Week 3 – Design Briefs /Quia & Protection of Students Online

In this week’s workshop we initially explored the purpose of conducting a design Brief based on an activity Greg Powell set up for us. We were required to ‘make a frog jump’, by only using a small piece of cardboard, a small paper frog and a rubber band. In pairs, we came up with a design in order for this to happen. It was interesting to see the diverse ideas in the class and how they differed in design; we all had the same outcome, making the frog jump. A design brief was then completed which addressed  three dimensions (see example below); Investigating and Designing, Producing and Analysing and Evaluating; within the Design, Creativity and Technology domain of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards (http://vels.vcaa.vic.edu.au/dct/index.html).



A template of the Design Brief used for the 'Make a frog jump' activity


The ‘next level’ from this paper-based structure is to a technology based design, we explored this through Quia 

Quia (http://www.quia.com/web) is a collection of online tools which allows you to create your own online content for every subject at every level. There are many ways in which these can be achieved via quizzes, question banks, surveys and activities. Below is an example of a quiz I created in the workshop using Quia. You can have a go at this quiz via the following link; http://www.quia.com/quiz/2538667.html?AP_rand=570687094

It is indeed a powerful educational tool which allows students to engage in learning in a creative and exciting way therefore allowing children to ‘think’ for themselves. The element of enjoyment certainly adds to its power; I was having so much fun creating quizzes and word games and even more so when we were able to have a go at our fellow student’s developed quizzes. It was evident throughout this exercise that this program provides a safe way for teachers to integrate technology into the classroom, a way to engage students in learning and get them excited about learning. I also appreciate that it is user-friendly; it’s easy to navigate and therefore caters for all learner abilities. Below is an example of the activity ‘Hangman’ created in the workshop using Quia. You can play the game yourself ,  http://www.quia.com/hm/671353.html

Protection of Students Online

Discussed in length this week was the issue of Cyber Safety. Although the internet provides amazing learning and teaching opportunities, it is vital that risks are acknowledged and prevented. Teachers and schools have a responsibility to ensure that a positive, safe cyber community is created when working online, in essence this includes ‘behaving responsibly’ and ‘behaving safely'.

Cyber bullying (bullying via the internet through social networking sites, emails, blogs and other web based programs) has become increasingly a problem and something in which as teachers need to be fully aware of to protect students. In the lecture we were shown a disturbing case in which a student’s privacy was violated through naively divulging personal information. I actually felt ill, yet it is a reality, this is happening now and  I, as a future teacher may be confornted with a similar situation. Click the following view link to view this story:   http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=139986

Teachers Resources  

Cyber Smart developed by the ACMA  –  http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Schools/Teacher%20resources.aspx

A brilliant resource for teachers and for students to combat cyber bullying. There are various Interactive educational cyber safety programs using this website.

More useful resources for teachers in the fight against cyber bullying and safety of children online include:

DEECD  - Cyber safety - http://www.education.vic.gov.au/healthwellbeing/safety/bullying/cyber/policy.htm

Bullying. No way! -  http://www.bullyingnoway.com.au/

We explored, Cyber Detectives (developed by Acma) in which students work through a number of scenarios and issues of online safety and grooming, encouraging young people to think before posting personal information. I love the interactivity and the way in which children can use their problem-solving skills. Click the  below video link to view children’s thoughts and using the program:

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/Schools/Teacher%20resources/Upper%20primary/Interactive%20Shared%20Learning/Cybersmart%20Detectives/CSD%20Video/Cybersmart%20Detectives%20Video.aspx

Acma now showcases a range of Cybersmart videos on You Tube, about current cybersafety issues including safe social networking, how to address cyberbullying, and protecting personal information for teachers, children, parents and schools. Here is an example

Uploaded from You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV1SC2krOTE&list=QL&feature=BF

Week 2 - MS Publisher and E-portfolios

In this weeks' Workshop we were exposed to MS Publisher, a desktop publishing application allowing students and teachers to create an array of products; including greeting cards, posters, brochures, calendars etc (http://www.micosroft.com/). Through exploration of this application, it was obvious at the ease in which students and teachers at all levels were able to understand how the program works. We explored this software by engaging in an activity in which we were required to create a brochure of a holiday destination using this application (example entry below). I can certainly appreciate the use of this application as a way in which children can use the web search engine to explore, investigate and research as a means to complete a given task or activity. This can be acheived by exporting images, photos, web links, videos and photos to enhance their presentations. I also appreciate the user friendly aspect of the program, anyone one from beginner to advanced is able to navigate their way around this product.

My brochure explores the wonders of 'Paris'.






Following this activity we were introduced to E-portfolios, these according to Jackie Miers from MaGill Primary School S.A (http://www.teachers.ash.org.au/jmresources/ePortfolio.htm) are described as a collection of work that:
 - reflects an individual’s efforts, achievements and progress over time
- is performance-based and also goal driven
- indicates knowledge and skills and self reflection
- encourages career development and acts as a facilitation for life-long learning


My curiosity into the use of e-portfolios as a means for professional development in my pursuit for a career in education lead me to the extensive work of Dr. Helen Barrett, a pioneer for electronic portfolios and Digital storytelling for lifelong learners (http://electronicportfolios.com/). She describes e-portfolios are a means of ‘transforming’ professional development and can be built to meet many purposes; an environment for reflection on learning, a tool for formative and summative assessment or an asset in searching for employment. Thus, an e-portfolio endeavours not only to serve as a means for getting a job but rather as a means to see a progression into my learning and what has changed over time, it serves as my story of growth and development and not merely as a means to tick the boxes in meeting teaching requirements. Furthermore, it is a means to demonstrate a professional progression and self-reflection of career development and thus acting as a facilitation tool to my own life-long learning journey. I truly believe that this knowledge and development will serve as a powerful assessment not only for myself as a future professional educator but enable me to pass these benefits onto my future students.


Below is a snapshot of the beginning of an e-portfolio using MS Publisher, completed in our workshop this week.

Week 1 : Introduction to Blogs and Inspirations

Our first workshop required us to set up our own blogs using http://www.blogger.com/. This was the first time I had been exposed to the phenomenon of ‘web logging’. My introduction to blogging did not go as smoothly as expected given I was the unlikely one that experienced a ‘tech failure’. My registration worked however my blog was nowhere to be seen. I had another attempt following the workshop and this time, success!


Yes, I facebook, tweet, You Tube and My Space however I am a novice blogger. I have never had my own blog nor have I viewed a blog before. I was therefore curious as to how they can be beneficial in an educational setting. I discovered a wealth of benefits. A professional blog in an educational setting can be set up by a student, a whole class, faculty or Institution. It allows students, teachers and educational professionals to question, reflect and share thoughts, views and experiences as means to communicate and collaborate. What strikes me as most powerful about this form of technology and its use within education is that it provides a new form of interaction and connection to people not only in the community but also globally. It has an enormous space in which students can share their thoughts and ideas; I can imagine this would be a useful tool to use with students who are reluctant or shy about expressing thoughts and ideas in a traditional forum (in front of the class); and a fantastic way to get them ‘thinking’. I also like the way in which parents are able to become involved in their child’s learning and gives students, teachers and parents a sense of being a part of the whole schooling community.


The introduction to the Inspirations software (http://www.inspiration.com/) was amazing. We were able to explore the various functions that the software offered in this first workshop and created an entry based on an idea that we enjoyed (see below).I can certainly see how beneficial its use will be in a classroom not only as a teaching tool by using mind-mapping to present information, idea maps, process flows and other diagrams for thinking; but also as a means to enhance the learning experience of students by encouraging critical thinking, creativity and communication. Students are able to add hyperlinks to specific webpage’s, include videos and record and play sound in various diagrams as well as upload images. Students are then able to export their work as a jpeg file and insert it into their blog. I can certainly see the benefits of these technologies in the classroom and eagerly wait what new technology we will be exploring in the next workshop.

My attempts at the software 'Inspirations'

'Australian Rules Football'

'The five  Food Groups'