Results

        Just before Christmas we were given a spelling, punctuation and grammar spelling test and also an essay which needed to be handed in just before the Christmas half term. It was a hard time over Christmas with revising for exams but also the worry of "Have I passed my exam or essay?" That was the main worry when returning to University after half term as it was time for our results. Thankfully, I had  72% in my exam which I was ecstatic about. I really did not think I had done well so this gave me faith to believe I can achieve it if I put the hard work in which I am willing to do. I am yet to receive my results for my essay so I am still fretting over that one!!!!

WE'RE STAYING IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE !!!!

SWANSEA CITY !!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

LIBERTY STADIUM, SWANSEA 

 

 

 

VILLA PARK, ASTON VILLA

 

 

 

GOODISON PARK, EVERTON

 

 

 

ETIHAD STADIUM, MANCHESTER CITY

 

 

 

ANFIELD STADIUM, LIVERPOOL

 

 

 

WHITE HART LANE, TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

 

 

                                               

                                                      CRAVEN COTTAGE, FULHAM



Time to reflect

         Now that Christmas is over and our exams are approaching, I sat down and wondered what have I actually learnt about myself since starting University. What have I enjoyed and what have I felt less confident about? My main concern when starting Uni was being on my own and not making friends. I have definitely overcome that fear. I have made lots of new friends and as a group; I think our class are fantastic. We are all a great help to each other and we get through exam times or meeting essay deadlines by supporting and encouraging each other. I have much more confidence in myself now such as when doing presentations and also just generally in myself and believing I can achieve what I want to in life. I was also concerned with how much time I would be able to have to spend studying as I have a four year old daughter who needs most of my attention. Luckily I have a very supportive family who are helping me as much possible. I also worried that I wouldn’t b able to cope with the work given but again I feel like I am coping really well and I am really enjoying the course.

Multiple Intelligences and Technology

        I have been looking at multiple intelligences and technology. In today’s classrooms, lessons are taught and situated around the latest technology. They use iPads, white boards and computers to incorporate their lessons. Times have changed since I was in school, which wasn’t so long ago, which shows how fast technology is changing. I remember using the good old fashioned chalk boards and using paper and pen!! Modern technology influences how people learn and how they are taught.

    

        Howard Gardener believed that technology can influence intelligence and how people perceive intelligence. He introduced seven intelligences including linguistic, logical–mathematical, spatial,

Musical, bodily–kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and then added an eighth, naturalistic. He believed technology affect how we use these intelligences. Gardner suggested that we all possess these intelligences, but in varying amounts.

      I believe that by understanding and being aware of the different intelligences, this can give a positive outlook on learning and help to recognise particular strengths and weaknesses which can be good on self-esteem. However, intelligence can change throughout an individual’s lifetime; therefore people need to be aware of this.  

Edublogs

        Since starting University and studying Educational Studies, I have been following an educational blog called ‘edublogs’. The blog is designed only for educational purposes and can be used by students, teachers, and lecturers and for during class time. It is free to register and is safe and easy to us. It is used during lessons and for part of a portfolio which shows how secure it is. People use the blog for discussions, newsletters, blogging and for videos. The blog advertises Universities such as Stanford University and City University London which shows good validity. It enables teachers and lecturers to discuss classroom tools and to share their knowledge on their teaching techniques and what they find best to use. The website gives access to choose different themes, add widgets and customise your background to make it personal. You can blog anywhere from your computer to your mobile phone so it is modern with technology. Privacy can be suited to the individual’s needs and the website ensures that the blog is friendly for all to use. I think the website is ideal for students as teachers and lecturers can get involved on the website too. http://edublogs.org/

Glogster

              I have been using a visual network website called Glogster and wanted to share with you my thoughts on the website. The website was created in December in 2007 and is a safe room and is used by educators and students from all over the world. You can create posters  by mixing up photos, videos, music and many more and you can publish these for others to see either on Glogster or through Facebook, twitter or Google. You can make friends on there and it is free to create an account and to be honest, everyone likes free things these days!! I found the website really easy to use and enjoyed exploring it. There are many different designs you can use when uploading photos and you can comment on other people's photos too. There are problems with the website though. All pictures are displayed for all to see and some can be quite disturbing, especially for young children, There is no age limit when registering for an account with Glogster, therefore small children using it could see things they shouldn't ! Also, like Facebook, there could be issues with cyber bullying and people pretending to be someone else. I think the website should not be used by children and should have an age restriction when registering to use it. However, when used correctly, I think it a fun unique website!! There are 12 glogs posted on the website every minute which shows how popular it is !!

Revision, Revision, Revision

     The time is approaching faster and faster. Before we know it, it will be time for our exams. It is a scary time as it is our first year at University so everything is daunting at the moment. I am trying to revise a few hours each night but it can be quite difficult when you have children. I try to make time once my daughter is home from school to do homework, play and feed/bath her and then attempt to do revision when she is in bed. I have made posters and have decorated my bedroom wall with them to encourage me to read them. I also make notes to see how much I can remember. I think the best thing you can do is keep calm, do a few hours each night so you don't have work overload and stay focused. Just keep reminding yourself why you are doing it and that it will be all worth it in the end !!!!

How the heart works :)

http://www.voki.com/php/viewmessage/?chsm=d38fcbe5525576c1c7924bae1a693e28&mId=1606174

This is my gentleman friend. He explains how the heart works :)

FACEBOOK !! UPDATE YOUR STATUS !!

        How do people keep in touch these days?? Is it through writing a letter? Is it by meeting up? Or maybe a telephone call? UH I DON'T THINK SO. Get with the modern world!! The thing is, with technology these days, people just don't seem to use the old fashioned methods anymore. Let me introduce you to the fascinating invention of FACEBOOK. I don’t believe there to be a single person in the world who has not heard of Facebook, even if they refuse to use it. There are children up to pensioners who are registered to the social network site. Facebook was created in 2004 and has over 1 billion users. It is a great way of staying connected to one another, however it takes away the personal touch as people talk by messaging each other rather than face to face. I find the site quite nosy as some people just log on to take a look at what people are up to. On the other hand there are people who are constantly on it, updating their status every second. They must have such fascinating lives!! Anyway, the networking site is used for updating your status to let people know what you are up to or can also be used for playing games such as ‘draw my thing’ which is highly addictive. There are concerns regarding Facebook though. There have been numerous case studies in the media regarding racist comments being posted and thus leading to them being prosecuted. There are also concerns regarding bullying or people creating profiles pretending to be someone else. When setting up a profile, you have to provide your date of birth so they can suit the needs of your age which I think is a positive. However, I think Facebook is not something a child should be introduced to. It is extremely easy to register with Facebook and it is free to use which is always a bonus. It is a good way of sharing stories, advice, feelings and photos and people even advertise their businesses through Facebook. However, privacy can be an issue. If people are not aware that they need to modify their privacy settings then this could lead to people all over the world viewing their profile and pictures. . Facebook can be beneficial for keeping in contact with family or friends, especially if they are separated in country yet it should only be used in the right context!!

Onwards and Upwards

                  During the Christmas half term, unfortunately I suffered a breakdown in my relationship. My partner and I had been together for nearly 10 years and had a daughter and a mortgage together. The event was very sudden and heartbreaking and was very difficult to come to terms with. The Christmas period should have been a time for happiness and enjoyment, yet it was filled with sadness. I had to be strong for my daughter's sake to ensure she had a fantastic Christmas but I felt like I was dying inside. Also, over the half term I had intended to do plenty of revision for my exams which are at the end of January, yet I felt I couldn't cope with everyday life let alone studying. I have to admit, at one point I felt like giving up on University as I felt I could not cope. However, with the help of my daughter, family and friends I am getting stronger day by day and everyday is getting easier to deal with. I am so glad I did not give up on my degree and University as I know this is my future and this is what I have always wanted to do and giving up on that would be like giving up on life. I chose to write about this as I wanted to show that no matter what life throws at you, you can get through it. Never give up on your dreams!!!!

TED TALKS: Sir Ken Robinson

                                                             REFLECTION
                                 SIR KEN ROBINSON: DO SCHOOLS KILL CREATIVITY?

        I would like to share my thoughts and feelings based on Sir Ken Robinsons’ speech which highlights key points regarding creativity and its effect in schools. Sir Ken Robinson describes creativity as ‘a process of having original ideas that have value’. I would describe creativity as an individual and personal thing which should be appreciated always. It is unique and I believe everyone should take an opportunity to explore their creative side. Sir Ken Robinson believes that schools kills creativity. He also adds that creativity is as important as literacy and should be treated with the same status. I believe that with the national curriculum, there is much more emphasis on the core subjects being studied, often leaving the others behind. This can sometimes affect children who are struggling with the core subjects but enjoy and thrive at subjects such as art and music which are forgotten. This can affect their confidence as the subject that they are doing well at is assumed as less important than others but because they are underachieving in these main subjects, they have low self esteem and feel they are not as good as others. Arts, music or drama are seen in schools as not as valuable as other certain subjects such as English or Science. Personally, I see them as just as important. A child may be good at English, yet another may be just as good as in Art. Why is this different? Schools are being industrialised into preparing and setting a child up for work after school. They focus on achieving good grades in the core subjects and aim to encourage them to follow on to college or University to continue their education, enabling them to maintain a worthy career after graduating. However, this is not something everyone wants. Many children enjoy subjects such as art or drama and intend on pursing a career in this in the future Why is this not as important as getting a career as an English or Maths teacher? Sir Ken Robinson states that ‘in the next 30 years, more people worldwide will be graduating through education than since beginning of history’. This proves that there is such a stigma about children continuing onto college or University after school to obtain a degree that they obey what they should do and not what they actually want to do and enjoy. Children need to explore the world and experience it for themselves. This creates the imaginative aspect and enables them to interact with the outside world. Sitting in a classroom, reading a book or copying notes from a white board does not allow the creative mind to explore and investigate. In conclusion, I agree with Sir Ken Robinsons’ speech. I think there needs to be an equal focus on all subjects to acknowledge that they are all as important as each other and that whatever subject a child enjoys and feel they have an aptitude for, should be valued and respected.

Start animating !!

     I always remember as a child watching animations and being fascinated with how they were created. Well this week I actually found out!! I created one for myself and loved it !! I created an animation and also explored an animation website. I enjoyed creating an animation apart from my awful art skills. Trying to draw when you have no art skills proves quite difficult. I tried my hardest to create a fantastic piece of art but I am no Picasso so decided on the easier job of drawing a stick man. I then completed the task by researching an animation website named 'Go animate' which was fun as it lets you create videos too. I created a short video along with my stick man !!

Here's one I made earlier !!

http://goanimate.com/videos/024wO8-9LY7Q?utm_source=linkshare

GO ANIMATE !!

1. HOW EASY IS IT TO NAVIGATE?

 It is very easy to navigate. It is clear and has simple instructions. There are sub headings which divide the sections and there are also links to other various aspects of the websie. There is a sign up section right in the centre of the page which attracts your attention straight away which makes it easy to do. Once signed up it is easy to log in and start creating videos and animations.

2. ARE THERE ANY HELP GUIDES/VIDEOS?

 There are sample videos from the community attached to the website and there is a blog linked to the website which includes a video maker giving tips on how to use the website. Once logged in, there are forums which enables you to talk to other people who are using the website and also allows you and others to comment on videos or animations. There are links at the bottom such as facebook and twitter which you can link up to. You can also add friends on the website.

3. DO YOU NEED TO REGISTER?

 Yes, you have to sign up to enable you to create animations and videos. This can be a nuisance sometimes when people just want to test a website out before signing up or just want a website that has no obligation to sign up.

4. IS IT FREE? ANY ASPECTS THAT ARE FREE?

The account is free if it is being used for fun. If a school is interested in using it they would have to pay a subscription of $355 a year. If a business is interested in using it, they have 3 options. They can either pay a subscription of $299 a year for a GO publish account, $449 a year for a GO Pro account or $599 a year for a GO premium account.

5. IS IT EASY TO USE?

It is very easy to use. It is clear and has simple instructions. There are sub headings dividing the sections which makes it easier to use. Once logged in, again there are big bold headings which gives a clear navigation to wander around the site.

  6. WHAT MULTIMEDIA ASPECTS ARE THERE?

 The website has many such as videos, social networking sites and pictures.

Animation !!

Presentation reflection

During October our class were informed of an upcoming presentation we had to prepare ourselves for. We had to work in groups of 2 and were able to decide our own topic. I was in a group with Mia and we decided to do 'food from around the world'. We met up each week to research our topic and then used the information we found to transfer onto a powerpoint presentation. We discussed what we would say and used calling cards to help with our speeches. The presentation went really well and I felt I was more confident than expected. I think the class enjoyed it too and found the information given interesting. The best part about it was that we brought Welsh cakes into the class as part of the presentation which everyone enjoyed. I think doing presentations helps build confidence and self esteem and I enjoyed presenting much more than I thought I would.

This works for me !!!!

This is my reflection process. This helps focus on my aims and future goals and what works best for me.

SWANS ARE THE WAY FORWARD !!!!

When given the topic of 'rugby' to research, because I am not a rugby fan, I was a bit concerned about how interested I would be researching it. I decided to make my own concept up of rugby to encourage me to look at rugby in a different light. I would love to see the Swansea rugby players dressed up as actual Swans. I think this would make rugby interesting to watch and maybe I would give it a try then !!

Similarities and differences between a blog and a regular website

I was given the topic of 'rugby' to research the differences and similarities of a rugby blog compared to a rugby website. I hate rugby with a passion so as you can imagine this was thrilling. Yet I am a big Swansea City football fan, therefore decided to research Swansea Rugby (although they will never match up to Swansea City football club), oh well here goes.........

The blog I found is http://totalflanker.blogspot.co.uk/


The website I found is http://www.swansearfc.co.uk/home.aspx


DIFFERENCES:

• Blogs are updated more frequently than websites are as websites usually contain information that does not change often, therefore does not need updating often.
• When new entries/comments are added on a Blog, the old entries/comments are left for viewers to see, whereas if there are new entries/comments added on a website, then the old entries/comments are removed.
• On a website, if there is a new entry or update then the whole layout of the website is altered.
• A blog is used generally for communication/views and comments as opposed to a website which is used for delivering information.
• The layout is different on a blog as it usually consists of pages of writing rather than subtitles with pictures and categories.

SIMILARITIES

• Both are used for information purposes. Although one is more information based and the other is more opinion, they are still used for knowledge purposes. 
• Both have pictures on their page
• Both have sponsors on their page
• Both have links on their page

Hi, My name is Natalie. I am currently studying Educational Studies at Swansea University and am really enjoying :) I am hoping to become a primary school teacher once I graduate :) I have a four year old daughter who is my world. xx