We completed a podcast in the last ITS class. I was very hesitent when we started. I do not like to be on video/audio/pictures, and I get nervous so I talk funny. I don't know if it was that night, or my partner...but Katie and I had a blast! I really like our podcast too!
I can actually really see the benifit to having students complete these. While I would still have to have strict guidelines and provide a lot of time...these could be fun and educational, but most importantly...memorable!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Videos in the classroom....
In the ITS program, we are currently working on digital videos and editing. I have to say...personally, I LOVE pictures and videos. I don't always like to be in the picture or video, but I enjoy taking them and sharing them. As far as editing....as with a lot of craft type of activities...I usually lose patience. I only have so much patience to use and then I need a break.
In my classroom, we have used cameras a lot! The students enjoy modeling and downloading their pictures. We have not yet ventured into an only video activity, but some of my students have used it instead of a camera. The only thing I have not really attempted with my students is editing. I can see this as going VERY well, but there must be limitations or the editing piece will take days (as with one of my friends in the ITS program...;)). Any suggestions on how to limit editing other then by numbers (one effect, one font type, etc.)?
In my classroom, we have used cameras a lot! The students enjoy modeling and downloading their pictures. We have not yet ventured into an only video activity, but some of my students have used it instead of a camera. The only thing I have not really attempted with my students is editing. I can see this as going VERY well, but there must be limitations or the editing piece will take days (as with one of my friends in the ITS program...;)). Any suggestions on how to limit editing other then by numbers (one effect, one font type, etc.)?
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wikis
Wow! After completing the reading for class this week, I had an eye-opening experience. Richardson pointed out all of the positive and negative components to wikis in the classroom. He validated my concerns and engaged me in all the collaborative, positive reasons to use wikis. As much as I was the teacher that told students to NOT trust wikipedia, I was wrong. I LOVE the idea of having students post an idea and have other students add information, edit, revise, change, delete (where appropriate) to the same information on the same page! Students no longer would have to walk to another students desk and distract students when they have a question or buddy revise/edit. They would be able to complete the activity independently and collaboratively all the same.
The one concern I still have about using these in my classroom would be that I don't know if students would get all the same learning out of this. Stop and think. When a student posts information and it gets changed a few things might happen. 1) The student doesn't notice (face it, that's a fact!), 2) The student notices but doesn't understand why, 3) The student gets frustrated and continuously changes it back every time (can you tell I have a few ED students this year?). I want a student to make sure that if their information gets changed, they understand why. Just as everything else, if a student posts something that's wrong...whatever was posted is what is going to stick in their brain as the correct information...how can we make sure their brain gets the edit too?
I do like what Richardson said about everyday people, with no connections, are the editors of wikipedia. Those people have an interest and want to make sure all of the information on that site is correct. That does make me feel a bit more comfortable with wikipedia and it's reliability for research purposes. That is something I will definitely put into play in my classroom.
The one concern I still have about using these in my classroom would be that I don't know if students would get all the same learning out of this. Stop and think. When a student posts information and it gets changed a few things might happen. 1) The student doesn't notice (face it, that's a fact!), 2) The student notices but doesn't understand why, 3) The student gets frustrated and continuously changes it back every time (can you tell I have a few ED students this year?). I want a student to make sure that if their information gets changed, they understand why. Just as everything else, if a student posts something that's wrong...whatever was posted is what is going to stick in their brain as the correct information...how can we make sure their brain gets the edit too?
I do like what Richardson said about everyday people, with no connections, are the editors of wikipedia. Those people have an interest and want to make sure all of the information on that site is correct. That does make me feel a bit more comfortable with wikipedia and it's reliability for research purposes. That is something I will definitely put into play in my classroom.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
First blog EVER!
So I've never blogged before and I'm a little nervous. I have avoid online personal information due to being a teacher as well as all of the horrible stories about stealing identities and the fact that online information is available to EVERYONE!
Since I have been playing around with blogs I have found some interesting things. You can add a calendar, pictures, games, etc. to your blog. Isn't the point of a blog to get your ideas and information out to the masses? Isn't the point of a blog to clear your ideas? Why put all sorts of extra distracting items onto your personal space for thinking?
I know that my students are all about the internet and blogging. My students come running in and tell me all about something they have read on the internet. I have been thinking about the benefit of blogs. My students LOVE the days when they get to write about anything they want. Some of them have trouble getting started, but the majority of them are engaged and interested since it's personal to them. Giving the students the opportunity to blog about any topic they want seems to me something my students would throughly enjoy. I have to find a way to make it enjoyable to the students, on topic that I give them, and have them actually do it. It seems that would be more work for me. I would have to go on multiple times to check who's posted, when they've posted, if it's appropriate, if the students are really showing me they understand the concept, etc. At the same time, since blogging is something my students would enjoy, they could get into it, add to others post, read other's ideas, etc. Pros and cons of everything......
Since I have been playing around with blogs I have found some interesting things. You can add a calendar, pictures, games, etc. to your blog. Isn't the point of a blog to get your ideas and information out to the masses? Isn't the point of a blog to clear your ideas? Why put all sorts of extra distracting items onto your personal space for thinking?
I know that my students are all about the internet and blogging. My students come running in and tell me all about something they have read on the internet. I have been thinking about the benefit of blogs. My students LOVE the days when they get to write about anything they want. Some of them have trouble getting started, but the majority of them are engaged and interested since it's personal to them. Giving the students the opportunity to blog about any topic they want seems to me something my students would throughly enjoy. I have to find a way to make it enjoyable to the students, on topic that I give them, and have them actually do it. It seems that would be more work for me. I would have to go on multiple times to check who's posted, when they've posted, if it's appropriate, if the students are really showing me they understand the concept, etc. At the same time, since blogging is something my students would enjoy, they could get into it, add to others post, read other's ideas, etc. Pros and cons of everything......
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