Session One - 23rd October 2012: Web 2.0 and Blogging

 

All Systems Go!  The Information Communications Technology (ICT) module of my PGCE Primary course started this week.  Over the next six weeks, I am going to learn a lot about how ICT can be used effectively to support teaching and learning in Primary schools.  This weekly blog will share and provide a record of: the topics covered in each session, my learning from the session, my reflections on the implications for my teaching practice and a summary of my wider learning and additional reading prompted by the session.

My learning from the session included:

• New technical skills such as the use of the 'print screen' key to insert a screen shot into a word document.  Also, how to set up a blog and the features of a good blog.

•  An understanding of the term 'Web 2.0' (a trend in the use of the internet reflecting its use for interactive communication) and that it is a world that children know.  The internet is relevant and positive to them because they can't compare it to a time before its invention.

• Increased awareness of web sites used by children such as Bebo (used for social networking) and Crazytalk (used to make an Avatar of yourself etc).

• Learning about best practice on the use of blogs in Primary Schools (for example in assemblies and at 'blog clubs').

• The importance of health and safety and in particular making sure that children are aware of the potential dangers of e-communications and the precautions that they can take so that they are 'safe' when communicating on-line.

Reflections on learning - Implications for my teaching practice

1.  The print screen facility is a very handy tool and it will be useful when creating user-guides and instructions for my  pupils, especially those that are predominantly visual learners.

2.  The opportunities blogs provide for me to support children in my class who may have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, especially those on the autistic spectrum.  Blogs can be a means of helping them to organise their ideas and to express themselves better.

3.  Make use of blogging as a means for children to publish their work so that others can comment on it.  This will support pupils feeling proud of their work and also develop team working and pupils' ability to provide to others, and take on board themselves, feedback and ideas.

4.  I must keep up to date with the rapidly changing landscape of computing tools and applications for learning to ensure I am making the most of available ICT in my classroom.  It provides a means of making learning across all subjects in the National Curriculum (except perhaps PE) engaging and interactive.

5.  I need to be on the look-out for any instances of cyberbullying in my school and take appropriate action when instances are drawn to my attention or come to light.  According to Ofsted, one in four schoolchildren have been subjected to cyberbullying and their 2012 schools inspection framework (available to download at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/handbook-for-inspection-of-schools-september-2012) places an emphasis on e-safety.  The recent (June 2012) Ofsted report 'No place for bullying' highlights the growing problem of bullying in both Primary and Secondary schools.  It is available to download at http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/no-place-for-bullying.

6.  As a teacher, I have an important role to play in drawing children's attention to the importance of e-safety.  The BBC has produced a series of short interactive DVDs based on the popular children's series 'Horrible Histories'.  As bonfire night approaches and younger children might be learning about Guy Fawkes, this DVD in which Guy Fawkes finds sharing personal information over the internet can leave you in trouble would be a good one to show:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/clips/p00nxz6y 

2012 Ofcom Study of computer habits of children

On the day of my first ICT module, 23rd October, Ofcom published their annual survey on the media habits of parents and children.  It is an interesting read and reports that internet use by 5-15 year olds has risen from 64% in 2007 to 82% in 2012.  

The report also claims, for example, that over a third of all three and four year olds now use the internet at home on a regular basis, spending about six hours a week on-line.  The report also comments that "Texting and smartphone use by children is growing at a rapid pace and far outstrips the rest of the population.  An average 8-11 year old sends 41 texts a week, double the number in 2011."  

The report goes on to say that "Over a fifth of 8-11 year olds are on a network such as Facebook or Bebo and have an average of 92 friends, 11 of whom they have not met in person."

The report can be viewed in full at:
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/research/media-literacy/oct2012/main.pdf%20