ICT Tool Group 4

Google earth and maps

These two online tools are explored by many students in their own free time as they explore their own neighbourhood, find their homes and popular places they frequent. This tool could be incorporated with geography lessons as students learn directions, map coordinates and various features of maps. It could also enhance a history lesson as students compare areas today with the way they looked in the past. Students could also use these tools to plot an imagined or real trip, deciding the best route, what to take, where to stop along the way.

The amount of online tools is very extensive, one could spend hours and hours exploring them all. A learning manager could find a tool to support and enhance learning in every subject area on almost every topic covered. The possibilities are only limited by the imagination.

Google Documents

This is an online tool available for use by anyone on the internet. It is a part of the google site and allows the user to load, edit, store and share documents with other users. Students have access to their documents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this eliminates the need for portable storage devices and the risk of losing these devices. The learning manager can also access these documents for marking at any time. Students can access their documents on any computer anywhere as long as they have internet access. Multiple students can access and edit the same document simultaenously allowing for collaborative work with learners nearby or far away. It eliminates the need for students to be waiting on their team members to contribute their section to a group assessment and then forward it on. Team members can organise a time to be online together and work on the same document together meaning that time is not wasted by any member waiting on others.
The settings and features on google docs allows the user to choose who views and edits their document. Other features allow the learning manager to see exactly who is contributing to the document a very helpful feature to determine who is not working collaboratively or may be struggling. Student's editing skills are also improved as their edit their own and their peers work collaboratively.

Interactive learning objects

There are many of these objects, I only had time to look at a few, they look fun and engaging for learners. However the learning manager would need to ensure that these objects are used to enhance and support scaffolded learning, and not simply as a time filler for learners. These objects could also be used as part of a reward system for learners who have completed their work, or showed exceptional behaviour. The learner would be 'playing' and enjoying this time, but also learning.