As I went through the Flickr applications and several of the web tools, that were linked through this site, it clarifies why our students are mesmerized by technology. It IS fun!
One thing that this experience brought to mind is the fact that along with that fun, comes a LOT of responsibility... we,as educators, MUST constantly reinforce appropriate uses, healthy boundaries, and ethics in creating and publishing work on the web. I can see where someone with an axe to grind could use some of these applications to really hurt someone's feelings....a form of internet "payback", if you will. I think the latest buzz word is "Cyber-Bullying". Once this kind of bell has been rung...there really is no taking it back.
On a more positive note, the Montagr in Smilebox.com would be a GREAT way to activley engage children in their learning. I could see how these applications can be used in a history class, to teach kids about specific eras in history. They could scavage photos from a topic they are studying, add captions to the photos to support their study, and even search for music clips from that era and play it in the background of their presentation. Or in a science class, they could pick a biome and post pictures, graphs, maps, captions, etc. and play sounds from that biome and animal calls from creatures that thrive, in that environment. The more senses we stimulate as we teach, the more likely the students are to internalize what we wish for them to learn....and we all know that sometimes the best way to really learn something is to teach about it.
As for personal application: Since I teach PE, it's a little harder for me to get the technology funded. The fact that so many of these applications are free, helps motivate me to get out of my box and try some of it. My biggest fear is in protecting the investment of the hardware I would need to bring it into my space. I feel vulnerable because my teaching space is so open and so big, things could just walk out and disappear forever. I also worry that one mis-thrown ball could smash a piece of equipment to the floor in a nano-second. Protecting whatever investment I make will be paramount...getting children to respect it and take ownership in protecting it too, will be crucial.
Getting hardware and equipment would also imply grant writing. I've not done much of that...so again, I've got to get out of my own comfort zone and dig a bit....assuming that I really am serious about getting myself AND my students into the world of digital citizenry.
I think it's time for me to get beyond pedometers and stopwatches and think MP3's with pre-recorded warm up exercises counted out in my voice or a student's voice; small DVD players showing critical elements of a sport skill, I want them to learn... with instant replays of professionals doing the skill so that they see excellence performed by personalities they watch on TV.
Better yet, wouldn't it be interesting to get some footage of today's popstars exercising to give added interest and motivation to get my students moving?
I think I can get out of the box....finding the time to invest, in order to hone the desire into a useable product, will be my obstacle.
The more I contemplate the notion of turning technological dreams into a real teaching tool, the more I realize that I have to continue to explore and strive to be the lifelong learner I'm encouraging the children to be. Postitive modeling...now there's a timeless element from old school thoughts!
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Martha,
ReplyDeleteTime is always a big challenge when dealing with technology. But you are taking the first steps. You are thinking about how you can use what you might already have avaliable to you to use with your kids. I commend you on your thinking. PE is not one of the courses that translates easy with technology but you are already planning! With the use of MP3s and other devices we can use what kids are already used to to engage them! And it is engagement that is key!