Whatsapp in Education

I have created a Whatsapp group, within my friendship group in university. This application is available on smart phones for free. On here we are able to communicate as a group or with individual people.

This application has been very helpful to ask general questions in the evenings such as lessons during the next day's agenda or to check if there are any homework deadlines.

It has been helpful when we have needed to create a group presentation. Pre-Whatsapp and a texting method of communicating it would have been essential to meet up and create a power point together. This application has allowed us to send pictures and videos for free, and work together without meeting up.

Whatsapp has become very popular and I feel that this useful application for smart phone technology could be used by teacher and pupil. 

One example could be the teacher sends a class message on Whatsapp with their homework for that evening or week. If the children have an problems with the homework, the child could message the teacher privately if they are embarrassed to ask it in front of their class mates or ask the teacher including the whole class so they can all benefit from the help too. 

Technology to help SEN

Ipads to help S.E.N

Ipads can be used in the classroom, and at home. Inclusion is an important aspect in modern schools, and children with special educational needs can use ipads to encourage educational achievements. 

There are many aspects of S.E.N for example autism, dyslexia, visual impairment, people in wheelchairs, and can be used for people of any age. Different apps have been used to help different difficulties. 

I have attatched videos below to show how ipads can help with many difficulties. 

For Children 

For adults

Autism friendly 

For the blind

Pinterest

Helping St David's School

Due to my connections with St David's Roman Catholic School I have used pinterest to help the teachers find teaching resource materials.

This was especially helpful during the Christmas period where I helped them to find Chrismas gift ideas for the parents of the pupils. 
I was able to find card ideas and save them in a folder specifically just for St David's Christmas ideas. 

Pinterest is available on Smart phones, tablets and computers and you can log into the same account to connect all 3 together. If, for example, I pinned classroom ideas at home on my computer, it would allow me to go to the school the next day, with my phone, and show the teachers what I had found the previous night. It is an easy and accessible way of showing people my web searches without using a memory stick or printing the pictures. 

It is a good way of connecting with your friends and sharing ideas. People can like and comment on pictures which you have 'pinned'. Pinterest is an interactive web.2. 

Below is my pinterest board for St David's Primary school, this board has allowed me to easily share suggestions for class activities. The teachers were very grateful and I thoroughly enjoyed making some of the products with the pupils. Pinterest would also enable teachers to share lesson plans. 

Twitter

Twitter

Looking at my phone I have selected a number of applications which I use daily to communicate with my friends. 

One method I use is Twitter. Twitter is a social media site which allows you to post small 'tweets' to keep your friends up to date with your current 'where abouts' and 'activities'. 

How to include Twitter into education?

One example of using Twitter in education is Mrs Jenkins the Primary teacher in Brynmill school. 

Mrs Jenkins has created a Twitter account where she posts tweets about the class lessons including pictures. You can connect to the other teachers in Brynmill through Mrs Jenkins where you can view their class activities also. 

Twitter is very similar to Facebook in the way that it can be accessed 24 hours a day on a smart phone or technological device. It can be updated quickly and free of charge. Twitter can be used as a method of updating parents with 'need to know' information, for example, snow days, school inset days or non school uniform days. 

The pictures posted can be a lovely way to keep parents and other family members up to date with the children's activities and lessons. 

It is vital that a teacher receives consent from the parents of the pupils before posting any pictures, as it is stored on a social media site which can be accessed by anyone.

IPADS to take pictures

Technology in Education

As we know, technology in today's society is used by many people and in many different contexts. 

Since starting my Education Degree I have been thinking about ways to incorporate modern technology into the classroom environment. 

Increasingly tablets are being brought into classrooms for teachers and pupils. I believe that tablets should be used by teachers as a way of 'proving' a childs ability inside the classroom and out. 

A folder of images can be created for each child in the class, and for each activity completed a picture taken. The folder of pictures can be kept, the same as keeping a work book for the child. 
These pictures can be shown to ESTYN on school inspections and also to parents on parents evenings. Taking pictures is an easier and quicker method of keeping record of a childs achievement. Comments can be added by the teacher to each picture to state the level the child has achieved and notes about the activity. 

I believe, organising a folder for individual children is a simple method for categorising a portfolio for each child.  

Ipads use ICloud to store information, therefore, if anything should happen to the Ipad, for example dropped or broken, the information and pictures are not lost. Whereas using a book, if paper records are damaged due to fire or water records will be lost permanently. 

Web 2- advantages and disadvantages (Facebook)

Facebook as Web 2.0

Whilst creating this blog, I have been thinking of ways in which a practitioner could use technology to help communicate with parents and children.

'New technologies have engendered new work and social practices that have profoundly changed the ways that we do things in our lives, yet schools seem to remain immune to change and maintain a heritage curriculum that was founded in a different age for a different set of circumstances and purposes.' (Yelland, N. et al 2008)
I think it is vital in schools that technology is embedded within all subjects, and not seen as an extra subject.

I use technology everyday to communicate with my friends through Facebook. 

SO... why not incorporate these social networking sites into communicating with parents and using social media within education?
If 1,310,000,000 active users visit Facebook each month, it is a brilliant way to raise the profile of your school or club. (Facebook, 2014)

For example, a page or account could be created by the teacher, this can be updated regularly with images of the children's good work completed in class, images of children on class trips or in class having fun, or important information that parents might need to know. These facebook pages can be used by prospective parents as well as current parents, and they are often a good way to gauge the ethos of the school rather than a dry ESTYN report. In secondary schools the Facebook pages could provide examples of grades A* work to help pupils with their own coursework.

I believe that using social media, which can be updated quickly, free of charge and can be checked my most parents on a smart phone instantly, is a great idea.

The accounts can be kept private so only parents of the class can be added and accepted, and therefore only those individuals can view the pictures.
However, terms and conditions state that: "We Can Do Anything We Want With Your Content. Forever." This highlights the major problem with Facebook, its security and code of ethics. Obviously this will have to be taken very seriously when used in a educational context.  

However, in higher education where adults can make their own decisions, it has been really useful for example, I have joined a Facebook Group for my university course.

In eduation from year 10 upwards, a teacher creating a secure facebook page could use it as a method to provide support beyond the confines of a classroom. The advantage of using this method over email is that a child may find it less intimidating and is more public and appropriate for the teacher.


Facebook. (2014, January 7). Facebook Statistics. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from Statistic Brain: http://www.statisticbrain.com/facebook-statistics/

 Twitter. (2014, July 11). Twitter Statistics. Retrieved November 30, 2014, from Statistic Brain: http://www.statisticbrain.com/twitter-statistics/

Yelland, N. et al (2008) Rethinking learning in Early Childhood Education, Maidenhead: OUP

Web 2.0- Gloster

http://edu.glogster.com/

I have used this link as my Web 2.0. 

When I first looked at this website, I thought it looked very confusing, and not very user friendly. However, after experimenting and clicking on different buttons and exploring the tools it provided me with, I started to like it. 

My first negative about this Web 2.0 is that you have to pay to access all areas and subscribe to create an account. Although, I was able to access some lovely information without signing up. 

Providing a paying service option means that the website provider easily allows the user to make payments by card online. It is said that 'this results in customers interacting with 2 organisations that are automatically interlinked via the internet.' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BAXvFdMBWw)

Another key aspect of Web 2 is 'software as a service'. This is when directly over the internet, software functionality is offered, and allowing this to be accessed on any digital device once connected to the internet. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BAXvFdMBWw)

Glogpedia - allows the user to find out about lots of information including school subjects, health, sports and also allows you to find educational games and videos. The information is added by subscribers and it is a lovely, easy way to find information about a topic of choice.

http://edu.glogster.com/glogpedia

For example, if a student in school is struggling with MATHS, specifically the topic PERCENTAGES. Selecting the 'Math' tab, they will be able to select a variety of topic. Choosing 'Percentages' will allow the child to view information to help.

As you can see from the image above, posts are provided, all about the subject Percentages, this can  be very helpful in education! If for example a teacher left this webpage available for the pupils, in any lesson a child may access the computer and visit this site, they will be able to specify the subject they are having trouble with and use the posts to expand their knowledge. 

http://mrsmathswizard.edu.glogster.com/common-approaches-working-with-percentages/?=glogpedia-source

'Mrsmathswizard' explains using video clips easy ways of working out percentages. If the student likes the way that mrsmathswizard teaches, there is an option to view all of her posts. 

As it is a web 2.0 it allows you to share with your friends and once signed up you have the option to embed it to your page, so you can find it easier.

As a teacher, it is vital that the web.2 is checked for reliability. Anyone can post information on the site about anything, and this obviously creates potential problems. 

Using the templates available, may be a nice option to allow the children to present their work. As children are increasingly technology aware, no additional computer skills are needed. However, research skills and presentation skills are needed and it is these that the teacher would be marking. This is a lovely way of engaging with different learning styles.