ASSIGNMENT

Just been introduced to QR codes (quick response codes)...

On first meeting a load of ideas have popped up in my head pros, cons, and how their use would be suitable in a sports learning environment.

Pros - Engages learners, extremely quick access to information, easily accessible, free to use.

Cons - only available to people who have access to iPads, iPhones etc.

The ideas that have come to mind in regards to a coaching environment involve students/players accessing their own individual analysis assessments or even results of assignments etc. via a QR code. This method ensures confidentiality is upheld and it is very discreet. The coach/teacher would have to have their own webspace to hold all the information that the QR codes would be directed to.

If coaching a particular technique to younger players/students and they are finding it difficult to grasp you could link a QR code to a video of the technique being demonstrated efficiently. This makes learning interactive and very easily accessible for the learner if they own a mobile device.

The only thing niggling at me is that a QR code is essentially another form of link to a source of information very much like a hyper link. Some people may find it more suitable just to use manually type in links into their mobile devices. I think I need to practise using QR codes to find out how beneficial they can be within my environment.

I am going to purchase a printer soon and trial QR codes with my u9's to see if they have any effect. I will create a QR code that directs the players to a video of a particular technique that I want them to be able to perform in the next training session I won't tell them what the technique is and hopefully through interactive learning they will have developed this new technique after finding out what it was for themselves.

Here is an example...

I am excited to try this method out and if it does actually work I will put a lot of thought into how else I could use it for our benefit.

ASSIGNMENT

I think that mobile technology for learning is a fantastic tool that should be used as often as possible. In our era the majority of learners will have access to a smart phone as they are turning out to be the only phones available to buy on the market. These smart phones contain all sorts of apps that are really easy to use that can aid in learning. I think using mobile phones and i-pads really appeal to younger learners as they are more attractive than writing in text books etc. Another thing about mobile technology is that there is no way of hiding from it, it is going to appear everywhere and as the years go by the technology will become more wide spread and more advanced in nature.

 So if the technology is there why not use it to our advantage?

ASSIGNMENT

As you can see below I have uploaded a power presentation that me, Nick, Louise and Carrie delivered in class last week. I'm pretty amazed at how easy it was to embed it to my blog and that the hyper links and sounds work aswell. I've found this to be a quality tool for sharing power point presentations to other websites. One drive allows you to save and share almost anything, thank you micro soft :)

Just got myself a new macbook pro!!!

I'm pretty happy as now I'll be able to do most of my work from home!!

Will be posting about microsoft powerpoint very soon...

ASSIGNMENT

I have used microsoft applications on and off ever since I started using technology for learning.

I can navigate around and use microsoft word quite efficiently and find it an efficient tool for writing letters, essays, cv's etc. The toolbar at the top of the word page is really easy to understand and use and I like the way you can edit your work to suit your different needs so if I need to write a formal letter to a potential employer it allows me to use spacing to make my letter of application look presentable and make sure appropriate information is in the right part of the page i.e. name and address. I use microsoft word more than I use excel so I'd say I am less comfortable using microsoft excel.

I had to use microsoft excel quite regularly during the final year of my degree for the performance analysis module which involved me creating stat sheets for football players and football teams. I created multiple charts and graphs which were made up from numerical figures that were recorded after analysing videos of specific football matches. I found using excel quite difficult at first but after a few weeks I nailed down the basics and would feel quite comfortable in using it for a similar puropse in the future.

I am confident in using power point as I was asked to create a few presentations during my degree and I find the application really easy to use. The way you can drag and drop images and re-shape and re-size text and text boxes is really easy to do which makes using it quite enjoyable.

I have used outlook very regularly in the past and am very confident in using it.

I don't dislike many things about word but I do find it a bit odd that it differs from a P.C. to a Mac, a Mac would be my preference if I had to choose. Looking at excel on the screen if you aren't that confident can be quite daunting and but again I don't think there's anything I don't like about it I think it's an efficient tool for creating charts and graphs etc.

I would like to spend a bit more time on excel so that I feel totally confident in using it, and any of the other applications that I haven't used such as microsoft access, publisher, one note and one drive.

ASSIGNMENT

Just come across this really interesting blog by Dr. George Nassis where he goes on to talk about the issues in football from a scientific perspective.

 Some of his posts direct you to free downloads which I find extremely helpful, he also includes youtube links and links to books for you to look up.

I particularly like his post on  'How Small-Sided and Conditioned Games Enhance Acquisition of Movement and Decision-Making Skills.' as a youth development football coach this really appeals to me and after having followed the link that he posted to a specific journal I now have access to information that will help me in the future and all thanks to this blog site.

I also found a fantastic a post that was located by clicking on the 'POPULAR POSTS' bar which was found rather easily on the right hand side of the page in regards to contemporary speed, agility and quickness training methods. 

I haven't got much time right now but when I do I will be checking out Dr. Nassis' blog archives for other useful information.

All in all the blog was informative and very easy to navigate around to find various useful bits of information.  


You can find Dr. George Nassis' blog Science In Football in my 'Blogs Of Importance' which is aptly named as they are important blogs which will be used by myself for future reference :)

ASSIGNMENT

bubbl.us is a website that allows you to create a mind map and you are able to imprint your mind map on other websites such as personal blogs etc. I think this is a fantastic tool which can be used in relation to technology for learning.

Hyper Link :)

I have just learned how to apply a hyper link to my blog...

I'm a big Swansea City fan and incase any of you are wondering how they are doing and would like to catch up on anything Swansea City please click on this hyper link Swansea City F.C.

A new approach: Transcript of PCETSocialMedia

A new approach: Transcript of PCETSocialMedia: As the Todays Meet Page will close I decided to use the transcript facility so that the content is pr...

ASSIGNMENT INTRO

This is the start of my ICT Assignment it is going to be a 3 month journey of my discovery of technology for learning. I will be posting about websites and applications that I come across on my teaching travels. Here's a little about me at present I'm excited about my journey in becoming an FE tutor and still highly motivated in achieving my long term goals which are to work my way to becoming a coach educator, professional academy football coach and a college tutor. The class that I have found myself in has a diverse range of people from all different backgrounds which I think is great and has totally taken me out of my comfort zone which I believe truly tests your character.

Speak to you soon...

M

Stamford Bridge 13/09/14 Swans vs Chelsea