Web 2.0 tools

Why should you as a teacher use Web2.0 tools.

This is a good opportunity for those teachers who would like to learn how Web 2.0 can enhance teaching. It is free but registration as a teacher is required.

You can register  at: http://platform.web20erc.eu/login/index.php

To ensure only genuine educators use the tools a verification process will take place:

1. Register on the platform (create account).

2. ‘Apply for teacher privileges’ from the Help menu (complete the brief form)

3. You will receive an email when approved

4. You will see the, ‘Create a course wizard’ in the Courses menu.

It is highly recommended that you read the Help for teachers in the Help menu as there will be no additional support.

Using Computer Animations in the Science Classroom

It is well known that using the Internet is second nature to students and that computer aided learning is a relatively new concept proving to be highly effective in the Science Classroom. Students often need visual aids when learning new concepts as well as interactive activities that help them reinforce concepts. Using online animation creators such as GoAnimate (http://goanimate.com) in the science classroom allows students to create short animated videos to demonstrate interpretation, applicability and understanding of concepts as well as identification of misconceptions at an early stage in the learning process.

GoAnimate allows much student interaction and learning whilst having fun and being creative. Besides improving learning, GoAnimate can also be a simple yet powerful educational tool that provides the teacher with computer assisted assessment for learning. Used with other activities and proper guidance and structure, computer animations also have the advantage of facilitating differentiated teaching in the science classroom. All that needs to be done to reap the benefits from this tool is to create an online account and you’re set to go. Moreover, video clips can be published online and also downloaded. Below are two animated video clips, one which I downloaded from the website itself and the other one I created myself.

Any queries or suggestions about the use of animations in the science classroom can be emailed to corinne.anne.cilia@gov.mt

GoAnimate.com: Promoting a Cleaner Environment by C. Cilia

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It’s free and fun!

GoAnimate4Schools.com: Global Warming by Justin Eames

Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate4Schools. It’s free and fun!

The evolution of classroom technology

It’s amazing how classroom technology has evolved. We are living in digital age. Students are fully aware of this and most of their teachers are also aware of this. The technology evolution has speeded up in the last years. The following infograph shows all this.

History of ed tech
Courtesy of: OnlineSchools.com

Chemistry Periodic Table

Online Periodic Tables are very common. Science students especially those who pursue Chemistry most probably know most of them. I have encountered this detailed one. It’s interactivity is very useful if internet and interactive whiteboards are combined together.

The site is over HERE

The role of video games

One cannot deny the fact that video games are a way of life. They are a source of entertainment and to others they are considered as a distraction. Most of the parents often consider the latter, when their children return back from school. Apparently the following article considers that video games play an important part in education.

Any suggestions on how to integrate games in school can be emailed to geoffrey.zammit@gov.mt

Video Games and Education
Via: Online Colleges Guide

10 principles of successful e-Learning

According to Professors Anderson and McCormick, the following ten points may help designers to construct pedagogically sound e-learning materials and related activities. The principles may also help educators to choose resources; create teaching and learning activities supported on those resources; and base such activities while they take place.

 

Principle 1 – The pedagogy should be matched with the curriculum.

Principle 2 – The pedagogy should include the element of inclusion.

Principle 3 – Engage Learners.

Principle 4 – An innovative approach should be adopted.

Principle 5 – Learning should be effective.

Principle 6 – The pedagogy should provide formative assessments.

Principle 7 – The summative assessments must be valid and reliable.

Principle 8 – The pedagogy must be coherent, consistent and transparent.

Principle 9 – E-learning should be transparent in its ease of use.

Principle 10 – E-learning should be cost-effective.

The full paper can be found over HERE

e-Learning Survey

Jingħata bidu għall-ewwel servej fuq skala kbira tal-ICT fl-iskejjel fl-Ewropa

Settembru 2011

Għall-ewwel darba, l-għalliema u l-istudenti madwar l-Ewropa qed isirilhom stħarriġ sistematiku dwar l-użu u x’jaħsbu dwar it-teknoloġiji fit-tagħlim.

L-użu tat-teknoloġija qed jiżdied fl-iskejjel . It-teknoloġija hija ‘indispensabbli’ għaż-żgħażagħ, u l-kontribut tagħha lejn l-għanijiet edukattivi, soċjali u ekonomiċi huwa rikonoxxut fil-politiki nazzjonali u Ewropej. Għalhekk huwa importanti  li jkun hemm fehim ċar dwar il-firxa tad-dispożizzjoni u l-użu tagħha fl-iskejjel madwar l-Ewropa. Għalhekk qed jinġabru l-opinjonijiet tal-kapijiet tal-iskejjel, tal-għalliema u tal-istudenti, permezz ta’ kwestjonarju online (ukoll l-ewwel darba), għas-Servej Ewropew tal-Iskejjel: L-ICT u l-Edukazzjoni. L-ESSIE  għandu l-għan li jipprovdi tweġibiet għall-mistoqsijiet bħal:

  • Kif jitqabblu l-esperjenzi tal-ICT taż-żgħażagħ ġewwa u barra mill-iskola? Ivarjaw bejn pajjiż u ieħor?
  • Kemm hemm klassijiet verament online, mgħammra b’whiteboards interattivi u laptops? Kemm hemm għalliema li jħossuhom komdi fihom? X’jagħmlu, u x’inhuma r-riżultati għall-istudenti?
  • Liema fatturi tal-iskejjel u tal-għalliema huma assoċjati ma’ xejriet differenti tal-użu tal-ICT? Jistgħu jkunu identifikati mudelli esploratorji biex jispiraw rakkomandazzjonijiet ta’ politika li jappoġġjaw l-iżvilupp ta’ metodi ta’ tagħlim u kurrikuli fis-seklu 21?

L-ESSIE għandu l-għan li jiffissa livelli ta’ progress fid-disponibilità u l-użu tal-ICT f’31 pajjiż (is-27 pajjiż tal-Unjoni Ewropea, kif ukoll il-Kroazja, l-Islanda, in-Norveġja u t-Turkija). Madwar 1,200 skola primarja u sekondarja ntgħażlu f’kull pajjiż u l-kapijiet ta’ dawn l-iskejjel għandhom jistennew ittri elettroniċi dwar is-servej dan ix-xahar. Id-Direttur Eżekuttiv ta’ European Schoolnet Marc Durando qal: “Nittamaw li jkollna rata ta’ rispons għolja biex niżguraw li s-sejbiet ikunu bbażati fuq qafas ta’ evidenza soda. L-informazzjoni kollha miksuba se tintuża biss għas-servey u ebda individwu ma jkun identifikabbli.” F’kull pajjiż kordinatur nazzjonali nnominat mill-ministeru tal-edukazzjoni qed jaħdem fuq l-ESSIE. Il-Kordinatur Nazzjonali tar-Renju Unit,  Bill Gibbon, qal: “Jien se nkun qed naħdem ma’ skejjel tal-ESSIE biex ngħinhom jimlew is-servej. Aħna nafu li l-iskejjel huma postijiet fejn hemm ħafna xogħol għaddej il-ħin kollu u kull sforz qed isir biex niżguraw li jkun hemm l-anqas tfixkil possibbli.”

It-tweġibiet tas-servej se jkunu analizzati u ppubblikati f’rapport internazzjonali ta’ tqabbil u f’31 rapport tal-pajjiżi fl-2012. Timo Lankinen, il-Kap Eżekuttiv tal-Bord Nazzjonali tal-Edukazzjoni tal-Finlandja kkummenta: “Pajjiżna pprepara pjanijiet nazzjonali għall-ICT u neħtieġu informazzjoni dwar żviluppi u kif il-Finlandja titqabbel ma’ pajjiżi oħra.”

Is-servej se joħroġ sejbiet li jgħinu biex ikun hemm fehim u jsir titjib fit-tagħlim permezz tal-ICT: “L-ICT jippermetti l-personalizzazzjoni u jista’ jagħmel it-tagħlim aktar effiċjenti, effettiv u attraenti. It-teknoloġija, li hija indispensabbli fiż-żminijiet tal-lum, tista’ tappoġġa edukazzjoni ta’ kwalità ogħla b’riżorsi limitati. Din ir-riċerka tikkontribwixxi għall-għarfien dwar ir-relazzjoni bejn dawn l-elementi,” skont Toine Maes, Direttur ta’ Kennisnet fil-Pajjiżi l-Baxxi.

F’bosta pajjiżi l-valur tal-ESSIE huwa li jappoġġja l-iżvilupp tal-politika bbażata fuq l-evidenza. Għall-kordinatur nazzjonali ta’ Malta, Emmanuel Zammit is-servej “se jgħinna nipproġettaw aħjar għall-futur u jgħinna nagħmlu l-aħjar użu tat-taħriġ u tat-teknoloġija li investejna fiha tul dawn l-aħħar snin.” Marta Hunya, riċerkatura għolja tal-Istitut Ungeriż għar-riċerka u l-Iżvilupp Edukattiv, sostniet dawn l-opinjonijiet: “Fl-Ungerija l-proċess ta’ monitoraġġ tal-użu tal-ICT fl-edukazzjoni pubblika beda sena ilu, u nittamaw li dan is-servey internazzjonali se jqajjem l-għarfien tal-importanza tal-kwistjoni f’kull livell mill-iskejjel sal-gvern. Aħna żviluppajna websajt u għodda ta’ awto evalwazzjoni tal-ICT (http://devel.ofi.hu/english/) u jiena kurjuża biex nara r-riżultati taż-żewġ servejs, u kif jitqabblu ma’ xulxin.”

Iffinanzjata mid-Direttorat Ġenerali tal-Kummissjoni Ewropea tas-Soċjetà tal-Informazzjoni u l-Midja u appoġġata mill-ministeri tal-edukazzjoni, l-ESSIE huwa mmexxi mill-European Schoolnet u l-Università ta’ Liège. Aktar informazzjoni tista’ ssibha fuq essie.eun.org.

Youtube for Teachers

Youtube is a reportoire and a huge database of video clips. The content of videos may be objectionable to students. One thing is for sure, Youtube videos have enough information where one can learn practically anything. For this reason Youtube are dedicating a section for teachers which can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/teachers

As explained by Youtube, this section for teachers can be used for the following:

1. Create Lively Discussions by engaging students showing them a video relevant to their lives.

2. Organize all the great video content you find by creating a playlist of your own themed videos.

3. Archive your work – Youtube Teacher is an amazing way to keep all videos together and to be shared with other teachers.

4. Allow students to dig deeper into a subject – It is an opportunity to create dossiers and students can search information without wasting time.

5. Get struggling students up to speed, and push strong students ahead. Videos can help supplement in class teaching for struggling students.

6. Youtube teacher can be used to review for upcoming exams.

7. Teachers can create a YouTube centre in your classroom. Students can be able to complete their projects.

8. With the help of Google Form one can create quizzes to accompany videos for instant feedback

9. Youtube teacher allows the creation of Interactive Video Quests.

10. Flip your classroom – If your students watch a video of the basic concepts at home you can focus in class on applying those concepts, working collaboratively with their classmates rather than simply listening to you lecture.

Any suggestions or comments can be forwarded to geoffrey.zammit@gov.mt

Phase 2: Reflection in action – September to November

Phase 2: Reflection in action – September to December

This phase will provide stakeholders with opportunities to share and consolidate ideas within and across different institutions.

The aim of this phase is to invite and encourage stakeholders to actively participate in generating a national, reflective professional discussion and debate about the NCF proposals, initiating a process of sharing critical and constructive feedback in preparation for the final version of the NCF.

Leave your comments on Facebook
https://secure2.gov.mt/meef/Page.aspx?pid=543 to download all documents.

Phase 1: Reflection for action – May to August

Phase 1: Reflection for action – May to August

This phase will serve to present the NCF and prepare the various stakeholders for the consultation process. The meetings with the stakeholders will serve to highlight the main recommendations of the NCF, the implications arising for the various stakeholders as envisaged by the NCF, and the role of the stakeholders in the consultation process, in terms of both their personal contribution to the process and their role in bringing together the feedback and responses of the learning communities for which they are responsible.

In addition, this phase allows participants time to read through documents and consider their content and implications.
Leave your comments on Facebook
https://secure2.gov.mt/meef/Page.aspx?pid=543 to download all documents.