RESOURCES
E-LEARNING MODULES
An e-learning module sits in an online learning portal, where students access information and move through a series of activities or tasks to consolidate their learning. An e-learning module can include short videos or animations, activities such as quizzes, puzzles and interactive games, as well as assessment tasks. E-learning modules promote student engagement as students are engaging and interacting with the material. They also promote student-centred learning as students can move through the module at their own pace.
NOTEBOOKS FOR VERSIONS 11 AND 18
SMART Notebook is an educational software designed to use with an interactive whiteboard (IWB) and is comprised of a series of pages like a book or presentation. Notebook can be used as a lesson delivery tool and allows teachers to present information or design interactive activities for students to engage with. Many schools use SMART Notebook 11 while some have recently updated to SMART Notebook 18 (SMART Learning Suite (SLS)). SLS has inbuilt gamification where teachers can create games for students to interact with using their own content. SLS also has inbuilt assessment tools and an online platform where teachers can share Notebooks with students and create activities that promote student-centred and collaborative learning.
ANIMATIONS
Animation starts with independent pictures and puts them together to form the illusion of continuous motion. Animations are often used as an educational resource as they use both visual and verbal communication and are recognised as an effective medium in engaging students. Educational animations are those produced for the purpose of promoting learning. Computer animation is useful for depicting dynamic content because it can show changes over time (temporal changes) which is especially useful for teaching processes and procedures.
VIDEOGRAPHICS
A videographic is a visual representation of data and knowledge in the form of an online video. They are created by combining various animations to form an informational video that assists to explain data in an engaging way. One of the biggest advantages of videographics is that they can integrate various types of media into a single presentation. Videographics are easily shareable and are an effective resource, particularly for students who prefer moving pictures and animations to static images. Videographics are also an effective educational resource as they appeal to a wide audience and do not rely on the viewer’s language skills and knowledge. In this sense, they can cater for the diverse skills and abilities that are often found within a single classroom.
POWERPOINT
PowerPoint is a presentation tool composed from individual slides. It is used to present information and can include images, text and links. PowerPoint is a popular tool that teachers across NSW use to present information to students. PowerPoint can also be uploaded as a Google Slide for teachers using GSuite and can be shared with students. When shared with students, it can promote student-centred learning as they move through the presentation at their own pace.
INFOGRAPHICS
Infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. The static infographic is also an effective way to aggregate data. Humans process visual content faster than written content, and infographics are therefore designed to be absorbed quickly and have a longer-lasting effect than regular text articles. Infographics include a targeted focus on a subject and answer a question, present data or offer advice. Again, this mode of text is easily accessible to all students as it caters for varying levels of language skills and knowledge.
PDF WORKSHEETS
A PDF is a file format. It was designed to create transferable documents that can be shared across multiple digital platforms. Teachers often use PDF worksheets that they can hand these out to students. The worksheets can include images and text and can contain activities such as games, puzzles, quizzes, assessments and work tasks.