This week I delivered training on Internet Safety and wasn’t sure how to make it interesting! While playing around on Twitter, however, I noticed an entry by Neil Winton linking to this great resource.
Thanks Neil 🙂
I also caught site of Tom Barratt’s link to a slideshare presentation that gave (what I think anyway) a powerful message:
The quote by Will Richardson on slide 16 led me to talk about the importance of giving primary school age children their own online space in the form of a blog or wiki so that they can learn how to ‘act and present themselves’ in an safe manner when they ‘branch out’ and create their own personal space on bebo, Facebook etc. Early years teachers can begin by allowing them to post on a class blog.
….But what about direct benefits to learning and teaching? Writing this post led me to reflect on a section of the findings of my Chartered Teacher dissertation. I wrote:
” Taking part in this case study has given me an opportunity to reflect on my own teaching. Some of the findings from the research were unexpected. I set out to investigate if the strategies I had put in place would lead to the creation of an online learning community. I was not prepared for the effect this would have on the offline environment of the classroom and for the changes to the content and delivery of the curriculum. Giving the children the freedom to use their online spaces as they wished allowed a deeper insight to their persona. An online community did develop, but that was on the periphery. The sharing of thoughts, opinions, ideas and personal likes and dislikes began as online blog posts. These were then developed in the offline classroom setting, giving rise to opportunities to increase motivation by modifying the programme of study to one that was more ‘child led’.”
Hi Mrs Vass
How are you doing working with the Falkirk Council!
You should come and see our show I will look out for you.
Bye Speak Soon
Love Marc xx …
Hello Marc! It’s great to see you’ve found some time to start blogging again ?
I’m enjoying my new job, although it’s strange not being ruled by the bell ….. and I miss the children!
I’ll try to get tickets for your show. I looked it up on the website and it seems to be on for a while.