Hand Truck (Techlearning blog)

Hmmmm. This blog will either get your hackles up or you might agree with David Jakes. Hand Truck (Techlearning blog) Read this blog and respond with your own comments for David. Don't forget to read the other comments already there.

Remember that video I showed you last year at WISC with the teachers from Lesley University?At the end it says... "Be different. Teach different." Click here if you want to see that Teacher Video again! Might be a good idea for a project for your team - a short video like this.

Podcasting and iTunes

Podcasts... where did that word come from?
iPod broadcast = podcast

iTunes is a free download www.apple.com/itunes/download/ and even though it is from Apple, it works great on a PC too! If you want to shop for music at 99 cents a song, you will need to create an account and give them your credit card number. Otherwise, you can use iTunes to listen to your CDs and find and listen to podcasts, and transfer your music and podcasts to your mp3 player to listen to whenever you have time.

iTunes Tutorial: Apple - iLife - Tutorials - iTunes - Subscribe and Listen to Podcasts
Short video about getting started with podcasts...

If you want a good tutorial about using iTunes for Podcasting, go to www.infopeople.org/resources/itunespodcasting.html This tutorial has great photos to help guide your learning. Or, just ask a teenager for help! :-)

Multimedia for Rigor and Relevance

What is multimedia? Wikipedia gives a good overview and lots of examples...

George Lucas Educational Foundation sponsors a website called "Edutopia" with great resources (articles and videos) about integrating technology and using multimedia with your students. Students Find Their Voices Through Multimedia

Teachers at AHST created a project that was both a learning experience for them and a resource for the community. "There is a business looking for a small town in which to relocate. The would bring 250 jobs and many new families to your community. In order to decide, they visit websites of several towns in Iowa to learn about that community. Create a presentation that will convince them to move to your town." City of Avoca

Apple has a great site with examples and lesson plans of using iLife in the classroom.

Scott County, Kentucky schools have great examples of digital stories by both teachers and students.

If you are using a Mac computer, you may want to download Flip4Mac that allows you to play Windows Media Player videos with QuickTime.

A blog is simply a "web log" - no software required, just an Internet connection. Educators are using this medium to create a quick and simple way to communicate with their students. You can now add video too! Look at this example of a multimedia newsletter from Harlan Community Schools. You might want to limit who can comment on your blog, however. Look at the Education blogs by content area listed on answers.com.

Another good option for communicating with students is to set up a discussion board. I use QuickTopic.com - it's easy and the only people privy to your topic are those that you invite.

Before next week, read Marc Prensky's article "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants", part 1, and join our online discussion.