Virtual Classroom

LOG IN AND LEARN

By: Karen Nitkin

The article I read was very interesting. It discussed how online courses are becoming a growing option for students, but experts caution moderation.

The article told the story of a student, who decided to challenge herself by taking Advanced Placement biology. However, her school didn’t offer it. Therefore, the only way she could take the course, was online, with her professor being from the other side of the country.

Under the Virtual High School system, teachers lead one class online for students anywhere in the world, and in exchange, students can take online classes and receive credit at their own schools. While the vast majority of K–12 students continue to attend classes in traditional bricks-and-mortar schools, more students are taking online courses through the virtual classroom.

The virtual classroom is a system that increasing numbers of educators and students find attractive. Recently, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that enrollments in distance education courses are increasing at a very fast rate. In urban and suburban districts, online courses have surpassed video programming as the top method of distance learning.

I like the idea of children learning virtually. The virtual classroom can give them a sense of responsibility, for they need to adhere to the dates and deadlines, without a person telling them everyday. It can be hard for students to learn on their own. However, it’s also hard for teachers to teach students that way as well. Teaching over the Internet is very challenging. Therefore, we as teachers need to be creative about finding substitutes for hands-on work. Doing it online does not necessarily give students the same experience, but we can at least try…

I would like to research some statistics about the virtual classroom today. How many students are enrolled virtually, and in what courses? Has this number increased now, as our society is becoming more technologically advanced? Are more courses going to be offered virtually in the future? I am curious about this information because I think virtual learning is great, and holds many advantages that can be beneficial to students. Giving students a sense of responsibility, with a flexible schedule to do their work, can enhance their learning in more than one way.

The original article can be found at the following link:

http://www.nea.org/neatoday/0505/onlineed.html

Streaming Video

It is a lot more interesting to pay attention on a kind of medium if it is presented in creative way with audio-video quality. That’s the kind of media that always grabs out attention, on certain products or service offers online. That is the kind of media that makes us interested and ready to listen. Therefore, this streaming media should be used in the classroom more often.

Streaming media has worked enough in the past, that it has become part of our daily lives. Streaming media is the term for enabling the real-time distribution of digital media (audio, video and data) over a network such as the internet.

Also, the article described how is streaming video distributed. A server transmits the streaming media data, presenting it in real-time to a client application running n a PC or other electronic device such as a cellular phone or PDA. As soon as enough data has been transmitted and stored in the client’s buffer, the streaming media allows the devices to begin playback of the multimedia.

By using a live streaming media server, almost any multimedia content can be streamed, including audio and video assets obtained from nearly any source. Therefore, it is a great tool to use in the classroom, for students can really benefit from it. Teachers can use videos as sources, and instead of having guest speakers physically there, it can be easier to have a video conference with them. It can be very costly to get a get speaker to show up from a far away place, but streaming media can be the solution.

If used effectively, streaming video can have many advantages to both teachers and students. Streaming video delivery is reliable and fast. From new parents wanting to share their child’s birthday party with long distance relatives to corporations holding meetings online, everyone can benefit from streaming media.

I would like to do more research and find out more about how to use streaming media, and integrate it with daily lessons. I know a great way is to have children watch videos that relate to the lesson, but I would like to search for better ways to use streaming videos and media effectively in the classroom.

The original article can be found at the following link: http://www.1888articles.com/streaming-media-why-it-works-08ky568b.html

Podcasting

Podcasting is a new technology that is becoming a very popular communication medium in our society today. Podcasting is simply, online audio content, delivered via RSS feed. Many people believe that podcasting is used just to distribute music, but that is not necessarily true. Podcasting can also be used for talk shows, tutorials, music demos, educational training, stories, comedy clips, debates etc. Today, podcasts are becoming very essential, and have opened many marketing and communication opportunities to businesses.

Educational tutorials, instructions, lessons, class lectures, are all possible using podcasting. Also, according to the article, books read aloud for elderly or visually-impaired listeners are only the beginning of what is possible in the future of podcasting.

One of my professors last semester used podcasts as a way to lecture his students. It was an Environmental Bio class, and Dr. Green would record the notes and PowerPoints we did in class, and email us the links to the podcasts. It was a great idea, and helped us study for our tests whenever we wanted (in the car, at the gym, etc…)

I think Podcasts are a very effective tool to be used in the classroom. Just like my professor did last semester, we can combine the podcasts with our lessons when we become teachers. It will be a great way for our students to learn, since technology is slowly taking over our world.

Podcasts are a fresh technology that is opening the doors to many entrepreneurs and educators. This new medium is slowly becoming more and more successful, and we really have little to lose in adding podcasting as a communication channel. I think I would like to do more research on podcasts, to see how people teachers feel about the use of podcasts in the classroom. I don’t think many teachers are so fond of the idea in the classrooms today, and should be more aware of the benefits that both they and their students can get.

The original article can be found at the following link:

http://www.podcasting-tools.com/how-podcasting-is-used.htm

Animation in the Classroom

The article I read was very interesting, and aimed at convincing the reader that animation in education is possible, fun, and easier than it looks. With so much choice of easy to use software available for both MAC and PC it’s hard to ignore the potential of animation in the classroom today. Animation software includes: “I can Animate” for MACs and “Stop Motion Pro” for PCs, or digital video editing programs such as iMovie, where you can enhance the animation and bring extra effects to your work. The article discussed the educational benefits of using animation in the classroom, because it gives the students a sense of accomplishing their own tasks, being able to watch and evaluate their work, while speeding up their learning processes.

A myth that surrounds animation that may prevent people from having a go is that it takes years to make a film. However in the author’s previous experience, it usually takes almost one hour for a group of children to produce a scene of about 35-45 seconds. The longer film isn’t necessarily the best; often shorter is sweeter as more care and thought has gone into it.

Model animation is a hands on and creative experience it encourages students to trust their creative instincts. There is no right way to make a dinosaur walk; therefore, children have the opportunity to be as creative as they want to be, without being wrong.

I think that is very important. Animation encourages students to engage in the classroom activities, giving them an opportunity to represent who they are. I think teachers should take advantages of the animation software that I mentioned in the beginning of this article, and they should really put animation to the test in their classrooms. Students learn best by doing, and using animation in the classroom can be a huge beneficial aspect to their learning processes.

If I was to do more research, I think I would want to find out how many teachers actually have used animation in their classrooms before, and the advantages that it has. Did it improve their students learning? Was it a task that everyone participated in? I remember back in school, TV production was one of my favorite courses, where the impossible can be done. I think children feel the same way about animation, therefore, we as teachers, should really take it into consideration.

The original article can be found at the following link:

http://www.filmstreet.co.uk/articleview.aspa?PageId=461&nodeid=0

Digital Imagery

Increasing Visual Literacy Skills with Digital Imagery
By Dr. Lance Wilhelm, Arizona State University - West Campus

The use of images is becoming extremely popular in our society today, and schools are starting to adapt to this in their instructional practices. Because visual literacy is becoming more important, and our society is replying more on images and visual communication, it is essential for students to acquire some visual literacy skills.

According to the article I read, one way for teachers to increase virtual literacy is by the use of digital cameras, which are becoming cheaper and easier to use in the classroom today. Many schools have used laptops in the past, and that tool still remains essential and crucial to the learning environment as well.
Using laptops, students can work on imaging programs such as Adobe Photoshop, which is a great program to use to enhance images, edit them, or combine images together. Using this program, as well as many others, can help students produce many creative images, while learning the many aspects and advantages of digital imaging.

However, the article I read didn’t really focus on using laptops or computers for “digital imaging.” On the other hand, digital cameras were its main focus. The teacher stated many ways that he could use the digital camera in his classroom. The first example was on the first day of each class. He would take digital photos of his students then combine their photos and contact information into one Word document, which he would keep in his course binder. That way, he learned their names and had access to their information. Also, the teacher would also use the digital camera would take photos of the whiteboard, when it had interesting notes or data. So instead of wasting time writing the info down, he would take a picture of it.

Also, the article discussed how the teacher showed his students how easy it is to import digital pictures into Word or PowerPoint documents. Students could build and organize the images for their use, or maybe the use of their students. Many other examples of teacher use are demonstrated throughout the course, including utilizing cameras to document the steps of a procedure (e.g., carving a pumpkin) or creating a photo journal of a field trip.

The article also discussed the ethical aspects of digital imagery, such as importance to give credit where credit is due, and identifying situations where editing photographs is clearly unethical and shouldn’t be done. These situations are really important, because it’s crucial to give credit to an image’s source.

This article gave us a set of examples of how digital imagery can be integrated into classes in the college. What I would like to do more research about is if effective integration of technology can occur into K-12 curriculum. I think that will be a bit more challenging, however, this article briefly mentioned that it can be done, and students as young as kindergarten can effectively use digital cameras as well. This article didn’t really mentioned how to go about that exactly, but I would like to do more research on that and find out.

As you can see, students can use digital cameras in many ways. I really liked reading this article, and enjoyed all the information it provided. I think using digital cameras in the classroom is great, and what this professor did with his college students is a wonderful experience for each one of them. New experiences like that can enhance the learning process, and are crucial means of adapting to our society today. When I become a teacher someday, I will definitely be using this technology, as well as many others, in my classroom.

The original article can be found at the following link: http://thejournal.com/articles/17145

Storyboarding

USING STORYBOARDS TO PLAN YOUR PRESENTATION

The article I read proved how important storyboarding is, and how everyone can benefit from it. It is important for children to write down their thoughts and ideas as soon as they think about it, and then express themselves while using images and pictures instead of words. Microsoft published this article to show the importance of using storyboards, and transferring them into PowerPoint slides, with minimal wording as possible. The article talked about how students can learn to transfer the statements from the story template to PowerPoint, and then transforming the PowerPoint presentation into storyboards.

Storyboards are really important, helping us shift from creating a presentations of images, to creating pictures that work together to tell us a story. Therefore, the world of visual storyboarding can be really helpful, especially to younger children. Usually, younger students like the draw more, and don’t rely and writing very much. Storyboarding can help them develop their ideas, by ways they enjoy, and things they like doing. According to the article, storyboards ensure that everything you say and show maps back to the structure and sequence of a story.

I think students learn a lot better if they have visual aids or props in front of them. Therefore, storyboarding before they start writing gives them a brief idea of what they need to accomplish, and what they are trying to do. I know I learn better if I draw things, because my mind is able to grasp the concept a lot faster. Therefore, using storyboards in the classroom has many positive aspects that can benefit the students in more than one way.

I would like to do further research on the use of storyboarding in the classroom today. I highly doubt that teachers are using it as a tool to enhance learning, or even an aid to teach nowadays. I think that if teachers became more aware of the benefits of storyboarding, they will definitely reconsider, and put it to use in their classrooms.

The original article can be found at the following link:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA011886711033.aspx

How To Use Wikis For Business

“Wikis” have been around for more than a decade, but they are just starting to take off in business, making people more aware about their benefits. Wiki.org defines wiki as “the simplest online database that could possibly work.” The article I read was very interesting, providing us with important information about wikis, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. The article points out that “wiki” was named after wiki-wiki, the Hawaiian word for quick, and that wikis are essentially Web pages that anyone — or at least anyone with permission — can create or edit.
The most well-known example of a wiki is Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia that is written and maintained by anyone who feels like it. It is an important source of information that many people rely on. If anyone makes an incorrect or inappropriate change to an entry on Wikipedia, others can automatically undo the changes, or edit them further.
Wikis are essential to use for large, multiple participants projects. It can be a useful took to keep notes, and share ideas among people. It is really easy for people to jump and revise the pages; therefore, if used effectively, wikis can be a great success.

The article I read mentioned how the Los Angeles Times created a wiki that it hoped would focus on the war in Iraq, and everyone was encouraged to rewrite it to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, the site was later spammed with porn and profanity, and was shut down after three days. We can’t blame to Times’ failure on wikis. Also, we can’t use a wikitorial to do a blog’s job. People have different opinions about the war; therefore, a blog would have been a better idea for that subject, than a wiki.

I think Wikis can be important tools to use in the classroom. Students can all work on one page, editing and adding information as they need to. Collaboration and teamwork are what make a wiki successful. On the other hand, if the teacher is looking for an exchange of views, wikis are not the best tool. Airing opinions, and carrying on conversations or debates, require the use of a blog, not a wiki.

Also, I think wikis are great for team projects, and a central location where the information can be viewed and edited by all students. Wikis are great project management tools for teachers to use, very cheap, and sometimes even free. Teachers can also manage and organize notes, agendas, and calendars for their students to read and follow.

In my opinion, if a wiki is to be used in the classroom, the teacher must take responsibility for its use. Students are to make sure that what they are editing or posting is appropriate and legitimate for the assigned topic.

I think I would like to do further research concerning the use of wikis in the classroom today. I wonder if teachers are taking this opportunity, to have their students work on group projects, where they can all participate, creating their own wiki. That way, they can all learn from each other, and learn to work with one another. Also, I would like to find out which one is more popular in the classroom, blogs or wikis? Which ones are teachers using more these days, and why a particular one over another?

This article can be found at the following link:

http://www.informationweek.com/industries/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=142ENYJVOZTKUQSNDLRSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=167600331&pgno=3&queryText=