Digital Story Reflection - Copyright

What: This week in class, we focused on the many copyright laws that are in place for media sharing and what led to them be created and enforced. We used the jigsaw method as a means of researching and teaching each other about each section of the copyright assignment.
So What: I was absolutely amazed at all of the events that have occurred in the past that have involved copyright infringement. It's easy to see why there are so many laws centered around copyright. I was especially interested in learning about Creative Commons. It sounds like a great website for licensing and sharing media with others without having to be so concerned about the laws. I know that when I begin teaching, I will want to be able to share information and use other teachers' material without being worried about breaking copyright laws. By learning about websites like this, I know that there is collaborative information still out there that isn't surrounded by copyright issues.
Now What: After learning about the many laws involving copyright, I know that I will be much more careful about obtaining information or media off the internet. I will also be sure to educate my own students about the importance of these laws. It is so crucial to understand copyright because it is part of internet etiquette. I am interested in learning more about specific situations that led up to each of the copyright laws.

Digital Story Reflection - Part One

What: This week, we learned about how to use digital stories as an effective tool for introducing a new topic in your classroom. We watched some great examples of digital stories. We also discussed what criteria is necessary for a good digital story.
So What: I was really interested in learning about digital stories. I think it is such an effective use of technology in a classroom as long as it is age appropriate. These stories can serve as a great introductory tool for many subjects. It is a great way to catch students' attention and make them wonder what comes next. I really enjoyed watching the examples in class, especially the Holocaust one. It really caught my attention and kept me watching the entire time. I think using digital stories is a great way to get students interested in learning.
Now What: I am really excited to start creating my own digital story and possibly using it during my field experience. Since we will be in sixth grade classrooms, I know that technology will be involved and definitely something that kids will be interested in. I can definitely see digital stories being effective in younger and older classes. By using digital stories, we can implement technology into our curriculum and get students excited about learning a new skill or about a new topic.

Vidcast Reflection

The name of our podcast/vidcast series is Utah’s National Parks. We selected this topic as part of the fourth grade core curriculum. It is covered throughout Standard 1, which focuses on Utah’s geography. Though this series was created mostly for use in fourth grade, it is definitely something that students grades 4-6 would likely enjoy and be interested in.

Part of the reason we chose to use this topic was because it is something that many grade levels could be interested in. It is something that is part of Utah’s culture and something that many students will probably get to see at some point. I think that’s part of what make learning about the national parks so exciting for elementary age students. By learning about the national parks of Utah, students will be able to understand the impact Utah’s geography has on the local economy as well as tourism.

This particular subject is definitely supported by the INTASC standards. Section one of the teacher standards discusses teaching culture to help create an engaging classroom environment. This lesson could be great for students from diverse backgrounds, especially those who aren’t from Utah. It provides a great opportunity for those students to understand more about Utah’s geological wonders. Section two of the ISTE standards talks about using digital age learning tools and assessments. Using a powerpoint to display this information for students provides them with the chance to see pictures and hear information about the parks all at the same time. It provides a much more interactive experience than reading the information in a textbook would.

I don’t see many drawbacks to using this as part of a Utah geography lesson. I think it would be a great introductory tool. The only issue I could see potentially would be not having enough time to cover each of the national parks. There is a lot of history as well as geography to cover when it comes to one national park so five parks could definitely makes things a little more challenging.

In the future, I would use this lesson in any upper elementary class for social studies. I feel that it is very important for students to be aware of the geography in their own state as well as being knowledgeable about their surroundings. This lesson provides a captivating experience and also give students a great variety of knowledge about Utah.

Reflection #5 - Vidcasts

What: Today in class, we began gathering information in our groups that we will be using to create our own vidcasts. We also viewed examples of vidcasts and examined why they can be useful pieces of technology to incorporate into your classroom. Throughout the week, we have been gathering information to create our own vidcast in class.
So What: I have really enjoyed learning about the components of vidcasts. I feel like the possibilities are endless and you can use vidcasts in many subjects. We have been learning about using vidcasts as an introductory tool, something that I think will help to get students excited and interested in learning about a new subject. I also think it would be helpful to use vidcasts as a collaboration tool. Teachers could share with each other the vidcasts they've created and use them in their own classrooms.
Now What: I am really excited to use the vidcast in the digital story we are creating for field experience. I loved using all the programs that were available to create vidcasts such as iMovie and Garageband. I can't wait to use vidcasts and podcasts in my own classroom, especially as in introductory tool. I think it's such a great way to get students excited and make them wonder what will be coming next.

Reflection #4 - Podcasts

What: This week in class we learned how to used podcasts as an educational tool. We recorded our own podcasts using audio equipment and then uploaded them to our classroom websites.
So What: I really like the idea of using podcasts in my classroom, especially for announcements. I think it's a great way to get information out there and it would definitely be cool for kids to hear their own teacher's voice online! We used 'bullying' as the subject for our podcast, but I can definitely see the wide array of subjects you could use for podcasts. I can imagine using them on my own class website to let parents know about current happenings in class and also upcoming events. It would even be fun to use a vidcast to share information with students and parents as well.
Now What: The best part of this assignment was learning about another piece of technology that can contribute to me being a better teacher. I was so surprised by the different audio equipment you can use to record these podcasts and I definitely will be looking into what kind would work best for me.I think communication with students and parents is such a key factor in having a successful school year and it's technology like this that makes that possible. I look forward to recording my own podcasts in the future.

Reflection #3 - Google Sites

What: This week in class, we learned about Google sites and how creating one for your classroom can be a great communication tool. Our assignment was to create our own site and include several resources that would be useful for parents and students to access from home.
So What: Because technology is becoming so popular, I think using Google sites to communicate with the parents of our students is an awesome idea. I loved using the different sidebar options to add things such as announcements and a class calendar. Using a Google site for your class allows parents to know what we've been doing in class and also informs them of upcoming events. The only thing I didn't enjoy about doing this assignment was the time commitment. Usually, computer skills come very easily to me, but I had trouble navigating the layout and design of Google sites. I had to play around with it a lot in order for it to work properly and look the way I wanted it to.
Now What: I do like the idea of having a webpage for my classroom one day. I love that any announcements or upcoming events can be posted there to inform parents. It would be so much easier than having to send a note home every time I need to communicate with them. The possibilities with Google sites seem pretty infinite. I love that there is so much storage space available with the file cabinet option because that is a great tool to share with students. I'm not sure if I like using Google sites, but I definitely do like the idea of a classroom website.

Reflection #2 - Google

What: This week in class, we were introduced to numerous Google programs including Gmail, iGoogle, Google sites, Google documents, and several others. By experimenting with these programs, I was able to see how each of them would benefit me as an educator.
So What: I never realized all the things that were possible with Google before using these programs. There are so many things that Google offers as great communication tools for teachers. For example, Google documents could be used for teachers to share documents back and forth. Each educator could add or change things on a lesson plan set up in Google documents and then use it in their own classroom. This would be a huge time saver! iGoogle is also a great tool that could allow teachers to more closely manage their time. I love the idea of making a class calendar public for parents and students to view that shares due dates as well as upcoming events. Google programs offer so many opportunities to share ideas and collaborate with others.
Now What: Learning about the programs that Google has to offer makes me feel confident in my ability to incorporate technology into my classroom. I also think that Google has numerous great programs that could be extremely useful to me as a teacher. Google documents is going to be such a time saver that will allow me to collaborate with other educators in my school and iGoogle is a great resource that will allow me to communicate with my students' parents. I'm excited to see how using these programs will make me more efficient and organized in my own classroom.