Virtual Learning Environment - Out in Space

Slide 1: By Sue Austin

Slide 2: Create a Virtual Learning Environment which will introduce Web 2 tools Blogs – Wikis -Podcasting and Elluminate to the 5/6 classroom

Slide 3:  This VLE is intended for a Year 5/6 class who have minimal understanding and experiences with Web 2.0 tools.  Students are familiar with the internet and email but have not yet experienced blogs and wiki’s (other than using Wikipedia)  Year 5/6 has 1 hour per week allocated to computer/technology lessons.  Students will require structured learning activities to accomplish set tasks within the timeframe of 9 weeks.

Slide 4: The Virtual Learning environment will provide students with:  opportunities to develop an awareness and understanding of Web 2 tools.  opportunities to appreciate and value the potential of Web 2 tools and a VLE  learning activities that encourages collaboration, communication and connection with other students learning  learning activities that takes them from the traditional style of teaching/learning  learning activities that require skills of investigation, research, higher order thinking and problem solving  technology skills beyond those previously experienced

Slide 5: Students will make use of:  Teacher blog – for instruction, communication and collaboration  Student Blogs – for creation, commenting and communicating with others on the space topic  Wiki’s – for collaborative work on a glossary of space terms and space images.  Podcast – for the digitally recording of ‘astronomy’ interviews to ‘podcast’ to class  Elluminate – for participation in a real time web conference on issues relating to the space topic

Slide 6:  Introduction  View clip - What is Web 2.0  Brainstorm social software applications that are currently available – and those known by students  Display Web Diagram (using Visual Mind) which categorises the software (see next slide)  Make students aware of the Software bookmarking site Del.icio.us

Slide 7: Web 2 tools Link to Mind Map

Slide 8: Activity 1  Students view Blogging in Plain English  Teacher - Introduce and explain Edublogs  Students view Blog School Demo  Teacher - highlight important aspects and components of the blog  Teacher - inform students of their blogs (already created) ready for personalizing  Students -view the demonstration of personalizing your Blog  Students work on setting up their blog for comments

Slide 9:  Teacher - discuss how blogs encourage communication.  commenting.  Teacher - explain how comments are for collaborating and promoting discussion.  Teacher – explains the ‘do’s and don’ts’ in commenting.  Students – read ‘10 Basic rules for commenting’ (next slide)

Slide 10: from others – I would like to hear 1. Invite Comments is topic.? What d o you think about th 2. Ask Questions – thers to say or – le ave something for o 3. Be Open Ended add to start up a r the comments left 4. Interact – answe discussion or silly comments – don’t allow rude 5. Set Boundaries ers have a ’t ac t an expert – let oth 6. Be humble – don voice a mistake in your so meone picks up on 7. Be gracious – if not grumble blog be gracious and mes it works to mak e a bold l? – someti 8. Be controversia ments rolling teme nt to get those com or controversial sta menting – ents – th ank others for com 9. ‘Reward’ Comm (emoticon) send a smiley face to write a Comm ent – you don’t have 10. Make it Easy to ort and simple – als o make t – keep it sh book for a commen y hurdles ents d on’t require to man sure that the comm like passwords.

Slide 11: Activity 2  Teacher explain- comments or posts are usually found in the central part of the blog.  Comments or posts are viewed chronologically – meaning the last post is at the top of the page.  Comments or posts remain on the blog unless they are deleted.  Students - view demonstration on how to add a comment and how to make a comment on another persons blog.  Students - start comments (see topic list next slide)

Slide 12:  Topic 1 – UFO’s and aliens – are they real?  Topic 2 – What is your understanding of the Universe?  Topic 3 – Planets – Tell me more?  Topic 4 – Is space exploration worth the money  Topic 5- Would you go into space ? Why /why not?  Topic 6- What are the chances of a meteorite hitting Earth?  Topic 7 – Are there planets beyond Pluto?  Topic 8 – Should we return to the moon?

Slide 13: Activity 3  Teacher – explain how Blog pages differ from posts - they are seen as a title in the sidebar and provide links to documents, files and other sources of information.  Pages don’t take up as much room as a post and for that reason aren’t as noticeable.  Students - view the demonstration on making a page with a hyperlink.  Students – create a page with information on your chosen planet and a hyperlink to support that information.

Slide 14: Activity 4  Teacher – explain that adding a clip from Youtube or Teacher Tube requires you to copy and paste the embedding code.  Teacher – inform students that Teacher tube is a better choice for clips as it can be accessed at schools – (Youtube is blocked)  Students - view demonstration on embedding code into a post

Slide 15: Activity 5  Students - view Wiki in Plain English  Teacher - introduce Wetpaint wiki’s  Students - view Rous School Wiki – read through instructions and pages.  Teacher - explain purpose of Wiki - to collaborative produce a glossary of space terms and space images  Students - view demonstration on editing the wiki  Students - commence adding words/definitions to the glossary.

Slide 16: Activity 6  Teacher explain - an important part of the research work is to obtain space related images for viewing by others.  This photo page will enable students to seek out interesting or unusual space images and post them in one place.  Students – view demonstration how to locate and add an image to the photo page  Students - commence locating and adding images to page – captions compulsory

Slide 17: Activity 7 Teacher – introduce Elluminate Students - view an Elluminate live demonstration

Slide 18:  Teacher – explain Elluminate task requiring 2 groups of 2 students and teacher (administrator) taking part in a debate about a specific topic on Space (the 2 groups will different rooms from the main class)  Teacher - set up a powerpoint presentation and websites for viewing (done prior to session)  Students - view the Elluminate session via the digital projector (IWB)  Students - required to use:  Text chat  Speaking (microphone)  Whiteboard  Students to:  comment/debate/interact/draw/identify/survey/poll – on a number of Space related topics

Slide 19: Activity 8  Teacher - define a podcast  Students - listen to podcast  Teacher - display digital recorder and briefly explain how to upload.  Teacher – start discussion on the benefits of a podcast:  People can listen to podcast whenever and wherever they want  A podcast can be replayed or played at a later date  More people can access the podcast – no need to attend a lecture or interview

Slide 20: Students will develop a series of questions based on aspects of Astronomy. These questions will be asked in a interview which will be digitally recorded. After the interview the recording will be uploaded (by teacher) into the class blog. Students will listen to the interview and check their understandings to those of

Slide 21: Activity 9  Teacher - create a series of questions – yes/no, multiple choice and short answer using the online survey software Zoomerang  Students will complete:  A quiz on the space topic  An evaluation on the Virtual Learning Environment  Teacher – will collate and make available the results to students via the class blog

Slide 22:  This VLE was created for the purpose of the Flexible Learning assignment – however it is ‘ a work in progress’.  All activities on this slideshow and all links, video captures and software tools mentioned will be used and implemented.  The Elluminate session and the use of Zen Media software for uploading the podcast was made possible through connections with the School of Education and the School of Law at Southern Cross University.  Astronomy experts were located through a local group of Star Gazers. We thank them for their assistance.  All internet access and use for this assignment is within the guidelines set down by the NSW Department of Education.  Stage 3 Science and Technology outcomes for the unit ‘Out In Space’ were set for this assignment.  All activities were designed and implemented – except for the collaborative work in Elluminate were my personal ideas and initiatives.