AUSTRALIAN CURRICULUM - ICT CAPABILITY

I have recently got my teeth into the General Capabilities of the Australia Curriculum. In many different formats, it is implied that ICT Capability is the number 3 of the 7 general capabilities that permeate throughout all learning areas. It states, "ICT capability supports and enhances student learning across all areas of the curriculum." It's nice to see this acknowledged and spelt out in this new document!

Other notable comments made in the Background of the Capability, include:

• "ICT capability is based on sets of relevant knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions."
• "ICT capability is based on the assumption that technologies are digital tools that enable the student to solve problems and carry out tasks."
• "...students come to perceive ICT systems as useful tools rather than feeling that they themselves are the tools of the machine (Maas, 1983). The later often occurs when users have little information about how ICT systems operate and simply follow set, standard procedures, determined for them by the system."
• "ICT capability needs to consider the types of tasks that provide authentic contexts for learning."

Broadly, the capability is organised into five elements:

• Applying social and ethical protocols and practices when using ICT;
• Intellectual property; Digital information security; benefits and consequences; changes.
• Investigating with ICT;
• Define/plan information searches; locate/access data; select/evaluate data.
• Creating with ICT;
• Generate ideas, plans, processes and solutions to challenges/tasks (by clarifying, generating products or solutions).
• Communicating with ICT;
• Share, exchange and collaborate to enhance learning; understand and apply social protocols; apply techniques or strategies to ensure safety.
• Managing and operating ICT;
• Applying technical knowledge; Using digital technologies efficiently (hardware/software); transferability of knowledge/skills, manage and maintain information.

This is essentially the basis for ICT that we all know and love (...to hate in some cases!). I especially like the comments relating to not letting the hardware or software determine what you do with it. In fact, the winner of any educational software/website/app is that it does not dictate what you do or how you use it! Applying social and ethical protocol and practices is an are where I believe our focus will be. Investigating, creating and communicating are evident in learning tasks for students, and managing/operating ICT still appear to be the root of negativity with using ICT. Having students become good, responsible digital citizens must be our focus as more and more communication and life tasks move digital. If kids cannot act responsibly online for their own and others' safety, as well as data safety, ICT stops 'doing a job for us' and starts to 'get in the way'.

Source: General Capabilities in the Australian Curriculum, January 2012, © ACARA, 2012.

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STUDENT DIGITAL MEDIA GROUP

At a recent ADE retreat we were given time to work on something. That's right... 'something'. Given a rare moment to work on something that has been sitting at the back of my mind but never having the hour or two to sink my teeth in to get it done has always been a regret, and a frustration.

My 'something' was the creation of a Student Digital Media Group (SDMG). I have already held a meeting to gauge interest and with the help of colleagues refined where this group may venture to. I was amazed to see 21 interested Year 7/8 students who lapped up the possibilities and offered some amazing suggestions arising from the passion in using digital media.

The goals of the group are:

• Provide a pathway for highly proficient technology users amongst student an opportunity to develop their skills and harness their knowledge for self-improvement, self-esteem and to assist the school;
• Provide an opportunity for students create and engage in non-academic activities;
• Develop skills of students with a passion for digital technology;
• Provide the student body with help from their peers during break time, via a student help desk;
• Provide an avenue for students to assist teachers as needed during class time.

Opportunities for group members:

• Contribute resources for students and staff in academic areas (eg Hyperlinked Keynote quizzes for study);
• Create regular podcast episodes highlighting school activities (eg interviews of recent incursions);
• Help students and staff on the student help desk (eg answer the "How do I print this document?" and "How do I use iMovie?" questions);
• Creating photo reflections after significant events, possible inclusion at assemblies (eg photo montage after a sport carnival to display to the school community);
• Service learning hours can be accrued for students;
• Autonomous task/projects completed during break times (eg build a website, create a school widget);
• A one/two day retreat with projects, guest speakers and visits to businesses who utilise new and innovative technologies (eg visit the ABC and see how cameras, greens screen, auto prompts are used);
• Participate in informal school-based and formal state, national and global competitions (eg short film festivals);
• Contribute to parent PD sessions as roaming problem solvers.

I am excited about what these guys can come up with, particularly due to one student creating a stop animation movie to show me and outlining how it could be used in a regular school video podcast. More to come!




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iCAL: CLASS CALENDAR SUBSCRIPTIONS

Communicating information to students becomes easier when using calendar synchronisation software. The corporate world has been doing this for years, but calendaring has strangely been quiet in classrooms. Even in schools, staff may be used to getting a printed A4 yearly calendar and then an updated A4 term calendar at the beginning of each term with individuals liquid papering, crossing out, drawing arrows and rewriting events as updates occur.

iCal makes calendaring within a class or school a piece of cake (if you use Apple devices). I love how my calendar is available on my MacBook, iPad and iPhone, but most of all I love how I can communicate with my class via our own calendar. No matter what time of the day it is I can update events and communicate what is required to be brought, or completed before an upcoming event. Students can check this each night from home to see what is happening the next day. It needs to be said that many software solutions are available including the online webpage version - Google Calendar, as well as Microsoft solutions such as Outlook, which links emails too. Check out the images below for more info on this valuable tool for teachers.

Image 1: iCal Calendar Example

Image 2: iCal Sidebar Features

Image 3: iCal Subscription Options