Week 11 : Engaging students with technology | |  |
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The digital tools available in the classroom can provide a great source of motivation and instruction OR a ready distraction from the completion of work. It is the skill of the teacher and their ability to embrace a new pedagogy that sees the digital learning tool as the source of explicit instruction and content learning, and the teacher as a guide and learning support for the students.
How this can be achieved is explained through the lecture presentation and support materials below:
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 | This video of Seymour Papert's opening address to the Sydney conference on One-to-One Computing in 2004 gives a perspective that argues for the essential place of technology in education and not as merely an optional extra or additional resource when available.
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For an insight into the thoughts and approaches of Papert have a look at the transcript of an interview on ABC TV with Geraldine Doogue . . . here
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A look at some of the recent findings linking the use of technology in schools with learning outcomes and motivation | |
 | A report from a research visit to Maine, USA and the UK looking at the ways technology is being used to motivate and teach students. Detailed are a number of principles evident across programs that guide the effective use of technology in the classroom.
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Have a listen to Mal Lee talk about how electronic whiteboards and other digital tools can change the tone of classrooms and schools when used as a normal part of the learning program
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| Batavia pdf - This online activity is an example of an interactive resource that can be created quickly using Adobe Acrobat Pro , which is available free to all NSW DET schools and available at a very discounted price to teachers for private use (needs Acrobat Reader 9 to work effectively) . . . . here. |
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Key components of digital tools
The digital tools that can be used to engage students, even the most unmotivated students, are not necessarily sophisticated, complicated pieces of technology. They mostly include equipment, software and programs that are already available in most schools. However, for these tools to be successful they must follow the principles found in the link below:
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May 28 PowerPoint presentation
outlining how digital learning tools can be
effectively used to motivate students
who are disengaged from school.
 + Making change video |
| This short video shows how to convert a Word document into an interactive PDF using Adobe Acrobat Pro software. The final product uses Adobe Reader to run so it can be used on most computers and across all platforms. Other tutorials are available online through YouTube and Adobe. | 
Video on the gamification of learning |
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