26th March 2008
My word a lot can happen in a month! Achieved a 7 (High Distinction) for FET5621 not moving forward with a superb small group task in FET8610! We are developing a web quest for Year 11s! There is a mind bender for an early years teacher.

I am considering how to express my drive for the use of Web 2.0 applications in the classroom. I know that I am intense when I start talking about the use of ICT and for some who do not see the benefit I would be intimidating or eccentric (one or the other) but why have I beenI so driven for so long? Initially I sought out the Masters degree as a means of self development, finding an empirical stand to support my obsession. I have found it but the disappointing thing is that early years research is scarce (I'll start filling that blank) and even though Australia features on the Twitter network the momentum has not been picked up.

This afternoon I will start adding my weekly publications that I send out to colleagues "Mrs B's Little Bytes" for others to share, it obviously is not reaching the right audience. Through the collective wealth of my Twitter colleagues I am able to create weekly lists of new applications that are freely available online. FREE. Still no uptake. Bizarre. I have jumped through the ICT Pedagogical Licence hoop, now it is time to have my say.


5th February 2008
What a bang good start to the year! Transferred to a new school, enjoyed the retreat at Kooralbyn, two nights three days worth of intensive bonding with new colleagues. Arrive at school to find out that 3 day eight contract teachers and 2 permanents have to be relocated! Told to present a description of what we bring to the school. I couldn't contain myself to one page, took up 3 ROFL - I thought if there is any chance of me going I was going to a digital school somewhere else!!! I am so important in my own mind!

First days back in the classroom have been fun. The children are so well behaved and their parents drop them off and pick them up. Only a couple catch the bus at the moment. Classes being reshuffled today and we'll find out who is moving on as well, hard waiting to find out. Big grey cloud over everyone at the moment. English school ready to start e-links still has same issues, apparently they have to apply each year to be retained! That would be a pressure.

Raining is pouring at the moment, another 6 hours stuck inside! Hope they bring some toys today. That is one of the drawbacks - only my resources to play with. Outside, the grass has to bed down for four weeks so the children are restricted to an adventure playground and concrete. Lots of under cover spaces for them when they can go outside to play though. Beautiful school. Only criticism I have is that the admin block is a stand alone block and we have to ring before going in to see the Principal or Deputy. I am used to far more contact with admin staff and find that creating a barrier to communication.

Oh well, fingers crossed! Hopefully it's not me being transferred out today ... Let you know this arvo.

I may have to start another blog. The typing is lagging, may have too many apps on this page.

And, by the way, got 14 1/2 out of 15 for last assignment in FET5621!! Passed the subject already!

18th December 2007
Holidays have started and so has a new course. Now enrolled and working towards FET5621, Web Design.
Achieved an HD (7) for the first course, hope I can do as well in the next one!

This is my favourite song at the moment ...




For links to current research and to join me in my quest for empirical evidence to support the use of ICT in the classroom go to Fiona EDU5472 you never know, you might decide to get involved in some further education yourself!!

21st October 2007
Getting on very slowly with my last assignments for the semester. Goodness only knows how long it would take me if I was doing four subjects!! I am focussing on the necessity of using Web 2.0 tools, still developing my arguments. Kevin07 may well make it in there, like to keep them topical. He offered parents support in the costs of educating their children in his tax promises - valuing digital learning..

I spent way too much time fiddling around with a recording of a Skype conversation with Carmen in Germany. We are setting up a Learning Place project room and attempting to create a more interactive space for her children to practice their English (she is a LOTG(erman) teacher) and mine to develop awareness and confidence with tools such as Audacity and blogs to improve communication. I found that my voice was booming over Carmen's and put out a twitter plea for help. Chris Betcher came back with yet another free tool to complement Skype - Powergramo. Worked well with my daughter talking into the test recording, I shall have to find a guinea pig to trial it on. I'll try to attach the MP3 of Carmen and I speaking in preparation for the Smartboard conference in November.

You may need to cut and paste the link on a new internet explorer page - I created the link using a Wordpress blog. Didn't work using Firefox.

http://logablog.edublogs.org/files/2007/10/carmen-interview-for-conference-2.mp3

3rd October 2007
An exciting start to the day, opened up my emails to find that my first attempt at a Zunal Webquest has been accepted and is on display in their "permanent" space.

http://zunal.com/webquest.php?user=515

2nd October 2007
The Learning Place is a very useful school site, maintained by Education Queensland. I make most use of the Project Rooms, create Blackboard VCRs from time to time and find activities such as the recent Online Literature Festival to become involved in. I was so pleased yesterday to find that some new features have been included to the project room facilities - podcasting being the main one of interest! This term my computer club will be communicating with a school in Germany and this will be an ideal resource to use for the children to listen and learn from each other! Fantastic.

I also had a surprise this morning when I checked my email, Carmen, who is the contact teacher at the German school is also doing her Masters degree in technology so hopefully we will be able to create a mutually beneficial situation with the upcoming travel buddy scenario.



Saturday 29th September 2007
I love holidays! I can spend as long as I like (as long as Jo is happy doing her own thing) puddling around with the school web site, finding new things on the internet, catching up with assignments - excuse me, I got 37 out of 40 for my first USQ assignment!!! I did not expect that! Just goes to show, maybe someone out there understands the need for computers in the early years!

Came across a new word today - meme. This is a link off "Betchablog" to explain ... http://thedailymeme.com/what-is-a-meme/

The current topic is the K-12 online conference, click on the poster for more detail. I am interested because:

1. I haven't been involved in something like this before and I am STARVED of people who are passionate about integrating ICT and the internet into the learning experiences offered to young children. Hopefully there will be some like minded people involved.

2. Like Chris Betcher, I am always interested in finding out about different ways to use what we've got. I only recently realised just how useful Paint was as a program for working on web sites! Up until then it was just a drawing box!

3. Anything that promotes discussion and broadens the experience of teachers has the potential to impact on beliefs about computers and how they can be used in the classroom. I believe a persons attitude to ICT impacts the decisions they make about how much effort should be put into coming to grips with it. Attitudes have to change.

I heard that one colleague believes my commitment arises out of boredom, my husband does shift work and I have a lot of time on my hands. Not true, he does early shifts a lot of the time and we sit and natter constantly about IT. His online course is preparing him for tertiary study next year and mine is through USQ to discover how to fly the ICT flag at school. Anyway, it isn't because I sit at home twiddling my fingers. I have been motivated by Year 2s and 3s enjoying the control they have over online content and commitment to tasks offered on the computer. How can this method of delivery be overlooked because the bell goes at 3pm and a bit of extra effort has to be employed to understand how to get it to the children?

The Consequences of a closed mind towards ICT ... A word of caution.

A point made by Webb S. (2005, p.196) is that statistics also indicate that women are not represented well in computer science. Those developing the tools are not representative of those being expected to teach with them. “if the values of the people who are adopting and using technology are not incorporated into the design of the technology, there is a significant risk that the division of labour will become increasingly gendered.” and notes the work of Fitzgerald & Savage, (2004, p.29) saying this in turn may result in fewer women becoming involved in jobs (such as teaching, information management and librarians) which is “already ‘an aging, immobile workforce, struggling with the impact of and difficulties in implementing and promoting use of new technology.” Educators must make themselves familiar with the new technologies to bridge the apparent gender gap for both students and in job opportunities for themselves.

Fitzgerald, B., & Savage, F. (2004). Public Libraries in Victoria, Australia: an overview of
current ICT developments, challenges and issues. OCLC Systems and Services:
International Digital Library Perspectives, 20(1), 24-30.

Webb, S. (2005) Diversity in information and communication technologies: The cost of lost
opportunities Transforming Information & Learning Conference ISBN 0-7298-0613-8,
http://conferences.scis.ecu.edu.au/TILC2007/documents/2005/TILC%202005%20Sue%20Webb.pdf

22nd September 2007
Well, I am over the server now. It is funny how important a computer becomes when you don't have access to it. The staff were vocal in expressing their angst at not being able to access their emails ... (?)

Yesterday was one to note in the diary, I did my first ever talk - at the local LEA (Local Education Authority) pupil free day. All about the early years and I was asked to talk about the Dept. documents and share how I use IT. One of the two keyspeakers started off her talk about poor gross and fine motor skill development attributing it in part to use of computers. In her next breath she observed that children in a class as young as Year 3 were being taught how to use PowerPoint - who uses that? OMG my hackles were raised.

There is research, I know because I have been reading it, to support young children having developmentally appropriate, supervised experiences with computers. I know from my work with Year 2s that the brief time they have in class is thoroughly enjoyable, motivating and has the potential to stimulate discussion and focus them on their work! Grrrrrr.

I received an invitation to speak at the Smartboard conference being organised for November. See you there???


4th September 2007
The server has died at school! I have been spending the past couple of weeks away from my new role as Teacher Librarian and become heavily involved in putting a ghost image onto each of the 100+ computers. Straight forward until the CD drive won't open or the computer gives up and crashes. Just about got each year level online. Year 4 was an extraordinary exception, only 3 of the 12 computers between those classes actually work. How bizarre.

The Learning Federation has invited me to trial a new learning object. V.exciting but a mountain of paperwork. Interesting that they have an object that includes Prep children reading clocks and recognising words, we'll see .....I'll be onto that tomorrow after I finish setting up 1KP, 1TB and the aides. Nearly there.

2nd September 2007
See, told you I was inspired. I've been playing with the record feature of my ipaq pda and interviewed my husband Ian. He has been enrolled in an OLI course to prepare for tertiary education and is doing very well too! He left school with Year 11 English and initially he wanted to bring that up to Year 12 to match our children (one is 20, the other 14). Anyway, listen to what he has to say about his experience. Attached at the bottom of the page ... no it's not because the file is too large. Any suggestions on how to store it? I assume there are limits on all of them. :o(

1st September 2007
Been a while! I did mean to be more conscientious this time!

I have just spent an inspirational 2 days at Emmanuel College on the Gold Coast at the IWBNet 2007 National Interactive Whiteboard Conference. It was professionally rewarding to sit in working classrooms and the library and observe how others set up to maximise learning in their work spaces. Up to this point I have not really been interested in the tablet, just another gadget, but throughout the conference most presenters were using them to remotely control the boards. Avoids that shadow issue! We also have a gyro mouse with each Smartboard but to date I have not even been able to work out how to program the blooming thing. Point to note - I did not observe anyone using one.

I was also very pleased to meet a podcaster by the name of Chris Betcher who maintains The Virtual Classroom. When I first began studying at USQ his site was suggested as a source of current information and I have returned from time to time to catch up on various interviews he conducts. For ages now I have been encouraging colleagues both at school and online to listen to what he and others have to say. In exchange for a photo for this site, Chris made a brief recording of me on an ipod nano with a recording attachment. Incredible, another 'got to have' accessory! He was talking yesterday about the way iwbs can be used to cater to each of the multiple intelligences and had us demonstrate with a music program

Networking is essential to spreading the good word about classroom integration of IT. I had some interesting conversations with some teacher librarians who, like myself, have moved into the role from classroom teaching. The library at Emmanuel College is superb, massive in size it has a room with iwbs for staff training and a number of different spaces for different activities. There was a small pit too, like an amphitheater which looked interesting. I also spent some time getting to know two lovely ladies from Christmas Island High. We share an interest in ict and libraries and hopefully will communicate about the march of the crabs later on!

There will be a new page soon with as many of the multitude of tips and tricks I have picked up as I can remember from my scribbled notes. Just a taster, how to create quizzes in Excel with drop down choices, how to create a snakes and ladders board in word, how to podcast using Audacity. Absolutely fantastic Friday and Saturday.

14th July 2007
I'm including a link to a TeacherTube item that speaks volumes about my attitude to sharing ICT skills


8th July 2007
This time I will work in the right direction by adding material from the top instead of like a book. My apologies if anyone is actually reading this!.

EDU 5472
Well the day has finally arrived, I am actually beginning the MEd Tech course with USQ properly. There are already posts on the discussion board and I think there are others who check for new messages as often as I do!! A link to an initial reading had me thinking straight away. Here is my two bobs worth:-



Computer Literacy as Ideology
Goodson, I. F., & Mangan, J. M. (1996). Computer literacy as ideology. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 17(1), 65-79

First thing noted is that the article was written 11 years ago and the changes have been incredible in that time – I was sending emails and writing up uni assignments then; today I create WYSIWYG web sites and podcasts! My interest and ability to use the technology has evolved with the product but it has not been without criticism.

The cost in Australia of accessing digital material (either on tv, internet and mobile phone access as well) is costly compared with UK and, I believe, USA as well. We were using interactive satellite tv in the UK 7 years ago - online shopping, internet, and emails. Ironically it was owned by Rupert Murdoch!

Live Earth yesterday and today on ninemsn is bringing a message to millions of young and older (me!) people worldwide through computers. Best offering was through the web site, beautifully created, interactive, links to worldwide information, video, popular performers and lessons offered on how to improve our “carbon footprint”. Same message was offered in newspaper, radio and for a limited time on pay tv (Arena). Not as powerful a medium and a wasted opportunity for Australian politicians who could have participated in an event that is clearly important to many young Australian voters in an election year.

My resistance to the technology would have meant that a wealth of global interactions would not have evolved for the many children I have taught during those years. Travel buddies in UK and USA; a project to create a calendar with schools in UK, India, Korea; a chat with Santa at the end of the Christmas term (Learning Place); and countless links to sites that entertain, teach, drill, inform and entertain.

As an early years educator I have not consciously thought about the impact on the job opportunities that may arise for the children after they leave school. What I have sought is free, easily accessible, educationally appropriate material that will maintain the interest of my class and lend credence to what I am trying to teach!

START OF THE BLOG - ICT Pedagogical Licence Reflections
Well, I have made a start. I have included a couple of photos to show where I am and I will include more as I look for alternatives to actually doing what I should be doing (procrastinating). The list of useful sites has been built over a couple of years and includes many of the sites that I make use of. As at 10th March 2007 they are all on-line.

Now to get on with the task of letting you know what is on my mind. I shall try to be succinct but I do tend to either waffle or say absolutely nothing. Fortunately I am married to a man who can fill in any lulls in a conversation and who has a valuable opinion or insight on just about everything! I will make sure that he contributes to this on-line journal from time to time as well.

30th May 2007
How exciting, the light at the end of the tunnel

I have just submitted my intention to lodge the portfolio! I have bounced back from the worried sack I was, Claire confirmed I was on the right path and I have gone through and ticked off indicators I feel I have covered (others could dispute this of course but that's the way of it). I also had an email from USQ this week reminding me that the next semester is going to begin shortly, I am really looking forward to sinking my teeth into some research and feel that the ICT integration course has given me a leg up into the jargon, research, current trends of my particular area of interest.
I tried another tack yesterday in my quest to inform the staff at school, we held the staff meeting in my classroom. It's usually in the staffroom with easy access to the carpark afterwards. This time everyone had to go up to the wilds of beyond and sit down on Year 2 sized seats. It was an excellent reason to tidy the room up - preparing for visitors! I had intended to show the TeacherTube video "Pay Attention" but had to settle for demonstrating some of the techniques I employ with the IWB. The best way to get to know the features, I think, is to load it onto a desktop computer before using it on the wall. The upper school staff are understandably miffed because the lower school got the first round of boards. I think they should be getting to know the software, and letting the children use it anyway - there are a MOUNTAIN of ways to use it. I have set up a VCR with links to all sorts of information and resources.




6 May 2007
I did let it go a while!
Report cards are rearing their ugly heads again, how does the time fly past like this? I've re-read the emails with advice and attachments about what is expected, I think I'll be alright, assessment might be a bit light on though. I'll have to ponder how to appropriately demonstrate the use of ICT by the children, it's just there and they use it and they get their work done (well, most of the time anyway!) I've been increasing my profile in the school during this time too. I've always been the person to come to for help with programs and internet queries but with the introduction of IWBs in the early years classrooms I am on the same rung as everyone else trying to get used to the gadgets and notebook program and resources.The best one was the tablet - it is wireless and I spent way too long trying to get the thing functioning. I have to admit I had given up the ghost and had asked for help from the suppliers. Last weekend my family went to Toowong Shopping Village and I took photos on my mobile phone of the beautiful chandeliers and an enormous fish tank to spice up my demo journal that I write as a scaffold each week. I figured being wireless the dongle would find my phone and tinkered with it and lo and behold, when it found my phone and its files it ALSO found the tablet. Talk about "DOH!" moment. The class did like the photos from my phone but enjoyed trying to write their names up on the IWB more using the new toy.


I've also got the Computer Club up and running again, this time I have restricted the age group to Years 5 - 7 and I am more prescriptive about what is done. Yes, Linerider has made an appearance but I have also shown those children Comic Chat and forums because that is how these children communicate when they are at home, we experimented with the comic chat from home too! I have a teacher in England lining children up for e-penfriends too so that will be the next step for them. We have to use another email service (yes it is very secure - I have to view any emails sent and approve them before they go to the recipient - http://www.epals.com/signup/choose.tpl ). I have had most travel buddy success from a site called "Global Gateway" ( http://www.globalgateway.org.uk/ ) run by The British Council if anyone is interested.
This is our current travel buddy, Tartan Tam, from Angus in Scotland!
I have also promoted my Blackboard VCR area for staff PD again this week. The teachers who used it on our last PFD all reported (in the assessment area of course) that it was a novel and interesting way to encourage them to participate. What I was most pleased with was showing them how useful Learning Objects could be. I'll be including more lower school info on there now and maintain it as another source for them to access ideas and knowledge about using ICT in their classrooms.
12 April 2007
Forgot to come back ...

9th April 2007
I've had a couple of days off so time to start typing again ... Claire and I had a brief chat the other day, noone else joined the online chat - where were you! I was following links I got from the USQ course and found some interesting podcasts. That will be my next challenge, I want to podcast! I am in the process of sorting my ICT plan out to share. I must get a hurry on to get the assignment ready for USQ too. I'm off for a drive in the sunshine now. My daughter needs some fresh air and I have been floating around in cyber space for a while now.


2nd April 2007
http://www.learningplace.com.au/uploads/documents/store/calresources/pdres_886_school-leaders.pdf
I received this link tonight inviting attendance at a PD for principals etc. to promote 1:1 (1 laptop to each child I assume). I would like to know which state schools would have the facilities for this. I wonder what the issues are for 1:1. How do they manage all the leads? What about downtime when the machines are not working or the children forget them? Food for thought. I am interested though ...

1st April 2007
Next step in the ICT Integration course is to create a belief statement for my digital portfolio. I had a comment posted by a team member saying she enjoyed reading my comments due to their simplicity. I hope that the people that are marking them are not looking for something more high brow!!


29th March 2007
Oh what a day. We had a lovely send off for our Principal who is retiring after 17 years at our school. He has been the fairest, most supportive, caring person I have worked for, and I have been working since I was 18 (I might be a little over 40 now...not telling). He always listened to us but expected us to come up with solutions, I think that is why I think beyond the classroom sometimes and have become so involved in the ICT side of things. He encouraged me to do courses to learn how to create better web sites and I think I have done a darn good job with the school site to date (www.logavillss.eq.edu.au). Thanks Geoff.
Another good moment was reading a posting from Salwa who is still doing the ICT Resources course with USQ. I am missing the constant interaction of those international learners. The online course I am participating in is not as dynamic as that was. I think that I may well sign up for ED5471 again so I don't miss out on that global perspective.
Back to Queensland. Last week we were looking at instructional theories (http://classweb.gmu.edu/ndabbagh/Resources/IDKB/models_theories.htm) and had to reflect on our own practice and think of evidence that would support what we said. It was difficult. I relate to the theory of connectivity but working in the early years, and filling the Year 2 net assessments throughout the year I see that I am more constructivist with a touch of instructionist where assessment plays a dominant role. (I am including this link too http://classweb.gmu.edu/ndabbagh/Resources/IDKB/instruct_design.htm because I haven't had a chance to go through it thoroughly yet and will come back to it sometime.

I will attach my sheet for your perusal, and so I don't lose it by mischance. No I won't. I can't see how to add a file. Give me a moment to work it out. Got it but it is down at the bottom of this page. Next I have to produce a belief statement that includes the following:
what you believe about learning what you believe about teaching
what you believe about using ICT in learning and teaching
how these beliefs impact on and are reflected in your teaching practice.
_ And.....Don’t forget to address the following points.
_ beliefs about how, when and where learning occurs
_ beliefs about how you need to teach to cater for these learning beliefs
_ beliefs about how ICT can support that learning / teaching
I will begin this one after I've had a cup of tea. Thank you for reinspiring me Salwa.

18th March 2007
An interesting article, very "Matrix". Connectivism is a theory for the digital age, the paper mentions making sense of chaos, the challenge for educators to keep up with the "rapidly diminishing knowledge life" and asks how we will be "forced to develop" to cater for changes in learning.

A part of the article which struck a chord was the fact that learning and work related activities are no longer separate. I am evidence of that! (LOL) "Learning and work related activities are no longer separate. In many situations they are the same." (p.1) I have spent a lot of this weekend fiddling with blogs, mine, my daughter's and my husband's! We all have one now! Critical literacy is another aspect that shines through, as individuals we need to be able to decide what is worth knowing and what is not. Networking is one way to do this, collectively a group has a wealth of knowledge to make use of, e.g. the internet. Knowledge is evolving, and the important thing is to know how to acquire what we need to know .... be back soon ....cup of tea time.



17th March 2007
Snaps to me! Look, I'm back the next week.

This week has been another scorcher. It is incredible that we can study four years at university, have to stand for 20 minutes outside settling disputes between irate customers (the children), do not have air conditioning and have to put in submissions (ie. justify) for equipment that is run of the mill in every office (e.g. up to date computers with a server that does not crash every Friday!) Apart from that, the class is moving along with producing their superhero comic story. The children are becoming quite adept at using Paint to create a superhero character of themselves.

Next assignment - http://www.elearnspace.org/Articles/connectivism.htm
I will be reading this article and responding to it using De Bono's hats. I haven't used them before so another learning curve. Might take until tomorrow to finish this one!

Just a thought but if you put your children onto the computer to type up something they have written doesn't that devalue the piece of work they created? I have not yet met a primary school child who can type quickly enough to justify the use of so much time to redo their work that way. There are not enough computers or touch typists to allow the children to complete copying their work in a reasonable time frame. At our school, we use a program called Phonics Alive 6 to practise typing skills, at the start of the year it is also useful to consolidate alphabet sounds and orientation of letters too.

See you then with some new clip art and a greater understanding, hopefully xx


11th March 2007
I've completed my first written task for the ICT integration course. Any suggestions?

pk1 I understand how ICT can be used to support and enhance what students learn, how they learn, and when and where their learning takes place

Information and Communication Technology, particularly the internet, has rapidly become one of the main sources for gathering knowledge. It knows few boundaries. Students can access the internet at any time, for example, using their laptop computers, their PSP game consoles in wireless internet zones, mobile phones with WAP access, computers at the homes of friends or their grandparents, at the shops in internet cafes, on holiday ANYWHERE in the world. The list is becoming endless as technology develops. Any information gathered at school, or for any area of life, can also be researched using one of a multitude of search engines e.g. google, yahoo, ask.com to name a well known few (http://searchenginewatch.com/showPage.html?page=2156221 ) and updates sent to you personally via RSS (e.g. news).

Learning becomes more relevant when you can find sources about what was being talked about earlier, at a time when you choose to be interested. The moment of understanding is enhanced when you enter a search request that goes off at a tangent that the you are interested in, the power is with the user. For younger learners a teacher’s blog or school web site enables parents to stay up to date with what is happening whilst they are at work (e.g. www.logavillss.eq.edu.au - Years 2 and 6).

Support is offered in areas such as the acquisition of a new language for example – http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/say/katakana.html offers a flash activity to practice recognition of katakana symbols and an option to hear them spoken by a Japanese voice. That not enough? For the visual and kinaesthetic learners the vast majority of sites are produced to draw the viewer in with flashing gif images , hyperlinks to more information and super bright photos and design layouts to maintain your interest and invite you further http://abc.net.au/children/ ). You can even search for ancient episodes of Sesame Street on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiaKtHSAy7U ) and watch tv! If you aren’t fascinated by the moving pictures of others, create your own using a digital camcorder or make your own podcast to share with the world. The Learning Place offers a safe work space to experiment and publish using most of this technology.

ICT is a most powerful tool to harness. I say lose this indicator at your peril. If these tools are not tapped by offering age and educationally appropriate learning experiences students will not have the same opportunity to tap the wealth of knowledge that is published for anyone to access. As educators, it is our responsibility to understand what we are asking of potentially life-long learners when we say “Go and type up your journal entries.” rather than “Have you found out any more about the development of the micro chip and what have you decided to do with that one I gave you in the Lego?”


10th March 2007
My first task is to decide how I should make contributions. Do I simply write into this area and include the date each time or should I post a comment like you will have to do?

I opted for the first but I can't stay long, I must go and check my mail, as I am enrolled in two online courses and I have a hotmail and school email accounts it takes a while to get through all correspondence. Before I go I will tell you that I have begun this online journey in my quest to discover what is available for use in the classroom. I am a Year 2 teacher in Australia who constantly advocates the use of the internet. I feel the need to speak from an academically informed perspective and to that end have enrolled in both an ICT Integration course with Education Queensland and a Master of Education Technology course with USQ. http://education.qld.gov.au/staff/development/employee/teachers/pd_pathways/programs/pd_pathways_progs_ict.html
and http://www.usq.edu.au/handbook/2007/MET1.html However, I have been informed that the first course gives me credit towards the second and I have to decide if I am going to continue with the USQ course this semester. I am in a quandry. The EQ course specifically relates to departmental documents and has already offered many new networking contacts (I went to a nearby school this week to participate in an IWB discussion group) but the USQ course has a wealth of worldwide research and has opened contact with many people who are studying online all over the world! (e.g. Dubai, UAE, Canada, Manilla, Brisbane to name but a few). I am torn. I want to do them both but need to be able to balance my workload - school, study, home. What would you suggest?