ExploreIf you are new to Scootle, watch the promotional video produced for a non-teacher audience.Register and access Scootle:
- Teachers within Australia should register for and access Scootle using their school email address.
- If you do not have a school email address, you can register as a Charles Sturt University student.
- Scootle is not available outside Australia. Can you identify an equivalent education repository from your jurisdiction?
Search Scootle for a resource related to critical thinking. In Forum 2.4 share the strategies you used to refine your search results.
* Scootle main search box used term: critical thinking
* On sidebar, deselected all but K-2 -> 53 results
* Deselected Teacher resource, Assessment Resource and Dataset, -> 6 results
Resource found:
Exploring traditional and contemporary Aboriginal Visual Arts – TLF ID M019567
http://www.artsedge.dca.wa.gov.au/resources/Pages/Visual-Arts.aspx DoE collection of links to resources
https://japingkaaboriginalart.com/education/ (a specific resource link)
I chose that resource as strengthening my resource base and skills in incorporating the Cross Curriculum priority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Histories and Cultures is something I would like to focus on in my personal development goals for this year.
An interesting side-note to be cautious about, though, is that the resource I found did not really focus on K-2 as I had requested in my search limitations.
Read
Here is a practical article addressing issues of management for apps from identifying and acquiring apps to managing and teaching.
Try using the app evaluation checklist to evaluate an app you have seen being recommended or used in a school.
App: Evernote. (2015). Skitch [Mobile software application]. Retrieved from App Store.
Context: To use for Year 2 Geography fieldwork – annotating maps and photos to share finidngs.
Evaluation using App Evaluation Checklist (Cantwell, 2013):
Purpose:
*The app is suitable for the intended age group, though controlling the annotations can be a bit fiddly and frustrating.
*Annotating the maps and pictures taken on the fieldwork excursion will be integral to demonstrating learning in this activity.
*The app itself does not challenge students to use higher-order thinking strategies, but the task it is part of has this possibility.
*The app makes the task easier and more sustainable, though it could be done in the past with printing, cutting, pasting and annotating with physical tools.
Design:
*Students may need initial instruction on launching and navigating app, but should progress to independent use rapidly.
*There are minimal instructions, but what there are seem useful.
*Design appears functional and visually stimulating.
*Music/sound n/a.
*No accounts, unless sharing to evernote or another account-bearing program. We will save to photos and then transfer to computer accounts.
*Limited variety of saving/sharing options, but functional for our context.
*Linked maps seem error free and up to date
*I am not sure about accessibility functions
*App loads quickly
*I have not had issues with crashing
*No privacy issues
*No advertising
*no in-app purchases
Content and process:
*skill reinforcement n/a
*feedback n/a
*minimal customisation of settings
*learning styles n/a
*assessment/summary data n/a
Summary of evaluation: Skitch provides a sustainable way of engaging in authentic reporting on fieldwork excursion data which students should be able to navigate independently after initial instruction in use. As a free app with no ads or in-app purchases it is worth trying to use in this teaching and learning context.
References
Cantwell, K. (2013). Living appily ever after in the library. Connections, 86, 6-7. Retrieved from http://www2.curriculum.edu.au/scis/connections/issue_86_2013/articles/living_appily_ever_after_in_the_library.html
Read
Foley, C. (2012). eBooks for leisure and learning. Scan, 31(4), 6-14. Retrieved from https://www.csu.edu.au/division/library/ereserve/pdf/foley-c.pdf
As you read, note selection and management issues around e-books. Consider fiction, nonfiction and enhanced e-books.
Selection issues to consider:
* What is the appropriate balance of fiction and non-fiction
* Consider types of enhancements done in enhanced ebooks – do they help or hinder literacy and learning objectives (
* collaboration with teachers
* links with other initiatives, lesson plans, etc.
* What platforms will suit our school context
* What decision cirteria will we apply for choosing subscriptions services
References
McNelly, T. A. (2018). Selecting ‘just right’ electronic books for the early childhood classroom. Kappa Delta Pi Record, 54(1), 23-29. doi: 10.1080/00228958.2018.1407172
Read
Educause. (2012). 7 things you should know about social content curation
Note the potential uses and the concerns, and consider implications for use by a school library in collection related activities.
Concerns – privacy and copyright violations and decontextualised information
Uses – storyboard ideas, gather visual examples for things,
Note: the review of curation service has been posted as a separate post because it explicitly called for being posted on the blog.