Podcasts in the classroom!

Podcasts can be vital sources of information and entertainment in the classroom. Podcasts are versatile and can be fit into any curriculum. The Education Podcast Network or EPN is a great source for many informational podcasts. The site is very organized with different podcast topics listed on the left. There is also a section titled "Student & Class Podcasts" which is broken down into elementary, middle, and secondary school. One of these podcasts that I found particularly interesting was under Subject Specific Podcasts; English Language Arts. The podcast was entitled "Poem of the Week; Encountering the world through poetry". I listened to the poem titled "Maggie, How I Miss You". The poem was mixed with music and read in a powerful way. I thought that this would be a great way to publish student work during a poetry unit. Mixed with music and read with emotion, students can see how powerful poetry can be, as well as hear how their classmates interpret poetry as well.

ePaLs in the classroom!

When you first log onto the ePaLs site, there is so much to read and look at. It can be a bit overwhelming, however if you take the time to read each section you discover how wonderful this site is! One of the first things that caught my eye was the section which stated: "Choose a project. Find a Classroom. Collaborate! You can choose one of the many topics which offers student objectives, essential questions, activities, project elements, standards and other helpful information. To the right of that is a section where you can type in a topic, country, and age range to be provided with classrooms that fit your criteria. For example I searched Australia, the topic was writing, and the age was 13-14 years old. I quickly found a link to a teacher's English class that is seeking a class to share the experience of writing short stories with international feel. It gave me the schools location which was Queensland, Australia, the number of students (21-25) the language (English), and the age range (14-15). I couldn't believe how easy it was to find a classroom that suited my needs. From there you can go on and contact the teacher and begin collaborating! I think that this would be excellent to use in my classroom, especially with writing. Students need to share their work and they need to have an audience. It not only makes the unit more authentic, it gives what they are doing a purpose. Someone is relying on their work which motivates them to do their best. I personally never had the experience to communicate with students from other countries while I was a student, which makes me want to use this in my classroom all the more. I don't want my students to miss out on an opportunity to connect with the world outside the school walls. I know that students would think it was great and they would see it as a valuable learning experience. This is also a great way for students to learn and understand different cultures. This site makes it so easy for students to connect with students in different countries. It would be a shame not to fully take advantage of this ability in the classroom. There is also a space for teachers to collaborate with other teachers and learn new tips and ideas. ePaLs offers a great learning experience for not only the students, but the teacher as well!

Flickr Common Licensing

Flickr is a great tool because it not only allows you to upload your photos on the web for safe keeping and sharing, but it also allows you to access and utilize other user's photos as well. There are however, a few rules when it comes to what people will allow you to do with their photos. There are four main categories when it comes to privacy regulations on Flickr. They are: Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works, and Share Alike. Below are the types of restrictions and what they entail:

Attribution: This means that you let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your copyrighted work- and any derivative works based upon it. However, they must give you credit.

Noncommercial: This is the same as attribution however it can only be used for noncommercial purposes.

No Derivative Works: The same as attribution, however only verbatim copies of your work, not derivative works based upon it.

Share Alike: You allow others to distribute derivative works only under a license identical to the license that governs your work.
-You can find examples and these explanations at Flickr/Creative Commons

He Waits-By It's Greg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/itsgreg/90724994/


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The possibilities are endless when it comes to what you can do with the pictures you share on Flickr. I explored a site called BigHugeLabs and found a ton of activities and ideas that are all based on using photos on Flickr. One of the activities that caught my eye was the movie poster. I immediately thought about how much students would enjoy this and being able to create something that looks so professional. I thought that this would be a great activity for students to engage in while doing independent reading. Students could make movie posters like the ones they see in the movie theatres, by using their own photos. For my example, I created a movie poster based on Robert Frost's popular poem The Road Not Taken. I found this program/activity very easy to use, and I was able to upload one of my personal photos from my computer. When the poster is finished, you can save it to the downloads folder of your computer. The end product is very professional looking and in the classroom I would print these and hang them around the room. The site offers many different ideas that are equally as good.
Get started today HERE

Microblogs in the classroom

The idea of using Twitter in the classroom is daunting to many educators. Many teachers may have heard about Twitter from their students or other teachers perhaps but many are unsure about implementing it into their classrooms. Two articles that I have recently read however may help to ease the fear when it comes to fusing microblogging and education. EduDemic offers information for educators information on how to connect higher education and social media. This article is an invaluable resource for teachers who are unfamiliar with Twitter and how it works. There are links such as "Twitter guide for beginners", and "Want to learn Twitter?". When a teacher becomes familiar with Twitter, this article also provides ideas and tips for teachers to incorporate Twitter into the classroom. There are links such as "Twitter for teachers", and "50 ideas for using Twitter for education". I think that resources like this are important for teachers to share with each other. It is convenient as well to have a large amount of information in one place. One important aspect of using technology such as microblogging in the classroom is sharing and updating the information provided.
I came across another article which gave me many ideas on how to incorporate Twitter into my classroom. One idea was having students gather real world data and using it to observe trends, opinions, data, etc. This idea could be used for any content area which is important. Another way in which an English educator could use Twitter in the classroom is to have students create a Twitter for a character in the book that is being read. Many students use Twitter on their own time and being able to use it in the classroom would be exciting for them. Students who know how to use Twitter could also serve as the more knowledgeable other in the classroom to help students who are new to it.
I believe that it is crucial to incorporate parents into the classroom. One way in which parents can be updated and follow what is happening in the classroom is through following the class Twitter. Teachers can update what is happening in the classroom, due dates, reminders, etc. Parents will appreciate being incorporated into the classroom and involved every step of the way.
When students are having difficulty being specific in their writing, Twitter can help. The teacher can have students create a story with the Twitter 140 characters rule. This will force them to create a story, beginning, middle, and end, using only 140 characters. This will in turn, help them be more specific when it comes to their writing because it will force them to make the choice in what to include and what to leave out.
Twitter can be a vital resource in the classroom and its advantages are worth the time and energy. Students and teachers alike will benefit from its use.
EDUDEMIC
30 TIPS ON HOW TO USE TWITTER IN THE CLASSROOM

Blog surfing

I recently found an interesting post on "Nik's Daily English Activities" blog. This post describes an interesting activity that can be used in the classroom when it comes to writing. While student teaching, I noticed that some students have trouble being specific in their writing. This exercise would help just that. The post is titled: "Read and Write Very Short Stories". Five card stories is when you form a very short story out of five photographs. I thought this would be great in the classroom, especially in a writing unit. Students could be given the opportunity to take their own pictures, or use pictures they can find on the Internet to create a story. By having students create a short story on only five pictures, students would further develop their ability to be specific and to the point. I thought that this was a great activity and I would definitely try and use it in my classroom.
DAILY ENGLISH ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM

Technology Integration in Education

I recently found and joined the Technology Integration in Education group on Ning. I searched through many different groups but this one caught my attention most. A video that was posted to the group home page was entitled "An Introduction to Project-Based Learning". I watched this video and it was both interesting and informative. The video supported many of the techniques that I want to use in my own classroom. It showed different teachers who had based their classrooms on hands-on experiences. It then went on to explain in further detail the benefits from such techniques. This was just one aspect of this group that I found to be useful.
Many educators and administrators had also left comments on the groups main page that included questions, answers, resources, techniques, etc. Another aspect that I really enjoyed was the NewsShare page. This listed headlines and information from schools and classrooms around the country. One example was "California Schools Replace Math Textbooks with IPads". I liked this convenient way of staying up to date on what is happening in the world of education. There is a communication tab which allows you to see different members blogs as well as chats and discussion forums. Being able to communicate with other professionals is crucial, and I love how easy this group makes it. I am excited to see what this group has to offer and I encourage educators or future educators to check it out!Technology Integration in Education

Connectivism Theory: What it Means for Educators

Connectivism is largely based on the connections made, and the ability to stay current with the information we immerse ourselves in. Based on the article by George Siemens, "Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age", I feel that a learner in many ways is like a spider. Bare with me here. Spiders as we know, spin webs which act as their home, as well as their means to food. Like a spider, students create their own "web" consisting of many different strands. Each strand is equally important and without an individual strand, there is a hole that is formed. Each individual strand represents a connection made between "fields, ideas, and concepts" (Siemens, 2005). With every strand that is missing, these connections are lost or unobtainable. However, spiders like students are able to "fix" the strands in their web by "Nurturing and maintaining connections [that are] needed to facilitate continual learning" (Siemens, 2005).

For spiders, the web acts as a means for survival in which it catches or captures new food everyday. The web that a student creates is similar in that it catches incoming information, and like a spider students should be picky about what they receive. "Choosing what to learn and the meaning of incoming information is seen through the lens of a shifting reality" (Siemens, 2005). The web in both the spider's case and the student's catches something new everyday and it is up to the occupant to understand and determine whether it is the right find.
The video The Impact of Social Media on Learning by Siemens references the uses of Facebook, Flickr, blogs, wikis, and Myspace as means to engaging in Connectivism. Being able to connect with each other and share our ideas is a very effective way to stay current and explore new concepts and ideas. They provide growth and knowledge in a way that is unique and engaging to students. They also allow us to "Express ourselves and externalize our knowledge" (Siemens). This also gives purpose to the student. They are sharing their ideas and thoughts to "someone with a face". There is purpose behind the learning and in return, students are strengthening their connections and staying current.
Siemens uses the term "pipe" and for my analogy purposes I will use web in place of it. "The [web] is more important than the content within the [web]" (Siemens, 2005). Without the web there would be no information available which further emphasizes the importance for a strong web.
The Impact of Social Media on Learning
Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age

Social Media Revolution 2

This four minute video on the social media revolution is eye opening. The information found in this video is imperative to the teaching profession. Some of the information shown included the statement "50% of the population is under 30 years old." What this means for us as educators is that the media, information, trends, etc. are influenced by and geared toward this generation meaning that teens are surrounded by popular culture and social media. If this is what their lives are based on outside of school, why not bring some of these trends into the classroom. Facebook was mentioned multiple times throughout the presentation stating its popularity and how many people are subscribed. We know that our students are using Facebook all the time everyday, so why not include Facebook into our teaching? The possibilities are endless and range from character profiles to groups formed for classrooms.
One quote that stuck out the most in this video was that we "Don't have a choice on whether we do social media. The question is how well we do it." This is true for teachers. Social media is everywhere and our students are influenced by it everyday. There is no escaping it which means we should embrace it and utilize it to the best of our abilities. Blogs, Twitter, YouTube, iPods, Kindle, etc. All of these things should and can be implemented into any curriculum. There is a "fundamental shift" taking place and as educators, it is our responsibility to remain current and flexible to better suit the changing needs of our learners.
Social Media Revolution 2

Safe Blogging Tips for Students

1. Be aware of the information you share.

2. Do not reveal any personal information about yourself, family, school etc. to anyone.

3.Remember that everything you post represents you. Be respectful and responsible for your actions on the  internet.

4.What you share on your blog is public for everyone to see. Post what would be appropriate for anyone to see. If your grandparents looked at your blog would they like what they see?

5. Respect people's thoughts, comments, and opinions that they may share through posts.

How could I use a blog in my own classroom?

A blog can be a vital tool in any classroom and can open many doors to learning. Blogs can be used in various ways to achieve different results. One way in which a blog could be used in the classroom is for communication with students and schools in different countries. Many students are unaware of the cultural diversity among classrooms today and exposing them to students from different countries and even states can help broaden their sense of many different cultures. Blogging can also be seen as electronic pen-pal in this way. Seeing new posts can be exciting for students and will no doubt engage them in learning. Using a blog in this manner fits well with ELA standard four: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction.

Another way in which a blog can be used in the classroom is for projects or unit assignments. Students can create their projects through the use of a blog, rather than the usual PowerPoint. Students would be able to view their classmate’s projects online at any time. There would also be a sense of ownership on the student's part as they would be able to add or create everything on their blog as long as it was appropriate. The teacher would be able to view the blogs, postings, and content before it would be published which is crucial to a student's safety and security on the web. I think that having a student create a blog touches on all four of the standards. Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding. Students will read, write, listen, and speak for literary response and expression. Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation. Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction. Students will be using blogs as sources of information, self-expression, communication, and evaluation.

A final way in which a blog can be used in the classroom is created by the teacher, for the students and their parents. Having a blog which lists homework, contact information, news and updates, student examples, links, resources, etc, can be an essential tool in the classroom. Having a place where students can go to get all of the information they need and stay up to date is crucial. Parents appreciate this as well as they can follow what their child is doing in the classroom, what’s to come, and much more. Students will no longer have the excuse that they don't have their work or they weren't sure what the assignment was because it will all be available on the class blog. Allowing students to provide feedback on the blog is important for the teacher to make sure that the blog is effective and any changes or editing can be made. The classroom blog incorporates Standards one, three and four. Students will be using technology to access information, communicate with both the instructor and their peers, and evaluate and help build the blog itself.