Learned a lot - the blog title says it all

Let's put it this way, everyone who has participated in this ICT course has benefitted tremendously. A lot of work, yes. A lot of hard work, definitely. I know that I intend to use these tools to design and implement materials that will help me to achieve the learning objectives outlined in each syllabus that I have to deliver.

Even if I never become a Reading Specialist, there are way too many children who cannot read and write properly and I know that I can help them in some way. This may be in the classroom or out of school. I can only hope that the use of new technologies would encourage students to take advantage of opportunities to become better readers and improve their lives.

The end is nigh!

After reading the (really nice!) comment to my last post I can admit I'm even more intrigued by podcasting. I'm sure you'll find this elsewhere but I found this really cool video on Vimeo. Vimeo has a ton of education-related stuff and is easy to join. Here's the link http://vimeo.com/926896

Anyway I think I need to post one more comment on a blog, but I'm not too sure. Just to be safe I'm going to do it now. Bye.

Podcasting

Been considering using a podcast for one of the lesson plans. Know what I want to do and how to do it. I'm just not too sure that my students would want to hear my voice. They already have to listen to it all the time. So my big plan is to get one of my friends to do the reading for me. Anybody think this is a good idea or not? Opinions accepted.

This was interesting http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/how-to-podcast.htm especially the part about making sure it's something you enjoy.

E-books library

I've been wondering about the feasibility of having an e-books library at school. Not sure library is the right word, maybe collection is better. I wouldn't be able to do this on my own but if other teachers create works we could probably put them in the Student Resources folder in the school's system.

This would also include content area material that students could access on their own. I know that teachers are sensitive about resource material that they put their hard work into, so each e-book could be credited to the author (teacher). The reason for developing authentic work is to cater to our local needs. Although I haven't ruled out downloading material I think this is a better option.

Who knows maybe as members of this MEd. program, people would like to share what they have created for use within our schools. And there are tools to manage your collection, such as Calibre. Just a thought.  

Blogs & Podcasts

Thought this was an interesting read http://ijttl.sicet.org/issue0802/4_2_3_Banister.pdf. Sounds a lot like what we were doing in this course.

I liked that the author:

• recognizes that many people have no access to these technologies
• clearly states the advantages of blogs and podcasts for reading instruction
• provided some relevant examples

Think I'll check out that PodOMatic program.

Ok this one is about nothing (much)

Can't think of a title for this post as yet but I'll figure it out. It is a real hoot reading all your comments. Thanks for all the encouragement. 

I know this isn't supposed to be a blog about yourself or your life or anything like that but I really don't know what the heck to write about! Those in class who would "associate" themselves with me have already figured out that I'm kind of a nut. Not a weird, insane, slice you into little pieces kind of nut, just a well...nut - the friendly kind.

I got this email inviting me to attend a Ministry session about the laptop initiative. Really hope this does happen because our students deserve it. Not because of 20/20 vision, or we need to keep up or it's an election promise. Simply because they deserve the best if we can afford it.

If you're a teacher you're also a caregiver (not a babysitter), and it doesn't matter which school you teach in there are deprived children. Deprivation varies only in degrees. The really good ones in government schools have to deal with the peer pressure that comes with being 'good'.

Believe me I'm no idealistic, goody-two-shoes. Those children know their place where I am concerned.

I just had this horrendous Form 3 class (and 'horrendous' should be italicized, capitalized, in bold, red, you get the picture).  At the end of last term they told me that they all wanted to do Social Studies in Form 4 with me.

Did I emphasize horrendous enough before? My choice words for them included "No!" and "Never!", among others. Of course I will end up with some in my class. On the up side I can always concept map them! Never forget to look for that elusive silver lining I say.

Back to the laptops, it would be great to share all of this stuff with those Form 1s. I'm a bit concerned that in my eagerness to share my newly-found Web 2.0 super powers that I'll end up bombarding students with TMI in too short a space of time. Anybody can relate?

Here's a little info about the law of thirds (photography, remember?) We have been socialized to read from the upper left to end at the lower right. Hebrew and Arabic are read from right to left. So unless you have really interesting material to fill a photo with, stick to keeping your subject closer to where the first vertical and horizontal lines would intersect to capture your viewer's attention.    

This is a nice intro http://www.ehow.com/how_2263114_use-rule-thirds-photo-composition.html and the before and after examples here are great http://photospot2004.blogspot.com/2004/07/rule-of-thirds.html

I hope this helps

I've deliberated about writing this post but it is something that has been bugging me and so here goes.
My posts may not always reflect it but I know that there are a lot of good things about our education system.

1. It has produced all of the wonderful, hard-working, competent, dedicated teachers that are involved in this MEd. and many more besides,
2. Our initiative makes the obstacles we as teachers face, look like a 2-piece jigsaw puzzle
3. We want the best for our students, not just academically, we want them to be everything they want to be and more

I accept that there is a lot that we've learned, and a lot that we want to share. The thing is a whole session was held on the format of a blog that would capture and hold the reader's attention, adult, child, teacher, student, and on and on.

If we as teachers do not model and implement what we want our students to do, we can become as technologically literate and brilliant as we want to be it won't help as much as it should.

Can we start with our blog posts please?
My emphasis is not on content but on delivery so don't think that I'm flaming anyone. In other words you don't have to agree or disagree, you can just leave it be.

Although I wasn't there I understand from the online notes that Audacity was used. This is an excellent and easy way to add any kind of audio - music, voice, effects to a wide variety of media (ppt, video) for use with students. Just remember to save your files in the correct format, wav or mp3 (wav is smaller in size).
Here are some good reviews http://www.c4lpt.co.uk/Top100Tools/audacity.html and the simplest how-to online tutorial that I could find (without writing it myself) http://www.wikihow.com/Use-Audacity.
Experiment that's the only way you'll get it right!