We started working with Garage Band, creating podcasts. This seems like a great way to create an informational presentation for almost any topic. You can even include music, sounds, or your own voice. I had never really worked with podcasts before, but I can see how they would be really useful, especially for older students. A lot of information can be communicated fairly easily and can be saved and mobilized for later use.
I was impressed with how user-friendly Garage Band was. I was totally new to the program and podcasting in general, and I ended up being able to create my own podcast right away. I liked it because you can create a really simple podcast, or add as much to it as you like. Also, once I got familiar with the program, it didn't take long to make quite a bit of progress on my project.
For classroom use, I feel that this would be very useful for high school and college students. If teachers and professors had class lectures or information available in this format, students could easily catch up after missing a class. It could also be a good study tool, reviewing before a test. For other teachers, I think podcasts are useful in accessing new education information on the web. iTunes has a lot of free podcasts available, making it easy and inexpensive to share information with other educators.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Exploring Google
This week we explored search engines to learn more about what different sites can offer. We mainly focused on Google, the most popular search engine. Beyond learning about how to effectively search for particular terms, we also explored other special features that Google offers. There are applications that allow anything from translating phrases and websites, to searching blogs by topic.
In the classroom, a sound knowledge of Google would really help in teaching students how to conduct research on the web. Not only can you find tips on how to narrow your search to find something that is specific to what you want, but you can also use tools to supplement research.
We also looked at hoax websites and how to indicators of false information. This will be really helpful in showing students how to locate reliable sources on the web, and not accept every site as truth. This is an increasingly important part of research education because pretty much anyone can create a reliable looking website.
In the classroom, a sound knowledge of Google would really help in teaching students how to conduct research on the web. Not only can you find tips on how to narrow your search to find something that is specific to what you want, but you can also use tools to supplement research.
We also looked at hoax websites and how to indicators of false information. This will be really helpful in showing students how to locate reliable sources on the web, and not accept every site as truth. This is an increasingly important part of research education because pretty much anyone can create a reliable looking website.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
iMovie
Today we had a lot of fun filming a mini commercial and editing it with iMovie. The program is pretty user friendly, but we have Sara in our group and she has used it before, so it probably would have taken us longer if we had to figure it all out for ourselves.
This would be a fun tool to use in a classroom to create movies featuring students. They could film themselves acting out anything and incorporate this into the current lesson. They could practice reading comprehension by acting out literature characters and scenes, or even create their own story based on characters that the class is already working with.
Students could also use the cameras to explore the outdoor environment for science lessons, or to document important class projects. Another idea is to record class activities and post them so that parents can access the video and check out what their kids are doing during the school day.
This would be a fun tool to use in a classroom to create movies featuring students. They could film themselves acting out anything and incorporate this into the current lesson. They could practice reading comprehension by acting out literature characters and scenes, or even create their own story based on characters that the class is already working with.
Students could also use the cameras to explore the outdoor environment for science lessons, or to document important class projects. Another idea is to record class activities and post them so that parents can access the video and check out what their kids are doing during the school day.
Photoshop
This last week we practiced using Photoshop to combine pictures from the web, from our digital cameras, and from photos that we scanned. This skills will be useful in the classroom to create fun and interesting images for students.
First, I think it is good for students to know how photos can be edited together and how this can be deceiving if the editor does not disclose the actual photos. An example of this is the use of Photoshop to create pictures for tabloid magazines in the media. It is important for students to understand that they are growing up in a world where you cannot necessarily believe what pictures show anymore.
On the other hand, this kind of technology can be fun. We had the chance to create funny, interesting images by combining photos from different medias. This was an entertaining way to play with technology and learn more about photo editing. These types of fun images could be enjoyable for students; seeing comical pictures of themselves around their classroom. You could put students' pictures on to a backdrop of a historical period, a far-off environment, or even outer space. It seems like a great tool to get students excited about learning.
First, I think it is good for students to know how photos can be edited together and how this can be deceiving if the editor does not disclose the actual photos. An example of this is the use of Photoshop to create pictures for tabloid magazines in the media. It is important for students to understand that they are growing up in a world where you cannot necessarily believe what pictures show anymore.
On the other hand, this kind of technology can be fun. We had the chance to create funny, interesting images by combining photos from different medias. This was an entertaining way to play with technology and learn more about photo editing. These types of fun images could be enjoyable for students; seeing comical pictures of themselves around their classroom. You could put students' pictures on to a backdrop of a historical period, a far-off environment, or even outer space. It seems like a great tool to get students excited about learning.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Web 2.0 Tools
The Web 2.0 tools seem like a great way to integrate technology into classroom activities, and there is so much available that almost any student would be able to do something. Many of the applications that include student-centered activities could be used by the students in the classroom. For example, a 2nd grade class could easily create books, comic strips, and photo albums using the applications on the Go2Web2.0 website during a literacy lesson. Blogs and photo and video sharing would be great ways of keeping parents updated on what their children are doing at school. A class blog could discuss daily activities, as well as upcoming assignments, projects, field trips, etc.
Web 2.o tools can help engage students in a subject that they might not normally be interested in. For example, a student who is frustrated or disinterested in science might feel more connected to a rain forest lesson while playing a game online about rain forest animals/conservation. Also, students would have the opportunity to improve their knowledge of technology, an important skill in today's world.
If Web 2.0 tools were over used in the classroom, it seems like it could eventually be a disadvantage. Though these tools are a great support for a lesson, foster communication, and round out the class environment, if a teacher relied on online resources, games, and graphics to hold students' attention it would do the students a disservice. There needs to be a balance of technology use and human interaction in the classroom.
Overall, Web 2.0 tools can help enrich the classroom in many ways. For students, there are the benefits of engaging with the lesson and becoming interested in new ways, as well as gaining valuable technology education. For teachers, we can utilize these programs to gain information, support our lessons, and connect with other educators. For parents, they can feel more connected to their child's education by being able to access information about classroom activities. On the other hand, human connections should be valued on an equal level with technology, meaning it is still important for teachers to engage with both students and parents on a more personal level.
Web 2.o tools can help engage students in a subject that they might not normally be interested in. For example, a student who is frustrated or disinterested in science might feel more connected to a rain forest lesson while playing a game online about rain forest animals/conservation. Also, students would have the opportunity to improve their knowledge of technology, an important skill in today's world.
If Web 2.0 tools were over used in the classroom, it seems like it could eventually be a disadvantage. Though these tools are a great support for a lesson, foster communication, and round out the class environment, if a teacher relied on online resources, games, and graphics to hold students' attention it would do the students a disservice. There needs to be a balance of technology use and human interaction in the classroom.
Overall, Web 2.0 tools can help enrich the classroom in many ways. For students, there are the benefits of engaging with the lesson and becoming interested in new ways, as well as gaining valuable technology education. For teachers, we can utilize these programs to gain information, support our lessons, and connect with other educators. For parents, they can feel more connected to their child's education by being able to access information about classroom activities. On the other hand, human connections should be valued on an equal level with technology, meaning it is still important for teachers to engage with both students and parents on a more personal level.
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