QR Codes

What Is A QR Code?

Qr Codes (Quick Response Codes) are machine-readable codes consisting of an array of black and white squares. Additionally, they are similar to barcodes however they are able to store a lot more data. QR codes are typically used for storing URLs or other information for reading by the camera on a smartphone or any other QR reading devices.


How Useful Are They In A Learning Environment?

QR technology provides many benefits for teachers. Listed in the following are the three major reasons why QR codes are useful in education:

1) QR codes can hold over 4000 characters of information. This means that instead of printing out a long web article for students, QR codes can give them direct and immediate access to resources. This can either be achieved in class or at home. A lot of time is saved.

2) They are quite easy to generate. To make one, one would only need to copy and paste the address of a webpage into a QR generating tool. Once the code has been produced, it can then be transferred to the teaching resource or used on a piece of paper on a whiteboard, or left up on a smartboard screen for students to scan in class.

3) QR codes are printable on any material; paper, textile, walls etc. Some schools use them in the main reception area to provide extra information about school events etc.

Bibliography:

Bbcactive.com. (2016). QR codes in education. [online] Available at: http://www.bbcactive.com/BBCActiveIdeasandResources/QRcodesineducation.aspx [Accessed 29 Apr. 2016].

My QR Code



This QR code was made as part of a class exercise. the QR code generator found on the website below, was used to create it.

website: https://www.the-qrcode-generator.com/

How Could They Be Useful In My Artefact?

The QR code is a good means of gaining instant access to information. My artefact will be about the Island of Mauritius. So a good reason to make use of this would be to allow it to reference an url providing key information about the place.

Virtual Learning Environments

So What Is A VLE?

A virtual learning environment (VLE) is a set of teaching and learning tools designed to enhance a student's learning experience by including computers and the Internet in the learning process.

The principal components of a VLE package include curriculum mapping (breaking curriculum into sections that can be assigned and assessed), student tracking, online support for both teacher and student, electronic communication (email, threaded discussions, chat, Web publishing), and Internet links to outside curriculum resources.

In general, VLE users are assigned either a teacher ID or a student ID.

The teacher sees what a student sees, but the teacher has additional user rights to create or modify curriculum content and track student performance.

There are a number of commercial VLE software packages available, including Blackboard, WebCT, Lotus LearningSpace, and COSE.

Rouse, M. (2016). What is virtual learning environment (VLE) or managed learning environment (MLE)? - Definition from WhatIs.com. [online] WhatIs.com. Available at:http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/virtual-learning-environment-VLE-or-managed-learning-environment-MLE [Accessed 28 Apr. 2016].

Main Advantages Of VLEs

- The teacher can place lesson material on the VLE in the form of electronic files. A student is then able to download a copy for themselves and open it to complete tasks

- Students are able to upload their class or homework onto the VLE for the teachers to mark

- The VLE can contain quizzes or tests for the students to utilise

- Some tests could be marked electronically with the teacher immediately being able to see the results

- Students are able to work together on a project as they are able to share work

- Electronic messages can be sent from one another

- Social media i.e. Forums could be set up

- It is accessible from home and so enable students to obtain their resources and work from home

The Disadvantages Of VLEs

- Non technical teachers may find it complicated to use

- If the VLE is run 'in house' then regular backups and maintenance is required. this adds to the costs of running the VLE. Some schools may not have network staff or a teacher who would be willing to undertake this extra responsibility

- The VLE becomes inaccessible if the internet or network is down 

Learning Styles And Theories

Overview

The term "learning styles" refers to a range of theories which indicate that people can be classified according to their style of learning. Each theory present different views on how the styles should be defined and categorised. A common belief is that individuals differ in how they learn.

This belief came about in the 1970s and had influenced education. Teachers are advised to assess the learning styles of their students and to adapt their classroom methods to best fit each student's learning style.

There are many different learning style models about. One of these will be described below:

VAK

Walter Burke Barbe and colleagues proposed 3 learning modalities.

1) Visualising Modality

2) Auditory Modality

3) Kinesthetic Modality

These three are often identified by the acronym VAK.  

Descriptions of learning modalities:

Barbe and colleagues reported that learning modality strengths can occur independently or in combination (although the most frequent modality strengths, according to their research, are visual or mixed), they can change over time, and they become integrated with age. They also pointed out that learning modality strengths are different from preferences; a person's self-reported modality preference may not correspond to their empirically measured modality strength.This disconnect between strengths and preferences was confirmed by a subsequent study. Nevertheless, some scholars have criticized the VAK model. Psychologist Scott Lilienfeld and colleagues have argued that much use of the VAK model is nothing more than pseudoscience or a psychological urban legend.

Table & Info Reference: Willingham, D., Hughes, E. and Dobolyi, D. (2015). The Scientific Status of Learning Styles Theories. Teaching of Psychology, 42(3), pp.266-271.

The video on this link describes each of these learning modalities in detail: http://www.virtualearninghub.com/teaching-strategies-learning-styles/

Introduction

About Me:

My name is Hannah, I'm 24 years old. I'm currently a full-time student, studying a degree course: Bsc Hons Computing And Information Systems. 

Hobbies / Interests:

I enjoy taking part in various sports, cycling and generally keeping fit. Other hobbies include socializing, being creative, gaming

and taking challenges.

What Sort Of A Learner Am I?

I'm not too sure myself however, after carrying out a few on line quizzes, it appears as though I am a mixed type of learner but mostly a Visual One.

Here's a brief look at my score from this site:

http://www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-quiz.shtml?event=results&A=6&V=8&T=6

 

What's My Learning Style? The Results:

• Auditory: 30%
• Visual: 40%
• Tactile: 30%

You are a Visual learner!

If you are a visual learner, you learn by reading or seeing pictures. You understand and remember things by sight. You can picture what you are learning in your head, and you learn best by using methods that are primarily visual. You like to see what you are learning.

As a visual learner, you are usually neat and clean. You often close your eyes to visualize or remember something.

Why Did I Choose CBLE?

The decision to choose CBLE was in fact made last year after I tested the some of the class of 2015’s artefacts, I gained some knowledge of the module as a whole and asked about the assignment elements. I found out that the artefact itself is what makes up most of the marks. Most said that it is enjoyable and simple to carry out as the age group could be as little as of those who would attend nursery. This basically influenced my decision as I knew from then that the artefact would not need to be too complicating.

I have had little experience in creating a game in the past. The task was to make a game of any genre using the software Game Maker. I chose to create an arcade style game which was based on one of my all time favourites SEGA game; Streets Of Rage.

Part of this unit is about teaching methods, which is something I have a slight interest in as I have considered becoming a teacher in the past. So I feel that the information that will be learnt from the work could be of some use for my future career (if I will eventually become a teacher).

The major part of the module is to create an artefact (a game) aimed to teach, this could be made using, among many methods, PowerPoint and or VBA which I believe I would be able to design and create fairly simply as I find that the programming language is quite easy to manage.