Artefact 4 - Blog Post

Evaluation of four online or e-learning applications

Kahoot

It enables the teacher to assess students understanding of acquired knowledge through a fun, captivating and sometimes competitive way. It can be accessed across multiple devices.  It can be used as a collaborative or individual activity, accessed at school or at home.  However the downsides are that internet access is required and the outcomes are always predetermined and not open and fluid.

This application allows for bicultural consideration through the ability to not only educate about  kaupapa Māori, but also through the use of te reo Māori (Ministry of Education, 2011).  

Kahoot relies on students to contribute appropriately as collaborative group members.  It encourages the key competency of Participating and Contributing (Ministry of Education, 2007).

Padlet

It enables the teacher to set an open topic for collaborativelearning.  Teachers can use this application as a formative assessment tool to assess student’s prior knowledge and also assess their knowledge against learning outcomes. E.g. In inquiry, students could use Padlet to brainstorm their prior knowledge of resources or features within their local community.

This application allows for bicultural consideration through its collaborative approach, this enforces the notion of Whanaungatanga as the students all have to work together to achieve the outcome.  And also Ako, as the student is both the learner and teacher in this approach (Ministry of Education, 2011).  

Padlet draws together students to work collaboratively.  Students are required to be actively involved, contribute, make connections to the topic and with each other. It encourages the key competency of Participating and Contributing (Ministry of Education, 2007).

VoiceThread

It enables the teacher to teach a specific topic by using pre-recorded material.  Unlike your traditional PowerPoint this application also has the ability for the students to also interact with it. Students can seek clarification, ask a question or share their learnings.  This application can be used as a formative assessment tool to assess students prior knowledge and also assess their knowledge against learning outcomes

This application allows for bicultural consideration through the notion of Ako, as the student is both the learner and teacher in this approach.  Also Wānanga, as students are able to share their ideas and thoughts with the teacher, this application allows teacher the opportunity to then talk to the students individually about their learning (Ministry of Education, 2011).  

VoiceThread encourages students to reflect on learning, ask questions, seek clarification and challenge assumptions. It encourages the key competency of Thinking (Ministry of Education, 2007).

Webwhiteboard

Is an online tool that is anchored around collaboration and live discussions.  This allows for topics to be taught without any preconceived content. This is another good tool that can be used for Inquiry based learning and prior knowledge assessment, as well as expanding knowledge. E.g. Students could use Webwhiteboard to brainstorm a topic, in order to document their collaborative thoughts.

This application allows for bicultural consideration through its collaborative approach, using Wānanga, as students are all coming together to learn and discuss a topic. It also includes Ako, where the student can then become the teacher.  And also, Whanaungatanga as the students all have to work together to achieve an outcome (Ministry of Education, 2011).  

Webwhiteboard draws together students to work collaboratively.  Students are required to be actively involved, contribute, make connections to the topic and with each other. It encourages the key competency of Participating and Contributing (Ministry of Education, 2007).

References

Ministry of Education, (2007). The New Zealand Curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media Limited.

Ministry of Education, (2011). Tātaiako: Cultural Competencies for Teachers of Māori Learners. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education