Using Videos in the Classroom

This week in ICT we have been focusing on creating our own video for class. Having never made a video before, not only am I learning a lot, but I am also seeing firsthand the amazing benefits that video creation could have in the classroom.

Learning the proper techniques and applications that are needed in video creation have been an important part of this week for me. Seeing the tools needed to effectively piece together footage and add audio for the desired effect will allow me to encourage my students by providing them with tools to make the best possible video that they can. (Shooting horizontally will forever be engrained in my brain!)

While making our video, the amount of collaboration, team work, and creativity that has been involved has been exciting to see. Working in a group with five others, I have been able to experience first hand the benefits that my students would experience when creating video as an assignment. While the technical and production aspects are important, the skills required for the group work aspect of video making are so beneficial to students. A video can not be developed without collaboration and commitment from all members, making it an incredible tool for the classroom in bringing students together to use group work skills.

I am so excited to see our video come together. The project has not only been a great learning experience for me, but we are excited to make it public and hopefully have a positive influence on those around us!

Digital Story Telling

This week has been a very informative week for me in ICT class. I have never really played around with photo editing or digital story telling before this week. I have always been interested in the process, but having so many programs that can be used is overwhelming!

I used Photo Story to make a quick digital story in class. I have only ever made one digital story before this week, and looking back I wish I had known about Photo Story before! The process was so easy and fast. I can't wait to be able to use this process with a class now. Prior to this week I thought that digital story telling was too complicated and time consuming for students to use. Having had a much more positive experience I can now see how students could use this tool for so many applications in the classroom, allowing for more creativity in presentations and experiences.

Photo editing has been another focus this week in class. The two main programs that I have used so far are Picasa and Pixlr. Using Picasa first, I was happy with the result but felt that I wanted to do more. After using Pixlr, I was excited with all of the options that I were available. I really appreciate this class and the hands on use of the programs. Having an opportunity to be walked through a program and some of the options within it allows me to have so much more confidence in using the tools that are available. Photo editing is yet another tool that I can't wait to use in my class. I know that students will love to manipulate and add to photos, but also having a quick option of referencing on photos is a really important tool for students to have.

John Finch

Today in our ICT class, John Finch came and spoke to us about literacy with ICT in the classroom. He talked about some key points that we have heard before, but what really caught my attention was the way that we need to prepare our students so that they can be effective in using ICT in their studies. John spoke about how students need to be able to think critically and creatively while also being ethical and responsible. I think it is really important as teachers to be conscious about teaching students these three key areas. So often the use of the internet as a source of information is so easily accessible that proper use is assumed and as a result problems arise.

John also made a point of discussing the vast amount of information that is on the internet and as a result needing to equip students with tools to properly access the information and resources that they are seeking. John suggested teaching students to look at the internet through three lenses: validity, reliability, and currency. Too often students enter a search on the internet and take the first few results that pop up on their screen, looking further would be too overwhelming! As teachers, we need to give students the tools to look for valid, reliable and current information. In providing students with tools to look at the internet in this manner, they will in turn think more critically about the information that they are taking away.

What John talked about echoed what I read in Powering Up this week. How do we educate students so that they are more well rounded thinkers? With information at their finger tips for every question imaginable, students do not need the background knowledge or skills the way that they used to. John began to answer this question for me by talking about how students need to always reflect on their learning so that they will constantly be asking deeper questions and seeking answers and information. When students are taught to look for valid, reliable and current information, they will hopefully not only find the answers they are looking for, but also be curious to search further and delve deeper than they initially intended. As a result they will become more well rounded and educated with background knowledge in areas that interest them.

Creating a Website

This week has been another “first” for me in the world of technology. I have started building my first website for my future classroom. Once I got past being intimidated yet again by the process, I realized how much I have to learn. For some people, technology comes easy, unfortunately I am not that person. After two days of struggling with the program, I am beginning to see some progress and aspects of my website are actually taking shape! I am excited to see it all come together and the vision of my website take shape. Actually making a website has forced me to seriously think about what I want and need to include to make it complete. Starting to think about different aspects that are important to students, parents, as well as myself as a teacher starts putting things into perspective. I am excited that the possibility of having my own classroom is just around the corner, but at the same time I scared about all of the little things like creating a website that need to be done and consume so much time! I need to remember that it is a slow process and it will all come together in time.

Classroom Websites

This week in class we began talking about our future classroom websites as we start the process of developing them in class next week. For me, the task is a little scary. Developing my own website? Never thought I would see that happen! However, once I got past the intimidation of the actual process, the thought of a classroom website began to make me really think. When I was in school, a website devoted specifically to our class was not even a thought. I am so excited to be teaching with all of the tools that are available now compared to when I was in school. When we talked about different aspects that could be included in a classroom website I could not help but think of the difference a website would have made not only in my life as a student, but also for my parents. The ability to have information and tools available any time of the day or night is an amazing resource that teachers can provide. In a digital world, the opportunity to include education and appeal to students on their level is another way of engaging them in their educational journey.

Here We Go Again. . . .

Intentions were great to continue with my blog after I4ED, but apparently intentions were not enough! Now that I am back in ICT I am going to give blogging another attempt. I am really looking forward to learning some of the basics of ICT in this course! I know that I have a lot to learn and am so thankful to have a safe environment to do it in. Having done three student teaching placements (only two that I was able to use technology in), I have a better understanding on what I am comfortable with and where I need more help in terms of technology. I am excited to be able to gain that knowledge and experience this semester in order to be a more successful teacher next year! I hope you enjoy reading my blog this semester. . . if all goes well it will continue into my teaching career!

Final Project

I can't believe that we are presenting our final projects today in Internet for Educators! This semester has gone by so fast, but has been packed full of so much information!
This final project was another learning experience for me. . .and another test of patience and faith! I used power point, vocaroo (for sound) and slide share (for presenting). All programs I have never used before (yes, I know, my first power point presentation ever!). There were many glitches and I am sure that it is not of the quality of some others that will be presented, but after hours of working on my slide show, I am happy to have something to present. I hope you are able to learn a little something about my Adventure in Technology!

Internet for Ed Summative Project from educhart