Asessment

Image found at: http://www.curtis.lassam.net/comics/peakarchives/sidepocket_kid.jpg

Being able to asses students evenly and without bias is something all teachers should do. It should not be some random mark or a comparison to other students.  Marks should not be awarded by an unrealated set of criteria like in the comic above.

When we design assessment activities we should:

• State the the purposes that address the outcomes.
• Show a clear relationship between content and outcomes.
• Allow students to demonstrate the extent of their knowledge, skills and understanding.
• Inform students on what will be assessed.
• Give students opportunities to gather information on what further teaching and learning is required for student to succeed.
• Provides valid, reliable evidence that students learning is fair.  

A way we can insure that the assessment is fair is by having clear rubrics which marks can be given out as they are deserved.  

Different assessments types that we can give our students include:

• Written Reports
• Practical Projects
• Presentations
• Research Activities
• Written and Practical Tests
• Peer Assessment
• Self Assessment
• Other forms of Written Assessment (blogs, posters ect..)

Today it is said that we live in the Digital Education Revolution. This is due to the evolution of the internet and the focus by the government on schools, giving them grants for computers and high speed internet.  

PLANE - (pathways for learning anywhere any time) is a group of resources that can be used by teachers to learn about different topics and to broaden their knowledge base.  

Database Design

A database is a the storage of information which use forms and reports
Forms - used to imput information in dadtbase
Report- to give you clear concise legible information. reports are the way that information is presented it need to have information that the end useer will want to see or know.  It should be clear, the layout can be changed to make the layout clearer. 

Data Types - students are to identify outputs in a database.

• primary sources are forms filled out from jobs and transactions
• secondary- information people have put into a format and given to you which are not as reliable

imput devices barcodes and scanners. createing quires
data base calculations work automatically and can draw conclutions from the information that has been entered into the database.

Teachers could give students a task such as create a database for a fruit shop.  You could get them to concider the different issues, users and ethical factors that they would come across in the database.
They could  create a simple database with this information. 

Expert systems simulates knowledge this is like when you forget your password ait may ask you a few security questions.

The games below are good as Database Design can often be seen as a dry subject but games can be a great tool in livening up this topic!

Database Game!


In the presentation by our peers they displayed a short game that could be used to show the effectiveness of database systems.  there were 2 decks of cards.  One deck was laid out in order in piles of suits. The Second pile had just been shuffled.  The presenters then chose two people from the class.  The presenters then called out a card and the volunteers had to try and find the cards from thier card piles.

Image from http://www.systemsplanning.com/arlis.htm


On-line Database Games!
Click here for website This website it a good resource and has a list of games that can be played with students which aid their learning on the topic of Databases.  I recommend the maze games which is similar to a PAC man game except when you get hit with the smiley face monsters you have to answer the question relating to databases and if you get it wrong you have to answer other questions till you get a question correct then  you are allowed to play.
The game Dunkin' Teacher is also good - students answer database database questions correct the teacher is pushed closer to the cauldron (to be pushed in finally!) if they get the answer wrong the teacher is pushed away from the cauldron.

Core topic: Software Development & Programming

This topic teaches students to write their own code and programming.  
Their are different programming languages (seen in the image below) that can be used some are used more commonly that others such as java script.  
A good textbook is : Information & software Technology a project based approach (Pearson)
You want to keep it as clean and basic as you can. 

Names of some of the many programming codes.

image found at :http://www.collegeteacher.org/csci101/resource_programming/prog03.php 

Scratch a starting program where  students can learn the basics of programming.  they can use Scratch for free and it is a big community.  There are also different games you can create, animations interactive stories, music and art. This is an image based programming site but programming code can also be used by a higher grade.     
    

  

Video found at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkhjX792yVI

A good assessments that students could use is creating a blog that they post up the different codes that they create as they go, This will make it easier for students as writing about code can be tedious but if they do it progressively and can copy and paste the code they use  and write about its use it can be far less difficult for them.  


When teaching Programming you want to keep it as interesting as you can. We should make a concerted effort to try to keep it interesting.  
I found a website that has different programming links to help kids you may find it helpful.  it shows you different programs that have been created that help kids learn code click here

Ignorance

Image found at:http://www.geekherocomic.com/2008/10/21/the-art-of-programming/

Technology in the Workplace

Technology is becoming an ever growing part of the workplace as we saw some key examples in our lecture :

Video found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESCxYchCaWI&feature=youtu.be

• Maquarie libary as a detailed book storage retrieval system where machines locate certain book crates and they are sent over for the borrower to collect at the desk.  It was modelled on the university of Chicago's library the Joe and Rika Mansueto Libary 
• Maquarie Innovation centre is a great place to take students for excursions.  Students can 
• As well as at IKEA where there is detailed shelf storage where the items can be located by the forklifts where workers can then follow the map to retrieve the products.  
• Virtual Prex which virtual learning in a virtual world.  

Core topic: Software

Core Topic: Software

Software are programs and other operating information used by a computer.
There are 3 main types of software that students will need to differentiate.

1. Application Software
2. Operating Systems and
3. Interfaces

There are three main types of application software:
A good way aid students in their learning is to show student is visually.  

1. Command Line interfaces- these uses lists of scripts and codes and were only used by people who could understand the commands
2. Graphical user interfaces- These are the visual interfaces that have been created so that we do not have to understand every piece code.  There are different interfaces for different types windows and macintosh for example.
3. Natural language Interface- is a human interface were words and phrases control the interface.  

Command line Interface
image found at:http://jrm-research.blogspot.com.au/2006/11/command-line-interface.html

Graphical User Interface for an iPhone
Image found at: http://downloadpsd.com/gui/iphone-gui-psd-source/

Natural Language Interface
image found at:http://www.theasiasun.com/siri-iphone-4s-the-google-killer/923975/

During the lecture we were shown an on-line program called WIX that could be used for students who are in lower grades or who have learning difficulties.  This program helps to get students familiar with the layout of a webpage. This could be used with lower ability students and beginners.  

Video found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs1XSq-qxmA&feature=youtu.be

Even getting students to create a blog on word press or blogger could be a good task as they can play around with the layout of their blog and can continually add information through their posts.  

The site Pearltrees is a good way for students to link websites they like together click here to view a Pearltree It is good because you can place the cursor above the website circle and it gives you a view of the website, so you know if it is the one you are after.   

Video found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zDkwN-_ySg

Robotics & Automated Systems

Robot are programmable manipulators designed to do different jobs that replace human tasks.  Some robots like the SCARA robot can be used in an overhead setting on a grid and do not work underwater.
 the robot Staubi TP80's function is to perform task under water and is the fastest working robot developed so far. Cartesian robots work on an industrial setting and jobs are programmed into the memory base, which the robot completes.

Automated systems are systems that replace humans but they are suseptable to security treats and high costs.  Sensors are used which activate the process.  There can be many different sensor types which responses are programmed into the system.

Students often do not have a chance to have a hands on feel for robotics which is a shame because it is a fun topic with so many possibilities! It can be had to find suitable projects for students.  I have found some videos that have some interesting ideas for building a robot with the students. One in particular I liked which could be a small project for a lower grade is the bristle bot robot which uses the bristles on a toothbrush to sweep around.
If you chose a larger robot it may be more viable for students to work in groups.
 Teaching how to build a robot may take you having to do a short course or getting someone to show you how its done but it would be well worth that learning experience!

Video found at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD1EOHYIdd4

Video found at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N05nTiRfX8

Video found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1speabcZNA

This week students in my class presented a web quest on robots.  the web quest was good and could be used as a resource when teaching to give students an short opening or reminder into the topic of Robotics.
Click for Web Quest

I found a helpful chapter on Robotics and Automated systems click here for Chapter from the Cambridge website.  It could be used to complete these quiz questions Click for quiz.

Networks & Core Topic: People

Networks

Their are many different Networks that are used in the community the 4 types of Networks we should teach our students about are:

1. LAN- Local Area Networks
2. WAN- Wide Area Networks
3. MAN- Metropolitan Area Networks and
4. EPN- Enterprise Private Networks

Network Topology

The different layouts of networks should also be taught the different network topology which can be seen in the diagram to the left. The website where the image was found also gives information about each topology type.


Image found at  http://learn-networking.com/network-design/a-guide-to-network-topology

Core Topic: People

It is Important to teach students the importance of being able to communicate with people.  This is an important part of the computing/IT industry.  Why is it important?  Communication is important in a wide range of jobs because in order for a web designer, programmer or technician for instance to find out what the client wants they need to be able to understand and create the programme or design that the client is after in order to be successful.

Video found at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYBPotROKC8

Diversity in the ICT Industry

Image found at:http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/ebay-use-joomla-open-source-glue


We s teachers should be aware of how students learn and need to encourage them to try and play around with programmes in their home computer usage.  Particularly with girls studies have shown that they tend to wait to be taught how to use a program as opposed to boys who tend to learn skills at home through learning as they go.  We need to have a "Give it a Go" attitude toward the students and teach them that technology is not something that they should be reluctant about.

As teachers we should teach students about the different ICT jobs in the workforce that they may be interested in such as magazine editing, librarian, computer technician, programmer and many more
you could show them a few videos maybe one a week to get them thinking about having a career in the computing industry. the video below shows the CGI work done on the character Davy Jones in Pirates of the Caribbean .

Video found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdAEYLWMY3A&feature=related