I have truly enjoyed completing the 23 Things. A lot of these tools I already knew about - but I had never been forced to consider their uses in an educational context. Some of the tools I can really see an educational use for - the blog, for example. Others, I don't really think I will use in the classroom- Animoto and Facebook come to mind.
The best part of the project, in my opinion, is that it forced me to think about technology in my future classroom. If I were to improve upon the program, I would tighten its focus. There would be less free-form exploration of the internet, and questions that force students to really think about it in an educational context.
The other part of the project I enjoyed was creating a blog. I am surprised that I got so interested in the blog, actually. I had always knew they existed, and I had even followed a few. I never thought that I would create one of my own, however. I guess it just never occurred to me. The process of putting my thoughts out on the internet, instead of just absorbing content from the internet, was new to me.
I think that is the lesson I learned from this project. Prior to 23 Things, I was mostly a passive user of the internet. I read things, watched things, listened to things. I had never contributed to the internet. Now, I have more confidence to put my own thoughts and my own content on the internet, for others to use. Now, I have made the transition from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thing #23
*Note: This project is loosely based upon the website 43Things (which allows you to set and track personal goals) and the Stephen Abram article titled 43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year (Information Outlook - Feb 2006).
I am going to use Creative Commons for everything in my classroom. I will use it to find pictures to put in slideshows and decorate my classroom. I will use it to find videos to share with my students. I will make my students use it to find pictures for their projects.
Perhaps, one day, I will create content and upload it with a Creative Commons license so that others can use it. This way, I will be adding something useful to the community, so that others can benefit from it. I think that is the unique thing about the Creative Commons; it allows people to conceive of knowledge and art as the property of the community, not the individual. I find it refreshing to know that, in today's increasingly individualistic society, such a community does, in fact, exist.
What do you think? How will you use Creative Commons? Will you create your own content, and then choose to share it with the community, rather than keeping it to yourself? Do you think that art is the property of a person, or the property of the community?
I am going to use Creative Commons for everything in my classroom. I will use it to find pictures to put in slideshows and decorate my classroom. I will use it to find videos to share with my students. I will make my students use it to find pictures for their projects.
Perhaps, one day, I will create content and upload it with a Creative Commons license so that others can use it. This way, I will be adding something useful to the community, so that others can benefit from it. I think that is the unique thing about the Creative Commons; it allows people to conceive of knowledge and art as the property of the community, not the individual. I find it refreshing to know that, in today's increasingly individualistic society, such a community does, in fact, exist.
What do you think? How will you use Creative Commons? Will you create your own content, and then choose to share it with the community, rather than keeping it to yourself? Do you think that art is the property of a person, or the property of the community?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thing #22
I listened to a podcast entitled "Shades of Democracy," which I found on the Education Podcast Network. In this podcast, people are interviewed on what they think of democracy in the United States, and how it could be improved upon. It was really neat - I listened to quite a few episodes, actually (I should have been working on this post....). This podcast had a great educational value, especially to promote discussion in a US Government classroom, like the one I hope to teach.
Has it prompted me to create a podcast of my own? I'm not sure. I think it would be neat to record my lectures and upload them each day to a website or blogpost. This way, students could listen to the lesson as they reviewed for upcoming quizzes or tests. It would also be useful to students who had missed class, or parents who were curious about what their children were learning. I could also use the podcast format to share announcements or news with parents and children.
The other use I thought of involved me hand-picking a bunch of news stories, and re-reading them in a podcast. This way, students could have a go-to place to stay current on the news, and I would have the pleasure of compiling the news stories.
What do you think of the podcast format? Will you be using it in your classroom? How will you use it in your classroom?
Has it prompted me to create a podcast of my own? I'm not sure. I think it would be neat to record my lectures and upload them each day to a website or blogpost. This way, students could listen to the lesson as they reviewed for upcoming quizzes or tests. It would also be useful to students who had missed class, or parents who were curious about what their children were learning. I could also use the podcast format to share announcements or news with parents and children.
The other use I thought of involved me hand-picking a bunch of news stories, and re-reading them in a podcast. This way, students could have a go-to place to stay current on the news, and I would have the pleasure of compiling the news stories.
What do you think of the podcast format? Will you be using it in your classroom? How will you use it in your classroom?
Thing #21
Animoto is an excellent way to upload and present your pictures. It was very easy to create the video you see here. I simply created an account, uploaded ten pictures off my harddrive, added some music from their collection and voila! A slickly produced video complete with music and really nice transitions.
Can this be used in a classroom?? I am not so sure. I guess I am just old-fashioned. Don't get me wrong, the Animoto video is very slick and stylish. I think, however, that it would be a distraction in the classroom - students would probably focus on the music and the transitions more than the content.
On the other hand, Animoto would probably be a great way to present pictures from class activities. Say, for example, you had pictures from field day. You could quickly upload the pictures to Animoto, add some school music and upload them to a blogpage. Students and parents could then enjoy those pictures over and over again. The same process could be used for field trips, homecoming activities, graduation, yearbooks - whatever.
What do you think? Will you be using Animoto in your classroom? Or do you think its use is more recreational?
Can this be used in a classroom?? I am not so sure. I guess I am just old-fashioned. Don't get me wrong, the Animoto video is very slick and stylish. I think, however, that it would be a distraction in the classroom - students would probably focus on the music and the transitions more than the content.
On the other hand, Animoto would probably be a great way to present pictures from class activities. Say, for example, you had pictures from field day. You could quickly upload the pictures to Animoto, add some school music and upload them to a blogpage. Students and parents could then enjoy those pictures over and over again. The same process could be used for field trips, homecoming activities, graduation, yearbooks - whatever.
What do you think? Will you be using Animoto in your classroom? Or do you think its use is more recreational?
Thing #20
This is a video on how a bill becomes a law in the United States. It is a jingle from an old episode of Schoolhouse Rock. I love Youtube, but it is a double-edged sword. It has a lot of great content, like the Schoolhouse Rock stuff, and then it also has stuff like this...
While I certainly love the Muppets, videos like this doesn't have much educational value. It seems to me that Youtube, like most any Web 2.0 Tool, has a lot of potential - if it is used wisely. That is why I would prefer to keep my students off of Youtube - but lucky for me, someone went ahead and created TeacherTube.
Now TeacherTube is certainly something that could be used in a classroom. It is loaded with great educational content. It is easy to navigate and easy to find great resources. Sound and picture really helps to enhance any lesson - and TeacherTube seems like a great way to find both.
What do you think? Is YouTube helpful or distracting? Will you use it in your classroom?
Thing #19
Visit TeacherPop
I really like the idea of TeacherPOP, because it seems like a safe place for teachers to have an online community. Now that I am a member, I might try to keep it updated...
The other social network I am a part of is called Facebook (not many people have heard of it, it is kinda new). At the moment I am not a part of any other online communities. I am, however, interested in Gather - I like reading things and debating them; this looks like a great place to do that.
The only issue I have with online communities is that I prefer real communities. I like face-to-face interaction, not ISP to ISP. No matter how sophisticated these social networks are getting, I do not think they will ever replace good old fashioned face-to-face interaction. But hey, who can ever predict the future? Especially when it comes to technology...
What do you think? Do you like these online communities? Where, with the right text and the right pictures, you can be anyone you want? Or does it seem to virtual, too fake for you? I'm leaning towards the latter....
Thing #18
Social networking sites have become amazingly popular in the past few years. It seems like everyone has a Facebook or a Myspace page. I have had a facebook page for quite some time now. I use it frequently to connect with old friends and make new ones. I think that it is important for future educators to understand how Facebook or Myspace works, because their students will certainly be using it.
I prefer to use Facebook because I feel that it has more security options. No one can view my profile unless they are my friend - and I only add people I know to be my friends. You can upload tons of pictures, videos and whatever else you can think to share with all of your friends. I also like all the little games and apps that are available in Facebook.
However, I cannot see a classroom or school application for social networking. At least not at the elementary or secondary level (maybe there could be a use at the college level). The potential for abuse by teachers is simply too great. When students are in the walls of a school, there are ways to control and monitor what is happening - and sometimes things still go awry. However, in the social networking world, the potential for the misuse of teacher authority is amplified many times.
This goes back to one of my original statements - that educators should have a working knowledge of what social networking is, and how it works. The biggest role I see educators playing in the future is to give guidance and advice on how to protect oneself in the world. I remember a guest speaker once who visited our high school to talk about how to watch your surroundings and take precautions protect yourself when you were alone. I think that, now, educators should provide similar advice to students on how to protect themselves on these social networking sites.
What do you think? Am I overreacting? Are these sites safer than I think? Or is the potential for misuse even greater than I suspect?
I prefer to use Facebook because I feel that it has more security options. No one can view my profile unless they are my friend - and I only add people I know to be my friends. You can upload tons of pictures, videos and whatever else you can think to share with all of your friends. I also like all the little games and apps that are available in Facebook.
However, I cannot see a classroom or school application for social networking. At least not at the elementary or secondary level (maybe there could be a use at the college level). The potential for abuse by teachers is simply too great. When students are in the walls of a school, there are ways to control and monitor what is happening - and sometimes things still go awry. However, in the social networking world, the potential for the misuse of teacher authority is amplified many times.
This goes back to one of my original statements - that educators should have a working knowledge of what social networking is, and how it works. The biggest role I see educators playing in the future is to give guidance and advice on how to protect oneself in the world. I remember a guest speaker once who visited our high school to talk about how to watch your surroundings and take precautions protect yourself when you were alone. I think that, now, educators should provide similar advice to students on how to protect themselves on these social networking sites.
What do you think? Am I overreacting? Are these sites safer than I think? Or is the potential for misuse even greater than I suspect?
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