Vidcast

What: This week we learned what a vidcast is how to make one and when we might use it.

Now What: I've been trying to think of ways that I might use vidcast in my day to day life now and at first couldn't think of any. I watch vidcasts all the time, especially on YouTube. The other day I looked up how to cover paper back books with that sticky plastic stuff. Almost everyday I watch YouTube videos on Zumba work out routine to get ideas and every day I watch something someone has posted on Facebook, currently my favorite is the wildfire fire fighters dancing to Lady Goga's Poker Face. But for my self I thought as I am making up my own Zumba routines I could tape them then watch them back to see if I really like them, then just like the instructors that I follow on Facebook and YouTube I could post my stuff also. My kids like to make movies with their friends. I could create a blog for just my family members that way my mom could see the things the kids are doing.

So What: As a teacher it would be fun to tape some of the activities the students are doing. Typically the dads always miss out on the school programs that take place during the day but more and more moms are missing out on these things also. As a teacher I could record theses special events and post them on my class web site so that the parents don't have to feel like they are missing out on things. Students love to watch themselves on TV or computer and they love working the camera and doing the technical things. For one of the informal assessments for guided reading the students could act out a part of the book and put on an entire recording spectacle. These are just a few of the ideas I came up with.

Podcast

What: Last time in class we learned about podcast. It was nice to have a project that we could do in class and a chance to work with someone different.

So What: I’ve been trying to think of ways that I could use podcasts now and was only able to think of a view ways. My daughter wants me to teach her French. A good way to help her with her pronunciation would be to make a voice recording, and then upload it on to the computer. I could even put pictures with the voice.

Some times I can’t read my notes that I take from class or I didn’t get everything written down that the teacher had said. I could record a teacher’s lecture then up load it to a computer or IPod. Then I could go back as many times as I need to, to hear the lecture and prepare for a test. Those are just a few ways I can think of to use a podcast now.

Now What: As a teacher I could use podcasting to help with pronunciation of vocabulary words. I could have the students read aloud and record it, and then I could have it up loaded on the computer and create a file for each student. They could then listen to themselves read and see how they sound. I could do this a few times a year so the students and their parents can see how they have improved.

If there was something that the school needed to make sure all the parents knew about, we could make a podcast that was then uploaded to the computer and the computer could then call all the parents. This might be especially helpful if there was a lock down or some other type of emergency that affected the entire school. Podcasting is still something that is new to me. I’m sure there are a million other ideas for this and I look forward to discovering them.

Google Doc. Part 2 Google sites

What: This week we learned how to create our own web page by using Google Sites. I really enjoyed this assignment.

So What: As I was working on this project I was thinking that this would be wonderful for my family. I could create a family web. site. I could have pages for news letter updates, one for pictures and video, and another with a calender of events that we would like to share with everyone i.e birthdays, anniversary, Joshua's school play, Amanda's dance recital and Jonathan's basketball game. I was also thinking this would be great for school now. I could have a homework calendar, a page for resources, and a place to store all my documents so that I have them saved in five places. I really had fun playing around with this site.

Also this week I played around with Google Calenders some more. The hardest part of being in the teaching program is keeping track of what homework is do, when for which class. So I created a homework calendar to share with the rest of my cohort. I tried to link it to our group Facebook page but it wouldn't work. Finally Jason suggested that I create a new blog page and embedded it there. That worked, so we all now have accesses to it and if someone notice that I forgot something then they can post it in the comments. I think this will help all of us to stay on top of things.

Now What: I can't decide which I like better, My UEN, or Google sites. I really like the side bar and how you can see everything there. I think if I ultimately decide to use this over My UEN I would set it up very much the way it already is. Under homework I would have a pdf of any work sheets we did that day, so that if a student looses theirs or is absent they can just print off a new one. I would also direct them to resources/tools for any links to web sites we may have used that day. Depending on the grade I my even set up a way for my students to submit most of their homework on line. I do have to take into consideration that even in today's age of electronics not everyone will have a computer in their home. I would also setup my "Top Secret Files" so that my students can't see it but that my colleagues can. That way if I have something in my collection that they really like, they can just help themselves.

I always want the parents of my students to feel like they are well informed and involved in their child's education

Google Part 1

What: This week we learned how to use many of the wonderful tools that Google has to offer. I think one of my favorites was iGoogle. There are so many things that you can do with it and you can organize it in a way that works best for you.

So What: I have been using Google docs ever since I took Doc. Waters class last semester. At first I didn't like this program. I felt it was some what restrictive compared to Word office but the more I use it the more I like it. When ever I write a paper for school, I can share it with my mom and then she can give me her feed back. I love Google docs for group projects I have had three this week were we were able to work on it at the strangest hours, in different parts of Utah County and still get every ones input and contributions. Last semester I had a class that we needed to do an oral report on a research paper. I used Google docs to make a simple power point presentation. It was nice to be able to just pull up my pp on the teachers computer that projected it on the wall. Another student had his pp on a thumb drive. As he was getting it set up the teacher walked by and bumped a cord, that shut down the computer and the student lost his entire presentation. I felt bad for him and thought " he should have used Google docs".

I like Google calenders, although I am still figuring out how to use it. My favorite feature is having it send you a reminder text message. Now I just wish my husband would let us have texting.

Now What: As a teacher I will use Google calender to keep myself organized. I can also create a class calender with due dates, a look at what is being taught when,and the students birthdays. I could also figure out a way to connect it to my UEN account.

I will use Google docs to collaborate with teachers on lesson plans, grant money proposals and any and everything else. If students have access to the Internet at home I could also give them feed back on assignments before they are due.

I need to play around with iGoogle more to know how I would use it but it is fun to explore.