I have decided that it is not hard to be enthusiastic about the developments in technology and the applications these have on education and teaching. Each new development sends my mind wandering - how can I use this to teach my kids?, will it enhance their learning?, would my students be disadvantaged if I didn't keep up? So, this resulted in the development of this blog - my mind's wonderings and thoughts on education and technology.
Even if you have a 21st century classroom, flexible and adaptable; even if you are a 21st century teacher; an adaptor, communicator, leader and a learner, a visionary and a model, a collaborator and a risk taker; even if your curriculum reflects the new paradigm and you have the facilities and resources that could enable 21st century learning - you will only be a 21st century teacher if how we teach changes as well. Our pedagogy must change.
Educational Origami (NZ teacher and amazing blogger)
My Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools in the Geography Classroom
Examples of Spatial Technologies Google World Wonders Project
A great new project by Google. It uses Google Earth and Street View to allow users to explore wonders of the world.
I have included this video as it shows you how someone has created a whole keynote presentation on a geographical issue using Google Earth. I look at this and consider the work that our students could do in delivering something similar to this.
Wrong Climate for Damming Rivers
Great Resources to Get Started
Contour Education has a great links page but also a YouTube channel - Google Maps for Educators - with a variety of videos that will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create and edit your own Google map.
Below are some examples of great spatial technology sites that can be used in the Geography classroom. They use the basic skills and tools of a GIS program, but are available free and online. There is now no reason to blame cost of a program as a blocker to using spatial technologies in the classroom. Most data is frequently updated as well, which makes life even easier.
MapZone
A site created by UK to provide an overview and some great activities on GIS. Great as an introduction to GIS, as well as how spatial information can be used to make decisions.
The Carbon Map
This is an interesting site as it uses the idea of the cartogram to look at the impact of climate change. What is even more interesting is that the site has a voice over to explain the maps as they appear. A good one to look at in the classroom. You could possibly look at using a program such as Jing so that your students could make their own explanations.
GeoScience Australia Map Connect
An online GIS tool that provides 250K topographic map layers for Australia. You can zoom in and add, take of and create your own information.
MigrationsMap
A simple map, with a mixture of data visualisation, showing arrivals and departures for any country in the world. Data is based on the Global Migrant Origin Database.
Map of Life
This is a new site that is currently only in demo release. It allows you to map and produce list of species anywhere for ~ 25,000 species (including all described birds, mammals and amphibians). As it is only in demo release, they are still ironing out bugs, but a great site to use and play with.
Atlas of Living Australia
A site that provides information and huge amounts of data on Australia's plant and animal species. Go to the 'Mapping and Analysis' section for a Google Maps based online tool.
Protected Planet
Another example of spatial technologies and Web2.0 collaboration on the same site. It is quite simple as it provides detail on protected areas. It includes images and inforamtion, mostly added by professionals and people who live in these areas.
Scribble Maps
Allows you to simply 'scribble' on your own map.
Spatial Genie - This site has been created by ESA. It provides a wonderful variety of GIS and spatial resources for the classroom. You will need to register to log in. Have a look as there will be links to the Australian Curriculum.
Creating and Using Google Maps in the Classroom
Map Explorer
A new site created by National Geographic that allows anybody in the world to find evidence of archaeological sites using satellite imagery on Google Earth. I love this site as it is a mixture between Web2.0, crowdsourcing, and spatial technologies.
Google World Wonders Project
A great new project by Google. It uses Google Earth and Street View to allow users to explore wonders of the world.
I have included this video as it shows you how someone has created a whole keynote presentation on a geographical issue using Google Earth. I look at this and consider the work that our students could do in delivering something similar to this.
Wrong Climate for Damming Rivers
Great Resources to Get Started
Contour Education has a great links page but also a YouTube channel - Google Maps for Educators - with a variety of videos that will provide step-by-step instructions on how to create and edit your own google map.
Today I am going to show you some great Web2.0 tools that can be used in the Geography classroom (and some stories to go with them). What is important from today's presentation is that these are just tools, they are there to enhance your teaching, not take over. So, when you are planning a lesson or a unit of work, consider why you are using it, and it if will make the lesson effective...
My Top 10 Web 2.0 Tools in the Geography Classroom
Even if you have a 21st century classroom, flexible and adaptable; even if you are a 21st century teacher; an adaptor, communicator, leader and a learner, a visionary and a model, a collaborator and a risk taker; even if your curriculum reflects the new paradigm and you have the facilities and resources that could enable 21st century learning - you will only be a 21st century teacher if how we teach changes as well. Our pedagogy must change.
Educational Origami (NZ teacher and amazing blogger)
According to Ian Jukes, 21st century learners need to be fluent in:
The use of technology = technological fluency
Collecting, processing, manipulating and validating information = information fluency
Using, selecting, viewing and manipulating media = media fluency
Web 2.0 are tools that allow you to collaborate, share and create online. For educators, not only does it provide for interesting, engaging and collaborative projects in the classroom, it will also save you time in your teaching.
Today I will show you just a small portion of tools that you can use. There are many out there, and once you start looking, some will become invaluable. However, it is important to consider the following before you embark on your Web 2.0 journey.
1. What is the purpose of the activity/lesson/assessment? 2. Will it create an effective learning experiences for the students? 3. How do you know that this has worked?
This is a tool that allows you to create 'polls' for your classes. You can send through a link to the students or embed it into your blog, wiki or OneNote. Think creatively as to how you can use this tool - a discussion creator, a quiz for revision, a tool for formative assessment at the beginnin and end of a unit...
This is a toy for generating 'word clouds' from text. Many people in this room have already used Wordle before in the classroom. However, its simple application can work beyond a brainstorming tool. Consider the use of Wordle in the drafting process of extended written pieces, so that students can establish if they have addressed the main themes or concepts in their writing. It is also a great tool to show learning from the beginning to the end of a unit of work.
A Web 2.0 tool that allows students to create 'online' posters. Each student will need to sign in, however the education version is free. This is a great tool for single lesson activities, to create chapter summaries or as a smaller assessment task. An example of an interesting Glogster - The Moon.
Many of you already use YouTube to find videos and documentaries for your classroom. You can also subscribe to various channels and the most recent videos will be sent to your page. Use TubeChop to cut longer videos to the sections you want, and DragOnTape to create a mixed tape of YouTube videos.
Twitter is not only a place to tell the world about your life. It is a great search engine and tool for professional development. Sign up and 'follow' various news groups and recognised tweeters and information will be sent to you.
RSS Feeds
The RSS Feed is a symbol that appears on most websites, news sources and blogs. You can sign up to a RSS Reader (such as Google Reader) and it will send any articles from these sources to your Reader. In your reader, you can categorise according to topics. This may also be useful for senior students to sign up to.
Today I have 90 minutes to show you some great tools that will enhance your teaching of Geography. These are all internet based and free. Some are focused on making your life easier in when searching for resources, the others are for use in the classroom.
Twitter can be used as both a search tool and also a tool in the classroom. An educational and more secure version of Twitter in the classroom is called Edmodo.
Twitter can also be used as a teaching tool in the classroom. Some examples on how to do this are found in the following slideshare presentation - Tweeting Geography.
Google Maps Google Maps is a great tool in the Geography classroom. Below is a video that will explain how to create a 'Google Map' in the classroom.
Gapminder is one of the best tools available to analyse demographic data and population statistics. This workshop will show you what Gapminder can do and provide you with some ideas on how to use this great website in your Geography classroom. Hans Rosling stated that 'There is no such thing as a western world or a developing world’. He followed on to say that:
Geography teachers and pupils are familiar with the concepts of 'less' and 'more' developed countries (LEDCs and MEDCs), of 'developed' and 'developing' countries and a global 'North-South Divide'.
For many years these concepts have helped students learn about inequality, however in recent decades there has been significant global convergence between these 'developed' and 'developing worlds', so much so that these concepts and terms no longer fit. In fact, they are wrong and if we use them we risk leaving students with a flawed view of the world that ignores recent economic and social change that has affected billions of people.
There is a need for geography teachers to challenge our assumptions, to change mindset and use a different vocabulary to describe the world. Young people need modern understanding of their diverse and changing world that is drawn from the reliable data that actually exists; they need this to understand the real change that is happening in their places and lives, and in the lives of others.
Geography has a powerful role to play in allowing students to build a current and knowledge-based world view, and to develop their understanding of meaningful data that is distinct from political discourse and personal opinion.
Gapminder was founded in February 2005 with the aim of providing facts and statistics to debunk myths people had about the difference between developed and developing countries. Hans Rosling, one of the founding members spoke for the first time at a TED conference in 2006.
There are also links to a number of teaching resources. These include a lesson overview of 200 Years that changed the World, a great powerpoint presentation explaining Life Expectancy and various other resources.
I have used Gapminder with my classes in a number of ways.
Introducing Analysis of Statistics When introducing scattergraphs, I use it to explain how a scattergraph is created and why we use it to look for relationships. I then also look for anomolies in the data.
Explaining Relationships Between Data If you are in a 1:1 environment, ask the students to create a 'Hans' video of a set of data that they have chosen. They can use various programs to record a voice-over whilst playing the data, including Jing, or Adobe Screen Capture. Once you have captured this video, you could upload it to a website and create a collaborative Google Map of Levels of Development.
This really is one of the best Geography resources I have used. It is incredibly engaging for the students and they love to discuss, watch and ask questions of the data.....
Some Other Web 2.0 Tools Poll Everywhere This tool allows you to create polls and post them on blogs, wikis or in learning spaces. The results can also be texted in via mobile phone. Great for quizzes, pre-tests on topics and when looking for opinions in the classroom. A poll for today:
This is a Web2.0 tool that enables the user to create an online, interactive poster. So, next time you have a class activity to create a poster, consider this online alternative.
Wordle Wordle is a tool to brainstorm or create an image of the main concepts in a text. Just for fun, I have created a wordle of the newly released rationale of the Australian Geography Curriculum.
Is this Geography?
GTAQ Facebook Page - Another interesting resource that you may find resources on (for those on Facebook).
Web 2.0 technology and social media are now a large part of our everyday lives. The challenge as educators is to use these tools effectively in the classroom, so that they enhance current digital pedagogy. In the next 75 minutes we will look at
various tools that can be used effectively in the classroom to enable students to think, create and collaborate.
Even if you have a 21st Century classroom, flexible and adaptable; even if you are a 21st Century teacher; An adaptor, a communicator, a leader and a learner, a visionary and a model, a collaborator and risk taker; even if your curriculum reflects the new paradigm and you have the facilities and resources that could enable 21st century learning - you will only be a 21st century teacher if how we teach changes as well. Our pedagogy must also change.
Collaboration is not a 21st century skill it is a 21st century essential.
This has been taken directly from Educational Origami - a great blogger regarding the research behind a 21st century pedagogy. Educational Origami - 21st Century Pedagogy. Also, when considering why and how to use Web 2.0, think about the application of Digital Blooms Taxonomy.
So, considering this, why would you, or do you, use Web 2.0 in the classroom. To begin with, lets do a poll.
The following video provides a step-by-step guide on setting up your first wiki. This video uses wikispaces however there are other options, such as pbwiki.
Adding to Your Blog or Wiki
Slideshare allows you to upload powerpoint or keynote presentations and then embed them into a wiki or blog.
Presi - A site that allows you to create interesting presentation, either on or offline. These can be uploaded and then embedded in your blog or wiki.
Videos
Drag on Tape - This is a site that allows you to create mixtapes of your favourite Youtube videos. A demo is outlined below.
Xtranormal - This is a great site that allows students to make their own digital animations by typing in text.
Collaborating with Images
Fotobabble - This site provides the user with the tools to create a photo slideshow and add voiceover. This can then be embedded in wikis, blogs and other online collaborative sites.
Shwup - Allows students to collaborate and share photos and vidoes online in a secure environment. Educators could use this tool for students to categorise their own images for future tasks.
Jaycut - An online tool that allows students to create their own movies using images, video footage and sound. It is very similar to iMovie but you don't need the software... Nings Bec's Race Class This is a great tool, similar to facebook, that allows students to collaborate online. The best way to use a ning is to ensure that you have a purpose and understand what you want out of the technology.
Glogser provides an online poster creator, which enables video and audio to be added to the poster. There is a gallery of graphics available, but users can upload their own images and media. Users can record video and audio directly at the site. An example of a Glog - Web2.0 or a student example - Development
2. Tools to Collaborate in the Classroom
Twitter - providing information in 140 characters. Groups can establish their own Twitter channel and provide update information on what is happening around the world. Using the hashtag - # - as a search tool is also a great way to look at what is popular or 'trending'. An example is the Chile Volcano. Often links to images, twitpics, are linked to a tweet.
WallWisher - This is a great site that allows you to post and brainstorm information. It is very handy when watching videos or discussing a topic. I used it specifically to diamond rank factors associated with issues.
EdModo - Like Twitter, but can be used in the classroom. Something to consider trialling as you watch a video or discussion in class.
Another example uses the same idea as Twitter - TodaysMeet Wordle - A brainstorming tool that allows students and teachers to create and determine the importance of words associated with a concept. For example, below is a wordle created from the following blog post - 21st century Pedagogy.
Other Resources
Education Eye - A search engine that maps educational innovation and categorises news sites by research and practice. A great teacher resource to remain up-to-date. We are Teachers - A collaborative site where teachers share innovative ideas and teaching practice.
Go2Web2.0 - A site that provides links to Web 2.0 tools for education.
Posts
