Group 3: Glogster for Education

Today I have been exploring Presentation ICT's which include a large array of different tools. I have focused on and explored with Glogster. I have never before even heard of the tool glogster before an E-Learning lecture let alone utilised it. Glogster is in a kind of multimedia format poster, it is a website where you can create a poster that can include anything that you desire. It can have information, visual attractions; including text, pictures, animations, videos, and audio's. Here is my first attempt at creating a glog:

    

Oh my gosh, I just successfully embedded that! =)

I found this website so easy to navigate and to use, I had fun exploring with all of the different pictures, audios, and videos that the tool has to offer. My glog did involve a topic that I had previously explored in E-Learning; mobile phones in classrooms. Glogster allowed me to present a certain amount of information that I had in an attractive and appealing way. I did, in fact, use / present this glog to my class on one of my prac days and they gave me positive feedback that it did interest them and grab their attention. This glog took me only minutes to create and manipulate, and I was so pleased with the outcome and specifically the option that I had of keeping it private or shared to a global length.

The opportunities that this website offers is immense, this is a very valuable tool for me now to use in my lessons! The tool even has a specifically designed education (EDU) section for educators and learners. In this section the information and variety offered is incredible. I explored the site and found a few very eye catching that I would love to hang in a classroom (site legally of coarse) once I am a teacher.

How great is this one!!!:

     

http://jessasaurus.glogster.com/N-E-R-D-/
Can you imagine this poster staring at the students as they walk in the door to your class? Glogster has opened up a whole new technology based learning for me. Glogster will be able to relate work to real life situations, create meaning, and authenticity!

Strengths:
It is hard to just list the strengths of this particular ICT tool, you could listen to me talk about this website and it usefulness for a long time. It will be valuable to both students and teachers. Here some dot points that I have come up with: Glogster is:

- Appealing to the students
- Easy to use / user friendly
- Promotes creativity
- Quick to create
- Engaging
- Easily manipulable with the new information and objects
- Diverse
- 21st century tool (up to date)

Weaknesses:
Although glogster does have A LOT of positives / strengths, a like every other ICT tool, it does have its weaknesses.
- I found that when I was exploring with Glogster I became too involved with the aesthetics rather then the content. This could become an 'issue' for some teachers if they do find themselves delving into creativity to too great of extents.
- For me, Glogster seems that it will be a very useful tool for the teachers to use rather then as an activity for the students to perform; it could become quite a lengthy task if all of the students are to complete their own Glog.

Oppurtunites:
- Glogster provides huge opportunity for exploration; teachers could find many resources on the site to help them in their unit and lesson planning.
- Teachers could use a Glog to present a new topic to students,
- to generate interest in an ongoing topic for the students,
- to motivate the students, and
- much, much more!!!

Threats:
- Similar to every website, there is always the need for caution of safety and legal rights / issues. If a teacher is allowing / instructing students to create their own Glog she / he needs to ensure that the legal and safe 'rules' have been understood and that no one is doing the wrong thing.
- Of coarse teachers also need to ensure that they are following procedures correctly.

Hmmm... I could keep on going on about Glogster for several pages, but hopefully I have touched on the importance and value of it while stating other matters. As I said, I have already used the tool in my prac classess and found the outcome to be very succesful and interesting for the students! I look forward to utilising the tool more and more!


 
http://superfreake.glogster.com/STAND-OUT/