--Albert Einstein
OK, so I was so good about keeping up on my blogs until the beginning of April. I'm not one for making excuses, but I feel the need to explain. I was taking my three, absolutely, positively adorable, yet sometimes out-of-control children to Walt Disney World for the very first time, and yes, I was more excited than they were. Actually, even before Disney, we spent a week in Naples, so I had Florida on the brain. And planning a vacation for 5, yes 5--me, my three kids, and my husband--who is really like a fourth child (he most likely will not be reading this), takes a lot of time! And although we had the best time--just getting to enjoy my family without any interruptions of day-to-day life is priceless--I needed a week to recuperate...sort of like a vacation to get over my vacation. And then reality hits, and OMG, I'm behind on like 4 blogs!
So here are some quick, but hopefully, some useful thoughts on the things that I have been learning in class:
Backing up to Photostory--I really liked this. I thought I liked moviemaker, but then my instructor introduced photostory, and my immediate thought was, "...and why didn't we just learn this in the first place?" But I know why. Because we were being taught to appreciate...appreciation for hard work. Moviemaker is work. Photostory is not--and photostory is just as fun. So, if I had to choose between the two to use as a tool or an assignment in my classroom, photostory is a no-brainer. Of course, all kids need to learn to appreciate hard work, so I might just throw moviemaker in there first.
Unfortunately, I was not in class to learn about Animoto (it was the Florida thing), but from what I've read in my classmates' blogs, it sounds like a really cool tool. That's all I can say on this topic for now, but you can be sure that I will investigate animoto further. I feel like I would be doing myself a disadvantage if I didn't explore it.
And even though I wasn't in class for Google Maps (I swear if you didn't know me, you'd think I was a slacker...but again the Florida thing), I am educated on this subject. Before taking this class, I used Google Maps and Google Earth (Iwas in class for this one!) all of the time, and still do. By the way, I really don't see much difference between the two, except that Google Maps is available through the window of your browser, and Google Earth is an application that is downloaded and installed on your computer so you can view satellite imagery. Anyway, when we moved from Ohio to St; Louis, I used Google Earth to show my family and friends where I was living. And when I miss my mom, which is like every day, I'm able to pull up her house on street view. Since taking this class, my mind has been opened to using Google Earth and Maps to more than just staring at my parents' house. Geography comes to mind, but so does History, and math--measuring and showing distance. Do you know how difficult it is to explain distance to a 6-year-old? Google Maps and Google Earth are all about visuals. A great tool to utilize in the classroom.
And last, but not least (getting ready to present a final project in two days), is Audacity and Podcasting. http://www.mrcoley.com/ is was I got out of this class--need I say more? Check it out yourself if you don't believe me. This guy has got it goin'on! He's a fifth-grade teacher that I can only hope to be. He has more than just podcasting on his website...which reminds me...I was about to talk about that. Audacity is a sound editing device--that you can download for free--for a podcast. You record into audacity to make a podcast. When I was first trying to make sense of this new devise (very new to me--I'm almost 40), it reminded me of the hand-held recorders I used in my early college years. The difference between the two? Technology. A podcast is for an oral learner. There aren't too many of them out there. But there are a lot of visual and kinesthetic learners, and I thought, how cool would it be to combine the podcast with visuals. It would certainly strengthen the oral-learning part of our brains. This device can be used with every subject that is taught...seriously, just think about it.
And I guess that raps it up. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this class. When I finally do get back into teaching, I am going to be a totally different teacher than what I was nine years ago. But, hey, change is good, and so is technology!
OK, so I was so good about keeping up on my blogs until the beginning of April. I'm not one for making excuses, but I feel the need to explain. I was taking my three, absolutely, positively adorable, yet sometimes out-of-control children to Walt Disney World for the very first time, and yes, I was more excited than they were. Actually, even before Disney, we spent a week in Naples, so I had Florida on the brain. And planning a vacation for 5, yes 5--me, my three kids, and my husband--who is really like a fourth child (he most likely will not be reading this), takes a lot of time! And although we had the best time--just getting to enjoy my family without any interruptions of day-to-day life is priceless--I needed a week to recuperate...sort of like a vacation to get over my vacation. And then reality hits, and OMG, I'm behind on like 4 blogs!
So here are some quick, but hopefully, some useful thoughts on the things that I have been learning in class:
Backing up to Photostory--I really liked this. I thought I liked moviemaker, but then my instructor introduced photostory, and my immediate thought was, "...and why didn't we just learn this in the first place?" But I know why. Because we were being taught to appreciate...appreciation for hard work. Moviemaker is work. Photostory is not--and photostory is just as fun. So, if I had to choose between the two to use as a tool or an assignment in my classroom, photostory is a no-brainer. Of course, all kids need to learn to appreciate hard work, so I might just throw moviemaker in there first.
Unfortunately, I was not in class to learn about Animoto (it was the Florida thing), but from what I've read in my classmates' blogs, it sounds like a really cool tool. That's all I can say on this topic for now, but you can be sure that I will investigate animoto further. I feel like I would be doing myself a disadvantage if I didn't explore it.
And even though I wasn't in class for Google Maps (I swear if you didn't know me, you'd think I was a slacker...but again the Florida thing), I am educated on this subject. Before taking this class, I used Google Maps and Google Earth (Iwas in class for this one!) all of the time, and still do. By the way, I really don't see much difference between the two, except that Google Maps is available through the window of your browser, and Google Earth is an application that is downloaded and installed on your computer so you can view satellite imagery. Anyway, when we moved from Ohio to St; Louis, I used Google Earth to show my family and friends where I was living. And when I miss my mom, which is like every day, I'm able to pull up her house on street view. Since taking this class, my mind has been opened to using Google Earth and Maps to more than just staring at my parents' house. Geography comes to mind, but so does History, and math--measuring and showing distance. Do you know how difficult it is to explain distance to a 6-year-old? Google Maps and Google Earth are all about visuals. A great tool to utilize in the classroom.
And last, but not least (getting ready to present a final project in two days), is Audacity and Podcasting. http://www.mrcoley.com/ is was I got out of this class--need I say more? Check it out yourself if you don't believe me. This guy has got it goin'on! He's a fifth-grade teacher that I can only hope to be. He has more than just podcasting on his website...which reminds me...I was about to talk about that. Audacity is a sound editing device--that you can download for free--for a podcast. You record into audacity to make a podcast. When I was first trying to make sense of this new devise (very new to me--I'm almost 40), it reminded me of the hand-held recorders I used in my early college years. The difference between the two? Technology. A podcast is for an oral learner. There aren't too many of them out there. But there are a lot of visual and kinesthetic learners, and I thought, how cool would it be to combine the podcast with visuals. It would certainly strengthen the oral-learning part of our brains. This device can be used with every subject that is taught...seriously, just think about it.
And I guess that raps it up. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this class. When I finally do get back into teaching, I am going to be a totally different teacher than what I was nine years ago. But, hey, change is good, and so is technology!
Toni:
ReplyDeleteI guess we can understanding how your family might take priority:) It sounds like you had a great vacation. I enjoyed knowing you in class. You were probably already a great teacher. You seem so open to new ways of doing things which will be a great model for your students. They will be lucky to have you as a teacher. Take care and good luck with whatever you decide to do--hopefully teaching because you seem to have a passion for it. It was fun having you in class!
Vicky