Digital Media

While reflecting on the class and all the technology we shared, and wondering how to take this information and all the rich opportunities it offers back to school, I found this clip on TeacherTube. I think it helps to answer the question, why blog…?

When I Grow Up…

I subscribed to the podcast of This American Life. It is my first subscription to a podcast and I find it to be a dream come true. There were so many weekends when I was heard to utter, ” ugh, I missed it again!” and now I can listen when it works for me! If you haven’t had a chance to listen I encourage you to do so. It isn’t #1 on the iTunes playlist for no reason. Ira Glass has a fabulous radio voice and the stories are interesting, entertaining, sometimes disturbing slices of life in America.

Could this be used as a teaching tool? I certainly think so. Listening skills, main idea, sequence, descriptive language, voice are just a few skills that come to mind. I would be selective about what segments might be used based on the age of the students and the topic of the podcast.

I selected iTunes software to download and try out. I was pleased at how really simple it was. With just a few clicks of the mouse it was loaded onto my computer and I was able to search the podcasts directory and select podcasts to subscribe to. 

Here is my first solo attempt at a podcast using gcast.

Check it out at: gcast

Why use podcasts in education? Click and listen to what our study group had to say.

JotSpot ( and Google)

Description of the site: Jotspot was founded in 2004 by Joe Kraus and Graham Spencer the same people who founded Excite.com. It is a wiki company for wiki applications that enable anyone to create, publish, edit and share collaborative or personalized wiki applications. Google recently acquired JotSpot and as they integrate systems registration for the site is closed.

Uses: The wiki allows you to create, share, edit and publish

• spreadsheets
• calendars
• documents
• photo galleries

Strengths: The wiki applications allow for collaboration at one site. It is web based so anyone involved can access the work at any time as long as they have internet access. Easy to use, you don’t need to know HTML.

Weaknesses: Unable to register at this time.

Cost: After integration of the site with Google and it reopens for registration I believe it will be free.

Classroom Applications: This site could be used by students and staff to manage assignments and projects, work in groups and collaborate, share files, facilitate communication and stay connected.

My opinion: Although I was unable to register for this site at this time, after having worked on a wiki at Wikispaces with my study group I see a lot of possibilities for the classroom. I think students and staff could make use of the collaborative work space for assignments, projects and reports. It will be interesting to register when it becomes available and compare the two.

SpyMedia

Description of the site: SpyMedia is a photo site. It was created with the idea that users should have full control over their images, with the ability to share, buy and sell. It’s headquartered in San Jose, California. It is a privately funded company.

Uses: The site allows users to post photos, search for photos, buy and sell photos and photography services.

Strengths: You can share photos from a personal MySpy page or your own web page. Photos available to share, buy and sell can come from a stock library or from a SpyBounty.
A SpyBounty is a request for the photo you want and what you are willing to pay for it. Other members then submit photos for you to review. You select the one you would like. There is no middle-man.
There are a large variety of photos in several catagories including: arts and culture, bizarre, entertainment, historical, landscape, travel, natural disaster, news events, and sports.

Weaknesses: Although some phots are free, most are for sale. When you register and click OK you agree that anything you post can be used by SpyMedia for their promotional purposes.

Classroom application: This may provide students, and especially art and photography students, a real world motivation with an opportunity to post their work, or answer a SpyBounty request and possibly sell an image. Although this may be limited by cost the photos may provide images for teachers to integrate into curricular areas and for students to use for projects, reports and presentations.

Cost: free

My opinion: I think this is probably changing the world of photography, the way photographers compete for jobs and the pricing of photos. It allows for people far and wide to connect over the internet to provide a service, to create a product, to order and purchase a product.

Skobee

Description of the site: Skobee is an invitation site. It is designed to use when you are planning or looking for something to do. It is described as “a fun simple way to gather friends together for everyday social events like dinner, drinks, movies and so on”. It is a small company located in San Francisco, California.

Uses: Using Skobee you can:

• make plans with friends
• look what friends are doing
• see what other people are doing, where they are going

Strengths: It is one web based location to connect with friends to make plans. You control your friend list. Accessible 24/7 with internet access. Keeps a log of all changes to the plans. Adds maps to help find locations. No long e-mail threads. Must be 13 years or older to submit information.

Weaknesses: Relatively new, still being developed. Any information entered on the site can be shared by Skobee and their business partners and advertisers.

Cost: free

My opinion: I am not certain about this site. Just because we have the capability, do we really need it? Will this catch on? I don’t see myself using this site personally or at school. And maybe I am not the demographic that this site targets. I will be interested in hearing the opinions of others.

I just came across a job ad that requested a link to the applicant’s blog!

I think that makes it  critical that we address blogs and blogging in school.

Subject: Ediquette
Posted by Louis Joseph Loeffler Wed May 24 15:08:40 2006.
Message:

Our readings included some on ediquette.  What are things we can do to ensure successful classroom blogging by ourseves and students.

Posted by Nancy Meister Thu Mar 22 20:48:03 2007.
Message: To ensure successful classroom blogging we have to have a good understanding of blogging and why we are having our students do it. What is the purpose? What are the goals? It is our job to set limits and expectations to guide students. This includes blogging etiquette. Students need to know and understand the medium and blog responsibly.

“Blog Etiquette” discussed a few good points to keep in mind. First, blogs are public, give mature thought to each thing you publish. Second, be accurate, use spellchecker. Third, be yourself.

Three simple yet important things to share with student bloggers.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ran an article on Sunday, March 25th titled Blogging ignites student expression check it out at:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=581837

It’s a beautiful spring day. I’m enjoying the warm temps, the singing birds and the sunshine!

This is my second blog site. My first is set up for another tech class. I am a total newcomer to blogging. It has been a time of discovery and learning this semester. I am finding it to be an exciting experience rich with opportunity.