Podcasting

Image Sources: http://sasns.scoilnet.ie/blog/2009/12/01/podcasting-fever/ and http://edseminars.apple.com/seminars/event.php?eventID=60

I recently became interested in Podcasting in the classroom, and decided to do a little research! I found a definition at About.com that really spells out the basics of what podcasting is.

Podcasting describes the process of using audio files to deliver syndicated website content to a digital audience. Basically, in podcasting, you create audio files that are available on your website, which people can then download to their iPods or MP3 players and listen to. “Podcasts” are delivered through RSS (Rich Site Summary) feeds; users subscribe to various podcasts which are then checked regularly for updates – just like blogs. So podcasting is essentially another medium for delivering syndicated web content to your users. About’s Linda Roeder calls podcasting "blogging with sound".

Many teachers across the states, and even across the world have decided to incorporate podcasting into their school routine. Podcasting is beneficial for the students because they can go back and listen to the information on the Podcast over and over again to get what they need. In the website that I found about Podcasting in the classroom, the teacher had the students record their own podcasts and have them all available at a classroom website within iTunes. I find this technology to be extremely useful and plan on using something like this when I am teaching.

Below are some helpful videos about podcasting and incorporating it into your classroom.

After watching these videos, I am even more confident that Podcasting is going to become a major part of the basic education curriculum in the future. I am excited to be entering the profession at such a great time for technology to really flourish. I hope that after reading this, you are inspired to create your own Podcasting website for your classroom.

Prezi

Image Sources: http://cathryno.globalteacher.org.au/2009/10/16/prezi/ and http://www.localhiddenvariable.com/ciid/category/tui/

Prezi is a new option for presentations. It replaces traditional PowerPoint slides with one single screen. On the screen, you lay everything out to create your overview and then choose pathway links between different words or objects. Prezi is also 100% done online, and can be used as a collaboration tool if more than one people are working on a presentation together.
The nice thing about Prezi is that you don't have to organize your information linearly, you just have to put the information down, and then create the pathway that works best for you. The next step is to place and rotate objects using the "zebra wheel", add text, then create your presentation pathway, zooming in and out to alternately see the big picture, then details within that picture.
The Prezi website has a showcase room, which is where you can look at some examples of Prezi's if you are struggling. Once you’ve created your Prezi, you simply move between ideas and concepts by clicking your mouse, just as you would with traditional PowerPoints. It can take some getting used to because it is so different from PowerPoint, but once you get the hang of it, Prezi is an extremely fun, creative, hands-on, and catchy way to present any information!
The Prezi website has tons of informational videos to watch to help you learn how to operate Prezi to the maximum potential.
Prezi would be excellent to use in any classroom because it is a new technology that many students will be intrigued by and want to learn. Prezi can also help students with projects, presentations, and just outlining thoughts.

These YouTube videos also help explain how to use Prezi.







Hopefully now that you have discovered what Prezi is, you will venture out and create a Prezi of your own, either for fun, practice, or your next presentation!

Cyber Bullying

Images (Left to Right): http://www.thepicky.com/internet/what-is-cyberbullying-or-online-bullying/ and http://www.mcgill.ca/news/2008/fall/reputations/

I have read and heard a lot about cyberbullying lately, and decided to look into it further to find out what it's really about. Growing up in the technological age definitely has major advantages, but after researching cyberbullying, all of the technology around can be more of a hassle than anything to some people (children and adults alike). I first got introduced to this topic during a lecture presentation for my Ed Tech and Design class at UNI. As I explored more and more of exactly what cyberbullying is, I made a promise to myself to look out for any case of bullying as a teacher, because what I found is terrifying.

First, I will share a few videos that I found that really impacted me.







There are so many more videos about cyberbullying, but the three above are the ones that really got to me. The Megan Meier story in particular was extremely hard to hear about, but there are many more videos on YouTube that tell the updated story of her case (and many others).

Cyberbullying is defined as when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying doesn't just happen at home, it happens at school as well. With the technology, such as computers and cell phones, at school, cyberbullying is an ongoing event. However, this horrible occurrence can be stopped, but with your help! Stop Cyberbullying and Kids Against Bullying are two fantastic websites for both children and parents to use in order to find more information on cyberbullying and what can be done to prevent it. Please do your part and stop cyberbullying! The technology (both in schools and at home) is not going to go away, so it it up to us, the individuals wanting to take action, to make a difference in children's lives.

My 1st Blog Post- Handhelds in School

Image Sources: Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education and www.successlink.org/technology/

This is my very first blog post, so I am kind of nervous to actually publish this, but I am also really excited to be starting my first blog! Even though this is for my ETD class, I plan on using this blog after the class is over.
For my first topic related to technology in the classroom, I viewed and read about a 5th graders typical day in his classroom with personal handheld devices for each student to use throughout the day to support and enhance his or her learning. Taylor is from Mr. Vincent's 5th grade classroom. To view the website that I refer to throughout this blog. I also found this video that talks about the benefits of using handhelds in the classroom. Another school in Kansas City, Missouri is also using handhelds in their classrooms, and this website provides more detailed information and stats about the usage and effectiveness of handhelds in the classroom for student use.



I think that technology in the classroom is going to become extremely important and prominent starting in the the next few years and getting more and more necessary and encouraged as time goes on. Taylor's teacher, Mr. Vincent accepts the role of technology in his classroom, and really embraces his opportunity to take the minimum to a higher level.
Mr. Vincent enhances student learning by using handhelds to further explore classroom topics, such as spelling, math, reading, social studies, and science. Each subject has different programs on the handhelds that the students use. I want to mention a few of my favorites now.
Each day a different student gets the role as the "Roving Reporter". The reporter takes photos and notes throughout the day and then takes home his or her handheld to create an article about their day in Mr. Vincent's class. The next day, the reporter synchronizes his or her handheld with a desktop computer, which is copied to Mr. Vincent's computer. Mr. Vincent then turns the article into the 5th Grade website for everyone to read! I think that this is a GREAT way to integrate technology into the home and classroom. The students each get a turn to create their own article and they use technology to help them accomplish what is expected.
Another program that I thought was useful for both the students and the teacher is MathCard.
MathCard is like the timed fact tests that students take to addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, only on the handheld, and not with pen and paper. MathCard records each students score after two minutes, which makes it extremely easy for Mr. Vincent to just walk around and record each students score!
The final program that I really want to talk about is Quizzler. Quizzler allows Mr. Vincent to create quizzes to help students prepare for upcoming tests. Taylor talks about playing Quizzler Tic Tack Toe with a partner. One person launches Quizzler on their handheld and the other launches Tic Tack Toe. Each student then takes turns answering the questions that Mr. Vincent created to help them study, and after each right answer, they get to mark an "X" or "O" on Tic Tack Toe. This is really cool to me because it encourages learning, but the students think that they are playing a game!
In the future, I hope to enjoy many of the benefits that technology will bring to my classroom. Hopefully handhelds (or something similar) will be available to me because I would really like to expand on what Mr. Vincent has created in his classroom in my own classroom.