Julia Kiss’ Blog

ATTENTION FELLOW SCIENCE TEACHERS… I have written this in regard to some usefull science links that i have found throughout the semester that use simulations, virtual realities and all sorts of mutlmedia and interactive forms of interesting educational stuff

you may already have seen many but there are a few that may be new… and are actually really really usefull

Continue Reading »

The following post is written in regards to my own general thoughts and experiences from blogging and has also been written in regard to article by Sarah Fallon titled “All the worlds a stage: Teaching through online journals” and a review by Stephen Downes, titled “Educational blogging”.

Having never blogged before this subject i think it is safe to say that yes, i was a little lacking in the World of online forums and information sharing pathways. Having now blogged numerous times through the last few months i have most definetly learn’t alot. Im not saying that blogging is the answer to all teacher problems, however i do see in blogging a very unique, relevant and collaborative approach to student learning. It has actually been alot of fun finding articles and papers about which to summarise and analyse and then display in my own personal way. It has given me a space of my own, a unique entry point into my own thoughts and interests and has allowed me to converse with fellow peers in a non threatening and open environment.

Watch a short teacher tube clip HERE titled “Blogging teacher”

What is a blog? Click here for Wikipedia information

Continue Reading »

While writing my culminating statement i came across an interesting You Tube video. Thought you might like to have a look. :-}

Anytime, Anywhere Leanring:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=xIKYVoci8JI

The following post is written regarding a paper titled “Learning by design: good video games as learning machines”, 2005, written by James Paul Gee, which explores the world gaming as a way of implementing learning outcomes in students.

Now this topic touches my heart. I mean this is what i am talking about when we say using computers and other digital means as a source of learning… im not really talking about powerpoint presentations or 2D simulations of a cartoon tree… im talking about some serious gaming… some virtual realities… and programs that allow serious team effort and problem solving to come into play. After seeing this article i immediately thought of a game I was introduced to just last night… at first i thought to myself “what crap” but then after about 2 mins i was addicted and not only that… yes there is more… it is completely and totally relevant to numerous outcomes in the science curriculum… how whacky… the game is called “Goo Ball” and yes… it is very cool… but be warned it is addictive!

Click here to view my Goo ball and Newton word cloud

(created at www.wordle.com)

Continue Reading »

This is a quote that i actually utilised in my mid semester statement, but i love it so much i thought i would share it with all of you…. awww how nice of me. It is taken from an article titled “How to bring our schools out of the 20th centrury”, from the New York Times.

“Rip Van Winkle awakens in the 21st century after a hundred-year snooze and is, of course, utterly bewildered by what he sees. Men and women dash about, talking to small metal devices pinned to their ears. Young people sit at home on sofas, moving miniature athletes around on electronic screens. Older folk defy death and disability with metronomes in their chests and with hips made of metal and plastic. Airports, hospitals, shopping malls–every place Rip goes just baffles him. But when he finally walks into a schoolroom, the old man knows exactly where he is. “This is a school,” he declares. “We used to have these back in 1906. Only now the blackboards are green.””

The following post is written in regard to a paper titled “The computer dellusion” by Todd Openheimer, 1997, which looks to evaluate the reality behind using computers to enhance student learning.

Having had read numerous articles and papers along with other blogs regarding ICT and learning it is only natural to come across a paper that summises, and right fully so, that there is no actual evidence that computers in classrooms improve teaching and learning. So the question really is… are we making the right move in pushing mutlimedia and ICT in our classrooms or are we just being naive in thinking that computers will solve all of our teaching and learning woes? Is it really worth it? Are we subsidising real teaching and learning from past techniques to make way for some insiduos form of software? Or is this an earnest push to a new and brilliant pathway for learning? Are we being real or dellusional? Continue Reading »

The following is written in regard to the article “Why bosses hate gen Y” by Mike Preston, 2007, which looks to evaluate the new Gen Y and the apparent verdict that they are short on skills, demanding, impatient and far from loyal, according to a survey.

HAVE YOUR SAY: DO YOU HATE GEN Y? click here

Wow…didn’t really know there was so many problems… but either away apparently “poor spelling and grammar and a failure to understand what constitutes appropriate corporate behaviour are the biggest issues”, with almost 70 per cent of surveyed employers reporting dissatisfaction with their Gen-Y employees’ performance in those areas. The question is “why would anyone hire a Gen-Y?” And as depressing as it sounds, it seems as though the only reason is that employers have no choice! “Chronic labour shortages across the Australian economy mean few businesses can afford not to hire anyone that might have a chance of doing a good job, let alone a whole generation”. Seriously speaking though…could this really be true? Continue Reading »

This post is written in reply to a post by Maree Skillen, titled “Who’s teaching who?”, taken from her website “Monkey Scribbles”, which was written in regard to an article by Head, B. (September 2008). Who’s Teaching Who? Education Review: Technology Guide.

My initial attention to this blog came from the opening statement… Did you know that “This year’s crop of Year 12 students was born at the same time as the first web browser (Head, 2008)?” And no i didn’t know. Whats even more interesting is that i cannot even remember what it was like before the internet. I remember the first time i learn t how to use the internet, i couldn’t get my head around the idea of being connected to so much information and i randomly believed in my head that every thing i searched on it was contained inside the big box sitting next to the screen. Continue Reading »

The following is written in regard to a blog Educating the digital generation by a Mr Paul Fuller from Perth’s Orange Grove school.

I came across this blog when searching through some interesting articles on use of technologies in the classroom. The “laptop for every student” may be a far cry away, however Orange Grove primary is really making the best effort to utilise computer technologies in the classroom, creating their own laptop leasing plan to make it more economical for parents to afford.

Continue Reading »

Having most likely come to the end of our edublogs for Digital Generation class, i have come across a few interesting articles in the recent news… thought i would be kind and share.

The first article “Angry online divorcee kills virtual husband in cyber revenge” explores the recent news of a woman in Japan (where else?) who, after being divorced by her husband decided to kill her online husbands virtual persona! Now for the actual “crazy bit”… she is actually being jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data… and could even be imprisoned for years and fined a substantial amount of money.

The second article “Wife killed over cyber affair” explores the news of a man who (in the real world) stabbed his wife to death after finding out she had had a virtual relationship/affair. Continue Reading »