Betty’s Instructional Technology Blog

Sixth grade students from Roland Rogers Elementary School completed their research on “going green.” View their blog and podcasts at this site: http://rogem6a.edublogs.org

The students used Photostory and Audacity to create the podcasts. We uploaded the completed Photostory “videos” to Teacher Tube since you tube is blocked in our district. It was easy to embed the videos into our edublog site.

They will  finalize their project by including a list of their references and  a link to bookmarks they made that can be printed.

Another group working on a different blog for “sustainable living” will be posted soon. 

I’m so excited! I have been working with a class of students over the past couple months. They have been researching various ways to “go green.” As a culminating project, the students have created podcasts to share what they have learned.

It is our first attempt. We are all still learning. The following are three examples. They will eventually be posted on a class blog. I am also considering creating a wiki for them to share all they have learned.

I hope you enjoy our podcasts.

Intro -  www.gtps.k12.nj.us/technology/go_green/intro.wmv

Reuse – www.gtps.k12.nj.us/technology/go_green/reuse.wmv

Reduce – www.gtps.k12.nj.us/technology/go_green/reduce.mp3

In my Web 2.0 workshop, the participants moved through stations using various software/web sites. As part of the station, they posted their ideas on how to use the software in their classrooms. Their ideas on using Audacity are listed below:  

1. For practicing vocabulary

2. For proofreading/editing when students are reading aloud they can hear it/see it and self-correct.

3. Pre-record core spelling words to practice/review for test

4.  Record more complex audio to use in conjunction with photo story

5.  To help teach fluency – letting students hear their own  voice to help promote fluency and inflection

6. keeping an audio record of the progression of the students’ reading levels

7. Could be used with Reader’s Theater

8. Could create audio books as a differentiated activity

In my Web 2.0 workshop, the participants moved through stations using various software/web sites. As part of the station, they posted their ideas on how to use the software in their classrooms. Their ideas on using Movie Maker are listed below:  

1. Students could create a finished product from their PhotoStory.

2. The Movie Maker program is an excellent resource and a little more advanced than Photostory.  Like Photostory, presentations can be enhanced to address the student’s learning needs and students can also create presentations of their own. 

3. Unitedstreaming video clips could be imported and muted and students could make their own voiceovers.

4. Students could use a video camera and tape themselves and edit the video demonstating a topic, pretending to be a historical figure, having a debate, etc.

On Friday, Feb 15th, I will be presenting a workshop that will introduce  teachers in my district to some Web 2.0 tools. I wanted to start out with some links to existing software that would be easy to integrate into our existing curriculum. I will review Podcasting using Audacity & Photostory hosted on an Edublogs blog, Voicethread, and Google Earth. I also provided links to some image and audio sites as well as some Internet safety and copyright resources.  

The link to my presentation is: http://www.gtps.k12.nj.us/technology/web2.0/Web2.0_files/frame.htm

I will continue to refine it over the next few days.

Today, I will be attempting to create podcasts with some sixth grade students. I will be using PhotoStory and a program called Jodix. Thanks to Dan Schmit whose “Kidcast:Podcasting in the Classroom” podcasts have been an invaluable help. 

I hope to use Edublogs to host the podcasts. The following is a test. A very bright and creative 4th grade student created the following video after researching William Shakespeare: (Quicktime is needed to view it)

shakespeare-video.mp4

The following is a sample audio file. (My first attempt at using Audacity.) There is no content, it is only a test using free music loops from http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/free.html

Click on the audio link below. (Quicktime is needed to listen)

podcast-test.mp3

Several teachers are working on projects for Black History Month. Some possible projects include:

1. Timelines using Inspiration
2. Photostory/Movie Maker Projects
3.  Blogs & Podcasts

The following websites are resources that can be used for student research:

1. http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/bhm/bio/
2. http://sf.factmonster.com/spot/bhm1.html
3. http://www.history.com/minisites/blackhistory/
4. http://www.kidsclick.org/cgi-bin/searchkids.pl?searchtype=all&keywords=african-americans+biography&title=Biography+African-American
5. http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/bhm/0,8805,97217,00.html
6. http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/black_history/29days.html

Some ideas we are thinking about…

• Debate
• Game
• Video Clips
• Guest Speaker – Interviews
• Public Service Announcements
• Involve other students
• Teach other classes – have them share their opinions via comments