PowerPoint

PowerPoints are effective in presenting content but need to be accompanied with stimulus factors in order to be engaging for learners. PowerPoint stimulus can range from imagery to question posing, music and humor. For PowerPoints to remain stimulating while also conveying relevant content, they need to appeal to learner characteristics and learning styles. By making the presentation appealing to various learning styles there is more chance of learners retaining the desired information.

In my class room I would use power points to display techniques and processes, using imagery in particular. The use of PowerPoints could be easily used as an appetizer, providing learners with a snapshot of what they are going to be learning, presenting an exciting term or project. As safety is a prevalent issue in my area, imagery through PowerPoint along with slogans would make it easy for learners to identify associated risks. This could also become more interactive, displaying images that present a situation where machinery for example is being used in correct and incorrect circumstances.

Websites

In IDT, ICTs such as websites could easily be used as both supplementary elements in order to support learners in job production or as the main source of learning. A website could provide learners with a solid bank of sequenced processes required to construct a job along with visual aids.

Visit my website at - http://managinge-learningfahe11001.weebly.com/

Blogs and Wikis – Reflection

A blog is essentially a web log (could be related to a ship log or work construction log etc.) and is arranged in a chronological diary or journal style format, each entry dated as it is created. Blog posts can only be edited by the author although visitors to the site can post comments or become followers. The fact that blogs are automatically sequenced makes them ordered and easy to navigate through. They can be used simply by learning managers in order to post learning materials or like wise for learners to develop research tasks or assessments in a manner that gives them an interactive audience, allowing for the added convenience of communication with specialists in the area of study.

In contrast to blogs wikis are websites available for any author to edit having no chronological sequencing. They are effective collaborative tools and allow for easy access and contribution in research tasks. Wikis can be easily linked to other supporting wikis or websites meaning they can effectively create a network of knowledge. Due to the fact that wikis can be changed by any individual on the net means that they are not suitable for formal assessment pieces but are still effective as a form of informal or formative assessment.

In IDT, the implementation of blogs would probably be a more suitable option than the use of wikis. The applications of a blog are more suited to the subject and easily substitute for assessable elements such as working portfolios where learners are required to keep a working record of the processes and stages they undergo during production. The use of a blog in this situation makes for easy file keeping, also allowing learners to upload pictures associated with stages of production.

Visit my wiki at http://crsmanaginge-learning11001.wikispaces.com/

Reflection - How does DOL relate to my area?

Within my area, Industrial Technology and Design, there seems to be a quite a lot of potential for implementation of ICTs. As ITD focuses particularly on competencies and learners being able to progressively produce higher quality jobs more independently, the firs ICT that comes to mind is the use of website. A website can be developed in a way that gives demonstration, instruction and imagery in a progressive manner. Activities where learners are required to execute a certain process (a join for example) using working drawings or instructions presented on the website. In relation to Dimensions of Learning, these tasks aim directly towards using knowledge meaningfully and of course the use of Dimension 5 habits of mind.