I have used Podcast for a few years now. I listen to music podcasts through iTunes and I listen to sports podcasts through ESPN all the time. I think they are a great way of recieving information or listening to music on the go. I often listen to sports podcasts while doing work. This allows me to get the information I want while not being distracted by tv. I hope to incorporate podcasting into my lessons in the future once my freshmen students get accustomed to using our online school technologies.
I have, however, seen podcasting used effectively in classrooms before. One teacher I worked with last year would commonly sync powerpoint presentations with podcasts on his website so students could complete homework assignments, review lessons, study, or make up missed class notes. He also often added questions as part of homework assignments. prompting questions and letting them know when to pause the video to answer. Another great way he used it was to create lessons for substitutes. This way, the students still recieved the same lesson and content even though he was not there.
I think podcasts can be a great tool, if used effectively. If you just talk or read and have the students listen, some cannot learn that way. You need to use podcasts as a tool with other resources to make them effective. When done right, they become an excellent classroom tool.
Friday, November 15, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
11) Teacher Websites
Every educator needs to build and maintain his or her own teacher/classroom Website. Period.
Efficiency: A teacher Website helps gain more teaching time. When hyperlinks on that page are connected to high-quality resources, the students quickly become used to getting to the classroom page and moving on to the resources they need.
Resources: By placing hyperlinks relevant resources on the classroom Website, teachers not only speed up access to materials but can also increase all students' access to high-quality curriculum materials that directly support content. Though placing resources on your Website is no guarantee that students will use them independently, it is definitely a step toward doing all that can be done to support all learners.
Relevance: Students will come to see the Internet as a personally relevant extension of school. This is because the Internet is already an extension of so much of their personal life, failing to establish a classroom component on the Internet can marginalize the perceived importance of school.
Connection: Students come to see their teachers as connected. In our culture today, if you're not online, you're not relevant... the Internet is that important.
Access: The teacher is the most valuable resource in the classroom, so we must provide greater access through the inclusion of an email address, a phone number, a contact form, or other communication tools, students and their families gain extended access to their teachers.
Experience: Students will gain experience using digital resources in direct support of which is definitely a needed 21st century life skill, seeing as virtually all professions now use the Internet in some way, shape, or form.
Moral of the story: MAKE A WEBSITE!!!!! NOW!!
Efficiency: A teacher Website helps gain more teaching time. When hyperlinks on that page are connected to high-quality resources, the students quickly become used to getting to the classroom page and moving on to the resources they need.
Resources: By placing hyperlinks relevant resources on the classroom Website, teachers not only speed up access to materials but can also increase all students' access to high-quality curriculum materials that directly support content. Though placing resources on your Website is no guarantee that students will use them independently, it is definitely a step toward doing all that can be done to support all learners.
Relevance: Students will come to see the Internet as a personally relevant extension of school. This is because the Internet is already an extension of so much of their personal life, failing to establish a classroom component on the Internet can marginalize the perceived importance of school.
Connection: Students come to see their teachers as connected. In our culture today, if you're not online, you're not relevant... the Internet is that important.
Access: The teacher is the most valuable resource in the classroom, so we must provide greater access through the inclusion of an email address, a phone number, a contact form, or other communication tools, students and their families gain extended access to their teachers.
Experience: Students will gain experience using digital resources in direct support of which is definitely a needed 21st century life skill, seeing as virtually all professions now use the Internet in some way, shape, or form.
Moral of the story: MAKE A WEBSITE!!!!! NOW!!
Friday, November 1, 2013
10) iPad and Apps in the classroom
Research shows that using technology in the classroom increases student learning and engagement. iPad's and iPhone's offer classroom apps that can meet the instructional needs for all students.
Almost all of the apps can be considered fun and visually appealing. One App I wrote about for class was "Human Body". Apps such as this one are fun to play and keep students actively engaged by awesome graphics and sound effects. These apps are designed to keep student's interest, while providing educational material. With enticing graphics and hands-on animated fun, students tend to forget they are even learning.
As we all know, each student is unique and learns in their own way. Like Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory states, every child has different learning styles. Effective learning apps appeal to all learners; visual, auditory, tactile, musical,etc.
The great thing about using apps to promote student learning, is that students can work at their own pace. This will eliminate a lot of the stress that some students have when they see their classmates advancing before them.
The best educational apps are interactive. These hands-on apps are fun and encourage students to want to learn. Students can build and develop important skills that are necessary for their education all while they are being entertained. Providing students with interactive applications to assist in their learning can be a very effective teaching tool.
I am all for using iPads and Apps in the classroom, but just like any other technological tool, they must be used effectively to have a positive outcome on student learning and engagment.
Almost all of the apps can be considered fun and visually appealing. One App I wrote about for class was "Human Body". Apps such as this one are fun to play and keep students actively engaged by awesome graphics and sound effects. These apps are designed to keep student's interest, while providing educational material. With enticing graphics and hands-on animated fun, students tend to forget they are even learning.
As we all know, each student is unique and learns in their own way. Like Howard Gardner's multiple intelligence theory states, every child has different learning styles. Effective learning apps appeal to all learners; visual, auditory, tactile, musical,etc.
The great thing about using apps to promote student learning, is that students can work at their own pace. This will eliminate a lot of the stress that some students have when they see their classmates advancing before them.
The best educational apps are interactive. These hands-on apps are fun and encourage students to want to learn. Students can build and develop important skills that are necessary for their education all while they are being entertained. Providing students with interactive applications to assist in their learning can be a very effective teaching tool.
I am all for using iPads and Apps in the classroom, but just like any other technological tool, they must be used effectively to have a positive outcome on student learning and engagment.
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