Google Docs

Google Docs is a free, Web-based word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and form application, where people can share their documents with others and communicate with group members about their assignments without the hassle of arranging a time and day to meet... This innovation topic is a great tool to have in the classroom and at home because it:

• Promotes group collaboration- where students don't have to hassle with meeting dates, instead they can communicate with their group via google docs, where they just have to invite the person and share the document with them
• Teachers can keep track of grades by placing it into google docs and updating it when needed, instead of having piles and piles of paper
• Develops writing skills as well as computing skills
• Simple way to be updated on children's progress when doing homework
• Individuals can share + edit + communicate about the homework
• Useful file management
• Interactive + hands on
• Caters for a range of learners because it can be visual, oral and hands on
• Google docs can be implemented into several learning areas
• Creative- students can add pictures and change font size and colour
• Encourages parents to participate because it is simple to use and can be used as a means of communication between the parent, teacher and student

Google docs is my most favourite innovation topic because it is effective and benefical of any career meaning that it can be used in any learning area which was clearly demonstrated by Simon and Miriam during the presentation. The only problems that i think would occur if google docs were to be implemented into the classroom would be that some parents may not want to participate in the activity which may result in a student feeling 'unloved' (but then again it is also the parents responsibilty to ensure that they are caring for their childrens needs), and that some students may not have internet at home meaning that they can not be involved. However if this does occur the teacher can always allocate time on the computers for the students who do not have the internet. Overall google docs is a safe, creative and simple tool that should be introduced into a classroom because of its many, many benefits

--Bitstrips--

In week 5 the class were presented with the innovation topic of Bitstrips. The topic focuses on creating cartoons using Bitstrips where people are able to communicate their thoughts and opinion's on certain topics by creating it into a comic strip or storyline. This programme is not only creative but it is also educational because it allows students to enjoy learning via bitstrips, where the students can be given the opportunity to express their opinions on certain topics aswell as read and investigate what other individuals thoughts are on that topic. From the presentation given by Brad and Sharee i was able to gather a great deal of useful information about bitstrips and how effective it can be in the classroom. They not only went through the process of creating Bitstrips step by step but they also explained its benefits and uses in the classroom with great detail. The information that i was able to gather about the use of Bitstrips in the classroom can be catergorised into advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of the use of Bitstrips in the classroom:

1. Allows the students to be actively involved in the learning process- which the theories Piaget claims to help cognitive development
2. The learning becomes student-centered rather then teacher focused
3. Bitstrips is engaging because the students create their own comic rather then observing other people's comics= hands on
4. Implements technology in the classroom- where children are given the opportunity to develop their computing skills
5. Students are able to express their opinions creatively
6. Bitstrips can be intergrated into other learning areas such as English, Maths and Society and Environment- One example can be where the teacher creates their own comic and purposely spells word incorrectly, where the students then have to identify the spelling mistakes and re-create the comic strip
7. User friendly and simple to navigate around
8. Bitstrips can be safe for students to use because schools can place a security lock on things they dont want the students to be looking at
9. Informative- where it contains information about important issues (i.e. politics, enironment, and school issues)

Disadvantage of the use of Bitstrips

1. Bitstrips can be time consuming because it has alot of bits and pieces that can be modified to make the comic more interesting
2. Teachers may find it hard to gain the students attention when using bitstrips
3. Relaince on technology can decrease the students development of English skills such as spelling and grammar because unfortunately if they spell a word incorrectly the computer corrects it, which results in the students lacking the ability to widen their vocab.

Whilst there are more advantages in using Bitstrips it is still important to focus on the cons because children need to understand how to speak, write and communicate their thoughts properly before they begin to rely on the computer to 'fix' their spelling mistakes. However i think Bitstrips is a handy tool to implement into the classroom because it caters for a range of learners and allows the students who do not like drawing to have a go and become confident at art and technology.

There is one thing that concerns me about Bitstrips and that is when it comes time to assessing the students on their artistic techniques such as the arts learning area outcome 'students use skills, techniques, processes, conventions and technologies of the arts' (Curriculum Council, 1998, p. 54) whilst they can be assessed on the technology part for Bitstrips what happens when you need the students to create a self portrait or dance production (keeping in mind it needs to be done manually) and the students simply ask to use bitstrips to do this but the teacher say's no because they need to assess the students on their ability! Would it not cause problems, because the students would question as to what the difference is if they use bitstrips or not??

Wiki

Whilst i enjoy learning about new technology and have become shocked as to how fast and creative we have become in creating new and improved technology, it does not always mean that the new communication sites, search engines or even information sites have become user friendly or even easy to navigate. If the supposed 'technology learner generation' have difficulty at first in understanding how to use the new piece of technology tool that what happens to the older generation who are still getting used to the previous, and simple to use communication sites? would this just further create a 'communication gap' between parents and their children? whilst there are some disadvantages to the introduction of new sites, i have found that Wiki is one communication site that is user friendly, simple to use and easy to understand. Wiki is a form of communication between individuals about any topic where the people involved are able to express there opinions on enivironmental issues, world politics to even the smallest things such as tv shows. It allows people to freely express themselves within a reasonable manner and all the tools and skills needed to become a regular wiki user, are located right infront of the screen and are easy to locate. which in turn saves time, space and the stress of trying to nagivate through the web page, instead wiki takes you straight to the home page where you are able to work your way from there.