In looking back at my progress so far, I am feeling quite good about it. The actions that I took towards learning about creating podcasts and voicethreads have been very effective in helping me meet my goals. As my overall goal is to equip myself with the tools that I need to move my students into the digital-age, I feel that my toolbox is steadily growing. One of the things that I have found to be true is that making that single step is the most difficult part of the journey. Once you have started, you find yourself with an amazing amount of choices that you never even knew existed. Creating a podcast using Audacity with my class has led to creating voicethreads with them. If I can create audio podcasts, then video should not be an overwhelming challenge now.
I think that the thing that I have learned in this process is the importance of planning and structure for the students. Helping them to develop storyboards and scripts for their voicethreads has been a growing process for all of us. They understand sequencing better through their development of the voicethread. They are developing their writing in ways that will elicit responses from a listener rather than just delivering information. They are finding ways to leave things open-ended to draw out questions from the listener, creating an active rather than a passive audience. Going through the planning and discussion phases with them has allowed them to bring out all of these things in their writing.
As they say, “a little bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing.” My question has become, “Now what? What else is out there that I can tap into?” I have been told that Audacity is the best free software for recording, but what are my alternatives? I am currently looking at some of those alternatives through a website, appropriately named, http://alternativeto.net. This website provides information on software programs that provide an alternative to what you are currently using. It lists both commercial and free software.
Continuing into a new International Baccalaureate unit on Constructive and Destructive forces, there will be some places that will allow for audio podcasts and voicethreads. The unit, though, seems more suited towards visuals. In keeping with my goal to equip my students with the tools that they need to move into the digital age, incorporating graphic tools into our repertoire seems to be the next obvious step. Viewing it, not as a new direction, but an addition to our voicethreads and podcasts, my plan is now expanding.
Resources
Cennamo, K., Ross, J., & Ertmer, P. (2009). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
National Education Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) located at http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_T_Standards_Final k
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Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that any journey starts with the first step. After that first step the possibilities are endless. I have also used Audacity to create a podcast and have create a voicethread. I found that after doing both I felt more confident in using both applications. I would like to use both in future projects in my classes. I think by creating a voicethread when doing a project about alternative fuels sources would be a great way for my students to present their point of view while using technology.
Lauren
ReplyDeleteIf you are like me, you are a little anxious with each new technology step that you take. The fear of the unknown can be so intimidating, but it has also given me a renewed awareness of what my students might feel as we enter new territories. Raising my own comfort levels has shown me how to help my students do the same thing, and as you suggested, expanded our possibilities.
My favorite part of your post is how your students have increased their writing skills by preparing Voicethreads, and in the process have become more reflective and responsive. Becoming adept at genuine give-and-take discussions will help them as they move on to workplace collaboration. Good luck as you continue to broaden your options and collect tools that will provide the kind of learning environment that best serves your students.
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteThe benefits your learners are reaping from their use of Voice Thread are excellent. As soon as I can book computer lab time, yet another obstacle in my building, I hope to engage my students in this type of technology. I am always looking for new ways to strengthen their questioning and writing skills - you have given me a new avenue to pursue with this evidence of academic and technological progress. Many thanks and good luck!
Monica
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteLearning new technology tools is a process and can sometimes be a slow and frustrating one with all of the barriers that need to be constantly dealt with. I agree with you that once you learn new tools, programs, or project-based activates, there are so many ways to extend what we already know. I admire how you are always searching for new programs to extend what you already know and are doing with your students. You provide great examples and are an excellent role model for life-long learning.
Kristin
Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI like how you mention that you are moving your students into the digital age in the classroom. I Think it is about time our districts begin to keep up with our students who, as digital natives, are already in the digital age. I think that since you are taking this course you are taking the necessary steps to get yourself into the digital age since we are digital immigrants.
I really believe that the key is to get our classrooms into the digital age so our students are more engaged and get a stronger, more meaningful sense of our lessons. during this course I have been asking myself not what I can teach my students, but what I can teach myself about technology.
Nice post here. It seems that you really have a handle on the necessary steps to take in your classroom to give your students a more engaging learning esperience with the use of technology.
Keep up the great work.
Hi Lauren,
ReplyDeleteI must confess that I am a little jealous of your success of creating positive learning experiences for your students by creating podcasts and VoiceThreads. Unfortunately, our district filter currently blocks VoiceThread, but I'm slowly working on that issue. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished with your GAME plan.
The part I thought was particularly impressive was that by guiding your students in the planning and discussion phases, they are developing writing that will illicit interactive responses from the listener. Great work!
Thank you also for the tip on resource for finding alternative software programs. I plan to check out http://alternativeto.net.
Donnel