Reflecting on my Journey Teaching and Learning by Howard Graham, Chancellor State College, Sunshine Coast Queensland last update 16th August 2008
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My email address hgrah10@eq.edu.au My education web HERE
Using computers has shaped the way I teach since 1985. Since 2004 I have had much greater access to ICT in the classroom and this has completely transformed the way I teach. Before 2004 I like most other teachers depended on textbooks, photocopied work sheets video and practical activities. My briefcase has been replaced by a laptop. For the last two years every lesson has been created, presented and stored as a digital file. I am now confident that I can survive without paper resources. At the end of 2006 I filled up three wheelie bins with old files and text books. All of my senior subject lessons, assignments, marking criteria sheets and other resources are available for my students to use online. All my students, like most teenagers, own MP3/MP4 audio/video players. Their mobile phones also have built in memory and varying levels of multimedia ability. I am keen to exploit this during lessons, assignment work and for revision. Students use SMS co-operating when gathering student survey information. They have recently used their mobile phones to film a Thermit reaction demonstration. http://mrged.flexinet.com.au/page/potions.html http://mrged.flexinet.com.au/download/chem11/t32k7/gaslaw.swf
By using the Internet, textbook PDFs and Smart board software I am able to create lessons real-time if required. All teachers at Chancellor State College store textbooks as PDF on their laptops. Using the laptop, data projector and interactive white board dramatically improves the quality of my presentations. Because much of the material is from the internet it is usually more current. I am able to use animation and colour to improve the fun factor and student engagement. Because it encourages me to seek out new information I find that I am constantly learning and improving my problem solving ability. Using a laptop has meant that I have become much more organized and am less likely to lose that key piece of paper. Professional development happens daily.
I am now able to communicate ideas and information far more effectively. The visual quality and ability to move objects around the screen helps to make abstract ideas much more concrete in much less time. The students also respond because they can see that their teacher is more relaxed and is having more fun. You can base whole lessons on a single flash animation. Flash files swf take up very little space and usually work very quickly. You are now able to blend media easily and this caters for a wider range of learning styles. I am hoping to develop my Flash skills during the next two years. It’s a product with almost unlimited educational potential. For those without quite enough skills you can of course search the internet for useful animated, interactive resources. I thoroughly enjoy using the latest Smart Board software. It is very easy to use, features instant crop and paste from any screen and a huge number of add on images and learning objects. It is easily one of the most powerful teaching software packages available At the time of writing, version 9.7 of this software was available, it includes a huge 500Mb plus of built in items ready for instant use.
By using current web resources, online News broadcasts, video, animations + music I am more able to connect with my students. Students at Chancellor State College often have flexible timetables. If a student misses a session they can access a download later. I often use an iRiver E10 media player to record my voice during the lesson. I can easily upload these files to the internet. Students enjoy the extra support this provides. It also, naturally helps me because I can be certain that all my students get the same message and I don’t have to repeat myself. Some audio + video examples here;
http://mrged.flexinet.com.au/download/audio/gas/hydrogensulphide.mp3 http://mrged.flexinet.com.au/download/audio/gas/ButaneExpCalc.mp3
I believe that ICT is breaking the traditional barriers and professional isolation associated with education. Information, communication and the tools for problem solving are more freely available. ICT provides the connection and flexible ways of learning. This is essential since school leavers have less certain career paths. They are more likely to work in teams and have the ability to respond to a changing workforce. We also need to be far more in tune with a global economy if they are to continue to be successful.
Developing skills with ICT requires effort. There is no quick fix because you learn by doing. Using software is all about problem solving. If you are prepared to put the effort in you will find that it gets easier as you go along. ICT has a huge impact on your ability to solve problems. Perhaps in the near future teams of teachers will start to collaborate. We should all be able to use the internet to share resources. World class teaching resources could be created and distributed with a lot less effort. Just consider for a moment how much time talented educators spend creating digital resources around the World. If only we could find a forum for sharing it all. Surely this is possible?
I can sum this up with the following. ICT has dramatically changed my power to present information; it has dramatically improved my ability to explain; it gives my students continuous access to education.
Lessons, comments, facts and information are no longer tied to a single moment in time (You can quote me on this!) Chancellor State College is committed to developing an International program. We have a number of international students who have joined us this year. This has added an exciting new dimension to our curriculum. I have found the Babel Fish translation service invaluable when translating some of the excellent German chemistry resources on the internet. The link for this resource has been added below Here is an example of a lesson I have used recently which included a diagram labelled in German and a film from Germany demonstrating a chemical reaction (German dialogue) On this occasion our visiting German student took over leading with an excellent translation. This type of online resource offers a whole range of exciting possibilities. http://mrged.flexinet.com.au/download/chem11/t32k7/thermit.swf Other comments It’s important not to worry about digital devices. We should all consider their educational potential. We must embrace and exploit the internet. It is the ultimate resource and will continue to develop as key mode of communication. We cannot possibly be experts using every type of software. Teachers should concentrate on specifically designed educational software. I really enjoy using Smart board and Easiteach software. It is important for people to realise that you do not necessarily need and interactive white board to exploit their potential. All teachers should develop web skills and learn how to use web building software. The most obvious are FrontPage or Dream Weaver (even Notepad will do) It is essential because it provides your platform to connect with other people.
When I was at High School we all seemed to work a lot harder gathering knowledge. The knowledge came from the teacher or from our well thumbed textbooks. Successful students were masters of working with printed text, and find resources at the library. My current Year 11 students seem to be far more relaxed because information is a lot “cheaper” and easier to find. This easy access has many problems. Today students need to be more concerned about the credibility of the “facts” they are reading. They also need to find ways of fine tuning their internet searches. I am very excited about the prospect of all students having their own laptops. Students would have the following capabilities:
I have been actively participating in professional development since the late 1990s. I have had formal training in Network administration, Excel, Access, Visual Basic, FrontPage, Smartboard, and Microsoft A+. I am very keen to develop skills in Macromedia Flash, + active web pages.
I am passionate about the educational impact of ICT. My colleagues recognise this and I am always willing to share ideas and examples. I have had the opportunity to run a number of professional development sessions in web design and Smart board software. I recently held a session on how to increase the fun factor and impact of ICT to a group of senior teachers. http://goes.flexinet.com.au/download/ICT/unit101.swf
Given time and appropriate professional development all teachers should feel empowered by the potential of ICT. The next step is to provide all students with laptops or PDAs. Schools will be keen to maximise the educational potential of these devices. I believe that potential will only be fully utilized if each subject area integrates ICT into its curriculum. Like minded teachers have the tools; we must start collaborating and sharing more. Technology is about working smarter not harder.
A Brief Overview of my Career 1982-1984 Kent I was employed by Bexley Education Authority (SE London UK) as an assistant teacher of Science and Chemistry at St Mary’s and St Joseph’s Grammar School, Sidcup Kent. Although inexperienced I was given a top class A level Chemistry group of eight students. 7 out of 8 achieved grade A the other a grade B. The Head of Chemistry was Ms Jo Sikabonyi and she gave me a superb start to my teaching Career.
ICICT use at my first school = nil e;T use; Nil. However, I did remember seeing a new 32K Research Machine RML 380Z
1984- 1989 Misbourne School, Great Missenden, Bucks I was appointed as Head of Chemistry at the Misbourne School (Buckinghamshire UK). I am still in contact with a number of teachers at this School. During this 5 year period I was also appointed as Head of Careers Education. It was during this period that I became interested in the use of computing and I often used rather primitive balancing equation software shown on a TV monitor during science lessons. I also introduced JIIG-CAL a computer based careers program to the Year 10s at the school. This was a great success. I also doubled the numbers of Students taking senior chemistry in Years 12 and 13 (lower and upper sixth)
ICT use; During this period I did experiment with using balancing Chemical equation software. I was using a RML 380Z and this was connected to a large television. I did introduce the school to JIIG –CAL Science department teachers did use primitive green screen Amstrad computers to create important documents. The floppy disks were very fragile. I also bought my first PC, an Olivetti PC1. It had an orange display and 512K memory. I experimented with “First Choice” and wondered if it could possibly get better.
1990 Norwich Norfolk I was appointed briefly at Earlham School Norwich UK as a joint Head of Science. My time at this School was cut short when we received a green light for our migration to Australia (August 3rd 1990) ICT use:
1991-1992 Perth Western Australia I was appointed as a Teacher of Science at St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls During this time I introduced a new science course for junior students (Years 6 and 7). This was based on the Science in Process booklets (UK). Part of the introduction included giving a 30 min presentation to approx 150 parents in the main school hall. I continued to be involved with senior chemistry preparing students for their TEE (Western Australia) ICT use; There was a great emphasize placed on information technology and I was one of the first teachers at this school to teach a class of Year 8 science students each with their own lap tops. Teachers used Apple Two computers to produce important documents
1992- 2000 Armadale, Western Australia I spent eight years at Armadale Senior High School. While acting as a science and chemistry teacher, I developed a new Senior Science course. I was a founding member of the Fire Up team. This was a group of three teachers who had sole responsibility for 50 “failed” senior students. It was at this time that I became interested in cross curricular courses. I developed a basic but relevant science and math’s course for these students. It also allowed me to work closely with careers guidance, work experience visits etc.
During 1997 the Principal Mr. Glen Diggins asked me with one other teacher to introduce Performance Management for all teachers at the School. ICT use; I dazzled the science teachers with my ability with “First Choice” running on 286 and 386 computers. I was dazzled when I saw my first PowerPoint presentation during 1997. Phil Joppek the Deputy Principal was also into ICT. The MP3 had been invented in Germany. Between 1998 and 2000 I was given the role of Network Administrator with the brief to develop the School network of two hundred computers. It was at this time that I also became involved with teaching IT at the School. I was also responsible for the School website. My senior students were all using Win amp and trying hard to download MP3s During my time at Armadale I taught a wide range of subjects including Multistand Science, Electronics, Senior Chemistry and Physics
2001- 2003 Maroochydore State High School Queensland Year 8 ICT, Year 9 + 10 Integrated Science, Year 11 Chemistry, Year 11 IPT, I was also responsible for the School Website ICT use; While at Maroochydore I produced a number of multimedia CD packages for the school. These include a digital record of the school science fair, an information CD for new teachers "start" and most recently a CD relating to the school's transition program. I was a serious PowerPoint user, interested in multimedia and video encoding As a Senior Teacher I have sole responsibility for the School Website
(2004 Middle School Yr 8 teacher 2005-6 Middle School Year 9 teacher 2007 Senior School, Year 10 Science, Maths + ITS, Year 11 Chemistry 2008 Senior School Year 10 Science, ITS, Year 11 + 12 Chemistry) I still own the purple 256Mb USB flash drive I was presented January 2004. At the time I could not possibly imagine filling such a huge device. I have generated approx 5000+Mb of documents this term. All rooms have data projectors I have been using an interactive white board since 2005. Every lesson uses ICT Teaching and learning is very exciting
My classroom at Chancellor 2008
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