Digital Teaching
The thing I heard loud and clear from the selection of video presentations is "Let me learn and let me show you what I know!"
I think kids love learning. They might not love school, but they love learning. Technology is one of the languages kids speak, so they should use it in their learning.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thing 15
Podcasts in the Classroom
Snore....
If I had the power to change the way teachers teach, one of the first things I'd do would be to limit the amount of talking teachers do. Keep the lesson short and to the point, give kids a chance to do stuff. Then teach side by side with kids while they work and when they need more expertise from the teacher.
Podcasts are more talking.
I think there might be some students who would love to be more independent with their learning. In this case, children who want more or who need to revisit a topic might enjoy podcasts because the information is focused and tailored to their interests.
Someone might need to convince me of other ways podcasts might be used in the classroom. I'm not a fan right now.
Snore....
If I had the power to change the way teachers teach, one of the first things I'd do would be to limit the amount of talking teachers do. Keep the lesson short and to the point, give kids a chance to do stuff. Then teach side by side with kids while they work and when they need more expertise from the teacher.
Podcasts are more talking.
I think there might be some students who would love to be more independent with their learning. In this case, children who want more or who need to revisit a topic might enjoy podcasts because the information is focused and tailored to their interests.
Someone might need to convince me of other ways podcasts might be used in the classroom. I'm not a fan right now.
Thing 14
Podcasting
I love podcasts and subscribe to some through my iTunes account. Science Friday on NPR is one that I like to check up on. There's always a fascinating topic being discussed and who has time to listen on a Friday afternoon?
I subscribe to some other NPR podcasts--the game show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me and Fresh Air are two I like.
I discovered the International Reading Association has some podcasts pertinent to a reading teacher (which, by the way, I am). I attended an IRA convention in Chicago a few years ago and noticed some of the presenters in the convention hall with microphones in their faces. Sure enough, they were creating podcasts about their particular reading expertise. I found the podcasts later on the Reading.org site.
I also found some good podcasts that help me keep up with what's newly published on some of the publisher's sites--Stenhouse and Heinemann, for example. This is more of a commercial use of the podcasts, but hearing the voice of an author can have an impact on whether the work is something I want to learn more about or not.
Students might like to record their conversations around books and literature so others can hear their thinking.
I need to play around with this some more.
I love podcasts and subscribe to some through my iTunes account. Science Friday on NPR is one that I like to check up on. There's always a fascinating topic being discussed and who has time to listen on a Friday afternoon?
I subscribe to some other NPR podcasts--the game show Wait, Wait, Don't Tell me and Fresh Air are two I like.
I discovered the International Reading Association has some podcasts pertinent to a reading teacher (which, by the way, I am). I attended an IRA convention in Chicago a few years ago and noticed some of the presenters in the convention hall with microphones in their faces. Sure enough, they were creating podcasts about their particular reading expertise. I found the podcasts later on the Reading.org site.
I also found some good podcasts that help me keep up with what's newly published on some of the publisher's sites--Stenhouse and Heinemann, for example. This is more of a commercial use of the podcasts, but hearing the voice of an author can have an impact on whether the work is something I want to learn more about or not.
Students might like to record their conversations around books and literature so others can hear their thinking.
I need to play around with this some more.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Thing 13
Slide Show
I just played around with some of the slide sharing programs. I've used Slideshare before as a viewer but never as a sharer. I present at staff meetings quite often and the way I use PowerPoint is mostly to pace myself and keep from losing track of the focus and direction of the presentation. (You all know how teachers can get off track!) It seems like carrying a flash drive is about the same as getting on-line. Not sure if this will benefit me much in the presentation department.
I thought the Slides site was fun, though. I can see using this just to share photos or pictures. I snapped some pics of some projects I have around the house in keeping with my making things. I included the messy basket of yarn that has a few tangled up projects just to keep me honest. I don't finish everything I start!
I just played around with some of the slide sharing programs. I've used Slideshare before as a viewer but never as a sharer. I present at staff meetings quite often and the way I use PowerPoint is mostly to pace myself and keep from losing track of the focus and direction of the presentation. (You all know how teachers can get off track!) It seems like carrying a flash drive is about the same as getting on-line. Not sure if this will benefit me much in the presentation department.
I thought the Slides site was fun, though. I can see using this just to share photos or pictures. I snapped some pics of some projects I have around the house in keeping with my making things. I included the messy basket of yarn that has a few tangled up projects just to keep me honest. I don't finish everything I start!
Thing 12
Productivity anywhere I find a browser
I visited some of the suggested sites from the 23 Things site and found Remember the Milk to be one I liked a lot. I can use it on my iPod Touch. I use the Apple calendar application, so I already have the ability to share my calendar on line.
Here's a problem I had with some. It might not make much sense for me to be critical about the look of a tool when my blog is so thrown together, but it does make a difference to me.
Some of the sites just weren't appealing to me--Knowtes, for example didn't have any visual appeal.
I keep thinking about Daniel Pink's book A Whole New Mind in which he writes about how Abundance has given us so much choice, we're going to ignore work that doesn't stand out in terms of function or design. Why should we settle for something ordinary when for no more effort, time, or money we can get a design that appeals to us?
I visited some of the suggested sites from the 23 Things site and found Remember the Milk to be one I liked a lot. I can use it on my iPod Touch. I use the Apple calendar application, so I already have the ability to share my calendar on line.
Here's a problem I had with some. It might not make much sense for me to be critical about the look of a tool when my blog is so thrown together, but it does make a difference to me.
Some of the sites just weren't appealing to me--Knowtes, for example didn't have any visual appeal.
I keep thinking about Daniel Pink's book A Whole New Mind in which he writes about how Abundance has given us so much choice, we're going to ignore work that doesn't stand out in terms of function or design. Why should we settle for something ordinary when for no more effort, time, or money we can get a design that appeals to us?
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Thing 11
Productivity
I learned about Google Docs from my daughter a few years ago when we decided to create a family cookbook as a Christmas gift. We set up a format for the recipe and invited family members to send their family favorites.
It was great, but we didn't use it to it's full advantage. We could have added family pictures and stories to really personalize it. A few years ago we did a family recipe book in Publisher, which looked good, but took a lot of time because only one person had to manage all the information.
I think I'm ready go give up on Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I can see the benefits of using Google Docs in a big school district where curriculum collaboration can be difficult because of scheduling constraints.
I learned about Google Docs from my daughter a few years ago when we decided to create a family cookbook as a Christmas gift. We set up a format for the recipe and invited family members to send their family favorites.
It was great, but we didn't use it to it's full advantage. We could have added family pictures and stories to really personalize it. A few years ago we did a family recipe book in Publisher, which looked good, but took a lot of time because only one person had to manage all the information.
I think I'm ready go give up on Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I can see the benefits of using Google Docs in a big school district where curriculum collaboration can be difficult because of scheduling constraints.
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