Conclusion

I have really benefitted from participating in this course. There are some applications that I don't think I'll ever have the time to learn properly and be able to engage with quickly. I now know so much more about the Web and I feel empowered by that fact. I know I have the course record to go back to to practice the new skills I have touched on. Thank you for this opportunity.

#22 and#23 E-books and audio books

It was great to browse for books on the various sites. I prefer the paper book to enjoy the pleasures of curling up with a book. Nevertheless I had fun looking at various books and may introduce it to students who would like to access books this way. Audio books are a great treat though for use in the car over long trips or during long periods of waiting (ie doctor's waiting room and such). I have used them in the classroom very effectively in the old tape recorder days and can certainly see the value in updating the means of delivery by using internet sources.

#21 YouTube and TeacherTube

YouTube - Kellick Creek Flash Flood 10th Feb 2007

This is a piece of local history as well as a geographical phenomena that many of our students would not have ever experienced. The video shows a wall of water approaching the river crossing during a recent flood event.

#20 podcasts

I haven't listen to podcasts before and am really glad to have learned how now. I especially enjoy the following program but am rarely in a position to listen to it during the school year. How easy it is to do and how easy to access in the reader.


http://www.abc.net.au/queensland/conversations/conversationspodcast.xml

#19 Rollyo

This would be a great tool to select trusted sites for students to use to complete assignments. I really think that is a very useful tool. I have made a search engine called cybersafety for kids but am having trouble loading it. I note that others have had this trouble too so I will persevere.

#18 wikis

This concept has really captured my imagination. I have not explored Wikis before and formerly asumed Wikis were nothing but un unreliable encyclopeadia. I can see so many applications for the classroom and am excited about the possibilities. At the primary school level I can see the students' collaborative assignment tasks being enriched by the Wiki experience. Students researching and contributing different topics within an area of study, editing what other group members contribute, adding graphics and videos they have found which apply to the whole project, building an ongoing glossary and bibliography, virtual tours - the list goes on. I can' wait to get one started. I think I'll start with senior primary students preparing a virtual tour of the school for the new kinders!

#17 Delicious

I love it! A great way to organise and share interesting, useful sites. I can see this would be invaluable to use with primary students to help them access quality websites on specific topics more quickly . Networking with delicious would be a great way to share websites of interest with staff in an organised manner.