Using Video in the Classroom

I think videos have their place in education. There are many pros and cons to to videos, so I believe it is very important to use them properly. Videos are not often interactive, therefore it is easy for students to tune out while watching. As an addition to curriculum, videos are very limited. I wouldn't want to use videos that were too long in my classroom for fear of losing the interest of students. Students may have the attitude that movies and videos are what makes for an "easy" class. However, short videos can be an exciting change of pace. Listening to lecture can become just as boring, so switching up the way the information is presented is always good. Some students may learn or remember things better through digital storytelling. Videos are great for these types of students. It's all about finding the right balance for your students. 

Videos can come in handy when a teacher has a substitute. The teacher can video her/himself teaching the lesson or explaining the topic. This way the students have a familiar face and there won't be any mix ups or misunderstanding from the sub. Videos are also handy when a teacher wants to do an experiment that is not ideal for the classroom or if the school does not have the materials. Videos can convey the main ideas and student can see what happens from their seats. I will definitely take advantage of these benefits in my classroom. 

Another way I would like to use videos is by allowing the students to create their own mini-movies. This opens up a world of possibilities for their creative side, their tech-savvy side, as well as their producer side. Video is another form of digital storytelling just like blogs or journals. Students should become familiar with all their resources. I prefer making videos over watching videos in the classroom. The only problem with this is that it requires a lot of time, equipment and help from the teacher, especially with younger age groups. 

Photo Credit to Fotokannon

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/blogs/  --> Here is an example of video being used in the classroom. The length of the videos are perfect and the characters make it interesting for the students. There is also a quiz at the end that makes it interactive for the students. 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/09/teachers-simple-guide-to-teaching-with.html  --> Here is a great website with resources, a youtube video and a general guide for teaching with videos. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRBlNl3KUdo  --> This is a practice lesson for 1st grade students learning addition. This shows how video can be incorporated into everyday lessons. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33IjFmUoAPs  --> This is a demonstration video about go animate. It is a teacher friendly way to create your own videos for the classroom. 

Web 2.0 in the classroom

Web 2.0 is shaping education and providing new opportunities for the classroom. It is changing the way we teach and also creating new resources. With the rise of technology in the schools, the classroom becomes so much bigger. Teachers now have access to teachers around the world. Students can interact with people on the other side of the world. Ideas are being shared faster and in more detail than ever before. The classroom is no longer confined to the white walls of the school, but now has not limits. Students can see videos and images of places they have never been. They can create and contribute to the wide variety of information and materials. This teaches them that it isn't just about consuming what is available to them, but to give back to the world and create something themselves. Students now have an identity outside of their community. This teaches responsibility and shows them how their decisions do make a difference.

 These tools give teachers a way to reach out and access things outside the walls of the school while engaging the students. Web 2.0 (when used properly) pulls teachers away from lecture style teaching and encourages student involvement and interaction. These new tools and resources can give students a voice they didn't have before. Students can communicate with more people through their digital voice. Students can create things that will last longer than paper and have a wider impact than they would in the classroom. Web 2.0 allows students who are shy in class speak out louder than they could ever have without them.

 It also provides professional writing practice and starts building their digital identity in a safe and monitored environment. Students learn about safety online by exposing them to the availability of other people on the internet. This teaches them to be aware of the image their digital footprint shows. When using web 2.0 tools in the classroom teachers can guide students and set guidelines for them. This way they will make good habits that will better protect them later in life. 

My personal favorite web 2.0 tool is blogger, or any other blogging site. Blogs give their users so much freedom to embrace original creation and creativity. It is a great place to share opinions and voice ideas. For students, it gives them their own sense of entitlement. Each person creates their own personal blog that is theirs, and theirs only. They can do whatever they want in it. (Within the guidelines of the assignment.) Students can share videos, pictures, links, their own writing etc. Blogs are more than just writing an essay; it is presented for the whole world to see. They can make it colorful and they make it their own. 

A great way to use a blog is by using it to track the progression of a project. For example, if students were growing a plant in class they could post pictures of it on their blog. Students could also write about how they cared for the plant and what was going on below the soil and what causes it to grow. This is a great way to tie science and English together. :)

Photo Credit to mkhmarketing

http://www.edudemic.com/the-35-best-web-2-0-classroom-tools-chosen-by-you/  <-- During an #edchat talk on twitter web 2.0 tools were discussed and the top 35 to use int the classroom were posted on this site. 

http://cct.edc.org/publications/integrating-web-20-tools-classroom-changing-culture-learning <-- The Center for Children and Technology researched how Web 2.0 tools are shaping education. This link goes to a report about their findings. 

Wikipedia Experience

This is the page I edited. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekeeping

And this is my username.

Sarahsnow16

I don’t really know how I feel about Wikipedia. I think there is a lot of good information available and from my experience they did a good job of keeping it monitored. However, how do I know that the people who are monitoring certain pages are correct? I contributed valid information to my sight that I got straight from one of my classes here at state. It got taken down quite quickly. Wikipedia could be missing out on good information because some people don’t want edits to their page. I just don’t see Wikipedia as something to fret over because there is no way to know if it’s legitimate. I personally wouldn’t want anyone messing with my work, so I can understand why someone would keep close watch on the edits. I didn’t make any edits after that. I think Wikipedia is a good idea for the most part. However, if I made a page I would lock it so only certain people could edit it. 

After my edits were taken down I looked at the talk page. It said that the beekeeping page was not a “how to” page. I didn’t agree with him. The page talked about the equipment used to beekeep and I expounded on that. It didn’t upset me that he took them down, because I personally don’t like the idea of messing with someone else’s work anyway. I wouldn't want just anyone to do that to me. I never said anything back on the talk page.

I probably won't continue to contribute to wiki pages. I don't see any point in investing my time on something I don't fully support. There is no validity to the accuracy of the information, so I prefer to put my skills elsewhere. I don't plan to use it in my classroom either. I don't want my students to think they can believe just anything they read on the internet. 

Professional Learning Networks and Twitter

When students sit in a classroom and look to the front, they see one teacher. However, the truth is that behind the lessons and their one teacher, is a whole network of educators collaborating to create best classroom environment possible. Professional Learning Networks consist of a wide variety of teachers coming together to share ideas and opinions. PLNs are a way for teachers to have support as well as to better their lessons and teaching style. PLNs do not necessarily have to be within a single school, or even within a grade/subject. They often discuss much wider topics than merely specific educational topics. PLNs can discuss things such as common classroom problems, ideas to create better learning environments, or ways to incorporate technology into the classroom effectively. 

This can be beneficial to inexperienced teachers as well as experienced. Inexperienced teachers need mentors and to show them the ropes and to encourage them in their new job. Starting anything new can be intimidating so having a multitude of connections can help ease the stress. Experienced teachers may need new and fresh ideas. After doing the same thing year after year it can become easy to start going through the motions. On the other hand it can be hard to incorporate new technology that has never been used before. PLNs can include new minds that are more experienced with new technology and tactics. PLNs are helpful to everyone. 

Technology has greatly enhanced the world of PLNs. Teachers from all over the world can now be a part of my PLN. I use Pinterest to connect with other teachers. I have found so many incredibly clever ideas from it. It is one of my favorite was to communicate and share ideas for teaching. Communication is faster and more accessible to almost everyone because of new technology, enabling things like twitter chats for teachers everywhere. When participating in a twitter chat there were certain things that I liked, but also many things that I didn't. With so many participants it was hard to follow the conversation. However, if I looked hard enough there were some good comments and resources available. 

Twitter is a good resource for the classroom itself, not just a way to connect with PLN. I now follow various educators and other teaching resources on twitter. Teachers can also participate in twitter chats to share ideas and get new ideas for the classroom. I follow myEDmatch and Teachers First on twitter. I have also followed Smartbrief Education because I find these to be great resources that will benefit my profession. 

One great twitter account that I just love is the kinderkids account. They use it to tweet as a class. This helps the kids with writing full and proper sentences, with assistance and on their own. It also helps them learn how to use and navigate the internet. It allows parents to follow what their children are learning and what they are doing at school. I know my mother would have loved to have that connection my first year in school. I think this is a great idea that I may try as a teacher. 

Overall, there are many ways to connect with a PLN through technology. My favorites include blogging, pinterest and in some cases twitter. These do not require time sensitivity, which is a fantastic attribute for teachers. They can also lead to meeting with other teachers in person at conferences or workshops. The opportunities are limitless. :)  

To read about more ways to enhance your PLN on Twitter go here: 

http://edge.ascd.org/_Building-a-professional-learning-network-on-Twitter/blog/6498319/127586.html?crlt.pid=camp.tPrcCQjy5N0h

For 10 great guides to a better PLN go here:

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/01/10-great-guides-for-better-professional.html

Here is a great video about what a PLN is and how to use it.

Copyright Laws in Teaching

Everyone wants to feel like their work is appreciated and rightly accredited. The feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment drives people to work hard and make things better. I believe part of the reason why copyrights were made is to retain this drive and ambition. Without it, the work of someone may not result in proper recognition to its creator. Others could use it and call it their own. In this regard, ideas are being stolen and used without proper permission. If this went on long enough, people may stop trying to create good things simply because no one appreciated their work and gave them recognition. 

Copyright is used to help ensure that whatever gets created, gets protected. Not to say that nothing can be shared, but copyright allows the sharing to be regulated. Copyright was made to prevent someone from taking a piece of work and presenting it as their own. It also prevents people from taking something and building on that work and getting recognition. However, some people may want their work to be the building block for something greater. Copyright laws allow for the creator to grant permission to others to use their work. 

"Fair Use" fits into copyright laws by allowing teachers to use 10% of certain things for educational purposes. This prevents teachers from unfairly taking advantage of things that are not theirs, while still allowing them the resources to teach.  As teachers this gives us a lot of material to enhance our lessons. At times it may feel like copyright laws only hold back more of what we could use. It also forces us to look at the grand scheme of a piece of work and take what we think will be most beneficial to the students. It also teaches our students by example, responsibility in the world. It teaches them that not everything is theirs for the taking. 

For books, blogs, articles, videos, etc. on teaching copyright, go here:
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/resources
For questions about copy right laws, go here:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/copyright.html
All teachers should take a look at this:
http://www.edutopia.org/copyright