New technologies, new learning

Why digital gaming, simulations, and social networking? Simply put, these
technologies afford us the ability to convey concepts in new ways that would
otherwise not be possible, efficient, or effective, with other instructional methods. In
other words, these technologies don’t just help us teach the old stuff in new ways –
they can also help us teach new stuff in new ways. Below we provide a brief
description of these technologies; popular educational and non-educational
examples of each, and what researchers and practitioners are finding about their
potential and impact on teaching and learning.

Digital revolution

Public schools throughout Australia are benefiting from the Federal Government's $2.2
billion Digital Education Revolution initiative, which aims to prepare students for further
education and training, jobs of the future and to live and work in a digital world.

School students are now being switched on to some of the most up-to-date technology
available, from laptop computers for students in years 9-12 to interactive whiteboards,
video-conferencing equipment and even virtual classrooms.

And, although they sound space-aged and technical, most of the technologies that students
are using are the same as those in most homes; the main difference is that, in schools, their
educational potential is being explored.

Educational entertainment

Outside school, students constantly interact with technologies such as iPods, mobile
phones, the internet and social networking sites, so it is little wonder there's an expectation
that these technologies will also support their learning in the classroom.

The West Australian Education Department recently trialled a program that allowed
students and teachers to download free information and resources through iTunes U - an
area of the iTunes store offering free education content from top institutions around the
world.

The department's assistant executive director curriculum support Andrew Thompson says
that, by providing online content in alternative formats, the department hopes to make the
information more accessible and appealing to people in the education community.

“This program will also test the practicality of using alternative electronic formats to
distribute the department's information,” he says.

The iTunes project also means that students can better communicate with their peers and
access different perspectives on their subjects by sharing audio files to discuss their school
work.
Electronic whiteboards

Children in kindergarten may not be accessing their lessons via the iPod just yet, but they
will be able to log on to the worldwide web via a Connected Classroom program.

Schools throughout Australia will be using the technology of interactive whiteboards,

which have the capabilities of connecting immediately to the internet so students and
teachers can access information immediately.

By connecting the whiteboards to a laptop computer and projector, teachers can also
convert freehand writing on the whiteboard into text, then print it for students.

“All classrooms in Western Australia are connected classrooms, which enable them to
support interactive facilities, and many use video conferencing and multimedia teaching
strategies to further learning opportunities,” Thompson says.

Queensland has been rolling out its Smart Classroom project since 2005 and new state
schools are fitted with a fully managed fibre-optic and high-speed wireless-based network
and smart classroom technologies, including interactive whiteboards, digital media
projectors, cameras and Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephony systems.

The roll-out of the interactive whiteboards started in NSW at the end of last year, and the
Government is hoping to have at least one dedicated connected classroom in every state
school by the end of this year.

Victoria is also in the process of rolling out its interactive whiteboards.

Video conferencing

An integral part of the connected or smart classrooms is video-conferencing technology,

which allows students to talk to experts and other schools and students around the world in
real time via a video link-up. The facility is linked to the connected classroom package and
uses electronic whiteboard technology so a teacher in Sydney can interact with a class in
Brisbane for example, using the same whiteboard.

Virtual classrooms

The Victorian education department is now also trialling virtual classrooms - a computer
accessible, online learning environment intended to fulfil many of the learning facilitation
roles of a physical classroom.

Instead of going to specific classes in person, teachers and students could communicate at a
time they choose by exchanging printed or electronic media such as emails, message boards
or blogs, or through technology that allows them to communicate in real time such as
telephones, web conferencing or video conferencing.
“The end of September this year will see the arrival of the Ultranet - a 21st-century online
learning platform that will connect students, teachers and parents in every Victorian
government school,” a department spokesperson says.

“Students will access personalised learning activities and an ongoing record of

achievement, from year to year and school to school. Teachers will use the Ultranet to
create curriculum plans, collaborate with other teachers, monitor student progress and
provide assessment online.

"The Ultranet will allow parents to see up-to-date information about their child, including
their timetable, attendance, tasks, teacher feedback and learning progress.”

The Queensland Education Department has a similar concept in the Learning Place - a
comprehensive online eLearning environment available to all staff and students with
anywhere, anytime access through a dedicated portal.

The Learning Place provides provides materials and resources such as digital images, sound
files, video, online courses and lessons as well as hosting events such as online chats,
festivals and collaborative projects.

Learn the language

Parents need not fear the new technologies, NSW Parents and Citizen Association president
Dianne Giblin says.

“These technologies also offer greater opportunities for families to learn together. I urge
parents to learn the technology as well so they can teach their kids the appropriate use of
them including mobile phone and social networking sites," she says.

“The new technologies offer a more engaging way to learn and it's important to remember
that it doesn't take away from learning. Kids are still going to learn the basics, but
textbooks stagnate.”
Social Networking Tips
For Teachers

Kids love social networking, but many teachers are leery of the risks of introducing the
controversial technology into the classroom. Is it possible, they wonder, to engage students with the
social networking tools they love, while keeping them safe from online dangers? Absolutely, says
Facebook chief security officer Joe Sullivan. Social networking can be both educational and safe --
if you follow these rules:

Create a Friend List: If you're a teacher, you can create a Friend

List called “Students" and adjust your privacy settings to control
exactly what your students will see. For example, you might
allow students to see your basic profile information, but not your
tagged photos or wall posts.

Use Facebook Groups for Engagement: You can create a Facebook Group for a course you’re
teaching or a specific class project, and invite all your students to join the group. That will provide a
way for students and educators to discuss relevant topics on a platform students love. There also is a
Discussion Board where students can share their thoughts.

Share Rich Content: Use the Wall on your Facebook Group page to share rich content, such as
news clips, interesting articles, websites, videos, and so on. Invite students to do the same.

Discuss Online Safety: Teach students about appropriate online behavior, including keeping
passwords private, never talking to strangers online, and treating others respectfully. Tell them to
visit Facebook Safety Center for best safety practices.

Know Your Resources: Get up-to-the-minute, dynamic content especially for teachers at the

Check Your School’s Social Networking Policy: As an educator, you should make sure you’re in
compliance with your school’s policies before opening a Facebook account. Additionally, it’s
always a good idea to notify parents and receive their permission before asking students to join
Facebook. Explain to parents exactly how the tool will be used in the classroom -- and make sure all
students are older than13.

Student Feedback: Ask students -- the digital natives -- if they have any creative ideas about ways
in which Facebook can enrich their learning experience, both in the classroom and beyond.

Be a safe harbor: Make sure students know they can come to you with questions or concerns, or to
discuss what to do in tricky situations they encounter online.

APPS FOR EDUCATORS ON FACEBOOK

 Teachers also can leverage free technologies to engage with students on a platform they
enjoy, and can use those tools to share presentations, notes, practice tests, and quizzes.
Facebook has more that 200 education-related applications. Some examples include:
Flashcards, Study Groups, SlideShare, Webinaria Screencast Recorder.