In a previous post entitled E-learning for Children's Study Patterns I have commented on various websites which are very educational for the children, which although fun can substitute for studying. Whilst browsing websites of Maltese schools I have encountered this website from a primary school in Malta.
I have attached a link of this school's website in which one can find among other things, updated news circulars and a school calender for the parents, and a kid's corner which shows the children's work, Health and safety tips, and also learning activities which the children can enjoy and subtly learn from! Other schools should definitely take the shift in current learning styles into account and consider constructing a website in a similar pattern
School: St.Francis Birkirkara
Website: http://www.stfrancisschoolbkara.com/
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During this course I have realised how much uptodate and relevant material is available for my subject area not only through Universities through sites such as youtube. The amount is incredible If teachers at both primary and secondary level are given just a few hours of continuous training throughout the year, to keep them aware of these sites, they would not only reduce the amount of material they have to produce but it would also be better. Sometimes it is so easy to overlook or not be aware of them especially when you are overloaded with other work.
ReplyDeleteI have just visited the St Francis School website, what a great idea! I agree that other schools should definitely have their own website, all it takes is a few dedicated teachers to update it once in a while.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I do not like about this site is the design, which looks like it was created in the early nineties! Nowadays it's so easy to use found templates or create a blog that there is really no need to create an actual website from the beginning. Therefore no school should have an excuse!
However if they wish to go further with the site, imagine the possibilities... Educational Flash games, organising activities online, forwarding emails to parents via the website.
Blogger Maltese primary schools and E-learning
ReplyDeleteIf I am not mistaken, there is an e-learning department under the Education division which its main aim is to assist teachers in the primary schools to engage in different projects such as e-twinning and Connectando Mundos. Such projects are available and there are teachers in primary schools who engage in such projects. There is room for improvement since the minority of the teachers do so.
Also each student in the primary schools (at least state schools) can have an email address which can be used in the above mentioned projects and other projects where students communicate with other students both from Malta and other countries. In my opinion , this is a form of e-learning too and I think that such activities should be promoted better and incentives should be available to teacher to engage in such projects
In one of my previous blogs I stated that e-learning is more suitable for adults, as it requires self-discipline. But the website mentioned above is a good proof that we still can give the opportunity to young students to participate within an e-learning environment.
ReplyDeleteI also read the About Us section of this website, and it seems that this schools is blending traditional with progressive education: "We believe in a holistic approach to education, and thus we provide our students with lessons in Physical Education, Drama, Music and ICT."
The fact that they are using some type of e-learning activities through their website (in the Kid's Corner section) is another proof that their vision is progressive education, which is quite an innovative thing in Malta. I believe other schools should consider to implement some kind of e-learning through their system; today's young students would surely find this helpful when they will need to make use of actual e-learning in the future.
This is a kids' site which is very interesting, interactive and makes learning fun.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.e-learningforkids.org/
The site isn’t only for kids, though; it encourages parents to get more engaged in their kids’ education, educators to contribute their knowledge on how kids can learn better,it gives the opportunity to commercial education and game developers to contribute to the next generation, corporations and associations to channel their social responsibility efforts and people with a passion for childhood education make a difference.
@Haber. What an amazing link you have referred us to. Thanks . I appreciate as am always on the lookout for such websites for my daughter. Because after all, isn’t our teaching a reflection of what we want to instil in our own children? Don’t we agree that we sometimes treat our students with the same level as our own children especially when it comes from our desire to shape them, motivate them to learn and for them to get up and do something with their lives.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that lately I had to become accustomed to software like Camtasia, Xtranormal and hotpotatoes as suggested by Ms Vanessa and it was a fantastic experience. My first impression was. What an opportunity for today’s children and youths. The number of software and programs available (most of which open source or at least free to use) online is incredible. I think, at least this is my feeling from this e-learning experience, that there are so many programs and useful links on the net that we have to find ways or websites or through short courses as this our e-learning module, that guide us on what is available on the net for us to use. Sometimes I feel that when you are searching for something specific, it is very difficult to find the exact software you need and any help from anyone who has done it before would certainly help. That is why the importance of forums or blogs. That is why that in any elearning strategies that our institutes may initiate, there is a need for the teacher or administrator to coordinate/ facilitate any learning activities in order to improve the effectiveness of the elearning tools.
I was really impressed by the St.Francis School site. It is not just an ordinary site that informs the general public about the school but it is more focussed on student activities, aimed to help them develop and learn with a different approach. Although provided by a school, it presents activities which are totally different from the class scenario we normally attribute with schools and encourage students to learn through play.
ReplyDeleteThe e-learningforkids site is also highly educational. Such sites introduce very young children to the concept of education in e-learning environments. This is very important since when they grow older they are already accustomed to such scenarios and hence they find it easier to integrate in e-learning programmes.
Nowadays, most locals schools are well performing towards an e-learning vision. Moreover the majority of schools has been offering adequate ICT professional development opportunities for teachers to be able to positively participate technological and e-learning initiatives.
ReplyDeleteThe use of e-learning and other computer technology activities in schools has shown to increase students' motivation towards learning, while it offers equal opportunities to all student independently of race, gender, special needs, age, amongst others.
Kids as early as Kinder 1 (age 3) are being familiarised with computers by having a computer in each classroom(at least in state schools). It is truly amazing to see a four year old switching on a computer and clicking on their favourite games and play them! I am impressed by St. Francis School’s website – it is a fantastic initiative and should be encouraged across the board. I am sure that these initiatives will facilitate the use of e-learning for future generations.
ReplyDeleteI am attaching another site which is great for teaching kids. http://www.thekidzpage.com/index.html . It is a fun way to learn, and the children, especially the younger ones can learn a lot without actually realising it. This and other interactive sites will pave the way for a society which is compatible with e-learning
As with any new technology, children of any era tend to find heads and tails of it much more quickly than the average adult. This might be due to the fact that they are not tied down by previous knowledge. Children of the last decade were born into a word where internet is becoming more and more an integral part of every day life. One must admit that the internet is part of today's children reality.
ReplyDeleteChildren learn how o handle a mouse before they know how to hold a pen. They learn words through picture association using video games. My nephew, who is not any brighter than any other average child, was able to get through online video games long before he could read. My brother used to be bewildered as to how he[the child] managed to find his was through a game when it involved a knowledge of wordsa dn the child could not as yet read.
I think that uising e-learnign with primary school children should not even be debated, but it is something which should be take forgranted. One cannot not take into consideration such an important reality of children's lives.
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ReplyDeleteI agree that the use of e-learning at the early stages will increase the students’ motivation towards learning. It makes learning enjoyable and entertaining for the little ones as most of the time they are learning through play. At a very young age even controlling the mouse can be a challenge! If learning is presented in an appealing manner we should encounter less problematic students in the future.
ReplyDeleteI support the St Francis School’s initiative. Hopefully more schools will follow suit as this will certainly be to the benefit of future students and their parents.
A fantastic site which I have come across is http://www.starfall.com/ it is a truly fun site for kids and also adults to go through.
It blends games with learning and teaching in a great way.
As with any new technology, children of any era tend to find heads and tails of it much more quickly than the average adult. This might be due to the fact that they are not tied down by previous knowledge. Children of the last decade were born into a word where internet is becoming more and more an integral part of every day life. One must admit that the internet is part of today's children reality.
ReplyDeleteChildren learn how o handle a mouse before they know how to hold a pen. They learn words through picture association using video games. My nephew, who is not any brighter than any other average child, was able to get through online video games long before he could read. My brother used to be bewildered as to how he [the child] managed to find his was through a game when it involved a knowledge of words and the child could not as yet read.
I think that using e-learning with primary school children should not even be debated, but it is something which should be take for granted. One cannot not take into consideration such an important reality of children's lives.
I agree mainly with what has been written in the previous posts, that is that the Internet and IT in general has changed the way we communicate, the way we learn, the way we carry on most of our daily tasks, in short the way we live. So it is important that children should be encouraged to move with the times and familiarise themselves with this new way of integrating in society. And I believe too that very young children have the potential to learn at a much faster pace than adults. As David Kenely said this could have something to do with them not having any previous knowledge that they have to “un-learn” before they learn something new. It is truly amazing to observe the ease with which they handle both hardware and software.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly however, I visited a site the other day http://artthreat.net/2010/03/documentaries-teaching-tool/
which stated that a recent study had shown that babies and children under the age of two do not actually benefit cognitively from screen media. The biggest children’s entertainment firm in the world, Disney, recently offered money back to parents who had bought their educational DVD set “Baby Einstein”, although not quite admitting to any false advertising. Fortunately the report continues to confirm that older children (starting roughly from around age 3) gain considerably from virtual alternatives to text books, such as documentaries. It also acknowledges the importance of media literacy and the need to start teaching it from an early age.