A Final Reflection

As a result of having take this course, Michele Ariola and I have collaborated to bring blogging into our Spanish IV classrooms.  Traditionally, we have had the students watch the film El Norte and then respond to a series of questions on paper.  This year we chose instead to come up with some more "big idea" questions and post those.  The students were each given a pseudonym (all of them were famous hispanics) and asked to respond to these more higher-order thinking questions, rather than simple fact regurgitation.  We hoped to find that students would feel more open to express their feelings if their actual names weren't being used.  We are still working on this project and have at this point, had the students respond to the questions...and the next step is having them respond to each other's ideas.  It is definitely a more authentic way to use the target language that infuses technology and thoughtfulness.  I hope to be able to infuse more blogging as the year progresses.  You can check it out at rhurysz.edublogs.org

Wikis in the classroom

I have had some opportunity to work with wikis, as I have created one for our NHS students.  This easy-to-use method allows both advisors (Becky Houghton and me) to easily edit, add and delete information, etc. in a quick and eye-catching way.  The address is:  http://www.hiltonnhs.wikispaces.org/

We used something called glogster and also made avatars of ourselves.  While we aren't at the point where we are allowing the officers to edit it yet, I think we are on the right track.  I think the first step is becoming comfortable with using/editing/creading a wiki yourself, and then you can be of more help to students as they create their own.

I like what one person said about work is usually of higher caliber because students know that it will be published for all (or at least their peers) to see.  I also like the collaborative spirit of a wiki.  I think it would be a wonderful classroom tool for projects and information sharing.  Anything from videos to articles can be posted on there.  I hope to be able to use wikis as a tool in my own classroom in the future.

Video Sharing

After listening to the podcast about video usage in the classroom and exploring the five sites on video sharing (Next Vista for Learning - free non-profit site file, TeacherTube - free commercial site file, School Tube - free commercial site file, YouTube - free commercial site file and MovieClips - short movie clips categorized by theme, character, setting, mood, and more) I have a better idea of what is "out there" in terms of free videos online.  Up to this point I have had the opportunity to use clips from youtube quite a bit.  I have used them to help us get a better idea of the history of particular countries while studying them, and I have also used them to look for teens from those countries talking about their lives and answering the questions that my kids often want to know the answers to.  I really liked NextVista because of its volunteerism spirit and I thought that it all seemed really "legit" compared to some of the other sites, where you have to be really careful.  Teacher tube was interesting because it offered more than just video.  I couldn't really envision a use of MovieClips in my classroom at this time.  I agree that anything we can do as part of instruction that is novel helps to hold student attention and the use of videos can really bring learning to life.  Instead of me telling my students what it is like somewhere in the world it is so much more powerful to be able to show them.  I know that our students are not able to access youtube on their own, and I think that's positive because sometimes I am searching for something totally inocuous and boom, there is somebody's nakedness!  I am not sure if the students have access to the other sites but I imagine it is the same.  I like the idea of interspersing more video into my instruction to provide a better sense of relevance and spark more interest.

A time for reflection

While I am pretty hesitant about most things involving technology, I'm pretty sure that I can handle blogging.  I definitely see the benefits as using it as a tool as part of classroom instruction and discussion.  Particularly in foreign language classrooms, students can be hesitant to express their opinions, because they fear negative evaluation from peers and teachers; however, blogging seems to have the ability to take some of that fear.  I also see how it can allow students to take conversations in the directions that interest them, rather than being so closely monitored by teachers.  Traditionally quiet students in class may find their "voice" while blogging and allow their teachers to better know them.

I can see myself using blogging to address cultural topics.  It is definitely not for simple regurgitation of information.  I can use blogging, rather than each student getting a "question packet" to solicit responses to readings and videos in class.  I would also like the students to use names that they have made up so that they can remain anonymous to other students if they like. 

First Entry

This blog was created for my Issues, Tools and Trends in Technology class.