Lesson 6 - Wikis as a Classroom Tool

This was my first experience with wikis and they really do seem easy to navigate and contribute to! I enjoyed watching the videos and hearing about how educators may use wikis, as well as some of their favorite features. I like the collaborative aspect in contrast to a traditional website or blog in that different people can contribute rather than only one author. Wikis may be a very motivational tool to use with students as they work on collaborative projects and could be a powerful parent-student-teacher communication tool. Collaboration with colleagues could easily be accomplished through the use of a wiki as well. I would be interested to see an example of how a primary teacher might use a wiki with younger students.

Lesson 5 - Video Resource Review

I enjoyed listening to Wesley Fryer's podcast with Rushton Hurley about using video resources with students and about Next Vista for Learning. In the podcast, they discussed ways in which videos can help meet the needs of a variety of learners by using face-to-face approaches combined with media. NextVista.org is an online library of free educational videos for teachers and students. I found the number of videos and content to be a bit limited for use with primary-age students; however, I particularly enjoyed browing "The 'Global Views' Collection". These videos about cultures around the world could be used with students to help create an interconnectedness and understanding of a variety of aspects of different cultures.

Of the 4 video sharing sites that we were asked to explore, I was only previously familiar with YouTube. I found YouTube, TeacherTube, and ClipBlast all easy to navigate and to search for content-specific and relevant video clips. I found a variety of videos teaching teachers or students specific skills, as well as clips relevant to areas of the curriculum. While use of video clips would be beneficial and appropriate with my primary-age students, I would not allow them to independently browse or search for videos. In my classroom, I would link to specific videos for students to view or watch them together as a class. With the value of video clips comes some dangers such as inappropriate content; any clip to be viewed by students would need to be completely previewed in advance.

Viewing videos created by teachers and students may also inspire students to create videos of their own, sharing their learning in a new and fun way!

Lesson 4 - A Time for Reflection 1

Although I am new to blogging, I have been excited to explore and find ways that educators use blogging with their students! I love that blogging is interactive and could be used as a tool for home-school communication. Allowing students to post their learning online through blogging is also an authentic and motivating way for them to share with the world and get feedback in return!

I was excited to find some classroom blogs from primary classrooms including Ms. Schwichtenberg's Classroom Blog, a first grade class, and Mrs. Ubell Grade 1/2, a first and second grade multi-age class. These blogs are excellent examples of ways that learning can be shared through a blog, as well as ways in which students can post on their own.

I plan to utilize blogging with my first and second grade students this school year, particularly to share student learning in a way that parents and interested readers can respond!

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! I created this blog for reflections and interactions for a summer online course I am taking.