Previous Podcasts on Technology

After listening to several podcasts from last semester I can think of several ways they could have been better. First of all a video podcast would be much more interesting than listening to them in only audio. Improvements can always be made through preparation, in this case it would have served the participates well. Some were more prepared than others, but all the podcasts could have been improved by listening to their podcast and then making changes. I am not sure they had that opportunity as a group, but it would have made it possible for them to be more interactive. In the podcasts from last semester, everyone had their own part in the audio presentation which is the only way to do it if you do not have a practice run as a group.
So, I will play my part in my group's podcast by preparing my statements, maybe by recording my voice I can edit my own role by including important information that I left out or excluding irrelevant information. By coordinating my efforts with my group members we can deliver a podcast that informs others of the facts and get the point across.

Is it okay to be technologically illiterate?

The answer to that question is, No. Not only is it not okay, but teachers today and especially teachers of tomorrow can not afford to be illiterate in technology! There is no excuse for a teacher to be unwilling to become more educated in technology, if there is room for it. I agree with Karl Fisch when he expresses his disgust for teachers that flaunt their illiteracy as if they were proud that technology is not in their vocabulary. It was very enlightening when he put into perspective that our kindergartners right now will be graduates of 2020!! What future do these kids have if they are educated by teachers that are technologically illiterate?

In conclusion, it is not okay to be illiterate in technology, especially as teachers. Teachers should take advantage of technology as a great tool for learning and growing. Technology should be present in creating a learning environment and should be introduced as such.

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture

Best of the Fischbowl

I reviewed the "best" blog on Fischbowl for the month of August. It is about personal learning networks that can be created and maintained by students. It is developed using technology in which students will subscribe to feeds. The staff or teachers introduce the concept by having all the students subscribe to the same feeds at first, "seed feeds". This allows the students to have the class feed as an example before they are sent out to find their own school-appropriate feeds to stay current with. They will read the feeds that they selected every week and are given at least two presentation assignments throughout each semester, in which they present an interesting article to class. The class then can go the student's personal blog and comment on the article presented.

There are several great aspects to this idea! First, the students are thinking critically and reflecting on interesting articles and current events. Secondly, they are interacting and exchanging ideas. Hence, the students are creating and maintaining a Personal learning network!

Podcasts from itunes

Podcasting proves to be a valuable way to express information, especially in an educational setting. In order to prepare yourself to do your own podcast you must first evaluate possible formats and how to keep your viewers interested in the information you are presenting. I reviewed several weekly podcast on itunes and took notes on the effectiveness of each.

SmartBoard Lessons is a weekly podcast that is presented by two people having a conversation and they pretty much know what the other one is going to say. In other words it is somewhat rehearsed. They give a lot of information between the two of them about how to SmartBoards are relevant in classrooms.

KidCast is a podcast that information is given through one person who speaks to the audience as a type of lecture and this I found was less effective in keeping it interesting for the viewer, so I would suggest a lot of visual stimulus if you have to podcast yourself solo.

MacBreak Weekly, on the other hand was definitely more successful in keeping my attention because there was more to listen to because you had more than two people discussing the topics. Therefore it encouraged my own thought on the matter discussed a little more than the previous ones viewed.

EdTechTalk is done weekly by interviewing different people on various subjects. This one would be a good podcast to subscribe to in order to receive information that you are interested from many sources. Listening to it once doesn't really let you get the feel for it because next week may be something you are even more interested in. So, this would be a good format for a weekly podcast where there are many viewpoints on the subjects you choose or if there are many experts.

Podcasts from itunes

Personal Google Presentation

Green School is a school in Bali, Indonesia that has curriculum based on a "balance of three harmonies that are meant to create peace and happiness"! It teaches students through a experimental, hands on approach. There are conventions held in order to prepare students for the next level of education, but it is not included in their daily stuff! Their blog tells you all this a lot more about their school. It is more of an informative blog that explains philosophy and curriculum, but it's concepts are very neat!

In the top picture, a first grade classroom at the American School in Shanghai, China (Mrs. Toa's class). The blog is very devoted to her students and has pictures of them doing all kinds of activities! Including, Pictures of their birthdays for the current month and of them dressed up for holidays! I was surprised that her class was so diverse. I liked it so much that I subscribed.