The Developing Web

It is intriguing to see that from Web 1 version which consists of mostly read only content we have moved on to Web 2 which is designed for wide reading and also communication through writing and are now moving on to the Web 3 content which focuses on the individual. Web 3 will allow quicker and easier searches for individual needs. Web 3 should make advanced searchers that will do the work for you. I could imagine a search system that would act similarly to that of a computer searching through files and folders and it would be good if a system like that was created because a person might more likely attain the information they need in a much shorter time. It is interesting as to what a Web 4 might be like.

Web 2

As a student, I have enjoyed exploring Web 2 software and discovering ways in which this resource can be used to support my own education. It has been an exciting journey to learn new ways of using visual communication and I look forward to incorporating web 2 during learning and also using it as a resource for presentations.

The impact of Visual Communication Technology

Technology has impacted the education system in a positive way. Childrens inquisitiveness and desire to learn is evident when giving them an Ipad or computer with educational software because they are motivated to explore and discover for themselves what can be done with the resource.


Within primary schools, educators encourage independent learning by giving children the opportunity to use technology during the Foundation Phase. Children are able to reflect on their understanding of the areas being learnt by having opportunity to use creative software on interactive whiteboards, computers and Ipads. Opportunity to explore technology freely encourages children to use their cognitive skills and opens up an area whereby they can display the knowledge and understanding that they have. Adults can initiate children's learning by setting up software on a computer or empowering children to use technology independently by open up applications etc. This supports a child's desire to learn new things and display their skills, knowledge and understanding of areas within their learning.


Software made available through technological resources can impact on a child's learning in many ways. They are able to not only master the use of various applications in order to bet the best out of learning but also collaborate with others in order to create project work and video clips. Children being educated about different textures in art could be taught by the use of Web 2 software such as a Glog and those being taught about rhyming words within popular poems could be shown examples through the use of Tagedo's.




It is important that when using technology for visual communication, educators consider a dynamic approach to sharing information in order to encourage learners to think about the subject being taught. An example of this includes the creation of a bubble diagram which can be conducted on bubbl.us. Links can be made between subjects e.g. between different Philosophers. Philosophers have some agreements and disagreements. They are influenced by each other and develop thesis through continuous thought processes. Key words can be connected to the names of specific Philosophers which represent important elements of their thinking.


Technology is ever changing and it is therefore important that educators keep up to date with advances in order to provide the best opportunity for children to progress effectively and to get the most enjoyment out of their education. Children should be motivated and enthusiastic about learning and what better way than to use technology in order to support that!

The importance of Visual Communication within Education through the use of Technology.

This Module has impacted upon my understanding of the importance of using creative ways to communicate information. It has also made me aware of the variety of software made available to use within education. The use of visual communication through technology enables a person to keep focused and learn personally from what is produced. Internet resources such as Wiki Spaces and Seafile,  are excellent for collaborating with others.

Technology is an important aspect in education and should be used to enhance the learning experience. Visual Communication can help learners to understand information being taught. Visual resources can encourage, interest and motivate response.

By producing informative blogs and using Web2 software, educators can support many learning styles especially the visual and auditory. Information can be more easily remembered because the learners have a 'trigger' (picture) in which to access learnt information within the long term memory. Using visual communication brings an interesting dynamic to education which in turn can encourage motivation and concentration.

Philosophy within Problem-based learning.

Problem-based learning is a strategy used within most areas of education. According to Claire and Maggi, problem-based learning is considered a philosophy in itself, Major and Savin-Baden (2011). It is important that an educator is equipped to produce dynamic lesson plans in order to support cognitive skills by using a variety of contexts.

The use of group activities and thought provoking questions will encourage higher levels of thinking and collaboration. This will result in the use of multiple intelligences and open up opportunity for the class individuals to make use of many learning styles in order to produce the best result within the learning process.

Open questions create a canvas for an elaborate productive lesson resulting in a rich conclusion that incorporates the input of learners. As it has been suggested, problem-based learning is open to the creativity of the teacher because learning is a complex process and takes occurs within various ways depending on the subject or skill being taught Major and Savin-Baden (2011).

Problem-based learning creates opportunity to think logically and creatively in order to compile routes within investigation. Active participation will result in a conclusion that is productive, accurate and dynamic, Major and Savin-Baden (2011).

A lesson that offers opportunity for people to collaborate together and share findings with others via a short presentation has a lasting effect within the memory and thereby allows the learners to retain the knowledge learnt.


Reference:
Major, C and Savin-Baden M (2011), Foundations of Problem-based Learning, England:Open University Press. p.5

Philosophers use creative thinking.

Within the area of Philosophy it is paramount that ideas are re-examined and looked at from varying perspectives. It is important that the Philosophers have rational reasons for their thoughts and that they convey their messages clearly to their audience. In a similar way, educators need to be teach clearly and technology can be used creatively in order to provide a stimulating environment.

Ideas need to be debated and looked at with a dynamic eye. Educational experiences within the area of philosophy should be conducted in a way that allows the learner to consider aspects of their thought that could possibly hold incorrect thesis that needs to be re-developed. Philosophy Frog within primary education for example holds the key to early experience of reflective practice whereby children are enabled to look at their thought process and discover the skill of 'seeing outside the box.' It is an exciting opportunity that allows children to acknowledge the views of other peers within a safe and friendly environment. Within the brain of children schema need to continually develop and be corrected according to the ideas of the theorist Bruner when he proposed the idea of a Spiral Curriculum.

Educational Philosophers are critical and reflective thinkers.

During December 2013 I have been looking into the philosophies of Immanuel Kant, Karl Marx, John Dewey, Plato, Isocrates and Aristotle.

Philosophers have disagreement and agreement regarding the work of others. Educational Practitioners can learn much about critical analysis by looking into the ideas of Philosophers, their arguments against other hypothesis and the on going developments of thought within the area of educational philosophy.

A reflective practitioner should listen well to the ideas of others and consider the information made available to them in order to decide on conclusions in order to improve practice and deal correctly within different contexts. For this reason I believe that reflective practice is hugely beneficial and also much can be learnt from historical events, philosophical works and scientific discovery.

Schools teaching within the areas of philosophical thought incorporate problem-based learning in order to convey the ever changing patterns of philosophical thought. Learners then become empowered to process and produce work based on philosophical thought (Major, C and Savin-Baden M, 2011, p10).

Critical thinking improves reflective practice.

By reflecting on Information Technology a person thinks critically in order to consider the positives and negatives about different software programmes available on the market. A person needs to consider the uses of such software and whether it will facilitate their needs.

It is amazing to know that there is free software readily available on the Internet that a person can use to progress educationally that doesn't involve downloading of the software on to the computer. The ability to connect to a website and share work that has been produced on it by adding a link to a blog is hugely productive and a great asset to the learning process. Web 2 is therefore extremely useful.

Blogging for reflecting on learning

Blogging is an exciting way to reflect on learning, keep a record of progression and share information. Students can use a number of Web 2 sources in order to create an eye catching blog that not only looks good but also expresses new knowledge in appropriate ways. An example of this is that a learner can create a mind map using bubbl.us in order to introduce a viewer to a subject before going into detail. Diagrams can be produced to support verbal information and then inserted into blog as an image. Even children as young as 6 can create a blog with adult support for personal use which again helps them to become educated in the use of Web 2 software as well as develop writing skills. Blogs can be personalised to suit the creator and subject being looked into. There are many advantages to using blogger.com

Using Taggalaxy

Taggalaxy.de/ is an excellent online resource that offers opportunity for a practitioner to catch the attention of students . Beginning a discussion on a subject by using this software offers visual reminders when implementing a presentation. The website firstly asks for a subject tag in order to compile images however if possible it will produce other options show visually using planets. These planets can work as excellent visual aids in order to produce a flow of contributions towards a specific discussion on a topic however if the system is unable to collect data in order to produce tags then an apologetic note appears. It is therefore important that a user tests the subject first. The negative about the website is that the practitioner is unable to choose the pictures that are chosen by the system and therefore not all of the images might be relevant to the subject being taught. A student may use this website as a resource to remind themselves of recent areas of a topic studied or in it could be used in order to consider ideas before beginning a piece of writing. Use of a Flickr account with images could well prove useful when using this website.

Childs view of importance regarding the Foundation Phase (F.P.) and a diagram of important areas within F.P.

This Voki describes the view of a child regarding what is considered important to the child within the learning process. The child considers what is important during the Foundation Phase education.

The Voki.com offers an excellent piece of free software that can be used both to encourage the  education of children in the area of I.T as well as encourage development in language skills at the same time. The product is easy to use and can be implemented within active learning environments such as Foundation Phase choice sessions. Children can use the product on their own or within a group by taking turns and helping each other. It offers an opportunity to use role play using technology which will help them to understand animation a lot better when they practice it in Key Stage 2 using Ipads. It not only supports child-initiated learning but can also offer a practitioner an innovative way to teach a class new skills. The animation is both eye catching and entertaining. A learner could also use this software as an entertaining way of learning important information by rote. The image of characters might act as a "trigger" for memory within the brain. The negative aspect of this software is that there is little choice in character appearance for the non paying user. Also, the recording time available to a free user is only 1 minute.

Please click on the diagram above to view.



Ideas for the Foundation Phase Topic on light.

The Foundation Phase centres on learning through play. It is therefore paramount that planning for teaching about light involves resources in order to allow children to explore many areas in order to grasp a good understanding of the science of it and way in which it is used throughout the world. It is an excellent subject to be discussed within groups of children from the Foundation Phase through to Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 whether it be the science, nature or world facts that are explored, light offers a dynamic choice within education.