May 29 2007
PDAs
I was just browsing, catching up on the latest on Ewan McIntosh’s blog, when I came across this link to the Wolverhampton LA Mobile Learning project.
On the TTP literature we got, EDAs/PDAs were mentioned … I didn’t really know what they were, but having read through this summary, I want one! Or, rather, I want all my pupils to have one! (I think …)
It’s okay, I know I have loads of things to try out already – and I was using my DigiMemo to useful effect again today in my A Level revision classes – but it is so exciting to read about all the exciting new technologies that there are, that we may be able to use at some point in the future in our schools.
Which reminds me, I had a good chat with some friends about the educational use of technology. They are using new technologies in order to educate people about global justice issues, and are finding that lots of people don’t really understand the pedagogy behind the technologies. That’s definitely something that we need to consider, perhaps more explicitly as we continue on our journey with new technologies – I think I’m still a bit at the “look at all the exciting things I can do with my computer!” stage, still on the way to “this is my learning aim … can any of the new technologies I have access to help me achieve this aim more effectively than what I do at present?” stage.
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It is quite a transition from focus on the gadgetry /software to the teaching and learning behind the new technologies. perhaps we have to be pioneers in this respect!
This requires more talking. There is such a range of technologies out there that ‘lumping them’ altogether can be difficult in terms of teaching and learning. Teachers need to be familiar with the technology and then should look at how they can be used effectively in their teaching – not what can I teach so that I can use the technology. Give a teacher a piece of software, show them what it supposed to be for and you will certainly find them pushing the limits and using it for things I wouldn’t have dreamed of. That’s the fantastic part about working in schools. Teachers don’t always believe it but they are very creative, always looking for new and interesting ways to engage students. The most important element is to be prepared to be learners ourselves and have a go. This demands time and possibly the SLT have got to look at this seriously in terms of BSF, watching a demonstration of what a visualser can do doesn’t make you a classroom practitioner – that takes time set aside to develop, just like IWB skills. We need to make time and space for this but it also needs to recognised that it is essential if we are to be effective with the kit.
We will have PDA’s for the project and have been waiting for the EDA to hit the country – it was expected in February but there have been difficulties with it and so we are looking at other models.
Your comment about using new technologies in order to educate people about global justice issues set me thinking. From an MFL perspective I have been trying to think about how I can incorporate global education into language lessons in an appropriate, relevant and engaging way. What technology should enable us to do is to find accessible information more easily and quickly – and I have started to explore where I might find such information for my students to work with. I started with the site http://www.globaldimension.org.uk, and through that found two more very interesting looking links which I will send separately – it seems three links was too many for Wordpress to accept in one go!