Chapter 3 Weblogs: Get Started!

I focused on how to add pictures and other forms of media to Blogger.  It is really very simple to add pictures to your post and I highly recommend it.  It makes the post more interesting especially if your students are viewing it as an assignment.  Just remember when you show them how to do it, you follow the regulations for safety and copyrights.  While experimenting using this section of the chapter I was able to post video as well.  Most Blogs have enough space and allow uploading media.  A couple great blog sites mentioned were Edublogs.org and 21Casses.com.  I checked both sites out and they are either free or very inexpensive, both look simple to use.

Reference: Richardson, W. (2010) Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin.

A Great Tool to Add Audio Feedback

 

If you are an avid user of Google Docs this is for you.  This is a way you can leave audio feedback on papers created through Google.  The name of the program is Kaizena, and here is a quick video to explain things better;

 

 

 

Reference:

Kharbach, M. (2013, October 30). A Great Tool To Add Audio Feedback to Google Docs ~ Educational

     Technology and Mobile Learning. Retrieved October 30, 2013, from

     http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/10/a-great-tool-to-add-audio-feedback-to.html

Just Ask: Harnessing the Power of Student Curiosity

Interesting article that gives the student a little say so in their own education.  Never really thought about asking a student what they want to learn?  It seem like a good idea that could have some very promising results. 

Exploration, Discovery and Engagement

Here are four steps to make this happen in your classroom:
1.Ask the students what they want to learn.
2.Give them time to explore their ideas.
3.Guide them through their exploration.
4.Connect it to your curriculum.

There is obviously a lot to do and standards to meet, but taking a little time each day or week to let the students teach or explain what interests them could possibly make them more interested in the subject as a whole. 

Reference:

 

Just Ask: Harnessing the Power of Student Curiosity | Edutopia. (2013, October 29). Retrieved 
     October 29, 2013, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/just-ask-power-student-curiosity-
     nicholas-provenzano

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Chapter 1: The Read/Write Web

Though you get a sense of how history has changed over the last few decades since the Internet has come about, most of my focus was drawn to The Learners as Teachers section of the chapter.  The author talks about how, “we must tap into the potentials that these tools give us for learning” (Richardson, 2010), referring of course to blogs, wikis and other technologies.  Sometimes we forget that teachers can never stop learning and we must constantly hone our craft.  The Internet has given us a great tool to promote lifelong learning, and that is what must instill in our students.  It is not just about the here and now, the hurry up and get a grade or getting to the next grade.  It’s a process that should last a lifetime and cross social boundaries that give us a better understanding of the world as a whole.

I also liked the Keeping Students Safe section of this chapter.  Given that at least once a week you see things in the news about the evils of the Internet, protection of students must be a priority.  Both understanding and planning are crucial elements when dealing with young children and the web.  Students must be brought into this realm very slowly and with rules.  Words like accountability and responsibility must be used often, considering the amount of inappropriate and polluted content available at the press of a button.  Explain what right looks like in detail and face things head on. Reminding students once something is published, it is extremely hard to retract it and could haunt them forever.   

 

Works Cited:

Richardson, W. (2010). Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web tools for classrooms. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Commons-Get Creative Video

In the Creative Commons-Get Creative video we learn how Copyrights and Creative Commons work separately.  Once we have a better understanding through a very easily explained demonstration, we learn how they actually compliment each other.  Creative Commons is a goldmine of creativity in my opinion.  Before this came along, using these many sources of information was a much more painful process and in many cases could be legally dangerous.  Understanding Creative Commons now enhances learning and creating, as well as helping to promote critical thinking. 

Works Cited:

Creative Commons - Get Creative. (2007, April 10). YouTube. Retrieved October 25, 2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=io3BrAQl3so, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0

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