Final Reflection

"Change is a process not an event." (Fullan 1991)... and so it is with the Web 2 experience. I undertook the course not to tick a box or receive another piece of paper, but to find new ways to enrich my teaching and engage the students more effectively in the learning process. However, I was and will always be mindful of the fact that it is the human element which is paramount in the teaching/learning process. Technology is tool, a very valuable tool, but it needs to be kept in that context. As Ian Gamble (The SRI guru) reminds us, "There is no substitute for good teaching."

The whole concept of elearning has broadened the approach to the pedagogy of teaching. Students, more than ever, can learn anything, anywhere, anytime providing they are taught the skills to effectively access this new mode of learning. They should always be cognizant of the fact that the vast majority of information on the internet is subjective and that they need to develop their own inbuilt filters to aid in selecting sites to utilize to use for various tasks. Yes, teachers do matter in ensuring that this learning occurs even though we are now espousing the notion of students being responsible for their own learning.

Web 2 has highlighted for me the benefits of adopting a more collaborative and sharing approach to learning. GoogleDocs and Bubble.us have been a real revelation to me. The sign of a great inservice is to pick new ideas on Monday being able to implement them on Tuesday in the classroom. Such was the case with these tools. Being able to collaboratively plan and construct texts in this manner has produced some of the best student writing I have seen in many a day. Therein lies, I believe, the lesson for us all with elearning, "Hasten slowly." Initially select the tools you feel are most effective, and gain confidence in using them. Don't use them for the sake of 'ticking another box'. To return to my Module 1 gardening analogy, I confess to having a particular passion for using my chainsaw (which can be a tad tricky living in the Blue Mountains!) but it may only be used a couple of times a year when the need arises. Conversely, a weekend would not go by when the shovel doesn't get a run. And so it will be with all these new wonderful tools in my "laptop shed"!

There is little doubt that the Web 2 programs will enrich the learning process and enhance the development of thinking skills as enunciated in Bloom's Digital Taxonomy. Through engaging, evolving and empowering our students, elearning has and continues to forge a new frontier.

Always known for calling a spade a spade (pardon the pun), I believe the Web 2 course will have a very significant impact on my teaching pedagogy whilst still being mindful that it has provided me with fantastic tools but it is not the Messiah!

Again, a heartfelt acknowledgement of the support I was afforded by Matt, Melanie and Roger (ICT Team) in patiently guiding me through the course. The Prophet Job would have been proud of your efforts!!!

Now there is only one task remaining and that is to send Matt Wells my first and last SMS text message to inform him that I have completed the course!!

The more things change.......

Module 10

Wikis...

The You Tube explanation was simple and easy to follow. We are currently using wikis in English to assist with the boys' essay writing. One problem we have confronted is that the students are relying too heavily on the wiki and at times copying and pasting the posted wikis for their essays. Still it's early days using this tool and with explicit teaching on its use, I can envisage using wikis more effectively in future. I can see a similarity between this tool and Google Docs which is the program I am concentrating heavily on at present and am determined to master before Santa's next visit!

Nings was originally free to use but now there is a cost involved. This tool seems to replicate several of the other programs Web 2 has brought to my attention on how to communicate online and with which I feel more comfortable using. I don't envisage ever using Nings in the classroom.

Module 9

I was not familiar with the Scootle website prior to undertaking the Web 2 course even though I think I was supposed to sign up last year! ( Sorry Matt!) It will prove an excellent tool for teaching both English and History. There are a vast array of resources which will be stimulating and informative for the students and obviates the age old problem of 'reinventing the wheel' when it comes to resourcing units of work. It will also cause me to 'rethink' the way I teach units as I tend to rely on the tried and true methods rather being more adventurous and adopting new approaches.

I'm still a bit hazy on Second Life and can't see myself using it at this stage. I will endeavour to become more familiar with it further down the track as I can see its potential use in English.

Social networking... Facebook...Twitter... For a person who has yet to text anyone on a mobile (Refer Module 1) these tools are definitely not for me. I can't see how I would ever effectively employ them in the classroom or in my personal life. There are simply too many negative issues surrounding Facebook currently and Web 2 has provided me such a wide variety of fantastic new tools that I'll leave this type of social networking to those who obviously enjoy it.

Module 8

RSS is obviously another convenient way of keeping up to date with one's favourite websites. It enables you to store them in one place thus making it easy to locate the relevant updates. For those who spend hours on the internet each day, this would be a great timesaver.

However, I prefer to grab a good book in my spare time rather than surfing the internet. I have set up Google Reader but it is doubtful that I'll be using it in the near future. Still, I appreciate the benefits of this program.

Module 7

Prior to beginning the Web 2 course, I had no idea what a computer bookmark was and therefore never experienced the problem of not being able to access them on different computers on the Web. Having saved myself that frustration, I can now see what a valuable tool Delicious can be both in the work place and at home.

It provides an very easy way of sharing resources within each K.L.A. thus obviating the problem of continually 'reinventing the wheel' as each teacher is preparing their lessons. It will also allow me to track my favourite sites again for school and home use. I am looking forward to bookmarking my favourite garden sites just to remind me of how my life used to before Web 2.!!

I am still a bit hazy on how to tag to organize the bookmarks, so I will have another quick

session with the ICT team to clarify that component of Delicious.

This tool is going to save me a considerable amount of time.

Module 7

Module 6

History was made recently in my Year 9 English class. I had completed the practical lesson for this module and was particularly impressed with Bubbl.us. This is a great way to mind map which is obviously an integral aspect of the writing process.

"Right," I began, "who's used this program before?"

I was greeted be a sea of blank faces. Every grey hair stood proudly on my head. Carpe diem!!!

"Well, let me take you through it...."

The boys, up until now, have really struggled with mind mapping but their initial efforts with this tool are very encouraging. They are learning that "tighter" planning significantly improves the quality of their writing. Collaboratively planning work is now made far easier which is particularly beneficial for those still struggling with this component of their writing

I have used it with other classes and am now feeling very confident with it. I will make it mandatory to include a bubbl.us mind map with future student published work.

Glogster... Let's not get carried away. I can see a use for this tool 'down the track' but for now I'm just content to bubble along.....