2008 eFellows

Matt Tippen –Energising Education

Isleworth Primary School, Christchurch

What effect does the creation and the use of ICT-based energisers have on student engagement? I will look at the engagement levels of students when they participate in a two-minute high-impact fitness routine/energiser, and the impact on future learning after an energiser. I'll investigate the impact energisers have on engagement in student learning.

Partner
SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand)

Toni Twiss – Reaching the potential for mobile phones in education

Waikato Diocesan School for Girls, Hamilton

How can mobile phones be integrated into authentic classroom
learning activities to develop effective information literacy skills? I am excited about the potential of m-learning and will investigate how teachers can use mobile phones to foster effective information literacy skills. Using mobile phones, kids can access the internet, take movies and still photographs, make podcasts, and upload content. Why not use the tool that is in nearly every student's pocket to make learning exciting and relevant?

Website
www.tonitwiss.com/mobile

Nick Rate – Maximising the formative benefits of e-portfolios

Russell Street School, Palmerston North

e-Portfolios not only have the potential to share student learning outcomes in an interactive and engaging way, but also the ability to clearly demonstrate and engage parents, students and teachers in assessment for learning. e-Portfolios can show what students are learning, how they are successful, the learning process, and the ongoing feedback and reflection cycle that takes place in order for students to take ownership and control of their learning. This research project will explore what teachers can do in order to maximise the formative learning benefits of online e-portfolios.

Partners
Mark Brown and Bill Anderson, Massey University College of Education
Anna Stephenson, Massey University Centre for Educational Development

Website:
http://russellst.school.nz/portfolios/
http://nickrate.com/

Mark Callagher –Effective blended e-learning in secondary school teaching

Wellington College

How can student interactivity and historical thinking be enhanced through the use of a blended learning approach? I have been teaching mathematics, history and ICT at Wellington College for a number of years. This year I will be focusing my research on a Year 11 History class and how the Moodle learning management system can be used to improve student participation and interactivity both online and in the classroom. I will be exploring the impact of the use of this blended learning approach on students' overall historical thinking skills.

Partner
HRD NZ (Human Resource Development NZ) www.learning.ac.nz

Michael Fenton – Towards a better understanding

Inglewood High School, Taranaki

How can students use mobile sensor technology to create authentic learning? From my experiences of teaching mathematics, science and computing, it appears that learning is primarily assessment focused. This has been at odds with my background in scientific research and industry where learning is directed at problem solving and creativity. I will investigate how the availability of mobile sensors encourages student enquiry about themselves and/or their environment, and how the use of mobile sensor technology contributes to developing understanding and higher level thinking. The pocket data logger/games/sensor system used is my RIGEL system.

Website
www.nexusresearchgroup.com