Blog Review:- Richard Branson "Bring Back the Pen"

I recently read a blog by Sir +Richard Branson, yes the Virgin tycoon, who has openly embraced technology. Who, has built an empire in the record industry and aviation and who, is a considerable backer in many tech start up businesses, see Tech start ups for an interesting look at some of these businesses.  Richard Branson, has voiced his concerns and thoughts on an article written in the Daily Mail regarding the Death of letter writing. Branson, makes reference to the fact that texting by teens is killing the art of letter writing.  He is shocked to note that one third of teens has never written a letter and that one in ten 13 to 19 year old's do not own a pen.  All of this is through the rise of technology and texting in particular.

Branson, finds this shocking and refers to the rise of the Ipod as a reason for the demise of his Virgin Megastore business. Could the rise of mobile phones and texting in particular be the demise of the pen? We are so influenced by technology and how it can help us in our daily chores, routines and education, that we are forgetting the basics! The true skill of hand writing.  More often than not, teens talk in text speech, which is proving detrimental to writing skills, like spelling and grammar.

The art and skill of writing should not be left to fade away in favour of smart phones, tablets and computers.  I am not an advocate of the technological devices available and believe that within my lectures, seminars and teaching we revert to true old fashioned pen and paper.

There is nothing wrong, in note taking, gathering thoughts and information to assist you in education and then type this up for assignments, this is now the norm! The type writer has been replaced by the computer. Don't let the smartphone replace the Pen!  Don't let hand writing and letter writing become a thing of the past either

There is a time and place for technology, however it should never be allowed to replace the fundamental skills we so desperately need to maintain. There is a need for the education hierarchy to stand up and take notice, that whilst we live in a technological age, we must maintain the true art of writing.

Richard Branson's blog is something, I will look to discuss in future lectures, along with the article in the Daily Mail and the campaign by Bic The Mission.

So lets begin, to go backwards and resurrect the PEN.... In the name of Education!  The irony of this blog, is that I am using technology to identify the PROBLEM!

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/bring-back-the-pen
http://uk.businessinsider.com/18-tech-startups-backed-by-sir-richard-bransons-billions-2015-11
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3294452/Texting-teens-killing-art-letter-writing-never-pen-paper-rise-online-messaging.html
http://www.bicfightforyourwrite.com/mission

Appropriate applications to support my teaching experience

I recently completed a module in information communication technology (ICT). Within this module, I was introduced to many applications designed to aid the teaching process. A week or so later. I had to carry out a micro teaching session to my fellow students, ironically, without the use of any of these new fandango apps. At first I thought you what? You have me use these apps in class, become familiar with them and not let me use them!  That's like giving a child a lightsaber and not allowing them to pretend that he/she is Han Solo or Darth Vader and wanting a battle, its the first thing you want to do!

However, saying that, for someone who is a lover and hater of technology, I was not too despondent. It gave me the opportunity to use true old fashioned class room interaction, communication and experiential exercises.

Would I use any of these apps in a classroom environment in which I would be teaching? Possibly, but very doubtful. This is not because I do not like them or that I am not tech minded.  If you have read my previous blogs, you will have discovered, that I believe technology is used too much in our lives already.  My current cohort of students are 1st and 2nd year undergraduate students and I do not believe that these applications are suitable for the this audience,  The cohort I am currently teaching prefer good old fashioned PowerPoint,  That said, I would not rule out using any of these to test the water so to speak.

I would suspect that these applications would be more appropriate for secondary schools, colleges and distance learning. There needs to be a time whereby we use the greatest tools we have been blessed with, speech, listening, sight and the ability to interact, visualise and experience. Something, that seems to be getting lost in the classroom!

Experiential learning for me is essential. That said, as we now live in a technological and digital age, whereby applications, software and devices rule, I will now attempt to promote and be enthusiastic, toward some of these applications I have encountered, bu as yet not had the privilege of using!

Neopod, is a mobile multimedia interactive teaching tool. Designed for students and teachers to interact using mobile presentations in an effort to revolutionise the classroom with interactive presentations.  These presentations are created and downloaded and then shared with students.  Students have no control of the presentations, classes or lectures, thus, controlling the student’s activity in real time.  This, does appear to be quite a unique piece of technology and useful if used in distant learning, However, I fail to see the purpose of this in a classroom environment.  What is wrong in a PowerPoint presentation and asking good old fashioned questions and answers?

Socrative is another application / Website, I believe is better suited to secondary schools, whereby in class testing can be assessed in real time. It is versatile, in so much, it can be accessed on any device or browser. Instant feedback is available, personalised content, whereby assessments can be designed for the target audience and reporting is easily accessed and designed to gather students understanding of given tasks,  This all seems wonderful, and possibly makes a teachers life a little easier, With the benefit of an excel spreadsheet hat colour codes correct answers to tests or assessments if theses are in quiz format!  This provides a teacher with instant notification of how a student is learning and what needs to improve etc.  Sounds pretty cool, if your students are assessed in test format,

Haiku Deck is an app that makes your presentations simple.  You can design presentations to be fun, and beautiful, using an array of images, plus adding content.  Is designed for you to present and transform the class to be interested and engrossed.  It is an alternative to PowerPoint, as you can create presentations professionally, with ease.  Haiku Deck has been described as a painless alternative to PowerPoint. I have to agree.  I have used this app, in one lecture to emphasise stress. It was painless and powerful.  It is free and all your presentations are stored and easily shared,  It does not have all the professional qualities of PowerPoint, however, this is no great loss as you do not need to spend hours attempting to get the animations right. A picture paints a thousand pictures.  Check Haiku Deck out, you will be impressed. Presentation.  You may also like to visit the link to understand better Haiku Deck from freelance writer Yardena Arar. 

For me, PowerPoint, is the best  for creating professional presentations, whether for business or in a university environment. I have used PowerPoint now for a considerable number of years and completely happy to continue doing so.  Students are happy with it and recently my students have been presenting using PowerPoint as part of an assessment, despite having the opportunity of alternatives such as Prezi and Haiku Deck, It seems, that, using an appropriate application or software you are comfortable with, is the answer and if that is PowerPoint why change?  I do not believe in reinventing the wheel, why complicate things?  Stick with what suits and let the techno's worry about other applications!!  Simplicity is what is necessary and not bombarding us with alternatives,

Word, is probably the most versatile and used software used in a university environment, from creating lesson plans, to ad hoc handouts etc.  Word is used for practically everything from writing reports, assessments and even note keeping.  I use it widely and have done throughout my professional life and will continue doing so.  I have even used it to ensure that when I write a blog, i do not lose my work, which as already happened once.  Sometimes, the technology we use has glitches and as a consequence, results in a breakdown and subsequently, all your good work is lost!  Therefore it is always wise to have a backup.

Throughout my experience of the teaching profession.  I have come in to contact with many versatile applications and software.  All designed to enhance the teaching and learning process, for me, Microsoft applications are the best, so why change. if it’s not broken?

https://www.haikudeck.com/presentations/DMJUMwU6Ad
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2148203/haiku-deck-a-painless-powerpoint-alternative.html

Experience of mobile technology: How Technology Has Changed The Way We Learn

As I awoke this morning, I had a thought of what it was like, when I was at school, (when I went of course) a few years back, I might add.  My education, was throughout the 1970's and 80's.  I'm now giving my age away also! How bizarre, that as I attempt to write this blog, I am back in education and my memory is not as good as it once was.  I find myself, using the Internet to remind me of what it was like back in the day, oh those were the days!  So, has technology changed the way we learn?  I certainly think so.  But, has technology really changed, how we learn?

I do wonder, that with all his technology at our finger tips, do we really need an education?  By that I mean, venture out into the cold, to go to a place of education, when it would be so easy to stay at home!  Everything we need to know can be obtained instantly, through the wonders of Google.  Back in the day, if you wanted or needed to know something, you'd ask your Dad your Granddad, Mum,or Grandma, who were, to you the font of all knowledge and if they didn't know, you'd have to go to the LIBRARY, or ask an uncle or somebody else.  That's how you learnt back then. the image to the left is of the library, I used to go.
I remember the days of overhead projectors, cassette recorders  and television. Floppy discs came a little after my education  But, I do  remember quite well in my history class watching the raising of Henry V111 flag ship the "Mary Rose" on television.  Little did I know then, that I was witnessing and a part of the evolution of technology in the classroom.  The television, was I guess, today's version of You Tube.  The difference being, the TV I was watching had a 12 inch screen with a pretty fuzzy picture, and, has you watched, you would be huddled around it to capture every moment.

Education and technology certainly has moved on, however, when you look back during the 1800's black slate was used as a means of writing and recording words

math and sentences.  Today we are using android tablets, Ipads etc. The early 1900's saw the black board in wide use and is probably one of the early stages of technology in education, today we use the white board, not much difference really?  Then, from around the 1920's we saw film projectors, overhead projectors and videos introduced to the classroom.  All deemed revolutionary at the time.  Technology, doesn't stop there,  

Can anyone remember carbon paper?  You what? What's carbon paper, I hear you ask, well for some of you too young to know.  Carbon paper was paper coated in loosely bound dry ink.  It was, what was used if you wanted to make more than one copy of your work simultaneously.  It was placed between the paper you wrote on and a second sheet. Revolutionary in its demise was the photo copier and now by computers.  Then there was the slide rule, remember those, used for long multiplication and division, eventually replaced by a scientific calculator.
Today, education is primarily technology based, there is a plethora of devices, applications, devices all used both in the classroom to aid in the learning experience and at home.  All designed to make our lives simpler and some would say more beneficial.  Others, may argue that there is too much, and that, it is far easier to search the world wide web for information.  Is that any different to travelling to the library to obtain a book?  Or seek out a wise person for knowledge?  Granted ,it is quicker to search using our new best friend Google, but are we being educated?  I will leave that for you to decide.

What is obvious today, is that if you enter any classroom in the UK, you are likely to encounter a computer, projector, white board, and an android tablet of some design.  On reflection, this is not much different to the good old days of slate, black board, TV and videos, slide rules etc,  Yet when you look at this way, innovation has changed the way education is taught.  Technology has only advanced, the learning experience and made it simpler for us all to educate ourselves whether at school, college or at home.

With the development of innovation and technology, the question I pose is. Is the educator becoming just a guide in the classroom?  With the use of such devices, like laptops,tablets,You Tube etc, it certainly appears to be the case.  The introduction of new technology, only allows the student to have greater access to devices like a laptop or tablet and less time of the teacher according to (Richel, 2011).  You can read the full Article here.  Education is radically changing, Jane Wakefield technology writer for the BBC, certainly thinks so and stresses that, teachers are becoming guides over teachers.

My previous blog identified the value of technology in learning and suggested that within it, it is making a difference to the way we learn.  However, when you consider many of the great scholars, for example, Sir Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare, Socrates and many others, were not privileged or possibly had the misfortune of technology to aid them in their education, it never prevented them either, Food for thought maybe?

Technology, certainly has the power to transform the way we learn, Thomas Edison, predicted that thanks to the invention of projected images, "books will soon be obsolete in schools.  Scholars will soon be instructed through the eye"

I will leave you with this thought, in 1925, millions of students received lessons simultaneously in what were once known as "schools of air".  There was no Internet available back then, so how was this achieved.  Over to you, you can search this through the method we all know so well, yes Google or whichever search engine you prefer, you could also pop down to the library or ask a wise person you know, it is up to you.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/04/technology/technology-in-schools-faces-questions-on-value.html?_r=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-30814302

The value of mobile technology in teaching and learning

The year 2013, saw research, determine that mobile technology does in actual fact make a difference to the learning experience.  Project Tomorrow (2013) conducted a study whereby both students and teachers received android tablets and wireless connectivity to further enhance student education, from the comfort of their own home. Really! In the comfort of our own home?

Two schools in Chicago were monitored for 12 months, whereby results indicated that both students and teachers benefited.  Increased communication and student behaviour improved, despite the fears to the contrary, teachers were able increase their productivity and develop new opportunities for developing students.  A similar study conducted by Edinbugh1:1 (2013) also revealed similar results. Engagement and motivation increased, plus students became more autonomous in their learning.

Forgive me for questioning the use of mobile technology, but do we not have enough technology in our lives?  Is this, just another method of homework, whereby technology is yet again the tool in which we turn to today, for information and support?  Don't get me wrong, whilst I encourage the use of technology in the learning process, I believe that teaching should remain in the classroom. Homework as always been a part of education, but are we not going too far with this?

I am not an advocate of 24/7 learning, there is a time when schooling ends and recreation takes over. It is difficult enough, trying to get today's children off their mobile phones or tablet, never mind the static technology that is Xbox and Play Station. When will it end? No sooner do we awake, some form of technology is used, then at school college or university a computer is used, and then as soon as we get home its  Repeat, Pause and Repeat!

I believe that teaching and schooling should be conducted at a place of education.  We are in danger of having 24/7 learning.  Which, in my opinion can only be overkill for many and if we continue, there will be no need for a place of education, The comfort of the home will be the place, with no need to leave the house. What sort of life would that be?

If mobile technology in teaching and learning, is the future, we are in serious danger.  Not only of forgetting true values of education, which for me is social interaction, experiential learning and play!

https://thejournal.com/articles/2013/11/20/mobile-study-tablets-make-a-difference-in-teaching-and-learning.aspx http://

digitallearningteam.org/2013/10/24/edinburgh-11-mobile-evaluation/

Reflective Writing is Important in Effective Teaching

At first I was afraid, I was petrified! OK, so I've used the lyrics of Gloria Gaynor's hit "I Will Survive".  However, it pretty much sums up how I was feeling when I began this journey of teaching / lecturing almost 11 weeks ago.  I will survive is a song about discovering personal strength.  I too, had to find the strength to carry on.

On reflection, It would have been all too easy to give up after just 2 days, which is what I was considering at the time.  I was fearful, I kept questioning whether, I was doing the right thing, was this a field I could succeed in and whether I really wanted to do a further year of studying?  I had only just completed 3 years of a BSc in Counselling skills and Psychology. Was I doing it for the right reasons?

The emotions I was feeling at the time were negative emotions and I couldn't put my finger on why?  Was I fearing failure or was it success?  Doubting my own ability was an avenue I was taking and one, that so easily could have resulted in me giving up even before I had started.

As a child or possibly even as an adult, if we receive criticism over praise we tend to develop feelings of inadequacy and insecurity.  These fears, translate into fears of rejection, failure, self-doubt and self-worth through low self-esteem.  These are known as sub-conscious fears, which, I had accepted into my subconscious mind.

So, having had a word with myself, I guess, the super ego did its job and the jury concluded that it was the right thing to do, persevere, overcome the demons of self-doubt and not to fear failure. Steve Jobs (RIP) sums this up when he said "People who are afraid to fail usually do not achieve much in life".  You can view his thoughts on failure in the YouTube clip

Which brings me to this reflective piece.  Having overcome the fear by booing it away.  I am now almost into my third month as a student teacher / lecturer.

I have, in the past fortnight, carried out approximately sixteen hours of lectures, workshops and experiential exercises. In this time, I feel I have not slept a great amount, not realising the work that has to go into preparing and delivering lectures, coupled with two assignments, jammed in between, and fulfilling a healthy (well maybe not so healthy) lifestyle also!  I vaguely remember having a life!

Planning and preparing is essential to any profession, if you aim to succeed.  So, I guess failure is an option, but lets not go there!

So, my first session involved lecturing a year two counselling studies group, followed by an experiential exercise.  Overall the two hour session went well and feedback was good.  The group were engaging, especially with the experiential session. "The Imagined House". This element involved students delving into their imagination, the unconscious mind and discussing how they felt, what they had perceived and what they had seen, in the imagined house.

On reflection, I believe the session could have  gone better.  I tend to talk too quickly, which I recognise and I am trying to do something about.  This is important, as I have recognised is an area for improving both students and my teaching experience.  I also need to command the floor better, when posing questions and picking students to answer.  My back is turned and therefore unable to observe student dynamics.  A solution would be to walk along the sideways, this would still allow for student engagement whilst also observing.

Reflective writing is an important factor as it allows you to identify and improve on your teaching in a class.  By reflecting, you are not only identifying your own ares of improvement, you also become aware of how students learn.  Whether auditory, kinesthetic or visually and once these are recognised you can plan to suit your audience.

Self-reflection, is vital, having recently observed my own performance of a micro-teaching session, I did for my peers, which formed part of my assessment.  I was amazed at how often I used my hands in speech. How I moved around the room and also my use of the whiteboard. Which is a particular area I need to focus upon.  Without this recording I would not have identified or recognised my mannerisms. That is not to say they are in anyway wrong.  However, it allows me to look inwardly, develop my skills to ensure my teaching abilities develop accordingly.  Being self-critical is important and also the feedback received from peers and mentors is essential.

No one likes criticism.  However, it is essential to how you progress.  Learning from these and putting them into practice is the difficult bit.  We often do not see the bad things we do, and if we do or if these are pointed out, we can take it personally.  Therefore, what is important is taking it, adapting and recognising we are not perfect.  But making little changes can and will help the process of becoming just a little better.

It is safe to say, that after 11 weeks, I am not so afraid or petrified, just a little wiser and I am progressing.

To the fear I once had I say this "I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose Fire away, fire away Ricochet, you take your aim Fire away, fire away.  You shoot me down but I wont fall I am Titanium!"  

How Technology has changed the way we learn> Is there a place for technology within the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, what positive role does it play and at what cost?

ICT is the topic for this Blog, and therefore, I thought I would share with you one of my assignments I completed in my final year of my Counselling skills and Psychology degree.  

Aptly titled "Is there a place for technology within the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy, what positive role does it play and at what cost?

There is much debate regarding the use of technology within counselling and psychotherapy, notably the potential complications it poses in enhancing the therapeutic process.  Avatel (2013) identified E-Therapy, Cyber Therapy and Cyber-Counselling, to be a small number of ever increasing therapies available through technology today.  

No longer is counselling just a face to face interaction, it has become far more than just attending a counsellors therapeutic establishment. Reljic, et al. (2013) implied, that changes are necessary to keep up with the technicality of new age apps, gadgets and social networking used by today’s youth. 

Can technology replace the interaction and attachment felt between client and therapist?

Shallcross (2012) inferred that, computers, by 2020 will be installed with software allowing a client to answer questions relating to their problems without the need of a counsellor, and where does that leave face to face counselling?  The Online Therapy Institute (OTI, 2014) identified, therapy to be delivered via the internet, otherwise known as ‘therapy delivered via technology’ and video conferencing coupled with virtual worlds, allow a practitioner to explore various forms of modalities.

McNeely (2005) as cited, in (Maples and Han, 2008) inferred, that technology “only enhances hands on experience, it does not and cannot replace true human interaction” (p.45).  Technology is likened to a tsunami, that raises concerns which threatens counselling and the true face to face therapy that counselling is identified with (Reljic, et al., 2013).

Whilst there are arguments for both, one cannot escape the fact we live in a technological age, whereby many of us do not recognise the true potential that technology provides.

The full document can be accessed via the link provided.  Happy reading. Is there a place for technology within the field of Counselling and Psychotherapy

Avatel, 2013. The Evolution of Long-distance Communication. [Online]
Available at: http://avatel.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/the-evolution-of-long-distance-communication/
[Accessed 22 10 2014].

Maples, M. F. & Han, S., 2008. Cybercounseling in the United States and South Korea: Implications for Counseling College Students of the Millennial Generation and the Networked Generation. Journal of Counseling & Development, 86(1), pp. 178-183.

Online Therapy Institute, 2014. Therapeutice Innovations in light of Technology. [Online]
Available at: http://onlinetherapyinstitute.com/about-tilt-magazine/
[Accessed 6 11 2104].

Reljic, R., Harper, A. & Crethar, H., 2013. Using Technology Creatively to Empower Diverse Populations in Counseling. Ideas and Research you Can Use. 1(1), pp. 1-12.

Shallcross, L., 2012. What the future holds for the counseling profession. [Online]
Available at: http://ct.counseling.org/2012/03/what-the-future-holds-for-the-counseling-profession/
[Accessed 7 11 2014].

ICT Isn't It Ironic?

Isn't it ironic! That's what Alanis Morissette  was singing 20 years ago.  However, I don't think she had Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in mind.

Following my intensive week  on ICT, whereby, I received a considerable amount of presentations on the wide and varying applications, functions and software all designed to make our lives simpler whether, for personal reasons, in the classroom or the lecture hall.

It was therefore, ironic, that in my PETLA module this week, I, along with a colleague  had to present a topic to the class, a subject chosen out of  a hat.  That subject was Write on Windows and for the purposes of this presentation we called WOW!

WOW, does exactly what it says on the tin.  At first I thought WOW was yet another software package application designed to revolutionise the world, yet make my life more difficult, not only having to understand  how it operates, but then put it into practice, and when do I have the time?

What a relief, that WOW is actually a back to basics classroom technique, whereby white board pens and a classroom window are the only tools required, oh yea and a white board erasure to wipe the windows clean at the end of the lesson! I don't suppose the window cleaner is too impressed though!!

WOW, is a creative way of allowing students and teachers to think outside the box.  However, I don't think its a new technique at all, windows have always been part of the classroom. I usually stared out of them as a child, dreaming of being a footballer and scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup final for Liverpool.  Sadly, that was just a fantasy and I am bizarrely still in a classroom environment!

Back in the day when black boards were common place, "Writing on windows", or better known as WOW, would have resulted in detention and possibly the cane.  We now find it acceptable and encouraged probably as a result of technology.  Now that is Ironic!!

The use of mobile phones and tablets are becoming more popular in education and therefore, as a consequence, students are more likely to be distracted by the copious amounts of apps available at  your fingertips.  So, how do we prevent this? We WOW!!

WOW, not only encourages students to interact more with each other, it also prevents them becoming distracted. I guess if you are looking out of the window, you may see things far more interesting and therefore become distracted.  Looking out of the window can cause you to daydream, well that what was happening to me when I was a child!

Nevertheless WOW, for me, gets the seal of approval.  Anything that allows us to be creative and refrain from using technology gets my vote.  Interaction and collaboration is key, technology is great, yet it can encourage you to stop thinking as all the information you need today, can be obtained through a search engine usually which is likely to be Google and there endeth the thought process!

Just to be a rebel, my presentation to my audience, was prepared using PowerPoint, yet I never presented through a projector. I used the good old traditional method of verbal dialogue, eye to eye communication and demonstration....
WOW

https://www.dropbox.com/s/07ptjrrl6y2y6j4/Write%20on%20Windows.pdf?dl=0

TEDx "Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you: Stress, Anxiety & Mindfullness"

Today, I listened to a Tedx by Dr Kirsten Race, a brain scientist and expert on stress reduction.  Dr Race also teaches individuals to lead less stressful lives through mindfulness. 

Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you was the title of the talk, which can be viewed by clicking on the Tedx provided.  It got me thinking about how anxious we can all become, from a child to adult.  How stress affects each and every one of us and how mindfulness could help.  In turn, this also got me thinking about school, college and university based staff who teach. These, too, become stressed and anxious, who, often do not seek guidance on making their lives less stressful and exploring how they may cope better in times of difficulty on a daily basis.

It is never too late to learn, simple, practical user friendly strategies that everyone can use, whether at home, the classroom,  the lecture hall or even the car.

Dr Race, discusses many great points and valuable tools that can be learnt, whilst identifying the importance of taking care of the self, before being able to cope with a child’s anxiety.  This is also true of college student and university students.  They need to be mindful, to have the ability to think and act positively with kindness.  This is essential to be able to live, a semi stress less life.  Dr Races’ tips are very effective, each of us has this ability, we just need to recognise it.

Being more mindful, encourages those around us to absorb the peace and impacts upon behaviour.  So I urge you to Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you.

Being more mindful, encourages those around us to absorb the peace and impacts upon behaviour.  So I urge you to Settle Down, Pay Attention, Say Thank you.

If this blog has grasped your attention, you may like to peruse the following link, which not only serves as endorsing Dr Kristin Race, it also brings awareness to brain based delays and disabilities of individuals.  How mindfulness can be used to help control depression and to learn new strategies in coping. 


http://thebraininjuredslp.com/2015/10/23/mindfulness-strategies-for-children/

Introduction: An ICT induction!

Now, that I have had a little rant, I mean blogged, allow me to introduce myself.  I am Marco, a PCET student with a placement at UWTSD.  I have a love / hate relationship with technology, or a sort of true self & false self-attitude towards it, depending on the way you look at it.

In other words I cannot live with it, nor can I live without it.  A Psychoanalytical concept describing an authentic experience, also by contrast, an experience of feeling empty and dead and hiding this behind a defensive façade.  This pretty much sums up my ICT experience.

An introduction to ICT, has seen me over the last couple of days become familiar with a plethora of applications relevant to the technological world that now exists in education.  These applications include Wordle, Hot Potatoes, Internet Detective, and Prezi. PowerPoint, Kahoot, Socrative Student & Learner and Microsoft applications... There is an abundance of learning aids, applications and technology software designed to aid you through the teaching and learning experience. 

Some of these are pretty good and dependent upon how you are preparing to teach can have some input into how you will teach in the future.  Prezi, was pretty ok and easy to use it can be useful when having to present a specific module, with limited amount of information, thus not providing overkill!!! Over the coming weeks, look out for some links, attributed to those identified, as I attempt to put into practice some of these new found skilled. 

Here is my first attempt at a PREZI!

Personal experience of using Microsoft office

Microsoft office applications, is the topic of the day in the wonderful world of technology, in which we live. Good old Bill Gates, pretty much has it wrapped up. Microsoft does appear to be world dominant in the computer world!  There is a plethora of applications, tools, functions call them what you like, available to apparently make your life easier, when completing a task.  Whether for academic  purposes, private or personal, hobby related or throughout your professional career.  However this may be the case, you still need the time to familiarise yourself with these, and become competent enough to use them! If you are not computer savvy, you may struggle.  What is needed, is a MicroSoft Savvy tool, designed to simply the experience of assessing and the application of such ICT tools!!  

Software ranges from Microsoft office, which entails Word, PowerPoint, Excel, One note, Publisher.  The list is endless.  However the applications which have been most useful to me throughout my professional and academic life has been Word, PowerPoint and Microsoft word referencing.  I also have had the pleasure of using excel in the long and distant past!

The applications identified has been most useful in the completion of my degree. A significant aid was the referencing tool, which simplifies the process and provides a quick and effective way of completing a bibliography, inserting citations etc.

However, as always these are only effective if used correctly, and inputting must be correct, because, when you complete the referencing it does not pick up spelling errors.  Therefore time and patience is vital.  However if you like simplicity, this is worth giving a go!

 Microsoft, Microsoft applications, Microsoft World Dominance: Microsoft Cannot live anymore!!!!! sadly its difficult to Avoid!!!! Get used to it!

Throughout, my professional career, I have had to use many of the Microsoft applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Email etc etc.  These have been part of my life for what seems like forever. There are many other tools you can use, like Free office, Open office, Libre office, WPS software and Google docs.which are all less expensive than Microsoft Office software, However, I personally prefer to use, what I consider to be the best and therefore from a personal point of view I cannot speak of those mentioned as I have never had the necessity to use them.

Barriers to the effective use of technology in education: ICT: A REALITY CHECK, to the endless technology we endeavour!

REALITY CHECK! Facing up to the Technological world in which I live. I find myself wearing what appears to be a mask, the true self and the false self in terms of loving and hating technology or more commonly known in today’s jargon as #tech. When, did it become acceptable to use the hashtag as a method to annunciate everything?  One could blame Twitter, for this improper use or even Facebook which soon followed along, with Instagram and about probably every other social networking app. The following YouTube sums it up pretty #well!!

Social networking is partly responsible and it now appears that through the medium of technology it has become acceptable!  This, however, is debatable and possibly, for further discussion, at a later date.  Is #hashtag ruining the English language? However, I digress

Today, I discovered the true meaning of ICT, for those unfamiliar with this acronym it is Information and Communication Technology.  ICT is the second element within my PGCE (PCET) course.  It encompasses a broad range of communication, information and related technology that can be used to support learning, teaching and assessment. The use of technology in every day life is fast becoming much more popular than ever. 

We carry technology around with us in our pockets, it is accessible far more easier than ever before and more often than not we pay more attention to the likes of Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social networking than we really ought to.  It is available at our finger tips 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, interfering with almost everything aspect of what we do, from family life, the language we use, watching TV, attending lectures and even going to the toilet! 

Technology, acts like a species companion, a Tamagotchi of sorts, remember those?  A handheld digital pet, which you could carry around with you in your pocket and care for.  Spending your entire time, nurturing it, through its life stages; beginning as an egg, through its development from a baby and eventually an adult.  Neglect of the Tamagotchi, would eventually result in its death.  In the same vain as using our mobile phones, we simply cannot escape the attachment of caring for a device in our hands!

How bizarre, that as humans we spend so much time attending to non-sentient entities, such as an I-Phone or I-Pad, not to be prejudice the Samsung S6 or the Samsung Galaxy tab also!  These devices have become common place in the classroom today.  It was not so long ago that the Tamagotchi, was considered a hindrance to the classroom, lessons and schoolwork, even though there was a humanistic element to the caring of such entities.  However, these eventually became banned from schools.   Today we welcome, such devices, along with chrome books in secondary schools, to prevent network congestion, by storing information on the so called cloud! 

These devices are now welcomed in education today, there is an abundance of apps, creative tools, and interactive textbooks which has and continues to transform the way we learn and teach.  Despite the hindrance to students, the tapping of a keyboard if a laptop is used, the ability to open and view several windows and pages such as Facebook and Twitter, also serve as distractions, yet are now common place in the classroom.

There is a fine line of accepting the use of technology in the learning process and there is a time and place for its uses.  Will there, one day, be teacher less classrooms, See, Nick Morrison who suggests that maybe it is not as close as we may think.  Whereby, lessons and lectures are conducted through Skype, Ted talks, lessons stored in the cloud etc. and even possibly, not even having to leave the home to receive an education?  Technology is transforming the classroom, and whether this is for the greater good remains to be seen? Dr Thomas Frey, predicts that there are fundamental changes ahead and a so called new frontier in education is evident.

No doubt, as I progress on this journey of never ending technology, I will encounter a plethora of other ICT apps, designed to enhance my teaching experience. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/nickmorrison/2014/08/21/the-teacher-less-classroom-is-not-as-close-as-you-think/