as stated in the Voki Avatar blog entry, commonly made to be a version of one's self to be able to put a face to the student and/or teacher (Cohen, 2007). Voki Avatars are innovative and creative and in this way they are an exceptional e-learning tool and can be used in the online learning environment to improve students’ education. I would use a Voki to introduce and announce the learning outcomes that the student will learn from the lecture that follows it. This will give the student to an overall picture of what the rest of the lecture is about and why it is beneficial in reading it. In this way the Voki is being used as a Learning Support (Oliver, 1999).

An e-portfolio is one of the e-learning tools that I value the most, as it shows the journey of a student and allows them to learn and reflect on their own. For students an e-portfolio is very beneficial because it shows them a path and a direction, each created by themselves due to their individual circumstances. Everything happens for a reason and this can be shown through the journey of an e-portfolio. An example of this is that in order to finish a degree there are many factors that need to come in to play for this to be achieved, so things are not in our control but still need to be done to finish the degree. As discussed in my e-portfolio blog; an e-portfolio incorporates the needs that are in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (see Image 2. Below) which in turn offers reflection, growth and development, leading ultimately to self-actualisation.

As established, Blogging is a web based communication tool (Williams & Jacobs, 2004) and it cannot be argued that it is a great e-learning tool. Otherwise this whole assignment would have been of no benefit to my fellow students or to myself. The way that we have used blogs to discuss the different e-learning tools and become ‘follower’ of each other’s blogs has in itself been an enhancement on our learning abilities. This could be used in all online learning environments as it shows a bit about your fellow classmate and their opinions and analysis on topics.

Online discussions with my lecturer and peers have been very beneficial, being able to discuss your worries and concerns with each other by posting on the ‘coffee lounge’, viewing each other’s blogs and chat rooms has helped immensely. Proving that these e-learning tools have helped a great deal in the learning process for this assignment. As you can see from all of the blogs posted on My Uni Blog, all of the e-learning tools are all beneficial in learning in their own rights. The way in which they are used may vary but if we remember netiquette philosophy, "remember the human" (Gil, 2005), we can’t go wrong in enhancing the way in which students learn.

Reference List

Cohen, A. (2007). Avatars and Education. Classrooms without Walls. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from http://www.squidoo.com/voki

Gil, P.H. (2005). About.com Guide to Internet for Beginners since 2004. Retrieved August 4 and August 20, 2009 from http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/netiquetteonlineculture/l/blnquiz2005.htm

Huitt, W. (2004). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Educational Psychology Interactive. Retrieved August 6, 2009 from http://www.dirkdavis.org/cbu/edu518/resources/Savage03/MaslowsHierarchy.pdf

Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Williams, JB. and Jacobs, JS. (2004). Exploring the use of blogs as learning spaces in the higher education sector. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 20(2). pp. 232-247. Retrieved July 20, 2009 from http://eprints.qut.edu.au/13066/

Images

Image 1. Retrieved August 1, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Image 2. Retrieved August 6, 2009 from http://www.psyctherapy.com/Enrolled/images/Dressing3/maslow.gif

VoiceThread

VoiceThread is another way in which you can upload and share documents, images and videos. However you can also then talk about them and comment on other peoples uploads by using, 'voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam)' (http://voicethread.com/about/).

VoiceThread is a combination of all three of Oliver's ICT Learning Design Model. It incorporates Learning Task by creating the voice thread that is to places with a particular document, image or video. It is a Learning Resource because you can find things and learn from others, and finally it is a Learning Support because you can give each other feedback and comments.

Reference List
Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254. Retrieved August 15, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Using Music on the Web

Using music not only on the web, also in real circumstances helps to create a mood and atmosphere for the learning environment. In this way music as a e-learning tool can be related to elements in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, e.g. Self -Actualisation, this is seen my the way music relaxes and sooths.

Music can also be used to link into what is being taught by the lyrics in songs.

Reference List

Huitt, W. (2004). Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Educational Psychology Interactive. Retrieved August 6, 2009 from

http://www.dirkdavis.org/cbu/edu518/resources/Savage03/MaslowsHierarchy.pdf

Images

Image 1. Retrieved August 18, 2009 from http://www.cootamundra.local-e.nsw.gov.au/files/129758/File/music_notes.jpg

SlideShare

SlideShare allows you to share slide with people all over the world, whether they be photos, stories or educational. 'Slides' can be classified as Word documents, PowerPoint presentations and Adobe PDF Portfolios.

SlideShare is a Learning Resource (Oliver, 1999) because it lets you took up and see other peoples slides and what they have been learning and what you to know. It is also a Learning Support (Oliver, 1999) because you can put your own slides on and others can view them and in this way you are support others in their learning.

Reference List

Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254. Retrieved August 15, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Image

Image 1. Retrieved August 18, 2009 from http://www.semiosiscommunications.com/blog/wp-content/themes/semiosis/images/slideshare-logo.png

WIKIPedia

WIKIPedia is a free encyclopedia. It is as discussed in my Wiki blog is a place where you can search just about anything and from that one search can then go directly to related topics or more in-depth meanings of the topic first looked at. WIKIPedia is a Learning Resource (Oliver 1999) because it is a place to find and explore topics.

Reference List
Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254. Retrieved August 15, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Image
Image 1. Retrieved August 18, 2009 from http://ccrjustice.org/files/images/wikipedia-logo.png

WebQuests

A WebQuest is an internet orientated activity, it is where learners go on a 'quest' to find out all they need to know about a particular subject. According to Wikipedia, 'During this activity learners read, analyse, and synthesize information using the World Wide Web'. In the end all of the students get together and collaborate what they have found.

This is an effective e-learning tool, because it brings together the Oliver's three ICT Learning Design Model elements; Learning Resources, Learning Tasks and Learning Supports (Oliver, 1999).

Reference List
Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254. Retrieved August 15, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm

Image

Image 1. Retrieved August 18, 2009 from https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz6mSSkjy99De2TKGWxntsf5D_6Wy_9NziKKaSpwKEo9siHvxCqyqvO-a05uNtjy64mKseDYFuaRYWvCCuNcW9BLBzQ4_9lmwpmgjg85U7V8w-zx8xv56RLunmb1M6S5UmIJ2HFImD_cTF/s400/webquest-intro.png

Google Earth

Google Earth allows you to view the world! To be specific it has maps, satellite views, 3D buildings even pictures of outer space. This is a exceptionally beneficial e-learning tool especially for Geography students. Google earth is a Learning Resource (Oliver 1999), allowing the students to have the world at their finger tips.

Reference List
Oliver, R. (1999). Exploring strategies for on-line teaching and learning. Distance Education, 20(2), 240-254. Retrieved August 15, 2009 from http://www.learningdesigns.uow.edu.au/project/learn_design.htm



Image

Image 1. Retrieved August 15, 2009 from http://www.unepscs.org/images/stories/SCS_on_Google_Earth.jpg