I watched several of the videos on the Teacher Domain website. I watched a couple of videos from each group: K-5th, 6th-8th, and 9th-12th. I really liked this site because it featured many educational video clips, but they were a very manageable length. You were able to find a topic that interested you (one I choose was the coral reef) and it gave a very concise, yet informative account of that topic. The information was very clear and easy to understand and it was no problem for me to watch several of them and not feel bombarded with information but to feel like I learned something new. I also liked the way they tailored the podcasts for the appropriate grade levels. The K-5 were much more elementary than the upper level grades, as would be expected.
I think this podcast would be very beneficial for use in a classroom. As I said before the length makes it very manageable to watch in class. Perhaps a teacher could use it when teaching a lesson about a certain podcast topic or maybe just play one each day even if it doesn't pertain to the lesson. They could just serve as a daily clip to broaden students' knowledge. I think the length would also keep the students from getting bored. Even if a topic is interesting, I think students can get distracted easily if something goes on too long. These clips were a great length to maintain attention.
This could also serve as a way teachers could get students to work outside of the classroom. Perhaps students could choose a podcast of particular interest to them and choose to write a response to it. They could watch their respective clip, do a little bit of additional research and bring in a paper detailing what they learned from the podcast.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Teaching Outside of the Classroom
After watching the blogs "The Edible Schoolyard" and "A Night In a Global Village", I think it gave me a completely different perspective on way we as teachers can teach our students.
"The Edible Schoolyard" was about a school in Berkley, CA that had a garden outside of the school and the students were in charge of caring for it. They began every morning by working outside of the classroom, learning from nature. Not only did they plant the food and tend to their garden, they also were given the opportunity to help prepare and eat the food they had worked so hard to create. While students were doing something engaging and actually fun, the teachers were also able to integrate what they had been studying in the classrooms. Math, biology, geography: these things could all be taught in a hands-on and creative manner.
"A Night In a Global Village" tries to show kids how people living in different parts of the world can be much less fortunate. The large 5-acre farm has different villages set up to emulate different impoverished parts of the world, such as Thailand, Guatemala, and even a refugee camp. The kids are divided into families, each living in a different village and are given a sparse number of supplies. Since each group receives different supplies, they must go around to other villages and barter for what they need to survive. Though the kids only experience this drastic life change for a night, it seems to really make an impression on the quality of life some people must endure. It helps to inspire them to become more active in wanting to help people, while also building communication skills and learning to work together.
I really enjoyed watching both of these podcasts. I thought they were very thought-provoking and very unique techniques to use for students. I really liked the one where they created their own garden. It gives the students the opportunity to get out of the classroom and be active in learning. I think it would also provide satisfaction for the students. Creating something and seeing it become something that can be useful is a really great feeling. Also, the way to almost any kid's heart is through food so allowing the students to eat together is definitely a plus. This made me realize that I would like to expand my teaching in the classroom from just English, Math, Science, etc. They pointed out that many basic practices children should learn at home are not always taught. Just learning simple things like setting a table, and communicating with other to accomplish something life a meal, are very valuable attributes that a teacher can help impart to his or her students.
As for the students spending the night in a "village", I thought it was a great way to show a harsh reality we sometimes choose to ignore and to teach teamwork and communication in the process. Though I don't know that I would have the resources to do something like this in my classroom, it does highlight the importance of just making sure your students are informed. I think there are ways to make these points on a smaller scale, perhaps by doing some of these activities in the classroom. They also mentioned just reading to kids about different cultures in the lower grades. I think at times we tend to wait until students are older to tell them about poverty and explain different ways of life, but I think they can actually gain more knowledge if they begin learning about it earlier. If nothing else, just learning about the customs and traditions of different cultures.
"The Edible Schoolyard" was about a school in Berkley, CA that had a garden outside of the school and the students were in charge of caring for it. They began every morning by working outside of the classroom, learning from nature. Not only did they plant the food and tend to their garden, they also were given the opportunity to help prepare and eat the food they had worked so hard to create. While students were doing something engaging and actually fun, the teachers were also able to integrate what they had been studying in the classrooms. Math, biology, geography: these things could all be taught in a hands-on and creative manner.
"A Night In a Global Village" tries to show kids how people living in different parts of the world can be much less fortunate. The large 5-acre farm has different villages set up to emulate different impoverished parts of the world, such as Thailand, Guatemala, and even a refugee camp. The kids are divided into families, each living in a different village and are given a sparse number of supplies. Since each group receives different supplies, they must go around to other villages and barter for what they need to survive. Though the kids only experience this drastic life change for a night, it seems to really make an impression on the quality of life some people must endure. It helps to inspire them to become more active in wanting to help people, while also building communication skills and learning to work together.
I really enjoyed watching both of these podcasts. I thought they were very thought-provoking and very unique techniques to use for students. I really liked the one where they created their own garden. It gives the students the opportunity to get out of the classroom and be active in learning. I think it would also provide satisfaction for the students. Creating something and seeing it become something that can be useful is a really great feeling. Also, the way to almost any kid's heart is through food so allowing the students to eat together is definitely a plus. This made me realize that I would like to expand my teaching in the classroom from just English, Math, Science, etc. They pointed out that many basic practices children should learn at home are not always taught. Just learning simple things like setting a table, and communicating with other to accomplish something life a meal, are very valuable attributes that a teacher can help impart to his or her students.
As for the students spending the night in a "village", I thought it was a great way to show a harsh reality we sometimes choose to ignore and to teach teamwork and communication in the process. Though I don't know that I would have the resources to do something like this in my classroom, it does highlight the importance of just making sure your students are informed. I think there are ways to make these points on a smaller scale, perhaps by doing some of these activities in the classroom. They also mentioned just reading to kids about different cultures in the lower grades. I think at times we tend to wait until students are older to tell them about poverty and explain different ways of life, but I think they can actually gain more knowledge if they begin learning about it earlier. If nothing else, just learning about the customs and traditions of different cultures.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
A Wide Variety of Podcasts
After listening to six different kinds of podcasts, you can really see a lot of similarities as well as a lot of differences in the ways people choose to present their podcasts. I found some podcasts to be more pleasing to me personally just based on the way they chose to present their information. I think it is important to consider your audience when deciding what sort of podcast you should do in order to gain the best results. However, they all did have positives to them.
I found "SmartBoard Weekly" to be a pretty interesting podcast. It revolves around using the SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboard which I had never heard of until now. I thought it was a very intriguing product I would like to learn more about. As for the podcast itself, I really liked the way they did it. It was a man and a woman who were just discussing things in a very informal a light-hearted manner. They were often humorous and they had a good repertoire with one another. They presented different ideas for using the SmartBoard, many of which I would consider using in my own classroom. I thought another podcast I listened to, "Podcasting for Teachers (Techpod)" was pretty similar to the former. It used older hosts, a man and a woman, who were established teachers as well as educational technology experts. They discuss the revolutionary changes that technology is having on education and the ways teachers can integrate it into their classrooms and curriculum's. They have special guests on the programs who present the new ideas and technologies that are constantly being developed.
The second podcast I listened to was "Kidcasting". This was the only one I listened to that had only one host. That was one aspect I did not like about it. I think having more than one person if very beneficial because they can talk off of each other and make what I think is more effective conversation. From what I listened to, the host mainly talked about different techniques that can be used in the classroom, including using podcasting. I think his ideas were pretty good, but I thought the presentation left something to be desired.
"Ed Tech Talk" consists of a few hosts and weekly guests. The interesting thing about this podcast is that it is interactive. The entire show the hosts and guests are actually testing out the techniques they are talking about and listeners can participate as well. On their website, www.edtechtalk.org, you can visit a chat room where you can post questions and comments which can be answered on the air.
I think the last two podcasts were probably my favorite. "MacBreak Weekly" and "This Week in Photography" both used a very informal method of discussion which is appealing to me. I really enjoyed "MacBreak Weekly's" podcast. They seem to use different hosts but you see the same people appearing on the show, just in different combinations. I found the show to be very funny, with four or five guys cracking jokes while talking about all things Apple. I also found it very informative. I have a lot of Apple products so it was interesting to get their perspectives on the good and bad of the companies products. I also enjoyed listening to "This Week in Photography". Though I am not a professional photographer by any means, I think even amateurs could benefit from this program. Again, I liked the very informal back-and-forth of the two hosts and the wide range of information they provided. I think this show would be interesting to professional photographers as well as just people taking family photos.
There are so many different ways of disseminating information through a podcast. Choosing the correct way of presenting your show will have a big impact of who will listen to it. I learned the type of show I prefer to listen to and the types that I am not as crazy about. But they all present a great way of getting information out to the masses.
I found "SmartBoard Weekly" to be a pretty interesting podcast. It revolves around using the SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboard which I had never heard of until now. I thought it was a very intriguing product I would like to learn more about. As for the podcast itself, I really liked the way they did it. It was a man and a woman who were just discussing things in a very informal a light-hearted manner. They were often humorous and they had a good repertoire with one another. They presented different ideas for using the SmartBoard, many of which I would consider using in my own classroom. I thought another podcast I listened to, "Podcasting for Teachers (Techpod)" was pretty similar to the former. It used older hosts, a man and a woman, who were established teachers as well as educational technology experts. They discuss the revolutionary changes that technology is having on education and the ways teachers can integrate it into their classrooms and curriculum's. They have special guests on the programs who present the new ideas and technologies that are constantly being developed.
The second podcast I listened to was "Kidcasting". This was the only one I listened to that had only one host. That was one aspect I did not like about it. I think having more than one person if very beneficial because they can talk off of each other and make what I think is more effective conversation. From what I listened to, the host mainly talked about different techniques that can be used in the classroom, including using podcasting. I think his ideas were pretty good, but I thought the presentation left something to be desired.
"Ed Tech Talk" consists of a few hosts and weekly guests. The interesting thing about this podcast is that it is interactive. The entire show the hosts and guests are actually testing out the techniques they are talking about and listeners can participate as well. On their website, www.edtechtalk.org, you can visit a chat room where you can post questions and comments which can be answered on the air.
I think the last two podcasts were probably my favorite. "MacBreak Weekly" and "This Week in Photography" both used a very informal method of discussion which is appealing to me. I really enjoyed "MacBreak Weekly's" podcast. They seem to use different hosts but you see the same people appearing on the show, just in different combinations. I found the show to be very funny, with four or five guys cracking jokes while talking about all things Apple. I also found it very informative. I have a lot of Apple products so it was interesting to get their perspectives on the good and bad of the companies products. I also enjoyed listening to "This Week in Photography". Though I am not a professional photographer by any means, I think even amateurs could benefit from this program. Again, I liked the very informal back-and-forth of the two hosts and the wide range of information they provided. I think this show would be interesting to professional photographers as well as just people taking family photos.
There are so many different ways of disseminating information through a podcast. Choosing the correct way of presenting your show will have a big impact of who will listen to it. I learned the type of show I prefer to listen to and the types that I am not as crazy about. But they all present a great way of getting information out to the masses.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sunday, October 5, 2008
"The Last Lecture"
After watching Randy Pausch's "The Last Lecture", I found everything he said to be very sound advice. I remember hearing about it last year and I figured it would be a talk about his having a terminal illness. Though he did mention it at the beginning of his talk and referenced it a few times, he was actually talking about the ways you should teach, learn, and ultimately live your life.
One very big point Paucsh elaborated on was the importance of having childhood dreams and doing everything in your power to make those dreams come true. He showed a list of his childhood dreams and, through his life, he accomplished each of them in one way or another. He also emphasized the importance of helping others achieve their dreams. One comment he made several times was about the "brick walls". He said they are there to keep those who don't really want it from achieving their goals. If you really want something and keep trying, you will reach your goals. He also talks about the "head fake". He presents it as a very effective teaching method. You teach someone something difficult while they think they are learning something else. These are techniques Paush learned at a young age and continued to use throughout his teaching career.
Paush took his love of technology and used it to become an incredible teacher. He found a way to bring art and technology together in many amazing ways, and gave students the opportunity to be creators. After pooling students from different departments, he constructed an entire class around students grouping up and creating virtual reality programs. He admitted to being blown away by his first class' attempt at the programs but took valuable advice he was given not to let them settle. It is important to always encourage students to do better, even if their current work product is excellent. He co-created the Entertainment Technology Center which focuses on "edutainment"- entertainment that teaches. He was an extremely strong advocate of making learning enjoyable. He was also the creator of the software program "Alice" which, in his "head fake" style, teaches students to program while they feel they are creating virtual reality.
I found this lecture to be very moving and informative. I think Randy Pausch had a mentality that more teachers should have. He saw the value of learning from your mistakes, listening to criticism, but never giving up on your dreams. He motivated his students to not be complacent and to keep striving to be the best they could be. Though he hit brick walls he never stopped trying and he urges others to do the same. Though his lecture did give advice for how to succeed as a student and/or a teacher, but it was also very much advice on how to live a successful life.
One very big point Paucsh elaborated on was the importance of having childhood dreams and doing everything in your power to make those dreams come true. He showed a list of his childhood dreams and, through his life, he accomplished each of them in one way or another. He also emphasized the importance of helping others achieve their dreams. One comment he made several times was about the "brick walls". He said they are there to keep those who don't really want it from achieving their goals. If you really want something and keep trying, you will reach your goals. He also talks about the "head fake". He presents it as a very effective teaching method. You teach someone something difficult while they think they are learning something else. These are techniques Paush learned at a young age and continued to use throughout his teaching career.
Paush took his love of technology and used it to become an incredible teacher. He found a way to bring art and technology together in many amazing ways, and gave students the opportunity to be creators. After pooling students from different departments, he constructed an entire class around students grouping up and creating virtual reality programs. He admitted to being blown away by his first class' attempt at the programs but took valuable advice he was given not to let them settle. It is important to always encourage students to do better, even if their current work product is excellent. He co-created the Entertainment Technology Center which focuses on "edutainment"- entertainment that teaches. He was an extremely strong advocate of making learning enjoyable. He was also the creator of the software program "Alice" which, in his "head fake" style, teaches students to program while they feel they are creating virtual reality.
I found this lecture to be very moving and informative. I think Randy Pausch had a mentality that more teachers should have. He saw the value of learning from your mistakes, listening to criticism, but never giving up on your dreams. He motivated his students to not be complacent and to keep striving to be the best they could be. Though he hit brick walls he never stopped trying and he urges others to do the same. Though his lecture did give advice for how to succeed as a student and/or a teacher, but it was also very much advice on how to live a successful life.
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