Journal 6: Podcasting (NETS III & V)

I looked into Podcasting as my Classroom 2.0 tool. Podcasting is an audio tool that is converted into a mp3 file. It can be put on an ipod or other mp3 player. Sometimes these can involve pictures or music but mostly they are audio files. Many teachers have integrated them into their classrooms. After following a few discussion threads in the social networking site, Classroom 2.0, I found that there are many ways to integrate this technology into almost all subjects. Teachers are using it to tape their lectures and post it on classroom websites as a tool for students to refer to. Other teachers are having students use it to do book reviews, current events, for science experiences, etc.
Of the two discussion threads I followed I found that the most interesting project idea was that of a CSI project. It integrated English and science in a fun and interactive way. The students learned about authors voice along with how to identify "good" scientific evidence, all while using technology. The most helpful part of the threads was the websites that teachers referred each other to. The teachers recommended the different websites for different operating systems. It was useful because they all had actually used the different sites and had actually interaction with it.

NETS PowerPoint (NETS I & III)

I created a PowerPoint presentation through Microsoft PowerPoint. This presentation consisted of lesson plan ideas for the grades that I hope to teach. After being created in PowerPoint I presented it to my peers and reviewed their work for ideas.



PowerpointRM

NETS Collaborative PowerPoint Rubric (I & III)

I was able to collaborate with my peers in order to create a rubric for our classes PowerPoint presentation project. This rubric was created in the website rcampus.com. It can later be accessed my others and used for similar projects.

Journal #5 Smile, You're on Schooltube! (NETS I & V)

Zdrojewski, R. (2009). Smile, you're on schooltube! . Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(4), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=December_January_No_4_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4450&ContentID=24839&DirectListComboInd=D

“Smile, You’re on Schooltube!” is an article about Schooltube, which is a website that differs greatly from the more known Youtube. Unlike Youtube, Schooltube is strictly regulated and all videos need to be approved my certified teachers and technical support personnel. Teacher can have students do video projects and send them into schooltube, they can be in any format because the technicians will fix the formatting for the teachers. It is safer because videos on the site can be deleted instantly and cannot be downloaded of embedded. It is a great safe alternative for teachers to display student’s work online.

What kinds of video projects could be used to integrate technology into the classroom?

Students could do documentaries using primaryaccess.com or they could do plays for language arts. The video aspect teaches then about technology and they actual subject being recorded can both be learned promoting cross-curricular lessons.

As a future teacher how would I feel about using this in my classroom?

I would feel much more comfortable using this website rather than youtube. First, youtube is not accessible on most campuses across the nation so it would be easier to use. Second, it is much safer and parents will be more enthusiastic about having their children’s work be protected and safe. I think the use of videos is a great, fun way to get students involved in technology and create group and hands on learning for subject matter lessons. 

Journal #4 Finding Students Who Learn Through Media (NETS I, IV & V)

Bull, G, Alexander, C, & Fester, B. (2010). Finding students who learn through media. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25255&DirectListComboInd=D

“Finding Students Who Learn Through Media” is an article about using a website called, primaryaccess.com, to engage students in history and social studies classes through media. The website is an easier way of forming documentary type videos as classroom projects. It is designed to be user friendly and not take class time to learn a complex system. Studies show that some students learn the concept and subject matter better than simply writing an essay. It gives studies access to online research from the Smithsonian and the Library of Congress. It is an interactive learning tool that can also be used as simply a storyboard or as a fully student made documentary tool.

How does the primaryaccess website cater to the needs of students?

Primaryaccess uses many different forms of learning. It involves group work, research, tactile learning and visual learning; it targets many different students instead of lecture, which is not inclusive to all learners.

As a teacher how would I bring this into my classroom?

I plan on getting my subject matter authorization in history, this site would be a great resource for students to use and do projects. It may take a couple class periods but it seems like a great resource and students learn the concepts and its more interesting than just writing or grading a bunch of papers. 

Journal #3 Keeping the Peace (NETS IV & V)

Levinson, M. (2010). Keeping the peace. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(5), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25237&DirectListComboInd=D

Keeping the Peace is an article about Nueva Schools attempt to integrate laptop into the classroom. Each student received a Mac book for school purposes and they were allowed to bring it to and from school. It created many problems because the rules were very unstructured and the students had access to applications like ichat that proved to be very distracting and controversial. Students would use ichat during class time and not pay attention to teachers and they would use it at home, which proved to be a problem for some parents. Parents did not want their children using ichat but were having a hard time forbidding it when it was on the school issued laptop and available at school. Now the school has a boot camp at the start of every school year where students learn the proper use and care of the laptops. They have also buckled down on when students can use certain programs like ichat.

How would I feel as a teacher if the school were allowing students to use ichat while I was teaching?

I have to say I see teacher’s point of view in not allowing ichat or being upset by the use of it in their classroom. It is distracting and would take away from their time teaching. Students are not allowed to pass notes in class why should they be allowed to instant message each other?

How could ichat be helpful in a classroom setting?

Ichat could be used in team collaboration or in group member collaboration when some students are testing or need a quiet atmosphere. It could also be useful for students to work together from different homes or areas within the district when it is hard to meet face-to-face.

Journal #2 Using Podcasts to Develop a Global Perspective (NETS I, IV & V)

Maguth , BM, & Elliott, J. (2010). Using Podcasts to develop a global perspective . Learning and Leading with Technology, 37. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=February_No_5_4&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4495&ContentID=25244&DirectListComboInd=D

This article was about using technology in order to increase understanding for global issues from different perspectives. The Social Studies class used podcasting in order to look at global issues form different points of view. They researched their topic and found different experts in the fields they were looking into and their diverse outlooks on the issues. They then wrote scripts and went into great detail in order to give justice to each expert’s views. After they used a recording device on the computers, Garage Band, to record the scripts and debates of the different experts. Once their recording was edited and done they were able to upload it on the Internet for the world to view.

How could you incorporate the same concept into an elementary classroom?

For kids at an elementary level this same concept could be used in a strictly research based way. It could give kids experience with this kind of technology with lots of help and structure. Students could research animals, plants, or space and give informational podcasts, that way it is more simple but still exposing them to the technology.

How could you better access people and make kids work known and take effect?

By making a blog site for the classroom you could set it up for the global issues and document the process and along with showcase the finished products of the kids. The process could be used as steps for other classrooms to follow and other people might enjoy seeing the set up and effort that went into the finish podcasts. 

Journal #1 Computing in the Clouds (NETS III & V)

Johnson , D. (2009). Computing in the clouds. Learning and Leading with Technology, 37(4), Retrieved from Johnson , D. (2009). Computing in the clouds. Learning & Leading With Technology, 37(4).

This article is about cloud computing and how it can be used in schools and also save schools money. Cloud computing is a internet based system that allows people to use word processing, e-mail, presentation software, and other usually hard-drive based programs solely through the internet, allowing them to have smaller hard-drives and less upkeep on their personal computers. There are many networks out there that provide cloud computing; Google and Microsoft are two of the major ones that are recognizable to most people. It talks about the benefits of this system for school districts because schools would be able to save money on upkeep of software and on the software programs itself. Students would be able to log on and access their essay or presentation from any computer with Internet access and would not have to have that specific program on their computer, saving space on their hard-drive.

How will parents react to the fact that their child is consistently online along with all of their work?

It may take some getting used to but eventually most people will be apart of a cloud computing system. The privacy agreements are very strong and if it is through one of the major companies like Google or Microsoft then the agreement and browser is trustworthy and a known name in the majority of households. The fear of having everything on the Internet is very understandable but it’s definitely going to be the future of computers and technology and individuals’ information is secure in their personal accounts, like in e-mail sites.

How would I use this in my classroom?

This would be very useful in a classroom because then the students would not have to write their paper on a Word document then e-mail it to themselves and open it at home. Some kids don’t have the same processing system and others don’t have any or some just aren’t compatible. The cloud computing system would ensure that all students with Internet access would be able to open their documents without the hassle of converting files to match the destination processing system.