Flexible Learning in the 21st Century

Hello Everyone,
Over the past 2 years I have experimented with online learning with my gr 3 and gr 5 classes. I teach Primary so I use a blended approach. I have used blogs and websites with students because they are free and easy to set up. I ventured into this as a result of learning about blogging as a part of my current online Masters in Education Technology. What I have gained from those experiences is a deeper understanding of how to use Web 2.0 tools to extend my classroom beyond its four walls. By having a ‘mother’ blog with links on it to each of my students blogs I have effectively added windows into our learning space. The blogs are used like an online portfolio with most homework tasks posted to the blogs as well. As a direct result we are now collaborating with a school in New Zealand whom we met online.

Flexible learning to me is just that – a classroom that isn’t contained within the four walls. My classroom is open to the world. The way I teach (and learn) is also open to the world. That means that it is no longer about what the teacher says. Even the way in which I run the class blog is negotiated between the students and myself. I think that being flexible is being open-minded about how we learn.

I have just moved into a new teaching job at a new school (Sinarmas World Academy click here to see a slide show http://mrsjane5.blogspot.com/2008/07/sinarmas-world-academy.html) that prides itself on being a 21st century learning space. As a teacher in this school I am encouraged to be flexible. The campus is fully WiFi and all students from gr 5 – 12 are issued with a Macbook as a part of the tuition fees. The younger classes share sets of Macbooks. I am encouraged to teach anywhere on campus. There are no canteens. There are cafes with sofas – like Starbucks - and we can teach there too - or in the adventure playground or the rainforest that is onsite.

I am currently teaching my students to use their mobile phones. I consider it to be a tool as we have just learned how to download pictures using bluetooth to our Macs. Why? You may ask? This effectively gives most of my class (the ones who have a mobile phone) immediate access to a digital camera.

Garrison speaks about how we can use technology to enhance the constructivist approaches to teaching and learning. The demands are for meaningful and worthwhile experiences. Technology enables us to connect with one another directly and immediately. In fact I'm writing this whilst having a deep conditioning treatment for my hair at the local hairdresser here in Jakarta. I am using my dongle to connect to the Internet. That is very flexible - don't you think!

Introductions

Hi Everyone,
Looks like I'm the first one here! I'm Jane Ross and this is my 6th course in a Masters in Education Technology. I am an Australian but I teach in BSD in Java, Indonesia. I am about to start a new job at a brand new school and I'm very excited about it! My job is to assist all teachers (Pre K-12) in the integration of technology in their daily teaching program across all subject areas. We will use StudyWiz, Power School and every teacher gets a free Macbook as a part of their package. Not to mention Smartboards in every shared area and 5-12 get Macbooks with the tuition fees. The school is ground-breaking in that it is committed to 21st Century learning with a huge emphasis on technology infusion. The school is called Sinarmas World School and you can see the website here http://www.sws.co.id/

I love blogging - yes I do. I have been blogging with my students (mostly Grade 3 - Grade 6) and it has changed the way I teach. I have had several successful blogging experiences with my classes and you can see my blog from last academic year here http://mrsjane5.blogspot.com
It has had over 15000 hits! We even managed to do some collaborative work with a school from New Zealand that we met online.

I have been teaching for 17 years K-12 but mostly at the primary school level. My husband is Indonesian and we have 3 kids. I have put a picture here of us.

One last thing ... I have just gone mobile! I am trying out my new portable modem which has a telephone card inside so that I can get Broadband Internet access where ever there is mobile coverage. It's quite good for $7 a month so long as I don't go over 1.5MB.

Jane

This blog

I will use this blog to keep a track of my online study for FET 8601. I will post reflections and all my Moodle forum posts here so that it is all in the one place.

Welcome Post

Hi Everyone,
Looks like I'm the first one here! I'm Jane Ross and this is my 6th course in a Masters in Education Technology. I am an Australian but I teach in BSD in Java, Indonesia. I am about to start a new job at a brand new school and I'm very excited about it! My job is to assist all teachers (Pre K-12) in the integration of technology in their daily teaching program across all subject areas. We will use StudyWiz, Power School and every teacher gets a free Macbook as a part of their package. Not to mention Smartboards in every shared area and 5-12 get Macbooks with the tuition fees. The school is ground-breaking in that it is committed to 21st Century learning with a huge emphasis on technology infusion. The school is called Sinarmas World School and you can see the website here http://www.sws.co.id/

I love blogging - yes I do. I have been blogging with my students (mostly Grade 3 - Grade 6) and it has changed the way I teach. I have had several successful blogging experiences with my classes and you can see my blog from last academic year here http://mrsjane5.blogspot.com
It has had over 15000 hits! We even managed to do some collaborative work with a school from New Zealand that we met online.

I have been teaching for 17 years K-12 but mostly at the primary school level. My husband is Indonesian and we have 3 kids. I have put a picture here of us.

One last thing ... I have just gone mobile! I am trying out my new portable modem which has a telephone card inside so that I can get Broadband Internet access where ever there is mobile coverage. It's quite good for $7 a month so long as I don't go over 1.5MB.

Jane