Perfecting the Blend Conference

“Digital Toolbox for Blended Learning”

Britt Gowhttp://moourl.com/qz4e3

Mt Clear CollegeFriday, 7th December, 11.30am

Science, Maths and VCE Environmental Science Online teacher atHawkesdale P12 CollegeSW Victoria

Technoscience blog since 2008

Twitter @brittgow brittgow@gmail.com

In 2011 and 2012 I have used Blackboard Collaborate to teach Unit 3 and 4 VCE Environmental Science to students from different schools around the state. We connected for 90 minutes each week synchronously and used my blog, email and Facebook asynchronously.

We have met at Ecolinc, Bacchus Marsh in term 1 and at EcoBeach Apollo Bay YHA during term 3 holidays.

• Audio and video• Interactive whiteboard• Text chat• Polling tools• Emoticons• Web tours• Application sharing• http://moourl.com/qz4e3

“Hi Britt,

I just wanted to thank you for everything this year. I wouldn't have been able to do Environmental Science without you and you've made it so easy and enjoyable. Really do appreciate all the work you've put in, thank you!!

I was also wondering if I can put you down as a referee when I'm applying for jobs. The letter of recommendation you've already written me is awesome.

Regards, Dannielle :) ”

“Britt, i would just like to thankyou for being such a great teacher this year, even if it was only via blackboard collaborate. the classes that you provide for students like me, that dont have the oppotunity to study enviromental science at their own school really benefited me in the long run. Your classes are very sucessful and give great oppotunites. so thankyou once again. and thankyou for offering to be a referance for me, and i will be sure to take that offer up in the near future. thanks so very much britt, and i wish you well, for you next blackboard collaborate year, i will be sure to highly reccommed enviromental science to anyone, looking at the course.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1bnOMHr8gE&feature=plcp

What framework to use?

• PoLT?• e5 (engage, explore, explain, evaluate,

elaborate)?• Bloom’s taxonomy?• Collective Knowledge Construction (IdeasLAB)?• Quality task, Learning intentions, Success

criteria and Feedback?

Content – CSF, VELS, national

curriculum

Context – Platform and strategies - classroom,

outside, online

The 21st Century Learner –

Multi-taskers, connected 24/7, sociable, visual.

Teacher – Flexible,

experienced, knows student

interests & needs

Learning Model by Illeris (2207)

Content - Cognitive

component

Interaction – Social component

Incentive – Affective

component

How do you define blended learning?

How do we define Blended Learning?

http://digitaltoolbox.wikispaces.com/Blended+Learning

“Blended learning refers to any time a student learns, at least in part, at a brick-and-mortar facility and through online delivery with student control over time, path, pace or place.”

Findings from brain research:

• Brains are unique, specialized and not equally good at everything

• Brains are designed for fluctuations rather than constant attention – searching for changes

• Emotions are critical to successful learning – threat and anxiety impair learning

• Multi-sensory input is desired by our brains• Brains continue to change throughout our lives

How does brain research impact on your teaching in the face to face

classroom?

Enriching the online environment

• Positive emotional support• Encourage social interaction• Allow active participation• Multi-modal presentations (text, images,

voice, other audio, video, web tours, application sharing, drawing tools, clip art and icons, quizzes, maps)

Which is the best reason for uptake of technology in classrooms?

A. The power to engage studentsB. Students use technology already C. It's not going to go away...it will only grow & employers want skilled workersD. Professional development

Which of the following are characteristics of 21st C learners?

A. Multi-taskers and digitally literate

B. Sociable, mobile and connected 24/7

C. Visual / spatial learners with fast response times & short attention spans

D. All of the above

“Teaching is an art form not a delivery system.”

“A tool is only as powerful as the creativity of the person who uses it.”

“A cupboard full of instruments does not produce music – a suitcase of web tools does not lead to creativity on it’s own.” Sir Ken Robinson

and

• social bookmarking• register• create a profile• connect with like-minded individuals & groups• Join a conversation• Share an artefact (link,photo, screenshot, wordleconcept map, video…….

http://storify.com/brittgow/perfecting-the-blend-2012

for word clouds

Bubbl.us for concept maps

We use Skype and Blackboard Collaborate to connect with our Scientist in Schools partner, Melissa Toifl,

from CSIRO Land and Water Technologies, in Highett and Clayton.

@genegeekCatherine Anderson, a geneticist from Canada.

@ScienceMagsMagdeline Lum, a

Metallurgist, photographer and science writer from

Perth

http://magdelinelum.com/

“Each of the three pre-service teachers worked with three different mentor teachers and spent time with the ICT expert teacher to learn how to use various online programs. They also had welfare support from a leading teacher, and participated in full staff meetings, school camps and excursions. These were all valuable experiences that allowed the PST's to have contact with many, if not all, the staff of our small, rural school.”

“If our kids are going to live longer than us, they need to have a passion for learning to sustain them. Not content

knowledge, but learning to learn. One eighth of the 21st century is gone already – get cracking with 21st century

learning” Prof. Stephen Heppell

Memory and retrieval

• Mnemonics – acronyms or rhymes• Humour – cartoons and YouTube• Famous quotes that resonate• Chunking (5, 7 or 9 points)• Movement and colour• Mystery & surprise• Use patterns• Mix it up

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/jul/08/denial/

Mnemonic - CHIPPO

Remembering factors causing biodiversity loss:• Climate change• Habitat destruction• Introduced species• Pest plants• Pollution• Overharvesting

Practical considerations

• Technology does not replace experiments• Does every student have access to devices?• Does every student have internet access?• Preferred learning styles?• Concentration span – mix it up!• Plan B and Plan C• Best tool for the job of learning

http://allthingslearning.wordpress.com/tag/classroom-management/ 2/12/12

REFERENCES

• Clemons, Stephanie A. (2005) “Brain-based learning: Possible Implications for Online Instruction”

• Illeris, Knud (2007) “How We Learn: Learning and Non-learning in School and Beyond”

• Olsen, Richard (2011) “Understanding Virtual Pedagogies for Contemporary Teaching and Learning”