Favourite ICT Workshop, Final Note

I'd have to say... Seminars. Yep. Seminars. I actually found many of the presentations provided great ideas and resources for ICT in the classroom. Even groups who chose to present ICT specific to their discipline, I still heard many clever ideas as well as websites, programs and other software. Some examples include using Skype in LOTE classrooms to communicate with native speakers. While this is a great use of a free program in one specific discipline, I feel inspired to find ways to use this in my own area. I'm from the U.S. and completed my undergraduate degree there and still remain in contact with several professors. Perhaps I could have students read up on what those professors are currently researching and prepare an interview for one of my former professors. It could be great for students to have real contact with a scientist, and Skype would provide the bonus of a scientist from overseas. Another great example was given by a History group, who shared an interactive website allowing a virtual tour of the pyramids. While surely a great resource in the History classroom, this and other virtual-environment type websites could be used in other subjects. Imagine having students perform trigonometry on the pyramids by making measurements in an interactive environment, rather than simple data or photos. What about having students use similar sites, such as Google street view, to collect scientific data and make measurements anywhere in the world? Although I enjoyed the workshops and believe they covered many of the basic uses of ICT in education, for the most part I had previous knowledge and experience with most of the topics, with the exception of 'conditional formatting' in the Excel workshop (which was taught in ALT as well, however) and making webpages. The seminars and my own presentation were the best chance to learn about ICT in education. On a final note, I have read much regarding people's final opinions about ICT in education. I must say I'm a bit perplexed that this is even an argument people we continue to have. ICT surrounds us in our modern world and continues to to absorb into more and more of our lives. You are entitled to teach the way you believe best, and I don't see ICT being forced upon any teacher, aside from basic email and school website protocols. I enjoy trying to keep up with technology and am constantly brainstorming more creative ways to add to my knowledge and experience with ICT and applications for teaching. If you decide this is not for you, that's fine... but I would still argue that you and your students will have a gap growing between you as they continue to grow up in a world infused with technology. That being said, I'm also aware of the idea that true social interaction is essential for learning and agree with this, but am sure that this can live in harmony with ICT. As I dream now of things like an iPad being wirelessly projected in a classroom, which other students could see, edit, and get for themselves, I can hardly imagine what kind of technologies I'll be geeking-out about in the future. So here's to ICT in education, to the fellow educators whom I look forward to creatively collaborating with in the future, and to the many exciting new ideas this generation of teachers brings to the table!

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology is a new and interesting science, branching form Chemistry and therefore falls under a curriculum which I'll be teaching! Although I hadn't studied Nanotechnology as an undergraduate, the basic idea is easy to understand. Sometimes also known as surface chemistry, the surfaces of materials play a huge role in how they interact when they come in contact with other materials. This only needs to be an extremely thin layer covering the material, sometimes a Nanometer (1x10^-9m) or one 'layer' of molecules! While there are potential applications for nanotechnology in medicine, electronics, energy production, and many other industries, it is also controversial as its effects, namely long-term effects on the environment are not yet understood. An evolving, controversial topic in science to liven up the curriculum? I'll take it!
However, as far as I know, Nanotechnology falls short in the experiments/demonstration component which is vital for science teaching. ICT to the rescue!

Take the following video for example:



Now isn't that great!
Oh! And where might those scientists gotten the idea from?


Another simple example of using ICT to reinforce learning and pick up the slack where other activities aren't available (Not to contend that using ICT is always a 'backup' to another resource).  The point is the video is interesting, relates to and supplements the topic, and would scaffold lots of educational glory.

Top 10 Uses of Google Docs for Teachers

Hello Everyone,
My colleague Nick 'The Coach' Kemp and myself 'The Doc' created this video explaining the top ten  uses of google docs for teachers for our group presentation of assignment two. We chose the topic: 
"Actual or potential opportunities for enhancing education due to recent developments in Web 2.0 applications, or in 'the cloud' generally." -John Murnane
Enjoy!