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