Technology Rich School
Element 4.2.5 – Create, select and use a variety of appropriate teaching strategies and resources including ICT and other technologies to make content meaningful to students. (NSWIT 2004)
When we are at University we talk about ‘Integrating Technology’. (Zarebski 2010) We say ‘yes, we give online activities to research and make them create Power Point presentations.’ At this school, however, they don’t just talk about integration they are doing it.
During the presentation while at University we saw how two schools in Parramatta were involved in integrating technology.(Zarebski 2010) I saw the potential and was impressed. The school I am attending has Distance Education with an enrolment of 400. Every day the teachers prepare lessons for the day school then they produce those same lessons for the distance education students using interactive lessons, pod casts and online content.
Students interact with teachers through emails, phone conversations and videoconferencing. The have access to communities on line, and discussion groups. This technology has opened up a whole new world in the lives of these students who for the most part are from regional NSW. They are interacting with other students from both the city and the country.
The positive aspect for the students is the interaction with other students, especially those who are also isolated. Online communities and discussion groups associated with their classes allow their opinion to be valued. It is also an opportunity for them to consider other views outside their own.
An issue that I have struggled with is the need to write questions that are self-explanatory. In the classroom questions that are confusing can be easily explained but in the online lesson the students can misunderstand the question and write a totally different answer. So care must be taken to question structure. Responses to question students may have are not answered till latter in the day so students may not always be able to finish the lesson that day.
The task of creating a lesson that suite both online and face to face content is the challenge. Using suitable content in the form of video and creating podcasts with ‘Power Point’ and ‘iMovie’ or ‘Camtasia’ have stretch my abilities. Being a teacher in this environment requires you to be flexible and willing to learn. As the process is new and improving all the time the teachers are constantly developing new skills. Basically if you are scared of change you need not apply.
I have enjoyed the challenge of this experience and have created a number of podcasts for the lessons I have taught. I was thankful for the introduction at Uni that gave some foundation to build on.
References:
NSWIT (2004) Professional Teaching Standards, NSW Institute of Teachers. Sydney.
Tanti, Miriam, (2010) Explaining the assessments – EDFD 474, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield.
Zarebski, J, (2010) Using ICT in the classroom. – EDFD 474, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield.
