HASS

Reflection 1.1

Hello 'world'.

Well I must admit that I had been handwriting and typing these reflections down; whilst setting up my various platforms - with the view to 'getting to the nuts and bolts' of the various ICT platforms that we have been introduced to; and am now progressing to upload my reflections.

Now on a scale of 1 to 10; my mind initially was honestly cast to about a '3'. BUT I would say this working a pre-conceived notion of ICT and it's effectiveness to optimise learning; through my very narrow prism of ICT usage.

My paradigm of thinking was; 'I use ICT everyday in a contemporary workplace context' (with the hindsight of actually posting this - now in week 3); I can safely say that my application of ICT in a business/employment - is simply or merely that of substitution......

Hello boundless world of ICT (now as I am progressing; I am getting excited around it's potential use in a classroom setting. Particularly now having a mature understanding of the Australian Curriculum - appreciating that ICT capability is a 'general capability'.


I am now editing my original post; per reflection 1.2:


Present values and beliefs about ICT in the classroom:

(Again per above; am I writing this reflection - if you like as a 'hybrid', where I have written in part at the time of reading - however now 'posting' as I am reflecting and trying to 'capture' my beliefs with the benefit of another week under my belt.

My initial (over a week ago) thoughts around ICT were very one dimensional; by way of my own experiences of using ICT in the workplace. Believe it or not - I am often the 'go to' person in my office; around troubleshooting IT problems - wether we are using a range of software packages, or presenting presentations......and therefore, my thinking has been coloured to (what I note above) a substitution only in the classroom.

Being exposed to the full potential of the use of ICT / wether it is asking professionals to comment on student's work - including on  student's blog for instance, even watching (in my learning areas) Parliament live, or watching a Council meeting and reviewing council agenda's, to engaging with students in another part of the world....indeed is quite fascinating; and actually brings real meaning to a 'globalised world' for school students today.

And has even made me reflect that all my learning in High School was by simply by rote; and the thinking to 'bring the world' into the classroom was limited to an excursion....in my High School Legal Studies class we didn't even listen to parliament on ABC radio...

Approach to teaching and learning:

My learning style is perhaps a component of kinaesthetic learning (and by this I mean I learn by listening to others and then having to do a task myself.....in the world of work; this might take the form of writing a tender, being able to 'influence' others, chair meetings etc); however I also prefer time on my own to read through the material - to make sense of it; drawing on observing others and then refining through my own style.

I believe my approach to teaching; is and perhaps will be one of enthusiasm; and one which 'tries' to convey to students the relevance  of learning civics and economics and legal studies - and how by 'knowing' they are empowered to shape and craft their own future; within their own generation. For me, tyring to impart this; and explain the 'richness' and uniqueness' to the 'prosperity' and 'freedoms' we have in Australia; is a passion that drives me - and that I believe will underpin my approach to teaching.


Control of learners learn?

To a certain extent yes; but I'm conscious that I don't want to overwhelm learners; and want to meet the 'curriculum' aligned to the measurement of their success or failure.

and control of who learners learn from?

Yes, I feel more relaxed about this. As if they can learn through an authentic text or example; such as taking a note from watching a video of an expert - or receiving classroom mentoring from industry  and this can align to the curriculum and grading - then great.

Emotions to challenges:

I actually fell like quite a luddite; and frustrated with myself for not picking it up quicker. However, by being able to see how relevant and important this is to the Teaching profession and engaging a 21st century classroom; once my efficiency in use increases; I am feeling all the more better for it.

ICT in the classroom:

Really minimal; I must say that IT was introduced into the first year of my High Schooling - in 1996; I know ICT has advanced dramatically - but I am glad I was the generation that just were introduced to computers within High Schooling.