The Tubes (Week 7 Thing 16)

Youtube and TeacherTube.

This is certainly not the first time I've played around in Youtube. It is a little overwhelming because there are a lot of useless material out there. The trouble is sorting through everything thing to find the diamond in the rough. Usually I see something from someone else and use it. For example, I've used the escalator clip in my class before. It is fun to have the student talk about the thinking that wasn't going on in that video and how easy it is to fall into the same trap.
I've never really looked at TeacherTube before and enjoyed what I found there. It is a little easier to look through and find something.
I've embeded a few colonies videos from the two sites into my wiki since we are working on the 13 original colonies right now in social studies. Here is one of the videos:

Harvest of Love Part III

Fun Facts and the reason behind it all

Harvest of Love video Part II

Field Trip to Care and Share Warehouse

Harvest of Love (Week 6 Thing 15)

Okay, this video has been a long time coming. I've been bribing my kids with the video recorder when I had to leave them with a guest teacher to attend this class. They've been waiting and waiting and finally, I gave them a chance to try it out.

I have a leadership group in my class who wanted to help out this year with the Care and Share Harvest of Love food drive. The following video, finally completed after weeks of talking and discussing and filming, was filmed and put together through the efforts of both student and teacher. The film was long enough that I could not upload here, so I broke it into three parts. The first one is here.

What is Care and Share

Challenges: It took a LONG time to get this video together. The students did most of the filming and I realized afterward how many clips we couldn't use because the middle part of a sentence or answer was missing from the video. Also, it is a little jumpy. Also, we recorded using Audible a couple of parts and realized during the assembly performance that the sound file doesn't stay with the video clip it is supposedly linked to if you change other things. Easy to fix once you realize, but sometimes it takes time to realize what the problems might be. I admit, the thought of trying this with a class of students, all at once, even group projects, makes me want to pull my hair out before I've even begun.

VoiceThread (Week 6 Thing 15)

VoiceThread was fun to play around with. I can both see myself using VoiceThread and not using VoiceThread. I imagine after taking the time to teach the process to my class, I could simply assign a picture with a question or comment to start the student's thinking and assign it as homework. It is one of those hurdles you need to sow in order to reep the rewards.

We are starting a biography project soon and would love to have the students comment on a picture of a famous historical figure. Also, I can see it being used in reading and science. Just the idea of getting the students THINKING is the important part.

Here is my 'beautiful' voice commenting. (Please read the 'beautiful' with a touch of irony.)

Google Docs (Week 5 Thing 13)

I did enjoy learning about google docs. I can see myself using this professionally and for fun. I would actually love to use this in my classroom and can see myself doing just that in the future. The problem is the availability of technology at the moment. Wouldn't I just love to write a grant and see 15 permeate computers in my classroom. Then I could see myself creating assignments on a more regular basis for my students that involve the computer. As it is, computers tend to get used more often on the BIG assignments that happen every once and a while.

Right now, as Brittney wrote on her blog, I can see us using this in a professional capacity when colaborating with collegues.

Wiki's (Week 5 Thing 12)

Actually, I have been enjoying wiki's a ton. It took a little while to really get going, but once I really realized how quick and easy it was to upload files (word documents, audible bits, etc.) I have found I am using it a ton more. As it linked now to my class website, I've made it a focal point to major assignements. Everytime I load something new for an assignment in class, I've shown my class where it is and how to get at it. It is exciting to hear the students tell me when they've been on and site, even more excitement when they get to see their own work on the site.

I loved looking at other wiki's. I have to add that Laura L.'s wiki is fabulous. I love how organized it is. It gives me motivation to continue working until my looks as clean and user friendly.