3 Podcast Reflections for week of March 25-31

1.) Kidcast
Dan Schmidt
Episode Title: Photo Story and Jodix
Episode #: 39
Episode Date: 3/23/07

This podcast episode dealt with creating visual podcasts on Windows XP through the use of a free downloadable program called "Microsoft Photo Story". Podcasting tends to be Macintosh geared and this episode illustrated how avid Microsoft users could also join the podcasting trend. Within this program, users can download real photographs, order the slides, crop, make color corrections, and record audio just like with programs such as audacity and garage band. You would have to purchase or borrow a microphone though. The user of Microsoft Photo Story can also hit each photo, determine how long you want to speak, and this determines how long your photos will show. There are limitations with this program though, when exporting the files you have to save them as .wmv files and this restricts your formatting to microsoft land. Also, something to consider, is that .wmv files are not playable on itunes (where many people go to listen to podcasts). There is a program called "Jodix" that is also a free downloadable feature on Windows, that will convert these files into a .mp4 format, so that they can be put into itunes.

2.) Moving at the Speed of Creativity
Wesley Fryer
Episode Title: Science and Math Videos on a Purple COW (Curriculum on Wheels)
Episode #: 140
Episode Date: 3/17/07

This podcast episode dealt with a video transmitting stand alone device that is a big purple box that can be wheeled around the classroom. Teachers interested in the Purple COW can visit an Ignite Learning Site to learn more about it. This device is used to download video clip offline and show them to students without any interruption in the streaming. I have become very aware of streaming interruptions in united streaming because when I conducted my formal observation, I had a video clip picked out from united streaming that I wanted to show my students. My video clip worked at first, but it kept stopping and making weird sounds, and then all of the sudden it stopped. I had to delete that whole section out of my formal observation lesson plan because I did not want to waste anymore time messing with the video clip. I had a feeling that I would never get it to work properly at that time, so I just moved on to my next activity. If I had access to a device, such as the purple cow, than I could have downloaded that particular video offline in advance, and would not have had to worry about an interruption in the streaming process. Through listening to this podcast, I also learned that the reason why video clips interrupt, make weird sounds, or quit out completely is because that site or video clip was heavily trafficed at that time, and that makes the stream unreadable. These big purple COWs are very teacher friendly and cost around $1,800 dollars (with projector included). That sounds like a lot of money, but perhaps fundrives or other fund raising methods could make the purchase more accessible. The possibilities with these devices are boundless and they are especially useful in math and science classes.

3.) Tech Integration Podcast
John Lien
Episode Title: Nettrekker Timeline
Episode #: 013
Episode Date: 1/25/07

This podcast dealt with creating a Nettrekker Timeline. First you must log in to Nettrekker, click on Timeline underneath features. A whole list of categories will come up or you can choose to create your own timeline. If you do not wish to create your own, choose a topic. In the demonstration, John Lien choose U.S. History. The time line was from 1400's to 2008, that is a lot of time, and it needs to be narrowed down. To narrow it down, there will be different Topic Titles to click on. In the demonstration, John Lien choose to narrow it down to The American Revolution. Do not click on the link, but rather select the box next to the title of your choice. You can also layer the timelines, to do this click on layer, and a list of other subjects will appear. In the demonstration, John Lien selected Chemistry, and in the timeline now are all of the inovations, discoveries, and people dealing with Chemistry during the American Revolution. These timelines could be very beneficial if used in classrooms. I could foresee using them for many different subject areas and not just Social Studies. They can be used as a resource for integrating other subject areas very easily. You can also save the timelines that you create to access them at a later date by clicking save as.

Montreal Board Teaches Tech to Teachers (by Karen Seidman, The Gazette, March 22, 2007)

The Lester B, Pearson School Board has recently decided to switch gears and spend money on educating teachers on how to use technology rather than just buying hardware. I think that this is a great idea because how effective will new hardware be if teachers don't know how to use it? I think that as technology changes, teachers should be forced, or at least given the option to attend workshops to keep them up to date. I think that older teachers have a tendency to be scared of using technology. If schools put all teachers in workshops to help them, then these teachers would become more comfortable with using and implementing technology into their classrooms. Also, the new white boards that were mentioned in the article are really cool. I've only seen one used before, and that was briefly as I was passing down a school's hallway. I am very interested in what they can all do and how they can be used. Hopefully the school in which I am employed with will have a few to use so that I might hopefully use one in my classroom. I am curious about them because I have not been exposed to them in any of my internships or in any of my methods courses.

Parents, Teachers, Kids Speak Up On Ed Teach (Communication, access are important to students; most parents believe technology is underused in schools

by Justin Appel, Assistant Editor, eSchool News


This is the second year in a row in which results of a survey have suggested that students and teachers desire to have more technology usage in schools. Also, an overwhelming 97% of students, but only 50% of teachers think that cell phones should be allowed in schools for emergencies and for connecting with parents. I personally do not support the idea of using cell phones in schools because they are too much of a distraction and are too tempting to use for texting with friends. I also think that it is really interesting that students polled said that they used technology the most to communicate with friends and people from all over the world. This influx of communication has altered the meaning of "friend". Who knows what other terms will be altered or even new words coined as technology advances throughout the years. I think that it is sad that younger grades have reported that there is not enough access to computers and technology. I believe that computers and technology should be very much a part of lower level classrooms because at this age they soak up information like a sponge and at this stage of life they are laying the foundation of knowledge for upcoming years.

White House 2008: Myspace sets itself up as a hub for young voters

WOW! This article was so interesting to me because i have a myspace account. After reading this article, I went to the Impact Button on the Myspace site and found that what the article said was true. I had no idea that myspace even had presidential candidates, that's so cool. This could potentially be a great way for young, (and even older) adults to become more familiar with presidental candidates and to learn more about who they are and what they stand for. This just goes to show how digital and technical our society is becoming when even political figures have myspace accounts. Because MySpace is the country's most trafficed website political figures can potentially reach millions of people and sway their opinion and even their vote one way or another.

More Video Games, Fewer Books at Schools? (Friday Mar. 16th,2007 by Debra Sherman)

There is an on-going proposal to help failing schools through the use of video games. These video games are not the gorey games such as Mortal Combat or Doom, but rather alternative educational video games. These video games propose real world questions or problems and students have to work through processes and form hypotheses to solve real world problems. I think that this is a wonderful idea because kids naturally love video games and television, and even still enjoy them when they are educational. I think that video games should have their place in schools, just as long as traditional classroom teaching is still held valuable and is still used. Just like I still believe that text books have a place in today's classrooms.

Comprehensive Strategies Kit Sample Offer

I'm not really sure how to blog on this website. All that it looks like to me is an offer to buy a reading stratigies kit. I guess it is important to have a lot of informative resources within your classroom, and this could potentially be a great kit to have. This kit helps you teach 6 critical comprehension strategies. This kit can help accelerate reading comprehension, boost standardized test scores, and help students become strategic, independent readers.

Class Project: Reading, Rapping, History (Teaching the Past with Modern Tool) by Angie Green, Los Angeles Times March 18th, 2007

I was delighted after reading this article because I think that unconventional methods of learning concepts and remembering concepts are often more effective than traditional methods, because the students become more engaged and this is more memorable for students. I know that while taking biology, the only reason why I got a B in that class was becuase I created rhymes or accronyms to remember information. Music and rhythm truly can help some students to soldify concepts into their memory banks. I also love that the teacher introduced a lot of recording technology to his students. He used his resources to contact a friend who owns a music company to compose the music and record the students. This could possibily be a very beneficial field trip or guest speaker for the class. I hope that in the future I will have a lot of resources so that my lessons can be enriched as this teacher's was.

Remaining 2 Podcast Reflections for Week 10 (Ted Talks reflection is under "Podcast"~Wed, Feb 28th.)

Kidcast
Episode 38
Episode Title ~ " Texas notes, Crowdabout"
2/26/2007

It can be a good idea to invite people from Public Radio Stations into your classroom. These people can give your students pointers and tips on how to create effective podcasts. People in the radio business as seasoned vets when it comes to voice overs, introduction songs, sound effects, and many other elements that are required in podcasting. The point of podcasting is to condition our students to become effective communicators and comfortable public speakers. Lots of practice and pointers from professionals will help to aid students in the betterment of their podcasts and communicating in general.

Moving at the Speed of Creativity
Episode 136
Episode Title ~ "Policy, Privacy, and Practical Legal Issues for Teachers, IT and others"

Schools need to be continuouly updating their acceptable uses in technology every single year because there are a lot of issues that can arrise when students have such frequent access to technology. This podcast highlighted appropriate policies, knowledge of the law and the situations that will arrise, and concurrent issues in technology. A good solid policy needs to be created for each school districts for issues that occur when students have such access to school computers, computer labs, and other technology in the school. Anyone who has permission to use computers should have to yearly sign policies to protect the school and the people working within it. This helps to monitor the use of equipment in schools when so many people use the same computers. If misconduct occurs, teachers and administers have the right to monitor all activity through that computer. Schools can even administer tests for students to pass to even gain the right to use the equipment.

$250 million proposed to lure teachers to New Orleans schools

To lure teachers to New Orleans schools districts, the Democrats have planned to provide incentives to teachers and principals to stay in or move to New Orleans. Teachers could receive 500 dollars per month for housing, and universities flooded after Hurricane Katrina may have as much as 500 dollars for grants. The state of Louisiana has argued with the federal government, begging not to have to pay back the money given so that they can use that money for storm-decimated communities. The state's originally had to pay back 25% of the money, but now that has been negotiated to only 10%. My favorite part of this article says, " The biggest chunk of the Democrats' plan would pay $5000 to $10,000 in annual bonuses to teachers wo stay in New Orleans for three years." That's something to think about as a future teacher hitting the job market soon. Although, I do not know if I'd be comfortable living in New Orleans. I wouldn't feel very secure about the move at this time. Perhaps in a few years when things are looking up for New Orleans and most of the devastation has cleared away, than New Orleans might be a spot to think about!

U.S-born don't learn the language easily

Nearly 1/10 of American's student body speaks predominently Spanish, and English is their second language. The prediction that by the year 2025, 1 in 4 students is expected to be limited in English proficiency is mind boggling! Because of the No Child Left Behind legislature, we as future teachers are expected to cater to the needs of these students and help them to speak English proficiently to the best of our ability. I am personally frightened by this prediction. I have taken 2 Spanish courses, but do not feel nearly capable of instructing and English as a Second Language learner. I personally feel that ESL students need an instructor who can speak to them in their native language to begin with, before moving into learning about English, because how would the students follow directions? Eighty percent of ESL students are born in the United States. I think that perhaps an early intervention should be done for these students. Maybe the parents could bring their preschoolers into a English class once or twice a week so that in the future the students do not fall behind.