Module 6

Hello!

Tonight I finished module 6 on creating online communities.

Firstly I started with the free online program bubbl.us. A great application as it essentially allows you to create mind maps and then share the resource with other users that you invite, just like Google docs. I began making my own mind map of the course to date and I focused on four key areas that I believe web 2.0 can assist in. They are independent learning, higher order thinking, student engagement and connections to the real world. Each one of the programs that I have looked at so far focuses specifically on developing these areas in education.

Regarding the use of bubble.us in the classroom – immediately it came to mind that I could use this application for my senior students. I often get them to make summaries of the course we have completed for study in their HSC exams. This application would provide a fun way to do this and also allow them to share their ideas with other students as they work! I also like the idea of using this with my commerce students because often in commerce we do a lot of brainstorming. Again though, we need to ensure that we have access to the Internet in class.

Glogster is also an interesting application. I can imagine that the students would love using this! It can be a great way to creatively summarise a topic and encourage students to look beyond the textbook. I also think many students are tired of using standard publishing and power point programs so this would be a welcomed change. I can see some potential in this application for year 9 history. Next term they will have to use a computer application to create a summary of world war 2. I think the students would enjoy creating a glog more than creating a power point presentation or visual essay. Of course the students will have to use a wide range of web resources such as first hand war accounts of POWs, videos, images, summaries of key events, podcasts of viewpoints and any other type of information relevant for world war 2. The students should also be encouraged to explain why they have chosen the resources. Then the final step should be for students to view some of the glogs students have created and give it a rating. I think the next step with glogs in the classroom is to allow students to use this in assignments and oral presentations.

I look forward to using some of these applications with the students.