New+Technologies+Possibilities+and+Pitfalls

[|Brain pop world histories]

**See below links for related pages:** include component="pageList" hideInternal="true" tag="lesson plan" limit="10"





The benefits of new technologies such as Wikipedia and Podcasts can be valuable tools for supporting a teacher in more efficient teaching as well as when properly integrated into a teaching program can create a more in depth and multi-faceted learning environment for students that appeals to all learning style, below are some of the ways how.

Wikipedia can be used by teachers as a support mechanism so that their lesson is not refined to the class room, students can access current work, homework, links to websites and can come together to discuss topics of information with their peers, all in a closed environment that is supervised and moderated by the teacher. This is shown in the Wikispaces page "Battle of Britain". The Wiki acts as an example of how teachers can use the page and the types of widgets and links that can be added to a page, including pictures which, in history offer another perspective for analysis, as well as make the document more interesting for students. Wikispaces also allow students to post up their own work digitally on their own page, so that they can “hand it in” anytime. Finally it allows students and teachers to quickly access information and aids in class without having to search, if the Wikipedia page is used in conjunction with the active white board it adds direction and structure to the class room environment. Not only will students and teachers be able to learn about the basics of creating websites and using widgets, they will also gain valuable knowledge from the ease and efficiency of accessing information and material around their topics of interest or study, by the way in which a Wiki can be created to pool information together in one location, effectively removing the need for excessive searching and sifting through irrelevant search results.

Podcasts can be used by students to learn and revise information as well as research new topics in entertaining and interesting ways. It allows them to carry information with them wherever they go through their iPod, phone or other listening devices. On the Wikispaces page, "Battle of Britain", there is a link to a page containing 29 Podcasts about the Second World War, this was simply found with a simple Google search “World War Two Podcasts”. The Wiki asks students to look specifically at Podcast 11, which is a primary historical source around the Battle of Britain. Podcasts allow students to access primary sources such as radio news programs from the period that would otherwise be hard or impossible to source for use in the classroom before such technology. The concept of being able to carry important historical information in a student’s iPod has massive implications for the depth of student learning. As per assessment activity 2 from my own personal lesson plan (Lesson Plan: Lesson 4), students can also create their own Podcast for assessment to meet any oral reporting requirements, which can eliminate any problems that students may face in speaking in front of an audience of their peers. As stated above Podcasts allow students to access new and previously impossible information for their learning in an easy, any place any time format that will enhance their learning of historical and social concepts and allow them to gain access to more advanced and authentic information around topics and concepts. Finally by asking students to create their own Podcasts, they will be learning skills in recording and creating web-based Podcasts, that will enhance their understanding of topics, assist them in creating a medium to express their own opinion and open up new path ways to them for future projects and oral communication tasks in school and beyond.



Using such technology is not always easy to begin with. For example for a teacher creating a Wikispace takes time and signing all students up to it, including creating their own accounts can be a daunting and somewhat tedious task. The other issue is by placing so much information online and relying on it so much is make two assumption of a classroom of students, the first being that in their free time that all students will access the Wiki, and the other is to assume that the students are physically able (aka access to the internet, or enough digital competency) to access the Wiki. Which brings up the next point of issue, if you are requiring students to access the internet in class or download Podcasts off the internet, can the school provide the appropriate facilities or resources to run such a classroom exercise within the time frame you with to do it. It would not be fair on the students to create an activity around Podcasts if not all students are able to bring in a device to listen to them on, though they can be listened to on a computer students may get embarrassed or self conscious if they do not have the same level of technology as their peers. There are risks involved in using these types of technology, however if they can be avoided, then the benefits of such learning are substantial and will more often than not bring huge advantages to classrooms and student learning.



The students learning will be evaluated in two forms, as set out in my lesson plan Lesson Plan: Lesson 4. They consist of two tasks both marked individually, however the first task assists in the understanding and preparation for the second. In task one Students will have to answer three of the questions from the in class / homework activity, that are posted up on the Wiki, the purpose of this will be to instigate essentially a class discussion, and this will require students to explain why they chose a particular answer, it will also teach students basic netiquette and how to partake in forum discussions. The second assessment task will involve students creating their own Podcast in response to one they have listened to as part of their class work. This will require students to draw upon passed knowledge including that of the first assessment, which the teacher can use to gauge the students understanding of the topic and help those who are off track or not grasping the topic. The second assessment will teach students skills in how Podcasts are made, as well as why and how to make one themselves, it will also assess students understanding of Propaganda and the accuracy of Primary sources. The above methods of evaluation act as new and effective forms of assessment for students, requiring them to think laterally, also it will create permanent work that can be used to refer back to for feedback and future learning purposes, often a downside of more traditional forms of oral presentation. The Podcast particularly will allow the teacher time to fully assess what the student is saying and how they are saying, so as to better mark to the criteria, without distraction or missing any valuable information.