Software Development and Programming

This option topic can be very difficult for students to understand but from a practical perspective, really fun. During the presentation i thought it all sounded really complicated with its topic specific vocabulary. However the activity associated was easy to use and really fun. There are many great projects that could be organised for a stage 5 class using scratch. I particularly like the following instructional video on the basics of how to create an animation using scratch as it is narrated by a student. In a class students could have the option to keep referring back to the video while making their animation if they are unsure of how to use certain feature such as getting a background etc.

Technology in the Workplace.

How things have changed even in the short time since we were at school. Now most classrooms have a smart board, most students have a laptop and the once common phrase “take out your pen and paper” is becoming more and more obsolete. It is therefore essential that the previous generation (us) learns how to integrate technology in the classroom. I found the following website that is great to give teachers ideas in general across any KLA on how to use technology for many different types of tasks and lessons. It is called 50 ways to use technology, and is aimed specifically at teachers. The site separates the ideas into categories, they are as follows

Word Processing, Spreadsheets and Databases, Internet, Email, Presentation Software, Digital Camera, Digital Video, Web Page, & Videoconferencing.

Link:  50 Ways to Use Technology In the Classroom

 

References

50 ways to use technology . (2008, 12 19). Retrieved May 4, 2012, from Classroomtech: http://www.classroomtech.org/integration/50ways.htm