Digital Story Telling Post

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

The Animoto program I used made this whole movie making process very easy. I feel that in the field of education, this might be a good tool to show students my personal life. If I take a trip somewhere over a school break, a digital movie is the greatest way of telling your story. Instead of boring people with stories and no visual stimulation, a digital story does it's job.

Learning Blog Entries Set 3, #4

In our class, we had a Professional Web Presence Project, in which we could create our own website on the Google Sites Program. It took me an incredibly long time to get the hang of the program, but after I got it it was smooth sailing. This project opened to my eyes of the professional component of open software programs. I realized the potential for a personal website, and I won't ever look back. A website that includes personal information along with professional credentials allows future employers to check out how people are along with the amount of skill they might have in a particular area.
I feel like a personal website, will help my future employers to see how I am as a person before they allow me to teach students. I think that if I go out there and really let them know what kind of a person I am and what I'm interested in along with my credentials, I might have a higher chance of getting hired. To have that alternative source of information, an employer for a school might see you as more professional, and more willing to be creative to get a job.

http://www.sws-wis.com/why.htm
This link I posted shows the advantages and reasons why to create and have your own personal, professional website.

Learning Blog Entries Set 3, #3

This week we learned about the use of gaming in the world of education. Games can promote academic values through puzzles and animations, and through programs like "Second Life", that allows students to create an artificial lives for themselves. Teachers may use the latter to engulf the students into a period of time in history where they can manipulate themselves within the assimilated reality. Students can walk around through a setting in history and interact with objects surrounding them. It is yet another way for technology to enter into the classroom. It allows the teachers to have material that is new and appreciated by students growing up in the vast, multi-tasking world of technology.
This relates completely to my major, and I think that it has good and bad effects. Combining games and education is a great tool for students to apply their knowledge and learn. They can relate directly to what their learning. I think that I would use games only after I taught the information; I would not substitute teaching for a game. I think that if I did the meaning of the material would get misconstrued. Gaming gives children an outlet to their regular textbooks and chalkboards. I think that the use of programs like "Second Life" is a terrible way to have students further learn material. I think as a teacher I would want to teach the idea to stay away from games like that, and go outside to experience the real life we are given. I hate that kids waste away in front of computers with no idea about the outside world, but have complete control over 3 different worlds on the internet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_game_behavioral_effects
This website article shows the pyschological and sociological effects of video games. This proves why teachers should try to allow students to stray away from constant video gaming rather than conforming lesson plan to them.

Learning Blog Entries Set 3, #2

This week we got to know a little about open source software. Open source software is basically generic, free versions of expensive computer software programs. Open source software can be comparable to Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint to name a few. It is great for people who don't have the money but want professional computer projects. Anyone can write a resume, and really get themselves started with these free programs.
  I think this is great in terms of an education major. Now schools no longer have to spend countless amounts of money to have incredible computer software. I was thinking that Photoshop was great and was thinking of purchasing it, until I saw the outrageous prices. It's great that instead of tax payers paying for these programs, they don't have to be purchased at all. Schools can then use the money for other programs such as more textbooks and/or art supplies. I think that open source software is a great move forward in the world of technology.



This video shows the different options available to people with open source software. I was surprised to see that there is even music alternatives. It also impressed me that the Microsoft Office type of software was so much like the real, expensive thing.

Learning Blog Entries Set 3, #1

This week we learned about Distance Education. Distance education is basically the ways to teach through technology and instructional systems, where the student is not actually physically there. There are programs that have been developed like online classes and fast track degree programs that students can do over the internet. Distance education can also include the regular mail and even information passed through cellular devices. There are advantages and disadvantages to this type of education; the advantages being that it allows students to work at their own pace and have a flexible time zone to get work done. The disadvantages are that there is a lack of personal impact, it can be costly, and security issues can come up when using the internet.
This particular subjects effects the subject of education in many different ways. On one hand it gives me more opportunities to have teaching jobs if I need one. On the other, I just hate the idea of teaching through a computer. I think that in order to truly teach to my own potential I would have to physically be there in front of my students. I personally thinks that it benefits every one to physically have a teacher around, because it teaches sociological skills along with the information at hand. It kind of scares me to think of some students sitting at home in front of their computers all day instead of interacting with fellow students and teachers.
http://wiki.media-culture.org.au/index.php/Distance_Education_-_Disadvantages


I chose this website because it shows the disadvantages of distance education, specifically how it effects the students. It entails how students can feel isolated, can procrastinate more, and lose the specific teacher and student interactions that have been worked for so long.

Learning Blogs Set 2 #4

This week we learned about Google Docs. It is an application of Google that actually allows you to create a document, and share it with whoever you allow. The movie showed in class was the descriptive portrayal on how the program works and it's various uses. The docs application really gets rid of the hassle of having an attachment to put in an e-mail. A lot of the time the e-mails don't go through or match up to the other person's computer. Google Docs allows for all versions of a document made on the program to be matched up and easily shared.

In the educational system, this is a great tool to use, and I had no idea that it even existed before this class. I realized that taking attendance, editing student's papers and even field trip forms could all sit in one program. This is could be scary if your computer crashes, but with Google Docs, it's all right there on the internet, available from any computer. I also feel that teachers can come together and share lesson plans to make sure they are all on the right track or at least have some idea. Google Docs seems great and I plan to use it a lot.

I chose this video because it is a tutorial for teachers in Google Docs. I plan on being a teacher and this video shows the organizing patterns you can pick up to be organized and have everything written down in the perfect file or folder.

Learning Blogs Set 2 #3

This week we found out some information about Podcasts. I never even knew what they really were, but after reading the articles, I found podcasts to be a great idea. Podcasts are simply audio files that can be attained by signing up for them. They provide people with music, stories, and any other audio file really. Podcasts can help college students for example, if they can get podcasts of lectures by their professors. This allows students to be able to listen to something not understood more than once, and keep up if they are absent. Music students can listen to their audio files and critique, and people who speak foreign languages can speed up the process of learning english.

Podcasts have a great impact on education, the field I am going to enter into. Students who get in terrible accidents or get sick have the chance to not fall completely behind. Students can go on the internet and hear what they did in class, if the teacher is willing to take the extra step. I would gladly take the time out to do that for my students. I also think that in my absence, I could provide a podcast for the things that substitute teachers might not understand. Also in my absence, the sound of my voice on a podcast could scare the students to act straight. I think they are an amazing invention.

http://www.northville.k12.mi.us/hillside-imc/podcasts/
This is a link to one of many podcasts for students. This example is one of "reading roundup" for middle schoolers to listen to. This is part of the virtual media center in hillside Middle School. This example is a prime case of podcasts being used in the classroom.