Talkin' 'bout my cerebration.

Teacher toolkit

Now that I have my staff selected, I believe my time is best spent exposing them to the software that will enable transformative learning.  My first focus will be on software that enables sharing of information.  In this initial phase I will install software that utilises data stored on the local hard drive.  This is purposeful so that I can facilitate use of the team site for the project to share files.

The software I will install tomorrow is;

1. Mozilla Firefox
2. Zotero add-on for Firefox
3. X-mind
4. FoxIt PDF Reader (including FoxIt toolbar)

FireFox is essential for the functionality of the add-ons, particularly on the Windows powered laptops provided to teachers in our organisation.  Zotero is a notebook and research tool.  We will build notebooks and share them out to the learners.  FoxIt toolbar allows the markup and annotation of PDF files.  Simply choose “Save As” when finished and all markups and annotations are saved as part of the file.  X-mind is a concept mapping program, within which we will build learning maps for the units we implement.  Each of these programs are cross platform.  I’m aware there are platform specific programs that may perform these functions more effectively however I want a solution that can be modelled in class and implemented on any platform.

Tomorrow I will install these items on my staff’s laptops.  I will then provide them with the Smart Classrooms Professional Development Framework file (PDF).  They will be tasked with opening it within FireFox and using the markup tools to identify the indicators they believe they are currently demonstrating.  As well as providing them exposure to PDF markup and file sharing via One Portal, this will also provide base data to map performance improvement upon.

Its been reassuring that both staff have been showing real interest in this and a desire to learn.

I’ve posted a bit on my eLearning spaces, so thought it might be time to outline the tools I use in my classes to enable learners to engage with digital pedagogy. I understand that some of these tools may be out of the reach of teachers funding their own purchases, however it is more important to note the use and learning intent.

1. Laptops
1a. Lenovo R400 – Employer provided. This laptop has the managed operating environment installed and includes organisation wide software installations. This software includes MS Office, Paint.net, Irfanview. and Audacity.  It is built to connect to the corporate network (either wired or wireless).

I have installed further software that I use. My software of choice is all open source, to demonstrate accessibility to learners. My list of must have software includes; VLC media player (plays anything), FireFox (the web browser IMO), Filezilla (FTP), Kompozer (web authoring), ZScreen & Camstudio (screen capture).

1b. HP Compaq – MOE environment installed, plus every tool I’m likely to use to process learning objects, images, video and sound.  This is generally what I refer to as my processing workhorse – it does all the hard work I need.  As it has the MOE environment, I also take it to class to be used as another computer.

1c. Asus EeePC with Linux OS. I use this to increase awareness of learners to options other than what my employing organisation decides to expose them to. I’ve trialled a few distros (Xandros, EeeXubuntu, gOS, Easy Peasy) however the programs installed remain the same – OpenOffice, Audacity.

1d – 1f. 3 other laptops with MOE installed (1 x HP Compaq, 1 x Acer Aspire, 1 x Acer Travelmate).  Used for general access.

2. iPod Touch. I use this more as a standalone device in class – iTalkr for voice recording, Evernote for note taking, Notes for students to leave me notes, cable for video output, dictionaries and calculators.

3. Mobile phone (currently Nokia 6120). Even a low end phone such as this can be used for image, video and voice capture. I utilise Bluetooth to transfer files to and from learners.

4. Digital camera to record/capture learning moments. I don’t know the model off hand at the moment but it is a 6 megapixel job that cost less than $100.  Uses an SD card which all my laptops can read.

5. Digital voice recorder for capturing audio. Specifically I wanted one that had easy transfer via USB. Many cheaper ones require line in recording to transfer the file to a computer. This is a Sony ICD-P620.

6. Range of memory storage, including the portable office blogged about previously. Cables to enable data transfer from variety of tools.

Except for the 3 extra laptops (1d – 1f), I carry all of this in a backpack (yes, its a little heavy), which allows me to work anywhere in the school.  When needed I carry the extra 3 laptops in a laptop briefcase.  None of these items require connection to power during lesson time so I am truly portable.  What I have witnessed with students acceptnace and use of these can be summed in by two old sayings:

1) You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.

2) If you build it, they will come.

If I simply take these to class, students still don’t access them or engage with them.  However if I create the learning environment where they see opportunity for access through choice, they respond and access the technology readily.  This reinforces to me something I have long believed in – it is the pedagogy that matters, not the tools.  Knowing this, I can create and manage the environment that results in student engagement with all of these tools to enable and encourage learning.