Hello out there in blog land!
This week we were assigned to listen/watch audio and video podcasts. I have to tell you, this assignment has me thinking about creating my own podcast for my own personal use. Podcasts are yet another wonderful tool educators and other professionals can use to get in touch with their students and other clientele. I used a few of Mr. Sullivan's list of podcasts, but I also found a few on my own. I have some preliminary experience with podcasts I have used already.
The first one is entitled Nio Tv. This was a video podcast that basically consisted of a child in a karate class learning how to properly snap kick. First of all, I enjoyed this simply because the kid who was learning was a cute little Asian child whose outfit barely fit him. His instructor was going through the basics and showing hm how to kick the bag. After a few feeble attempts, the child picked up on it and was doing quite well at the end of the lesson. I'm not sure what the purpose of this podcast was, but I can only guess it was for instructional purposes or just for parental documentation; perhaps it was for promotional purposes. This brings me to a discovery I found in these podcasts: they can be used for anything!
Keeping with that discovery in mind, my next podcast was Photofocus. This is (like it sounds) a photography audio podcast. Like majority of pocasts, this one is run like a digital radio show complete with guests and radio personalities. The main difference between this podcast and a radio broad cast is that it is simply exclusive to the subject of photography. I have mild interest in photography so I was mildly interested in the content. I even learned a cool trick on how to get more of your stuff on as carry on luggage at the airport. This leads me to my next discovery about podcasts: itunes will kill the radio!
Moving on in this new discovery, the next podcasts were Mac Break Weekly and KidCast. These both followed the radio format, however the KidCast one was a little more on the informative side and less on that of entertainment/discussion. KidCast basically gave pros and cons of video podcasting versus audio podcasting and quite frankly, I was bored to tears by the time 10 minutes was up. It was informative, but O my God was that guy boring! Mac Break was just as informative, and perhaps because I knew about many of the topics they were discussing it was easier for me to listen to. The Mac guys actually were entertaining to some degree and I even heard some cool information about some audio/video software in which I was unaware. This leads me to discovery number 3: Podcasts are one of the most innovative ways to transmit information I have ever seen.
As I mentioned earlier, I have downloaded podcasts before. Podcasts are used by authors to promote books, and in some cases read entire novels and make them available for their listeners. Musicians have them to promote music, educator teach foreign languages, radio shows record the entire shows for you to hear on an ipod. I enjoyed this assignment and I anxiously await our chance to make ours in class.
By the way, check out the Hot for Words podcast. This is a video podcast done by a very attractive German woman( or some Germanic sounding accent) about word origins and "big words". She no doubt uses her looks to attract downloaders, but she had some interesting stuff on her casts,and she even gave a plug in the episode i saw for a used book purchasing site that may save students money on textbooks! Check her out (and her podcast)!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Vicki Davis: Harness Your Student's Digital Smarts
Buenos Noches el Blogeritos!
I have just finished watching another video today. This one was about Vicki Davis, a teacher from a small town in southern Georgia who has taken her classroom to the future ( in a matter of speaking). Although the students probably are not familiar with a big city, they are learning new and ever changing technology in their rural community. As the class has advanced, they have even surpassed their instructor in some ways.
This video was both inspiring and insightful. It shows ( similar to the previous video) that if students are given enough room to be creative and inquisitive they will accomplish great things. I had no idea how to create an avatar, or even start a blog when I was in school, and i graduated from high school 6 years ago! Davis should be very proud of the work she's continuing in her school and this will be something I hope I will get to take part in as an educator.
I have just finished watching another video today. This one was about Vicki Davis, a teacher from a small town in southern Georgia who has taken her classroom to the future ( in a matter of speaking). Although the students probably are not familiar with a big city, they are learning new and ever changing technology in their rural community. As the class has advanced, they have even surpassed their instructor in some ways.
This video was both inspiring and insightful. It shows ( similar to the previous video) that if students are given enough room to be creative and inquisitive they will accomplish great things. I had no idea how to create an avatar, or even start a blog when I was in school, and i graduated from high school 6 years ago! Davis should be very proud of the work she's continuing in her school and this will be something I hope I will get to take part in as an educator.
Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity
Hey Blog people!
I just finished watching the video about creativity in education. I have to say I have not heard such a profound stance on public education's flaws in nurturing a child's creativity. On top of all that, Sir Robinson is freaking hilarious. I couldn't believe the speech was 20 minutes long; it was as entertaining as it was informative. I had no disagreement in any portion of this video.
The subject matter hits home for me because I fully understand the frustration of having a different outlook on life and definitely have a different way of processing things I'm required to learn. The story about the choreographer was also very eye opening, in this day and time she would've definitely been put on Adoral and been thought to have a learning disorder.
I just finished watching the video about creativity in education. I have to say I have not heard such a profound stance on public education's flaws in nurturing a child's creativity. On top of all that, Sir Robinson is freaking hilarious. I couldn't believe the speech was 20 minutes long; it was as entertaining as it was informative. I had no disagreement in any portion of this video.
The subject matter hits home for me because I fully understand the frustration of having a different outlook on life and definitely have a different way of processing things I'm required to learn. The story about the choreographer was also very eye opening, in this day and time she would've definitely been put on Adoral and been thought to have a learning disorder.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Assignment #1 ( Getting to Know You....Getting to feel free and easy...)
Hello blog reading people of the Internet!
My name is Justin Wall. I am a supposed Junior at South Alabama and I am a Secondary Education/ Language Arts Major. Obviously, I want to be a teacher for a couple of reasons: 1. I'm good with high school and middle school age kids because i have done everything bad they think "grown ups" don't understand, 2. I am a musician and let's face it, the hours are nice for me, and 3. I HATED school ( loved seeing my friends everyday, hated school), but I had a handful of teachers who knew I was better than I let on and I had potential and I want to be like that.
As far as personal information, I'll be 24 years old on August 22nd ( and I'm playing at Serta's that night!). I love music, movies and I've recently become a rejuvenated reader. I never used to read books for fun, but now i find it helps your brain get a workout and it also makes reading for school a little more bearable. I'm actually bald I don't shave my head because I want to, if I didn't I would look like George Castanza from Seinfield. Single and looking, Leo, and enjoy long walks on the beach, Captain Morgan, and Sushi. I have a myspace page for both me and my music (www.myspace.com/thefirstheavymetalcowboy) and i am also on facebook. Send me a message, as you can tell, I love to run my mouth.
My name is Justin Wall. I am a supposed Junior at South Alabama and I am a Secondary Education/ Language Arts Major. Obviously, I want to be a teacher for a couple of reasons: 1. I'm good with high school and middle school age kids because i have done everything bad they think "grown ups" don't understand, 2. I am a musician and let's face it, the hours are nice for me, and 3. I HATED school ( loved seeing my friends everyday, hated school), but I had a handful of teachers who knew I was better than I let on and I had potential and I want to be like that.
As far as personal information, I'll be 24 years old on August 22nd ( and I'm playing at Serta's that night!). I love music, movies and I've recently become a rejuvenated reader. I never used to read books for fun, but now i find it helps your brain get a workout and it also makes reading for school a little more bearable. I'm actually bald I don't shave my head because I want to, if I didn't I would look like George Castanza from Seinfield. Single and looking, Leo, and enjoy long walks on the beach, Captain Morgan, and Sushi. I have a myspace page for both me and my music (www.myspace.com/thefirstheavymetalcowboy) and i am also on facebook. Send me a message, as you can tell, I love to run my mouth.
Assignment #2 ( I know I'm doing the second one first. It's ok)
Hello Blog reader people! I just finished watching the you tube video " Did you know" from 2008. I am not surprised at the information, however I am surprised at how vast the figures were. India is really putting a beating on our educational system, don't you think? To quote the video, India has more honor students than we have, well, students! The video also touched on how fast technology is moving and i suppose it helps put into perspective how quickly we have grown, or declined, as a society.
Now, I know that the audience here primarily is Mr. Sullivan, but don't get upset at me yet. I know technology is wonderful and it's how you make your living and we all have to use it in some way, shape, or form in our daily lives. However what I am saying, is that we as a society (especially the American society) have taken our conveniences for granted once again. Have you ever seen India? Every documentary or news story shows how crappy it is to live there. Grant it, they will show beautiful parts of their culture, but the pretty folklore doesn't negate the cows in the street and poor health conditions, not to mention what the smell of animals and curry must smell like. Who knows India may be great, but my point is that those people as a whole do not have the financial comfort we have here to be able to gain higher knowledge at our leisure.
Technology, such as life, moves fast. It moves much faster than any human can fathom. Have you ever been on vacation and felt as if you just got there and it's time to leave? Have you ever purchased the newest gadget only to find 3 months later it's out of date? Perhaps what one could take from this video of facts, is put your world into perspective. Because all that information can be depressing and thought provoking, it makes me think about the parts of life that are not tangible, that we can't calculate and that are not effected by how fast information can be sent through a single Ethernet connection or be downloaded on an ipod. Figure out what's important to you and thank God (or whatever deity you choose) for what you have and use it to its full potential. Ride this technological horse till it dies or kills you both!
Now, I know that the audience here primarily is Mr. Sullivan, but don't get upset at me yet. I know technology is wonderful and it's how you make your living and we all have to use it in some way, shape, or form in our daily lives. However what I am saying, is that we as a society (especially the American society) have taken our conveniences for granted once again. Have you ever seen India? Every documentary or news story shows how crappy it is to live there. Grant it, they will show beautiful parts of their culture, but the pretty folklore doesn't negate the cows in the street and poor health conditions, not to mention what the smell of animals and curry must smell like. Who knows India may be great, but my point is that those people as a whole do not have the financial comfort we have here to be able to gain higher knowledge at our leisure.
Technology, such as life, moves fast. It moves much faster than any human can fathom. Have you ever been on vacation and felt as if you just got there and it's time to leave? Have you ever purchased the newest gadget only to find 3 months later it's out of date? Perhaps what one could take from this video of facts, is put your world into perspective. Because all that information can be depressing and thought provoking, it makes me think about the parts of life that are not tangible, that we can't calculate and that are not effected by how fast information can be sent through a single Ethernet connection or be downloaded on an ipod. Figure out what's important to you and thank God (or whatever deity you choose) for what you have and use it to its full potential. Ride this technological horse till it dies or kills you both!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Welcome to My EDM 310 Blog
Hey everyone !
This is my first blog for this class and I'm truly excited about learning about how to use the computer effectively in the classroom. I am a musician and I love learning. This is basically a formality so I am going to stop typing now. I'll talk to you later!
This is my first blog for this class and I'm truly excited about learning about how to use the computer effectively in the classroom. I am a musician and I love learning. This is basically a formality so I am going to stop typing now. I'll talk to you later!
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