10 March - Digital Stories 3

What?
This week we learned about Creative Commons, which is an online resource that provides a free, public, and standardized infrastructure that creates balance between the reality of the Internet and the reality of copyright laws.

So What?
Creative Commons means the world to teachers.  It opens up the door as far as utilizing and benefitting from the Internet without dealing with harsh copyright laws.  Accessibility, productivity, and development are all greatly increased by this helpful site.  You can choose from their different licenses, depending on which elements you want, and use then for things you produce.

Now What?
Creative Commons will be extremely helpful to me as a future teacher.  When I create something, or if I assign my future students to create something, this site allows that work to be protected.  This site will help me in the future because it provides its users with a simple, easy way to work within the boundaries of copyright laws.  The creators of Creative Commons have done all the work for you so you can be creative and safe.

3 March 2011 - Digital Story 2

What?
This week in Instructional Media, we learned all about Copyright laws.

So What?
Copyright laws mean a lot to teachers and the education system.  They place many restrictions on what teachers can and cannot do or use.  We were introduced to this topic because it will effect us in our future teaching careers very often.  We need to learn about them now so that as we start planning and putting lessons together, we can stay within the bounds of Copyright and the law.

Now What?
Copyright laws will make it so I have to be an aware and creative teacher - aware as to what I can or cannot use, and creative as to coming up with new ideas of Copyright laws make it so I can't use or do something.  Learning about Copyright was extremely interesting to me.  I didn't know much about it before this week, but now I know that close to everything is illegal - even taking one of your DVDs over to a friend's house.  Now that I know about Copyright, I will do my part in following those rules, in the classroom or otherwise.

24 February - Digital Stories Part 1

What?

This week we were introduced to Digital Stories - what they are, what they're used for, and the different components that make up a Digital Story.

So What?

Digital Stories are a great, new way to present information.  Unlike an boring lecture or a dull PowerPoint, digital stories really draw students in.  A digital story is almost like a short film or a trailer.  Teachers and educators can use digital stories to tell all kinds of stories from all kinds of perspectives.  They incorporate many different sorts of media, mix it all together, and produce a fun, engaging, useful combination of images, music, sounds, and narration.  

Now What?

Digital Stories are very practical in the classroom. Teachers can present a digital story to their students to introduce/teach a new unit, or much like for this class, students can be assigned to make their own digital story to teach a subject.  This was of storytelling is especially useful for visual learners.  It tells them a story without requiring the students to have their nose in a textbook.  I'm excited to learn more about digital stories and look forward to mixing them into my own classroom.

Vidcast Key Assignment

Andrea Katter

EDEL 3250 – 02

Vidcast – Key Assignment

1.       “Awesome Classroom Workout with Andrea, Laura, Jessica, and Alisha”

2.      Health Education - Grade 2, Standard 1 –.Students will develop a sense of self, Objective 2 - Develop and apply skills in fine and gross motor movement

3.      My team and I decided that physical health and fitness would make for a great Vidcast.  With child obesity being a major problem in the United States, we felt that promoting movement and exercise in the classroom would not only be extremely beneficial to students’ health, but it would be fun and engaging as well.  Instilling a positive view on exercise and stressing healthy living habits to children as they are young, the more likely they are to maintain those habits in their futures.  Doing quick exercises in the classroom can demonstrate to kids that exercise can be fun, and establish that exercise and taking care of our bodies is vital to living healthy lives.

4.      One drawback that might be involved with this particular Vidcast is that it might be easy to lose control of students.  They might get wrapped up in the comical aspect of it and see it as an excuse to goof off.  Incorporating comedy into the classroom isn’t a bad thing, as long as it doesn’t overshadow the point or moral of the lesson or activity.

5.      One advantage of this Vidcast is that it is very flexible, so to speak.  You could easily adjust the material or exercises to properly fit the age or grade level of the children viewing it.  For younger grades, or even kindergarteners, you could do simpler exercises or stretches.  For the higher grades, you could incorporate more complex moves.  Another advantage is that exercise and healthy living is universal and timeless.  You could show a Vidcast, similar to this one, to any grade, at any school, at any time.

3 February - Podcasts

What?
Last class, we learned about Podcasts. Yet ANOTHER thing I had no idea about.  We learned what they are, what their purpose is, and we even made our own podcasts.

So What?
Podcasts are incredibly beneficial - for teachers AND students.  Teachers can create fun assignments, like the one we did this week.  My partner Laura and I had so much fun making our own podcasts, and I'm sure many other groups enjoyed our assignment.  Students benefit from podcasts because if they miss and class and their instructor records the lesson on a podcast, they can listen to that podcast and still be on track with the rest of the class. Also, students can use other peoples' podcasts for research or further reference.

Now What?
Podcasts are another example of how technology is changing education.  They change communication between teacher and student completely.  Given, with podcasts, there is less face-to-face interaction, which is always important, but podcasts are still a fantastic way for students to learn and for teachers to teach.  In my opinion, podcasts might be more useful for college or higher level courses than they would be for elementary classes, as far as missing classes.  However, I think that podcasts can be extremely beneficial and fun in the classroom.  Now that I know what they are, I can see myself incorporating podcasts into my future lessons or activities.

27 January - Google Part 2

What?
This week, we started a new chapter in the Google handbook - sites.  This is yet another thing I had zero idea existed.  We learned how to create and manage our own classroom websites.

So What?
Google Sites completely change the way teacher interact with their students, parents, and even other classes.  Having a class website allows for your class to be more connected, anywhere, anytime.  Since the world is becoming more and more technologic, putting your class online couldn't be a better idea.  As a teacher, this means that I can give my students more information that can help them through my class (like assignments, announcements, resources, etc.) and I can provide parents with answers to questions they might have.  There are dozens and dozens of  useful pages I can incorporate into my site that greatly enhance and improve my class.

Now What?
I know personally, looking at a class site is the preferred way to answer questions.  If I need extra help or directions on an assignment or I need additional information on a subject, looking at a class website always helps me get back on track.  From a teacher's perspective, I can plan assignments that revolve around Google and all it's wonders.  I can provide my students with other website to help with homework, or I could put a calendar up so my students and their parents know what to expect or what they need to do.  I very much look forward to having and using my own, real classroom website.

20 January - Google Part 1

What?
This week, my eyes were opened to the Google universe as I learned about Google Docs, Presentations, Spreadsheets, and Forms.  Google Forms are my new favorite things.  I learned how to set up and manage my Google account, and how to create and use Google calendars.

So What?
The Google world completely changes how educators work.  Google opens multiple doors as far as communication and production for teachers; doors that have been closed until now.  Technology is getting more and more advanced, which is only turning out to be beneficial for the education world.  I have never seen anything like this before, and it absolutely inspires me as a future teacher.  Google has shed a new light on communication, in general.  Students can collaberate on one document at the same time using Google Docs, teachers can easily communicate with colleagues or students' parents, it's (in my opinion) pretty revolutionary.  All these Google tools (Docs, Forms, etc.) that I learned about this week are tools that I can easily see teachers, or future teachers like myself, using quite often to improve and contribute to the classroom.

Now What?
As I mentioned before, this new Google technology is very inspiring for me.  It makes me excited to become a teacher and use these tools in my classroom.  I can plan lessons and activites around these Google tools, lessons and activities that would not have been possible before Google technology.  This changes collaberation forever - collaberation between teacher and student, student and student, teacher and teacher, even teacher and parent.  To top it all off, it's FREE.  How can you possibly beat that?