Digital Storytelling

One of the classes I loved the most in high school was video productions. We were responsible for the daily newscast and a monthly 20-30 minute news show. During that show we would write stories, interview people of note and create fun and interesting stories to air across the school. It taught me how to speak, read clearly and slowly and think outside the box.

Being able to share that experience with my students would be wonderful. It also doesn't have to be with video only. Students could also do this with podcasts. It is important for them to have an audience for their writing, and producing stories or newscasts would be the perfect opportunity.

Beyond radio shows, students could write stories or perform reader's theater and their own original work--songs or poems for the podcasts or videos.

I am really excited about about the opportunity.

wikis

I have learned a lot about Wikis over the past few days. I think it would be an interesting addition to classroom instruction. It would be especially be interesting to create a wiki with a class outside of the county, but within the state--especially for 4th grade (NC History). Students could create posts that focus on their area of the state, and share with others.

The usual hesitation exist, privacy and maintaining internet safety with minors.

One of the things I REALLY like about this book are the sample assessment tools and organizers for the students. It will certainly save time during the process if I do not have to make up these forms from scratch. I think this intersects nicely with Bonk. He really advocates working with Web 2.0 technology, and especially out of school bounds--technologically speaking.

Podcasts

My online course first session was about assessments in the classroom. We studied different types of assessments, and one of the assignments required me to create a podcast. We used the program Audacity, and the ease of it was really interesting to me. I felt that I could use this in my classroom in so many different ways. I thought to create a online radio show that my students would write and produce, creating a mixture of updates about our classroom, interviews with people around the school and interest pieces that the students would decide on. It would be one way for them to authentically write and publish their work.

The chapter really puts into focus the requirements for privacy in the classroom and online. It was nice to see the process behind establishing a good internet policy.

Blogs in the Classroom

One of the things I found most interesting while in the Module 1 discussions and reading Using Web 2.0 was how the intent for both were the same. I felt that my classmates and I both wanted our students to participate and learn using Web 2.0 tools, and the same can definitely be said about the book. However, the book far out strips Bonk, as well as our feelings on the subject.

I needed to read this book to see how these ideas could be put into action in the classroom. One of the things I worry about while in my classroom is availability of access for my students. I would need to set up a time during the day for all students to be able to post and respond. I think, though, that this will be an interesting and engaging activity for my students.

Technonomy via Bloom with a Twist

Create

Podcasts, Blogs, Wikis, Websites, Interactive power points, Online group presentations

Evaluate

Blog postings, Wiki postings, Reflection journals, peer review of postings

Analyze

Essential questions, Online graphic organizers

Apply

Digital portfolios, ePublishing

Understand

WebQuests, Online field trips, Teacher web pages, Math web sites

Remember

Word Documents, PDF Files, eBooks, Audio books

References

Jonassen, D., Peck, K., and Wilson, B. (2000). Learning With Technology: A Constructivist Perspective. Merrill: Upper Saddle, NJ. Retrieved from: http://education.ed.pacificu.edu/aacu/workshop/reconcept2B.html

Module 1

It is one thing to know or have heard of a piece of technology or software and a totally different thing to apply it in the classroom. One of the major things that Module 1 help me do is refine my future use of technology in the classroom. There were several things I had not thought to use, including twitter and blogs.

However, I think my students will get a kick out of sharing, globally, what they have done that day or week. There are things to consider, privacy being the main thing, but having a direct place for parents to visit and learn would be tremendous. I have found some of the parents I had last year were very interested in what was going on in the class, but held back from visiting because they didn't know how to help. Perhaps setting up a blog, showing them what we are doing, having the students also post, will help bridge that gap.

In terms of internal gains from Module 1, I just need to put myself out there. Stop thinking about the can'ts and focus on the cans. Work on teaching myself the new technology and begin to search online to find instructions on how to set up certain things--including activities for a smartboard.