I came across a rather interesting educator’s blog through a website called “Tech for a Global Early Childhood Education”. It appeared that the website was used to gather educators who share the same interest in using technology within their classroom to enhance children’s learning abilities within their cognitive, social, emotional, and even physical development. As I was exploring the website, I stumbled upon Steve Wheeler’s blog. He had a page called “Five Tools for Global Educators” (2012).
Wheeler shared his thoughts of how the educators are beginning to use technology within their classroom setting and reach out into the global perspective. In today’s society, educators are taking advantage of using “social media and telecommunication technologies [and] becoming global educators”. (Wheeler, 2012).
This article relates to how educators are now using different platforms to convey their teaching methods. Traditional teaching styles refer to educators being confined to just the classroom setting. Now the change is that educators are beginning to use the Internet to broaden their audience and go to the next level of teaching individuals around the world.
Wheeler lists the five tools which seems to be used as helpful teaching resources.
1. Webinars is one of being able “to teach and present live from beyond the classroom” in a synchronous matter. (Wheeler, 2012). This means that the other individual or group is allowed to communicate with the presenter and have an ongoing communication. Webinars is usually done through Skype nowadays.
2. Blogging can be viewed as a very effective tool for educators to use. They can present the content in an “accessible format and can incorporate images, (pictures, diagrams), videos, audio and hyperlinks, all which can help students to investigate a topic in greater detail if they wish.” (Wheeler, 2012).
3. Twitter, one of the social networking platforms which allows media links to be shared whether it’s directed to a small group of people or broader audience.
4. Video links such as YouTube allows educators to show students clips to convey the content.
5. Lastly, slide share has become quite popular now among educators and as well as students. Slide share provides an opportunity to share PowerPoint presentations to their students or students who may present to the educator.
As an ECE professional, this article is considered to be valuable to me. It explains the importance of having these resources available and how to use them effectively in the classroom. If I were teaching at an elementary school level and say we were doing pen pals from another country, I would communicate with the other educator, asking them if they have access to the internet and able to use Skype (or another platform) where we would be able to have a synchronous conversation. I would then set up the projector to my laptop that way the children will be able to see the other children who are their pen pals. I think that would be a unique experience for the children to learn. They can understand the concept that there are several ways of communication. Some methods take longer to be sent or received while others are instantly.
I believe that communication is key to an individual’s learning experience. Without communication, educators wouldn’t be able to deliver course content in various ways. Many children tend to learn by seeing, hearing, and doing things for themselves. We know that we can communicate in several ways such as using facial expression, gestures or doing an action as well as actually hearing someone speak. Whether we’re having a face to face conversation, e-mailing through the Internet or Skyping online, these new resources can provide a positive learning experience for children.
If you would like to check out Wheeler’s page called “Five Tools for Global Educators”, here’s the link: http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.ca/2012/02/five-tools-for-global-educators.html
Reference
Wheeler,S. (2012, February 3). Five Tools for Global Educators. Retrieved from Tech for a Global Early Childhood Education : http://steve-wheeler.blogspot.ca/2012/02/five-tools-for-global-educators.html
Anjanie Chooraman 