Podcasts

As a dance teacher and classroom teacher I am always looking for new and exciting ways to incorporate movement into my curriculum at school.  Through my chosen podcast I found a very exciting way to incorporate Mathematics and African Dance as a way of educating my students about both Math and cultural diversity.  The podcast titled African Dance,  is a great way of exposing students to cultural dance and Math.  This instructor uses the "clock" as a reference point for her dance moves.  She consistently refers to the quarter points of the clock as placement indicators for students to learn the movement.  I immediately thought that this would be an excellent way to use a podcast in the classroom across contents.  I would begin a math lesson with a review of the clock.  I would continue by explaining to the students that today they will view a podcast which incorporates different numbers on the clock and for them to be able to learn the dance moves they must master the clock.  What an exciting way for students to become motivated about mastering a mathematical concept.
I think that this podcast will be a new and exciting way of making cross-content connections to both exposure to different cultures and time.  What a great way to use a podcast in the classroom.

ePals

ePals is a project-based learning website that incorporates students from around the world and can encourage understanding.  This website helps students learn about differing perspectives.  Here children can begin to develop how they view the world and themselves.

Description of some of the projects on this site: 

1.) The first project that I researched on this site was titled, Holidays and Festivals around the world.  I clicked on a beautiful photograph of an elephant all "dolled" up and found myself on a perfectly arranged lesson plan with objectives, essential questions, supplemental questions and a culminating activity.  Through this project students are expected to understand cultures and countries around the world.  The culminating activity is a representation of what the students learned through this lesson and provides students the opportunity to collaborate and share their own ideas through the unique experience of "collaborate now".  This project and website provide students an experience they wouldn't have without technology.

2.)  The second project I researched was digital storytelling.  This project allows students to create a story with cross-cultural connections and are able to share such stories with children all across the world.  ( I chose this project due to the new information that I have gained regarding digital storytelling-how appropriate).  Like the other project this one is also all set up for the educator.  Highlighting important questions, objectives and activities---it's all right there for the teacher.  This is a unique opportunity for students from other countries to develop a digital story and share that story with each other.This is the infinite pleasure in technology. 

Other important features of this site:  

Some features I found particularly important on this site were: the connect with classrooms section--->here if you click you will find multiple posts and forums for both teacher and student.  An excellent way to follow up with teachers regarding this technology.  

Another feature I liked was "collaborate now" icon.  Once you click this icon you are hit with all the collaborative steps you should take in order to have a successful experience with both your classroom and your partnering classroom (managing time, scheduling etc).  

The final feature that I found both helpful and essential was the project elements feature.  Here the designer has organized links for each step of this project.  You click on the first step and you are given step by step instructions as to how you (for example) activate prior knowledge.  This is just incredible.

How I can implement within my classroom: 

I think that it is most evident that this would be a powerful and exciting attribution to any classroom.  The projects already highlight important learning experiences that connect with subject/standard/and cross-cultural experiences.  I see this as a valuable asset to any part of my classroom.  Although, I do see a perfect fit for Social Studies, as we often teach children about the different places around the world but they are unable to imagine these places.  Using ePals allows students and teachers a direct connection to the people and places around the world.  Each project highlights something different, yet they are all relevant and can be used in an infinite amount of different ways.   

ANIMOTO

For my digital story I thought it would be interesting to introduce myself to my students by allowing them the opportunity to see me doing one of my most beloved hobbies-dancing.  I think that through the use of my digital story I could inspire my students to stay active, healthy and fit and maybe even open their minds to participating in something new.  I thought that this digital story was a way of connecting to my students and also introducing myself as not just an educator but also a lover of a dance.  This is an excellent tool to use for mini projects, lessons, book reports etc.  I can see this application utilized within my classroom in many different places, but I will be using it as an introduction piece for sure because it is such an attention grabber.

Voice Threads

A.J. was taking a walk and found a ladder was the first voice thread that I viewed.  I thought it was an excellent one.  I really enjoyed how it began with music which was very engaging as well as the concept of descriptive writing and how it was developed through the course of the voice thread.  I think that this is an excellent lesson and way of incorporating voice thread into the classroom.  Easy, clear and credible.  Perfect example.

School Libraries in the 21st Century was the second voice thread that I viewed.  I liked it equally as much, although there was only one slide.  I found the directions clear and easy to input into a classroom.  I was able to choose a word that I felt a connection to and then describe my experience.  An excellent idea and way to bridge the gap among ESL students.  Two thumbs up.

Rhyming Words---Bookr

For my story I chose to focus on rhyming words.  I developed a very advanced book using Bookr on another topic and attempted to publish it...it failed and in turn lost my entire book.  This was my second attempt.  It worked with the shorter book so I assumed my first book was too long.  This website was very exciting for me at first.  I was so motivated to use it.  There were many different actual photographs that were so much more interesting than an average clip from clip art or image from google images.  In this respect I really liked this technology.  I see my students easily navigating through the website, but I do wonder if the website is trustworthy...will they feel as frustrated as I did...does it lose work often?!  If not then I believe they would truly enjoy working with this type of tool.
In the case of this book I developed a short story for very young students (kindergarten).  I wanted them to be exposed to rhyming words in an interesting way.  MY OBJECTIVE:  The students will be able to identify all of the rhyming words within the text through oral response with 90 percent accuracy.  I think that students would love hearing this story as I would present it first.   Next, I think they would love following along with the rhyming words and speaking them with me while they enjoy the real life photos :).
Jen and her Hen

Digital Story Telling

As the University of Houston states in their article, The Educational Uses of Digital Storytelling, this technology is a way to use computer-based tools to tell stories.  The idea of this technology is that we are able as educators and students to participate in the exchange of ideas using video clips, images, music and sound as a way of communicating more effectively.  It is important to note that most educational uses for digital storytelling are anywhere from two minutes to ten minutes in length.  The educational uses for this type of technology varies.

"Educators at all levels can use Digital Storytelling in many ways, from introducing new material, to helping students learn to conduct research, synthesize large amounts of content and gain expertise in the use of digital communication and authoring tools."

I think that this technology is an awesome way to do any of the things previously stated.  I see this technology as an exciting new way to present information to my students and allow my students to present to me.  An excellent resource to use in any classroom :).

Photo By: genericface

How to use Microblogs in Professional Development & Teaching

After having read, How to use Twitter for Social Learning, on Diigo I began to recognize all the different possibilities for this type of technology within the world of education.  To name a few, collaborative writing, twitter book clubs, micro learning and even for feedback and quizzes.  I think that these ideas listed are all ways that I would be able to use twitter in my classroom.  I think that students would become more engaged in the process of reading for a book club if they were allowed the time necessary to actually go on twitter and respond or reflect to and through their classmates via twitter.  What an excellent way to incorporate "hip" technology for our youth.
On another note I also read, TeachPaperless:  Twimpact: Twitter's impact on my week.  This was very a very inspiring article highlighting the importance of twitter regarding teacher growth.  This specific educator explained, "I learned a new trick for the Promethean Board that I never would have known was possible".  Ah ha...this twitter for educators thing really is possible.  It seemed from this specific Blog that twitter had provided only positive attributes to his teaching and continued learning.  I think that some of the available networks he was able to establish, and in turn, the information he was able to acquire wouldn't have been possible without Twitter :).
I see the value of this network and plan on incorporating it soon (with restrictions of course:).