My Choices

Why choose Blogs over Wikis and Websites?

Blogs are personalised creative spaces designed to allow user to reflect and discuss issues that are relevant to them. A wiki is an online communal space that users are able to add or edit content. A static website is a collection of pages that contains content chosen by the webmaster. Blogs and wikis are a web 2.0 space that allows the user to share, upload, embed, hyperlink and network information. Static websites do not allow visitors to edit or add information only view what the webmaster has chosen to share. The webmaster can link, embed and upload their chosen material. I have to use blogs over wikis and websites because;

• Websites- Less engaging that blogs. Does not allow user to alter/add content, offering less options to become involved and interact.
  
• Websites tend to need a specific purpose while blogs allow the user to simply start 'blogging'
  
• Wikis can become too large and overwhelming.
  
• Too many opinions- many may be repetitive
  

  
   

Why choose Glogster over Prezi and PowerPoint?

Glogster is a social network that allows users to create free interactive posters. It can accommodate any subject matter and allow users to express their creativity via text, images, sound, video and graphics. It is easily navigated and users can upload, embed and hyperlink files in their glogs. Prezi is a web based storytelling and presentation tool that uses a single canvas to present ideas in a non-linear format. Prezi presentations support video, illustrations, text and graphics. Users can zoom in and out, organise pathways and group similar ideas together. PowerPoint is a presentation tool that delivers information in the form of slides. The slides can contain text, pictures, videos and animations. I have chosen Glogster over Prezi and PowerPoint presentations because;

• Glogster is marketed towards a school learner's demographic while Prezi and PowerPoint seem to be geared towards professionals and academics.
  
• Despite having similar functions, I believe that primary school students would prefer glogster over making a PowerPoint because Glogster seems more 'exciting' than PowerPoint.
  
• Glogster is an online presentation space that can be saved and published in one sitting. PowerPoint requires extra work to set up and needs to be uploaded to slideshare in order to be published on the net.
  
• While Prezi is my preferred presentation tool, I believe that primary school learners would prefer glogster because of its alluring marketing. The word poster is more appealing to youths than presentation tool. Glogsters graphics library is eye catching and attractive, where as prezi canvas is blank that requires the user to upload any graphics.
  

 

Why choose Digital video over Flickr and Podcasts?

Digital video combines still and moving images with text and sound. Podcasts consist of recorded audio programs that are broadcast online. Flickr is an online image hosting and management website. I have chosen digital video over Flickr and podcasts because;

• The multimodal nature of digital video caters for all learning styles.
  
• Podcasting only communicates through sounds, neglecting visual learners
  
• Digital video is a mode of communication that is popular and familiar to learners in primary school.
  
• Flickr neglects verbal learners.
  

Why choose Mind mapping over animations and simulations, Google sites, and zooburst?

A Mind Map is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged around a central key word or idea. Mind maps are used to generate, visualize, structure, and classify ideas. They can be used as an aid in study, organization, problem solving, decision making, and writing. The non-linear and graphical approach supports brainstorming and organisation of ideas that link to a task. Animations and simulations, such as Learning Objects are web-based virtual experiences that offer users to explore complex interactions and concepts. There are many learning Objects available online and they support a wide range of subject material. They are a good alternative when providing the authentic experience is unaffordable or inappropriate. Zooburst is a digital story telling website that allows users to create 3-D pop-up books. It supports multimedia, and has an interactive function called 'augmented reality' that allows the story to 'fly' out of the page and appear before the user. Google Earth is a virtual atlas. It hosts maps of most of the Earth's topography and in some cities provides a 3-D perspective. Users can enter addresses, coordinates or browse. Google Maps is an online mapping service that uses satellite images to create a 'book' of maps. Google Documents is a free web based word processor program that allows users to create and edit documents online in real time with partners in collaborative projects. Spreadsheets, presentations and data organisation and storage are other key functions offered. I have chosen mind mapping because;

• Learning how to create effective mind maps is a useful lifelong skill.
  
• Animations, Google applications and Zooburst are good sites to explore and facilitate learning, yet mind maps allow users to do this and organize and link ideas together.
  
• Mind mapping promotes creativity and higher order thinking.
  
• Mind maps can be created without the use of computers. Its versatility is an advantage if access to computers is limited.
  
• Mind mapping is multimodal and multidisciplinary. It encourages conceptual ideas.