Rationale+Part+2+-+Why+these+are+the+most+appropriate+resources

Hi Guys Here are my ideas for part 2 or the rationale. I think we also need to include something in here about the resources assisting with the integration of various areas of the curriculum. What do you think? Cheers Cass 10.46am 8/10 Maybe something like this Each of these resources assists in engaging students in the topic, enabling them to explore the inquiry question and in enhancing student learning through the integration of various dimensions of the curriculum
 * __Reflect on why these are the most appropriate resources to use for this class to explore this question__**

Hi Cass, I like adding the info re the resources assisting with the integration of the curriculum and think your suggestion reads well. I'll see if I can reference this to back it up. Great job. Lil 8/10 4.48pm

The interactive white board has the potential to engage all students in the inquiry. It enables teachers to cater for all types of learners therefore creating a meaningful learning experience that holds the students’ attention. The class wiki provides a forum that encourages the expression of various opinions, ideas and discussions allowing participation at any point in time. It makes information readily accessible for future reference during discussions and the development of presentations. The wiki also enables the teacher to view and guide the students’ ideas and opinions and provide scaffolding when appropriate (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2007). It also provides the teacher with information required for assessment such as which students are contributing to the inquiry and their ability to work collaboratively. From a constructivist viewpoint, the class wiki encourages ownership of learning, provides opportunities to negotiate as a group and share the responsibility of learning and, demonstrates students' multiple perspectives and representations of their understanding, (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2007).
 * __Interactive whiteboard (IWB)__**
 * __Class wiki - created on wikis-spaces__**

Students' use the classroom laptops to contribute to and use different mediums to investigate the inquiry question. These mediums include exploring learning resources and websites, contributing to collaborative discussion on the wiki and collating and presenting information. The classroom laptops provide a learning environment that is easily accessible and productive.
 * __Laptop computers__**

The interactive learning resources, 'Ollies world' and 'Why recycle', relate directly to the inquiry topic and enable students to build on their prior knowledge by researching and discovering new information. These resources support authentic learning connecting the inquiry topic to the lives of the students (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2007). The inquiry shifts from a problem solving inquiry in the classroom to a problem directly related to the students’ lives. Ownership is gained as students acquire information and solutions to the problem. The students may then go on to make a difference and contribute to the solution.
 * __[|Why Recycle] and [|Ollie's World]__**

The applications of Microsoft word, excel, powerpoint and publisher enables students' to access a wide range of formats to express their understandings of the inquiry topic. Students learn different forms of expression to communicate their ideas through implementing the various tools available within these applications in order to showcase their understandings.
 * __Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and Powerpoint__**

The school intranet is a medium for students to showcase their work to the wider school community. It promotes community learning and increases the students self esteem.
 * __School Intranet__**

I think this part of the rationale is good. Don't think we can add too much more unless there is something I've forgotten. Just have a look at IWB section, I've added a comment to keep in mind. Just putting it out there. Lil 9.55pm

I think that the question specifically says why these are the most appropriate resources for this class to explore this question. Rather than comparing other resources perhaps we should say why they are good eg age appropriate ect. Lil. Just thinking if we are saying why these resources are the most important we should compare them to others and suggest why they are better. Josh  The interactive white board has the potential to engage students' in the lesson and will allow for better group student involvement compared with handing out images on paper for each student as each student will be viewing the correct image. As we are conducting a lesson based around recycling it's important to reduce the amount of paper we use in these lesons. The learning experience is meaningful and is able to hold the student's attention. Teachers can ensure Gardner's multiple intelligences as described in Marsh(2008), are accomodated so that visual learners for example can engage in the learning experience. Concerned here that we have lost the meaning of the different types of learners. Kind of got two trains of thought. Lil  The forum of the class wiki encourages varied opinions, ideas and discussions to be posted at any point in time. From a constructivist viewpoint, the class wiki encourages ownership of learning, provides opportunities to negotiate as a group and share the responsibility of learning and demonstrates students' multiple perspectives and representations of their understanding, (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2007). The information gathered on the class wiki can be used for future reference and incorporated into a class discussion or into developing the various group presentations. The classroom teacher can view and guide the ideas and opinions, scaffolding (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2007) support and information in order to enhance student learning. The class wiki provides evidence that all students are contributing to the inquiry and working collaboratively as a group.
 * __ Interactive whiteboard (IWB) __**
 * __Class wiki - created on wikis-spaces __**

Students' use classroom laptops so that they can contribute to and use different mediums such as exploring the learning resources, websites, collaborative discussion on the wiki and the collation and presentation of information. The laptops are available to the class which minimises organisation for the class to relocate to the computer lab creating a learning environment that is easily accessible and productive.
 * __ Laptop computers __**

The interactive learning resources, 'Ollies world' and 'Why recycle', relate directly to the inquiry topic and enable students' to build on their prior knowledge by researching and discovering new information. These resources support authentic learning (Woolfolk & Margetts, 2007) connecting the inquiry topic to the lives of the students' and the inquiry shifts from a problem solving inquiry in the classroom to a problem directly related to the student's lives. Ownership is gained as students' acquire information and solutions to the problem. The students' can make a difference and contribute to the solution.
 * __ [|Why Recycle] and [|Ollie's World] __**

The applications of Microsoft word, excel, powerpoint and publisher enables students' to access a wide range of formats to express their understandings of the inquiry topic. Students' learn different forms of expression to communicate their ideas implementing various tools available from these applications. They also provide a format to showcase their understandings of the topic.
 * __ Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher and Powerpoint __**

Community learning can be achieved when adding the students' work to demonstrate their understanding of the problem and the suggestions for solutions to the inquiry problem. It is a medium to showcase their work to the school community at any given time. In order for the class to explore this question it is imperative to select resources that are appropriate, ensuring enhanced learning and student engagement in the topic.
 * __ School Intranet __**
 * __ Not sure where this fits __**

Think I added this as an intro to the reflection. Probably not required as the heading is self explanatory. Lil