WIDGETS!

As a source of information, widgets allow students' subscribed under their teacher's blog to be constantly updated (viral distribution) on the latest news and information they teachers want them to read.

Widgets also improve web sites using syndicated content and functionality from third party providers. This adds an extra "flavour" to the blog.

However widgets being a third party website, it does not give the blog owner (teacher) control of the materials to be uploaded on the widgets.

Affordances and Constraints of Weblogs.

Affordances of Weblogs:

• Weblogs provide a virtual personal space for people to communicate their personal thoughts and publish information; this space is solely owned by the publisher. This ownership allows one to be in control of the space, find personal values and also take serious responsiblity of it. With increased responsibilites, blogger invest more time for serious and deep thinking before publishing their post. The reverse chronological order of the blog helps people to construct meanings in their activity over time and it definitely good for reflection purposes (a systematic hierarchy of the activity).

• Teachers uses blog to provide necessary instructional materials, emphasing key points, link ideas together. It also allows teachers to provide feedbacks; thus scaffolding the student. Teachers can use the blog as a platform to provide equal opportunities for students (especially the introverts) to express their opinions and views and ideas freely.

• Blogs are also easy to create (no difficult technical knowledge needed). In addition, blogs can have its interface easily customised to add a more personal feeling to it.

Constraints of Weblog:

• Weblogs does not effectively provide a social environment where students can share information, construct knowledge in an interactive manner.

• Intellectual property is also an issue for contents on weblogs. Content being used without proper attributions.

• People can easily delete and edit blogs any time. This volatily of the blogs make it difficult medium to archive content and informations.

• Since weblogs publizes a person to the rest of the world, it becomes a potential treat to cyberwellness issues.

Using Microsoft Agents in teaching-- Good or Bad?

Microsoft Agent is a tool used to create innovative, audio interfaces for applications (like power-point and words) and Web pages. It provides animation capability, interactivity, and versatility, with incredible ease of development.

Good

Microsoft Agents creates a pleasant learning environment with its visual and audio animation. It is ideal in drawing learner's attention (thru its emphasing keywords technique or thru its gestures) to a specific item in the learning presentation. It also provides an alternative medium for presentation work; esp good for "wordy" presentation.

Poor

• It cannot be used for all presentation type; esp those where the serious element is vital, because it seems a little childish.
• The voice of the agent is rather synthetic; in fact it has some Pronunciation problems with technical jargon and some non-English words which are used commonly in English language (eg guru, mantra, Bon voyage, Bon Fide).
• Oh ya! to view the agents..you must download the Microsoft Agent pack otherwise no agents can be viewed.
• Having Limited agents also can be issue if you exhaust all agents for your lessons.
• Lastly, to apply the agents on your website, you must have the technical know-how.

My View:

If teaching the pri/sec levels, using microsoft agents would be a good way to get their attention to be subject matter. It also adds colour,variation,sound and animation to the conventional slides. It might not work too well for tertiary students (can't imagine my NUS lecturer using peedy to explain thermodynamics or process controls).

With the 2 links given by Mr Woo, I find it easier to understand and comprehend the content when animation is used. But i must add that my judgement may not be fair because i read the content from the non-animation first; Thus with my prior knowledge, viewing the animation one made me understand things easier.

So let's hear your view---from those you watch the animation site before the non-animated one!

Pedagogical Approaches

The lesson on understanding the 7 pedagogical approaches was conducted based on using Jigsaw. Jigsaw is an interactive teaching method which allows for group learning. It is also good for teaching a large context based knowledge in a short period of time. Overall, all students has an enjoyable lesson at the same time learnt about the various pedagogical approaches well in depth.

What is Jigsaw?

Divide the topics into sections. In groups of three, assign number one to seven to all students. In the "home" groups of seven , allocate a section to each student, and then regroup them into "expert" groups consisting of the same number of members. "Expert groups" refer to groups that have the first hand information of a topic in cooperative learning. In these groups. "expects" work together on their chosen area, then return to their original "home groups" to report back on their area of expertise.

The 7 pedagogical approaches are:

--Inquiry-Based Learning: pupils to question about the world around them and find resolutions to these questions

--Problem-Based Learning: learning starts with a problem that the learner wishes to solve

--Knowledge Building: a process of creation and continual improvement of ideas that contribute to the learning community

--Cognitive Apprenticeship: using this approach, pupils form a community of practice where they learn by modelling the experts

--Anchored Instruction: Learning activities is designed around a "anchor" (a focal point) which should be some sort of case-study or problem situation

--Project-Based Learning : pupils will be more involved in their learning through the creation of meaningful artefacts or products

--Case-Based Learning : students learn through examining cases, such as stories, events or phenomena

What is the Engaged Learning Model? A brief description...

What is Engaged Learning?

Engaged Learning is a process in which students or learners actively participate in the learning (i.e. both interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary learning) which may involve the aid using technology (ICT). In an 'engaged learning' environment, schools from the very beginning, will involve students in many activities which includes the decision-making in their course work, creating classroom rules and other activities pertaining to learning. In addition, these students will also engaged actively in research, discussion and creation of projects in their learning process. With a steep learning curve involved, teachers now acts a "coach" or "faciliatator"; guiding students to their desired goals.