Academic writing 1.

The value of mobile technology in teaching and learning.

The up rise of mobile technology has impacted greatly on the teaching and learning process. Extending the boundaries of the learning environment and creating a new way for the students to engage inside and outside the classroom. The boundaries in which the learners can gather resources of information have grown with the use of the Internet and online library databases. Allowing these resources to be accessed at any time via technology such as mobile phones and I pad’s is helping to extend the learning process. Within the classroom this equipment can be used to allow the students to have an impact on the lesson. By setting a task and enabling the students to create, gather research and learn using many types of media creates a sense of responsibility for the student.

“In an era when technology seems to be changing almost daily, school boards, administrators, and teachers need to revisit their technology policies almost as rapidly, education experts advise. Internet chat rooms, online video games, and other electronic features that once seemed inappropriate for the classroom are proving useful for meeting many educational goals”. (Martineau, 2009).

Working with this media is a learning curve for many students. Some students will be gaining new skills within ICT as they discover their new subjects. Technology provides another method in which the students can engage with the subject material. The introduction of technology in education such as the interactive whiteboard has also created an alternative way for the tutor to deliver the lesson material and carry out tasks. Creating a lesson that is visually stimulating and allowing students to become involved with how they learn could help to improve their engagement with the subject. Embracing technology within education will help to familiarise the students with their intake of information outside of the classroom. Demonstrating to the learners that it can relate to how they learn within the classroom also.

 

Reference list

Martineau, P. (March 2009) Teaching with Technology Education Digest vol. 74(7)

*Petty, G (2009) Teaching Today A Practical Guide 4th ed, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Limited

*Reece, L, and Walker, S (2003) Teaching, Training and Learning a practical guide 5th ed, Sunderland: Business Education Publishers Limited

Academic writing 2.

Has technology changed the way we learn?

The increasing use of technology has affected many aspects of teaching and learning. How we choose to communicate, gather information and learn have all been affected by technology. Students are increasingly looking to the Internet to provide readily available information. Although textbooks still hold a presence within the classroom, e books and online journals are becoming a staple within education. Teachers are broadening the way in which they deliver the curriculum to the students. By using applications such as YouTube, blogs and websites to enhance the students learning experience. Students are exposed to an increasing amount of knowledge through the use of technology. Although this availability can be useful, students should be cautious towards the reliability of the information they find.  Education can also be obtained through the Open University. This may allow students who are unable to attend college or university to develop their skills and gain the qualifications they need. Distance learning can also allow a student to work at their own pace fitting it around their schedule. Which is providing a broader range of students with the opportunity to gain new skills. Technology has provided an alternative to teaching in a classroom. Via the use of the Internet teaching can now extend to a student at home or in another country. (Negroponte et al. 1997 cited in Rozalind G. Muir-Herzig 2004) stated that

“Digital technologies can enable students to become more active and independent learners. The Internet will allow new “knowledge-building communities” in which children and adults from around the globe can collaborate and learn from each other. Computers will allow students to take charge of their own learning through direct exploration, expression and experience. This shifts the students roll from “being taught” to “learning” and the teacher’s roll from “expert” to “collaborator” or “guide”.

      

The use of technology within teaching and learning will allow students to take control of their own individual learning experience. Offering a more extensive process with greater possibilities than ever before.

Reference list

Negroponte et al. (1997) cited in Rozalind G. Muir-Herzig (2004) Technology and its impact in the classroom Computers & Education Vol. 42, 111-131.

*Petty, G (2009) Teaching Today A Practical Guide 4th ed, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Limited

*Reece, L, and Walker, S (2003) Teaching, Training and Learning a practical guide 5th ed, Sunderland: Business Education Publishers Limited

Academic writing 3.

Barriers to the effective use of technology in education.

As technology stands so prevalent within society the need to integrate its use into teaching and learning has become integral to the growth of education. The use of technology must be carefully implemented into education as an aid that can enhance the students experience and not to substitute for the teacher’s role. Brush et al. (2000) note “the difficulty teachers experience adjusting to their new roles as guides and helping students become self directed”. As students will be using the technology provided to complete tasks or to carry out research among other activities, the teacher’s interaction within these elements of the lesson may alter. Although the teachers role will change slightly their input and guidance is paramount to the students learning experience.

Barriers may arise within a student’s knowledge of the technology being used and equally in the teacher’s ability to successfully implement the technology into the teaching practice. By introducing the use of technology as a requirement to complete a task, it will be integral that students have gained a competent level of I.T skills prior to this requirement. Teachers may also require regular training using the applications needed to deliver the curriculum effectively. As Hasselbring et al. (1991 p.1) suggest “It is clear that if we want technology to have an impact on learning, we must make an effort to put its power directly into the hands of teachers and train them in how to use it”.    

Therefore it is clear that one of the main barriers within the use of technology in education is the lack of experience and confidence needed to implement these tools.

Reference list

Brush, T. and Saye, J. (2000) Design, implementation and evaluation of student-centred learning: a case study Educational Technology Research and Development Vol. 48(2) 79-100.

Hasselbring ‘et al.’ (1991) Improving Education through Technology Preventing school failure Vol. 35(3) 33-37.  

*Petty, G (2009) Teaching Today A Practical Guide 4th ed, Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Limited

*Reece, L, and Walker, S (2003) Teaching, Training and Learning a practical guide 5th ed, Sunderland: Business Education Publishers Limited

Ted Talk review

Alexa Meade uses photography to document the final result of her live paintings in which a subject and their surroundings are treated as the canvas as appose to the traditional forms of portraiture that we are accustom to. Within this method photography is used as a tool to capture the artwork and create a finished look. This technique is questioning the viewer’s perspective of painting and photography and the boundaries within these Art forms. Using photography creates limitations within the art work as the texture and three dimensional qualities within the original artwork are transformed into a two dimensional image. This video will allow for discussion with the students in which they can question the alternative forms of art that can be used within photography itself. Also to question the relevance of photography within this work and whether the artwork is considered as a painting or a photograph. This will demonstrate an alternative creative approach to conventional artwork, demonstrating the broader possibilities within art. It can also demonstrate how artists may collaborate with each other merging alternative mediums to create a finished product. Students can discuss pieces of work that have been created in this way for example artwork that includes found objects or appropriated art.
  

                                              Alexa Meade - Spectacle