Using Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom

There are several Web 2.0 activities that seem like they would be feasible with my third grade students, but creating a Tabblo with tabblo.com seems like it would be the most feasible.

I would have students write a personal narrative or a biography and liven it up with photos and/or images. This project ties in with the Language Arts Standard of writing a biography or a narrative. Given a biography, it could also be tied into other subject matter, such as art, social studies, science or math, depending on the figure students choose to write about.

The template on Tabblo would serve as a place where they would write up the final draft and illustrate it with images that they take or find on the internet.
I would set guidelines regarding the components, while leaving them creative space to include additional information and/or images:
1) Required information if doing a biography would include: Full name, country and date of birth, brief history, specific contributions to society or special feats.
2) Three images that would support the content: image of person, image of country, image of or representative of their special feat or contribution.

Skype could be useful to have people from the community, or the world at large, provide students in any classroom with contact with a greater part of the world. It could be used to supplement a lesson or provide contact with people of other ethnic backgrounds or countries.

Technology Course

I definitely have a better grasp of the wide array of applications and used technology can have in education. I plan to utilize a greater array of search tools and techniques to gather resources and materials for my class. I also feel that I am more in sync with what my previous middle school-level students were talking about when they referred to MySpace and blogging. If I end up working with middle-school or high school levels, which I sincerely hope, I plan on utilizing these tools with them for projects, along with Shutterfly to create books with images!
The StoryBoard was another awesome resource to make student-produced movies or bring in outside presenters, real-life situations, and more.
I think that StoryBoard was the most valuable application from this class. It is an excellent way for me to present my students with images of people, events and things outside of the classroom that have been difficult to present or share.

Make Your Own Jewelry You Tube Video

This is a super brief overview on earring making. Sorry, we only had 3 minutes of film time, and it really is more interesting live.

Copyright & Fair Use Guidelines I appreciate how this website clearly pointed out that the idea of copyright was made to balance private and public interests of original, creative and fixed or tangible form of expression. The other point that really stood out was the most critical factor in deciding on use of copyrighted materials was if there will be no reduction in sales because of copying on distribution. It also quoted the internet as a better resource which is put into question in Keeping it Legal which really stressed the controversial issue of "free" domain so present in the matter of internet copyright. The sole use of web materials strictly for students' use in the classroom but not for publishing or presenting anywhere outside of the classroom was inherent. The recommendation to have one person at a school site in charge of checking up on copyright issues with websites and legal issues does seem to provide teachers with major support in dealing with these issues.

A Visit to the Copyright Bay The Teach Act of 2002 really puts a strain on classroom teachers who utilize audiovisual media to present or supplement curriculum. This seems to complicate the introduction of videos for instructional purposes. One example is to show a video of a work of literature read in class...although I understand the perspective of the artist or publisher, there needs to be an easier way for teachers to use audiovisual media to support the education of students. Both this website and Stanford University Libraries: Copyright & Fair Use commented on "coursepacks" which I vividly remember from college and from a stint I had at a low-income school without access to textbooks. On the firsthand, I recall the wide-range of sources some college professors used for their courses and had we as students had to purchase all of the original works we would have been unable to do so. On the other hand, a year I taught a self-contained Newcomer class of 6-8th grade students in Oakland where I was given NO textbooks accessible to my students. Had it not been for photocopying texts, I would have had to write up materials for all subjects every day...I attempted that at the beginning and that was not feasible. My overall reflection is that the use of copyrighted materials for educational purposes in not-for-profit schools should be given considerable thought and not be so quick to penalize teachers or schools.

UCB 359.5 Review of 5 Podcasts

I listened and/or viewed the following four Educational podcasts:

1) Big story Time.com - These are stories, mainly bedtime stories, narrated by professional story tellers. I attempt to do a Read-Aloud a few times a week because students enjoy them and learn through them. This podcast has many stories to choose from. I plan on using this one from time to time in my class.

2) Funny Poems Podcast - These are funny poems read be Robert Pottle. The poems are good and he has a good clear voice and uses a lot of expression. The only part I did not like was that his introduction was extremely long.

3) Black History- I tried all of the podcasts listed and not one worked for me. I thought it would be a great idea to use one to present during Black History Month. I hope to find one that works and is useful for an elementary classroom. I don't recommend any of the ones listed up to now.

4) Grade 3/4 Students- This podcast is by British third and fourth graders. They each have a role and present a type of news broadcast-type of program. Each student has a role and a title. They have various sections of their program, comedy, news, etc... It would be useful to use with elementary students to help them practice voice projection, expression when doing oral presentations and the procedure for presenting orally to a group.

The other podcast was "60 Minutes:The Full Broadcast"- I remember 60 Minutes on the TV every Sunday at my house and I remember listening/watching really interesting interviews and programming, and then having the luxury to walk away when I wasn't interested in a particular segment. Well, now that I don't have tv I have found that I can still listen to it by simply checking out their podcast. This and other tv and radio programs are exciting to me. I feel like I have discovered an easier way to get reconnected with world, national and local news and issues.
I have subscribed to this podcast!

UCB x 359.5 Podcasts in Education

It was helpful how the article FAQ: For Podcast Fans clearly described Podcasts. The name comes up so often and although one has a vague idea, the average person is unclear as to exactly what they are. The fact that they are either audio files, video files or documents, or any combination of those three makes it easier to understand. Also, the article clarifies that they are FREE and available automatically anywhere at anytime...talk about staying connected!

What is RSS Feed?
Background information and the explanation of how podcasts function and are used by bloggers was interesting. The article did get a bit confusing given my lack of knowledge and use of this technology. The curious note is that there seems to be no clear name for the RSS acronym nor for its origins.

The article that gave the common and practical uses for podcasts in education was Podcasting in Education. It is a great mechanism for students, educators and administrators, and even parents. The possibillity for students to present a project done at home makes for such possibilities and interesting projects. For educators, being able to do voice recordings, show photos, movies and include sound effects could lead to awesome lessons and incorporation of more real life situations and perspectives to class. I can imagine how many more "visitors" from the surrounding community might be presented to students.
Another plus is the possibility of delivering content, homework assignments book narrations, and more can allow students and parents to access material at home as well as review at their own pace...that it awesome for students facing difficulty with content for various reasons.

While I think podcasts are an awesome tool, I do realize that the population of students I am working with does not have full access to the technology needed to use podcasts at home. Secondly, given my school's limited resources, for example, just one LCD projector for about 30+ teachers makes it difficult to present podcasts in classes

UCB 359.5 Review and Rate 3 Web activities for children

Spanish & English Children’s Digital Library

1) I would use this website even though it has many links and activities that are more infantile the third grade. It gives students access to more literature.
2) The Storytellers is an awesome technique for having kids listen to a story while the teacher can attend other issues at hand.
3) Also, the book reviews offered are great in having students browse and select books and presenting them with examples of what good book reviews look like.

Fun Brain

1) I have actually used Fun Brain with my students before. It has a variety of activities in different subject matter for kids to work with.
2) It is also a great choice because it has activities aligned with grade-specific standards for all subjects. Examples of activities:
Math: money, time, fractions, decimals, algebra, ordering numbers, etc...
Geograph/Social Studies: current world events, flags, information on countries, etc...
Art: colors, color combinations
Grammar: subjects, verbs, and other parts of speech, as well as syllabication

Batters Up Baseball

1) I have used some similar websites with my students. The aim of these sites is to motivate students to practice their math facts. This site is dedicated to addition and multiplication only. Kids want to "win" the game and are more motivated to focus and learn their math facts.
2) The student signs in and is assigned a team. Their opposition, the visiting team already has a score. In the designated time, students need to earn more points than the visitors have in order to win. Each correct answer takes them forward one base..

I don't have per say a favorite website for online learning, because there are so many and each is good for specific issues. I wish I had my list of the children's websites I have researched and collected with my short synopsis here at home. I keep it at work!! Nonetheless, Brain Pop is a good one with information on all subjects.

E-Learning LIbrary

I think that online learning can be effective for all, however, I think that all the illustrations and simulations are not as necessary, especially if an adult simply wants the facts and wants to make a judgement about them. The simulation of the check was helpful in the sense that is was a "manipulative" of the actual document we would have in our hands to verify for negotiability.
The link on finding solutions for problems at work as a manager would have been easier in an inanimate document for me. The little wizard and all the little snippets from the "employees" was a bit much.
As an adult who likes things straightforward, I tend to lean away from all the game-like activities for myself. I want a game to be for my enjoyment and entertainment, not necessarily for learning .