Synopsis

The blogs that I have completed demonstrate to me the huge learning curve I have taken in the past few months and the process of investigation and creation will be of tremendous help to me in teaching. This blog is a synopsis of the content that I have included in my blog postings.

Today’s society has undergone rapid change and educators need to be aware and embrace the new technology in order for students to be fully prepared and equipped to be able to survive in society once they have completed their schooling. E-learning is “learning conducted via electronic media, especially via the Internet” (Wikipedia, 2010). When planned and executed correctly e-learning equips students for life after school and enhances learning.

The benefit of using e-learning is recognised throughout the world, American Congress stated in 2001 (p. 10614) that “through web-based learning, our schools can achieve greater efficiency, increase access to educational resources and allow teachers to spend time doing what they do best – teach”.

For effective teaching the individual needs and learning styles of students need to be considered. All students are different, having unique strengths and weaknesses, educators need to understand and implement learning theories effectively into the classroom that complement the students need and ensure maximum learning benefit. The following table highlights some of the key learning theories used by teachers and how they can be used in e-learning.

Table 1: Learning Theories

Learning Theory	Overview (from original blog)	Use in E-Learning
Behaviourism	“Skinner’s theory, operant conditioning shows that voluntary responses are strengthened when reinforced and weakened when ignored or punished” (Snowman, et al., 2009, p. 227). Behaviourism is based on actions having consequences, learning by association (e.g. smell of biscuits, is associated with kitchens and people who have cooked the biscuits previously with the person), designing a scenario to solicit a desired response (e.g. rearranging a room to gain a specific response) and gaining a desired response through reinforcing behaviour(e.g. computer games giving positive reinforcement). This theory underpins many computer based learning programs / applications (Snowman, et al., 2009, pp. 226-235).	Programs based on Behaviourism principles include Interactive Powerpoint, ClassMarker, and ClassTools games. Also music and creative activities including Picnik can be used as rewards.
Connectivism	That knowledge is available in the world and it is not important to know all of the information, but where to find it out, building and nurturing connections to information, and the “ability to see connections between fields, ideas, and concepts is a core skill”(Siemens, 2004).	Connectivism can be used in researching and using Google, investigating links, brainstorming wiki and using Tag Galaxy.
Constructivism	Based on students constructing their own meaning from tasks, rather than just transferring knowledge. This is based on the premise that “meaningful learning is the active creation of knowledge structures (such as concepts, rules, hypotheses and associations) from personal experience” (Snowman, et al., 2009, p. 337).	Constructivism is used in independent tasks where students have to research information and demonstrate their learning and knowledge of the subject, including; Publisher PowerPoint Movie GoAnimate
Situated Cognition	Learning information in real contexts / simulations so it can be easily applied by the student in the real world. Based on the premise of “learning as emergent and social” (Brill, 2008).	Situated cognition is demonstrated through simulators, students finding solutions to real life problems (e.g. class investigation of green energy) and using programs that will help students later in life including Picnik and Facebook.
Social Constructivism	Similar to Constructivism where students construct meaning, but states the importance of culture, context and society. Keeping tasks real and authentic. Vygotsky is a key theorist for Social Constructivism.	Social Constructivism can be used in Facebook, Blogs, creating a WikiBook, and working in teams to make relevant Publisher, PowerPoint, videos, and Animations.

Using learning theories enhances e-learning due to the focus on the psychology of teaching and understanding how students learn best. As already stated students all have different needs and in a classroom many theories may be used at the same time, this is demonstrated in the “Reflection on Learning Theories” blog and needs to be taken into consideration for effective lesson planning.

When planning lessons a framework is used to ensure the maximum impact for students. Frameworks are a guide to help ensure key elements are included in a lesson plan and are suited to different situations and teaching styles. The following table reviews the frameworks covered in this blog, and looks at my interpretation of the frameworks and their key factors to highlight if they incorporate the key points that will be needed for my lesson planning.

Table 2 – E-Learning Frameworks

	Key Factors (focus)
Framework	Technology	Pedagogy	Curriculum (Content)	Ease of Use	Models Habits of Mind
Blooms Taxonomy	NO	NO	NO	YES	YES
Dimensions of Learning (DOL)	NO	YES	NO	NO	YES
Learning Engagement Theory	NO	NO	NO	YES	NO
Technological, Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK)	YES	YES	YES	YES	NO
The Big 6	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES

From analysing the different frameworks I feel that The Big 6 framework is the best framework to use due to its ease of use, focus on the use of technology, the demonstrating of habits of mind and it being based on pedagogy, its one drawback is the negative of not focussing on the curriculum enough but this is easily remedied through including another key factor at the start of the process. The Big 6 is suitable to use for all levels of schooling and is a valuable tool for my field of secondary education.

This blog site was created to assist in completing my Bachelor of Learning Management (Secondary and Vocational Education and Training (VET)), specialising in Home Economics and Business. I have decided to focus on creating tools for teaching Accounting while completing this subject as I have already completed some lesson plans for Home Economics but have no resources yet for Business. The following analysis of tools will be both a general overview and a specific look at tools I will be using for the teaching of Accounting.

The tools have been separated into two categories that I have named interfaces and tools, interfaces are tools of learning in their own right but are also used as standalone programs on the internet that can be interlinked. Tools are generally used create items to upload to the interface. The following table looks at my blogs on interfaces and looks at the distinguishing features of each

Table 3 – Interfaces

Interface	Features
	Static	Regular input needed	Able to Embed	Multiple user authoring	Single user authoring	Secure access available	Promotes collaboration	Promotes Habits of Mind	High cost /	Cohort best suited to
Blog	NO	YES	YES	NO People are able to leave comments but not alter content	YES	YES	YES Through comments	YES	NO	3-T
Facebook	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES	NO	YES	NO	9-T
Learning Management System (LMS)	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	YES	7-T
Vyew	NO	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	NO	7-T
Website	YES	NO	YES	NO	YES	YES	NO	NO	NO	All
Wiki	NO	YES	YES	YES	NO	YES	YES	YES	NO	3-T

Code: T = Tertiary

For the purposes of teaching accounting to secondary students I will be focussing on the use of websites, wikis and blogs. Learning Management Systems can be very expensive and work best when implemented whole of school or university. Facebook is very important but not as suited to Accounting (it could be used for students to have an in-depth look at a company, creating a mock company facebook page). Vyew is an online collaboration tool, which is also highly valuable but not as suited to the learning that I have in mind. It is good to bear in mind that all of the interfaces and tools have different purposes and uses, it is vitally important to have a good understanding of the tools and their characteristics to ensure that they are used to gain the maximum benefit. We will now look at the interface tools I will be using, other tools will be covered later in this blog.

Websites are a great tool to upload information about what is going to happen during the term and to use as a guide for the students through the work for the term or session. Websites are static so no one else can change the information making the teacher have total control of the content. The drawback with this is that it does not really promote habits of mind or collaborative learning because students see the content that you are telling them to see or are guiding them to, not actively having input into the content. Tests can be created and uploaded to the website, this is an example of a great way of using websites that is based on Behaviourism and if it is created with ClassMarker it will be instantly marked so students have instant recognition of their achievements.

Wiki is a great online collaboration tool, students can create their own WikiBook, with students being delegated a page, and then other students adding their input. An example of how I planning to use WikiBook is to get students to create an online resource with all accounting terminology and overviews of topics so they can view it at home instead of having to use textbooks. This is then a resource that they will be able to use for the whole time they are in school and add to it when needed. Wikis are a great learning tool because they make students analyse information and write it in their words or construct meaning (constructivism) which transforms their knowledge.

Blogs are a good way for students to document their learning, like this blog has documented my learning journey it can be used in a similar way in the classroom, with students having to blog about their lesson for the week, then through RSS notification you can monitor all of the students blogs and be able to easily follow up on students that have not completed their homework. At the end you can have students complete a synopsis as an assessment tool. This is particularly helpful to demonstrate ongoing learning for the student and to tie assessment to work that they have completed during the term or period. Blogs are mostly based on Social Constructivism where students have to construct meaning and the nature of blogs being open to comment, and based on societal issues.

Interfaces are great and there are tools that can be used to add more character and gain more benefit for students. Following is a list of tools that have been reviewed on this blog, together with what programs they are best suited to.

Table 4 – Tools

Tool	Interface
	Blog	Facebook	Learning Management System (LMS)	Vyew	Website	Wiki
ClassMarker	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
ClassTools	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Commoncraft	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Concept Maps	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
GoAnimate	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Mobaphoto	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Music / itunes (through movies)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Picnik	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Pictures	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Podcasting	No	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
PowerPoint	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Publisher	No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RSS Aggregator	Yes	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Tag Galaxy / Fickr	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Twitter	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Windows Movie Maker	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
YouTube	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes

I have been able to look at many tools through blogging, but I feel that the main tools that I will be using are concept maps, ClassMarker, ClassTools, PowerPoint, Movie Maker and RSS Aggregator, as they fit best with my plans for Accounting.

Concept maps are a great tool for giving students an overview of the course, to ensure that the class remains on track and for reviewing before exams. Students can create their own concept map to gain even more benefit.

ClassMarker and ClassTools are both web sites dedicated to helping teachers create online tests and games to help teach and assess learning in a fun and engaging way. ClassMarker has additional features that help mark, monitor and report on the tests. ClassTools have great tools that help embed graphic organisers and habits of mind into your lessons.

PowerPoint is a great tool that students can compile information into and display findings of their learning and analysis. As shown on my website with the example analysis of a company. PowerPoint is mainly based on Constructivism.

Movie Maker can be used to help students demonstrate learning through creating a video, this is a great tool based on Constructivism, students analyse information and then show their understanding through completing the video. MovieMaker can be used as an alternative to PowerPoint.

RSS Aggregator will definitely be used in conjunction with student blogs to enable me to quickly ensure that all students have completed their weekly reflection and other assigned tasks. RSS Aggregator will also be used to help me keep up to date with other blogs that can help me to be more conversant with e-learning.

When using the internet there are also other important considerations including copyright for creating websites, for using information from other websites, “exposure to inappropriate material, physical danger, commercialism of the internet and financial risks, harassment and bullying, privacy, unreliable information, spam and viruses” (NetAlertLimited, 2004, pp. 6-7). All of these topics are vitally important to understand and to teach students so they can keep themselves safe now and in the future, also “(l)earning the protocols for the internet helps students understand our rule based society better, to enable them to interact fully when they have completed school, treating others with respect and dignity” (NetAlertLimited, 2004, p. 5). There are also some challenges for implementation that need to be considered partly due to people being digital natives and digital immigrants.

Part of my learning journey has also been to gain knowledge from blogs of other students who are also completing this course, there have been some really great entries made and it has been a privilege to be able to interact with everyone, I have included a list of comments that I have made on other blogs on my blog site.

In conclusion this has been an excellent learning journey that has enabled me to interact with e-learning and helped me to understand some of the tools available and think about how to implement it into my lessons when I start teaching. I have been specifically looking at what I would need to enhance Accounting lessons, I believe the choices that I have shown in this blog will work effectively for this subject.

Brill, J. (2008). Situated Cognition. Retrieved 16 November, 2010

NetAlertLimited. (2004). A Teacher's Guide to Internet Safety. Retrieved from http://www.ozguide.com/netalert_teachers_guide.pdf.

Siemens, G. (2004). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. Retrieved 16 November, 2010, from http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm

Snowman, J., Dobozy, E., Scevak, J., Bryer, F., Bartlett, B., & Biehler. (2009). Psychology Applied to Teaching (Australian ed.). Milton: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

UnitedStatesofAmericaCongress. (2001). Congressional Record - Senate. Retrieved from http://books.google.com.au/books?id=s4Mr9J8dOscC&pg=PA10614&lpg=PA10614&dq=e-learning+enhances+learning+and+equips+students+for+life+after+school&source=bl&ots=3S8U2fg7V8&sig=j-AeqJM2n3cjG7cy0-WjNDV7eEI&hl=en&ei=bRsJTd3RMMumrAeBvZ3VDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=web%20based%20learning&f=false.

Wikipedia. (2010). Wiktionary: e-learning. Retrieved 15 December, 2010, from http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/e-learning