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Podcasting
I was happy that I got to learn about podcasting. Podcasting is a way to post video’s, voice recordings, music and other cool stuff on the internet in a more safe way for kids. Instead of having to blog or post things on personal websites it allows you to network computers together and post creative elements on computers through one chosen sight. This allows teachers to not only get away from traditional assignments but to be safe with it. And it’s a major plus because it helps the students learn twenty first century communication skills. I was talking with my brother-in-law who is currently in 6th grade and he loves his garage band on his Mac computer and by using podcasting he can share it with us any time he comes up with a new song! The way this will be helpful in a classroom is that you can post things on the teacher’s end that is informational for the students and give them assignments to watch it at home or in their computer time. And from the students to the teachers it’s a safe way for them to be creative with their projects and stay updated with technology.TextingTexting in education is a touchy subject. Most Elementary schools require that cell phones don’t even enter the premises. That being for valid reasons limits the use of the pro’s of cell phones. But having your students accessible is such a convenience and especially their parents. Being able to inform the parents directly if something were to happen in school, such as a kid acting out or absent, you can inform them by texting letting them get back to you when it’s convenient for them. Also if they would like you could have homework sent to them and test scores. Student updates and progress reports. As a parent I think I would love more communication with my teacher and feeling more involved in my student’s life. Of course you would let the parents choose if they would like to be contacted this way but giving those options is always a good thing.
I think it is a very good idea to set as few of rules in the classroom as possible and let the kids set the rest and with all the rules let them set the consequences that way when the rules get broken they have no room to complain because they set the high standards for themselves. I had my fiancé’s little brother who is in 6th grade help me make some rules for my 6th grade class and I was surprised at the rules he had in place in his school and ones he came up with himself. They set such high standards and I’m impressed.
Kidspiration is a very kid friendly tool. It is a lot easier and more interactive than trying to use PowerPoint with the kids. After playing with it for a while I really began to like it, especially the stamps and changing the colors of things
I also really liked that you can doodle and write free hand for more of a personal touch or you can use the stamps of images or letters for a more professional look. I also really liked that you can organize your information by adding in blobs and typing in the information.
This tool I feel will be a huge asset to a classroom and to assist teaching the curriculum. Not only do you get students more involved but they get to use their creativity and have more fun with the information.
Since I'm planning on teaching 6th grade I especially liked the stamps of the different planets. I thought instantly how I couldn't us Kidspiration as an assignment in learning facts about each planet and putting the bullet points and blurbs up about the information they find. Kidspiration is a lot more effective to use in elementary schools than PowerPoint that is more professional.
As the semester progresses I am realizing students must be entertained. The teachers creativity is essential to keep those kids entertained. The PowerPoint projects were interesting, to see just how easy it would be to incorporate them and how fun and entertaining they would be for the students. The students get to use their creativity, increase their knowledge and familiarity of technology, and use social skills to help enlighten their lives.
It is truly amazing what the world has evolved into. Can you think back how any of us lived without technology such as cell phones and the internet? And it’s crazy how people still think it’s possible to live without the biggest thing we can do to help future students is get them involved in technology and comfortable with it as soon as possible so they can succeed. The biggest task is to keep them safe while doing so. It’s crazy to think that there are people out there who can’t see how prominent technology is and we need to help all teachers get on the same page.
I really like the idea of using the camera for documenting student’s activities for the parents to stay update, also to help the parents participate in the student’s homework and stay current with they children lives by assigning homework using cameras and pictures. Also you can use cameras to help show Students of the Day and Birthdays. I feel the biggest thing is to let the students use digital cameras as a way to express themselves, and now since it is so popular as a social tool for students in higher grades it good to get them comfortable with them early in life. Also with documentary of observations in science of the moon or of decaying bread, there really are unlimited ideas for digital cameras.
After reading the articles I realized you could integrate photos into a lot more things than I had thought. Of course you would want to take pictures of field trips and stuff but I wouldn't think to use it as an exercise to learn computer skills, and to have them build more of a unity as a class. I also liked the idea of having photos to bring home to parents and have them bring photos from home so the parents are more updated on their students work.
