Integrating ICT into RE

I was looking for some curriculum resources recently for Reconciliation and I was informed to look on the Catholic Education Office- Sydney Website. I was not dissapointed! The CEO have developed online Religious Education resources that are available to everyone. It is a perfect demonstration of the excellent use of technology, in a networking and communicative context.

They have allowed teachers the opportunities to share, interact and plan in a collaborative manner and I have alreading been witness to the benefits of these resources in the classroom. The children absolutely love interacting with technology and are more enthusiastic to participate in lessons. This was clearly a step in the right direction.

 

What is Media Literacy?

 

I found this youtube video after looking at Media Literacy in the Primary Classroom in our English Education 3 Course. I thought it was relevant to ICT as I found myself reflecting on the use of technology by students and how it aligns with practices in schools.

 

Fun in the Classroom

Hair Mixer

This website is an extremely fun way to incorporate ICT in the classroom. I was inspired by Sherree Spargo and I couldn’t wait to have a go. Like Sherree explained ‘Hair Mixer’ is simply a photo manipulative program that can be used as a fun way to introduce various photo and IT skills to the students. My skills were definitely put to the test as in order to use this program you need to be able to cut and crop photos, upload images and sometimes enhance the photos e.g. red eye reduction. It was tricky but I loved it and I recomend introducing it to your class.

    

 

Smart Board Secrets

 

interactivewhiteboard.net.au offers a wide range of training options to help educators continue their professional development using Smart boards.

I thought this would be a brilliant resource for all of us to have up our sleeves, especially as new graduates because schools these days expect you to have competency in using the ‘Smart board’. I know I would have loved to have participated in a Smart board workshop this semester, however, unfortunately it wasn’t available. You will find this website extremely useful as it offers tutorials on how to use Smart boards effectively. 

I watched a tutorial of how to make an interactive close passage using the Smart board. I was given step by step instructions and it was very clear and explicit. I was absolutely amased and I can’t wait to open up more online tutorials.

Make sure you explore this site everyone! You will feel so much more confident I promise.

 

 

‘Might as well face it, we’re addicted to technology’

 Oprah Winfrey Show:

An episode appropriately named ‘Waste not, want not’ that gave viewers a look inside the subculture of freegans, people who chose to shun consumerism in favour of living with less. Although this program focused on how much people waste in their lives, it was very interesting to observe exactly how much time the youth of today are spending on computers, playing video games and watching TV. Oprah described one of the children giving up their computer for 7 days, as resembling a heroin addict going through withdrawal. He had a tough time giving up his technology stating that he couldn’t live without them and that they were his only thing.

Find out more about the episode by clicking on this link: Waste not want not