This week in
Managing E-Learning, we looked at
ANIMATIONS
and SIMULATIONS!
While there are
many, many animated platforms to play with and work from (such as GOOGLE EARTH, GOOGLE MAPS, INTERACTIVE
TOOLS, ADOBE FLASH, ONLINE TIMELINE TOOLS, ZOOBURST and MUSEUMBOX) I have explored only two: FROGUTS DISSECTION TOOL and ANSWERGARDEN BRAINSTORMING TOOL (with a
little help from WORDLE).
FROGUTS is an online, interactive DISSECTION PLATFROM. There is a free DEMO available online, where you can
work through the observational dissection module of a frog dissection. When subscribe
to Froguts, you can further the dissection by investigating the different
bodily systems through different modules. Froguts offers these interactive,
educational and assessable modules for many different types of small animals,
so teachers are not just restricted to frogs!
|
FROGUTS
|
|
|
STRENGTHS
-
Can be
accessed ONLINE or on any computer
with the software downloaded, with multiple users at one time
-
EASY TO USE and navigate
-
Delivers
the WHOLE LESSON, with narration,
interaction and assessment
-
LARGE RANGE OF TOPICS (many different animals to dissect, and works
through all the body systems in different modules)
-
Great TECHNOLOGICAL, INTERACTIVE way for students to engage with Science
-
Can be
worked through as a whole class (teacher using the projector) or individually
by students
|
WEAKNESSES
-
Unless
using the frog demo (doesn’t go into body systems), it is a PAID PROGRAM that schools must
subscribe to
-
To use the
paid program at home, students must also SUBSCRIBE
and pay a subsidised joining fee
-
Requires ADOBE FLASH PLAYER to be downloaded
to the computer
-
Requires a
considerable amount of computational PROCESSING
POWER to use
-
Some
students might be DISTRESSED by the
realistic dissection graphics
|
|
OPPORTUNITIES
-
Can be
used as an ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TEACHING and ASSESSMENT to general lessons
-
Allows
students to INVESTIGATE
dissections and body systems independently and have responsibility for their
work
-
Meets
students at their technological INTERESTS
and their abilities
|
THREATS
-
Some
schools may prefer/require students to undertake REAL DISSECTIONS, rather than simulations, for assessment
purposes
-
Can be QUITE COSTLY to the school as the
$300 subscription must be renewed yearly (therefore needs a large number of
students using the technology to justify the cost)
|
As I have a strong
stomach, and once wanted to be a surgeon, I QUITE ENJOYED playing with this tool! I believe it would be a
fantastic, INVALUABLE RESOURCE for
any Biology teacher as it can deliver WHOLE
LESSONS on dissection and separate body systems with just the click of a
mouse! As I am qualifying as a Maths and Science teacher, I know for sure that
I’ll be trying to talk my principal into subscribing to this software!
LOOK AWAY IF YOU’RE QUEASY-STOMACHED!
Here
is a screenshot of the frog dissection demo!
Other great
interactive tools can be found through the following sites: http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm
& http://edheads.org/
Now, for years,
teachers have known about the value in BRAINSTORMING.
It gets little minds a-turning and allows teachers to CONNECT their class’ prior knowledge with something new. So why not
use this great idea and turn it into a TECHNOLOGICAL
PLAYTIME?! Throughout the Managing E-Learning course, we’ve used ANSWERGARDEN to throw out some of our
ideas, and played with the presentation of those ideas with WORDLE. Answergarden allows quick
brainstorm entries and collects it on the page below – if the same entry is
added, it’s TALLIED to see how many
people have the same idea! How clever is that!?!
|
ANSWERGARDEN
|
|
|
STRENGTHS
-
FREE brainstorming platform offered through answergarden.ch
-
SUPER EASY TO USE
-
Questions
can be SET BY TEACHER and
monitored at all times
-
Can be
added to by MULTIPLE USERS
-
TALLIES the number of times the same entry has been input
-
Simple and
easy technological platform to FOSTER
BRAINSTORMING
-
Completely
STUDENT-AUTHORED
|
WEAKNESSES
-
Only
allows 20-CHARACTER ENTRIES, so
students may have difficulty cutting down their entries
-
DOESN’T AUTOCORRECT entries, so displays incorrect spelling and
grammar
-
Doesn’t
recognise SIMILAR ENTRIES if they are spelt or worded
slightly differently
|
|
OPPORTUNITIES
-
Students
are able to INPUT THEIR IDEAS as
many times as they want
-
Allows ALL STUDENTS ACCESS to the activity
(including those with learning needs or are too shy to interact in class)
-
Can be
used to COLLECT DATA, BRAINSTORM IDEAS,
EXPRESS FEEDBACK and EXPLORE TOPICS
-
ENGAGING for students as it is an interactive technology which can be exported
through a fun, customisable program (WORDLE)
-
Meets
students at their technological INTERESTS
and their abilities
-
Can be PRESENTED in a very-customisable
graphic through WORDLE (an
easy-to-use, customisable way to export the Answergarden)
|
THREATS
-
Easy to
spend a lot of time exporting the Answergarden through Wordle, which could DISTRACT students from the classroom
task (brainstorming a topic)
-
Students
can use the technology INAPPROPRIATELY,
by not responding to the question or adding unnecessary and inappropriate
entries
|
I would DEFINITELY use Answergarden again and
again in my classroom. It’s so easy to use and access, and can be a great way
to INTRODUCE a new unit, INVESTIGATE a topic, or REFLECT on an activity. Furthermore,
having access to Wordle to export it allows our class brainstorms to be
displayed proudly and prettily throughout the classroom!
Here’s a
screenshot of our Managing E-Learning Answergarden, and just one way I’ve
exported it through Wordle:
Other great
brainstorming tools can be accessed at:
All you have to do
is GOOGLE these animation and
simulation tools (dissection tool, brainstorm tool, timeline tool, animation
creators) and you’ll surely find something! Most websites are EASY TO NAVIGATE, and have navigation
bars or helpful hints to get you started. These tools will take you as far as
you want to go – be it spending 5 minutes to create a mini-brainstorm, or 5
hours exploring the interior of a small animal!
SO GO HAVE A PLAY… AND PROCRASTINATE A
LITTLE LIKE ME!!
No comments:
Post a Comment