Websites - Reflection

Learning about web sites has been challenging, I am finding it to be not only important but also crucial for my pedagogy as a professional educators in the 21^st century. I spent a lot of time reading and scrolling through YouTube looking to improve my own website/bloggers page. I am trying to improve my capabilities in ICT as we progress.

The biggest benefit I have found so far while journeying through websites was google blogger and Microsoft teams. Being able to connect and collaborate with your fellow students has been a blessing and has help me extremely. Being able to read and share thoughts in a team-learning environment has certainly boosted my learning, linking with Judy Willis' “knowledge of the brain and learning”(Willis, 2011). As for me it was positive motivation, which helped me progress when I was facing a barrier as a learner.

I found it extremely fun to set up my blog page and to customise it to my liking. I found it challenging to use at first but after spending some time scrolling through and customising things bit by bit it all became clear.

Using websites will enhance student learning/outcomes. This is achieved by using principles of the SAMR when designing/enhancing tasks. Using technology allows redefinition as the teacher can create and evaluate new tasks. Tech allows modifications by evaluating and analysing tasks for redesigning/catering to enhance student learning.

Learning in a web space environment promotes individualised learning in the most collaborative way as we can connect, view and interact with other student’s opinions/learning. Learners have the ability to present research and interact with fellow students in the class (Willis, 2011). Learners have the power to become creators and publishers of knowledge to an identified audience and move beyond merely consuming the information posted by others.

Lastly, as we progress in digital learning we all want to move from low-level pedagogy (Explicit teaching) to high-level pedagogy (Transformational teaching). We want our future students to be equipped in inquiry, complex thinking, investigational thinking and problem solving capabilities (Bruzell T. N., 2015).

References

Willis, J. (2011, 06 13). Understanding How the Brain Thinks. Retrieved from Edutopia: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/understanding-how-the-brain-thinks-judy-willis-md

 Bruzell, T. N. (2015). Berry Street Education Model: Curriculum and Classroom Strategies, Domain 4: Engagement . Melbourne: Berry Street Victoria.: Berry Street Victoria, Inc.