Group 4 Tools

Zoo Burst



I created the above presentation using ZooBurst, which is a site I hadn't heard of before.  I chose to reflect on this site as I like finding new technologies to learn about and add to my toolbox.  I believe that this could be another site that would be very beneficial to younger students for it's simplicity and creativity.  It was very easy to learn how to use this platform and therefore would be quite easy to explain to students how to navigate.

ZooBurst has the potential to become a very informative ICT, as users are able to display a lot of information on multiple slides.  As it is an interactive site as well, it would be sure to keep the interest of younger students very easily.  I also like that hyperlinks can be added to the text, which would help in ensuring that students can be introduced to information and then have the knowledge expanded upon.  As stated, because of how it is presented, it is much better student to primary students, than older ones.

Google Maps

I'm sure that most people are familiar with the Google Maps interface, except my father of course; who still uses the paper version of yesteryear.  Google Maps has been through immense changes over the years and gaining much internet popularity with the interesting things that can be found.  I believe that Google Maps could be incorporated into many different classroom environments successfully.  It would be especially useful in Geographical studies, as students could discover exact locations and view the environment.

Positives of Google Maps include:

• Ability to find locations easily
• Able to display directions
• High quality pictures
• Able to see locations you may wish to visit because of picture interface

Negatives of Google Maps include:

• Most pictures are out of date
• Can only be accessed with internet (like most technologies available)
• Privacy doesn't exist

Interesting

• Street views, enables you to see precise location of landmark next to others
• Certain screen views prove to be interesting

Google Maps is a useful ICT for both the classroom environment and personal use.  As I wish to teach History as one of my teaching areas, it could be a useful tool for viewing how the environment has changed even over a few years.

Dipity

The final tool I decided to reflect upon is Dipity.  This is another ICT that I haven't used before, so I definitely decided to use one where I can learn more about this wonderful world of the internet and ICTs.

Tonie on Dipity.

I decided to create a simple timeline of important events within my life, just to see how easy it was to create a timeline.  All Dipity asks you to do is input a description and date and it does the rest.  Dipity would be an extremely useful tool for History teachers as students could quickly and easily draw up a timeline for a unit of study.  It was also extremely easy to embed the timeline on my blog, as all I had to do was copy the code into the HTML editor.  If it's easy for myself, students who are digital natives would have no problem at all.

The only thing I didn't like, was that it costs a user money to have the full benefits of what Dipity has to offer.  Free users are only able to create three (3) timelines, which would not be very useful to students if used within the classroom.  Users are also unable to customise the interface to something more creative with a free account.  If we as teachers are to ask our students to express their creativity, it would not be a useful website to do so in.

Though there are a few drawbacks, I would definitely incorporate Dipity into the classroom!  It would prove to be extremely useful for students to show their understanding of timelines, without the hassle of trying to draw one up themselves.