Media Bites

There is a place for video in delivering instruction and fostering learning.  The high receptivity to visuals in our day makes it a valuable resource for learning.  The advent of youtube and teacher tube and other sources of streaming have made it easier to find useful videos to incorporate in the learning process.  I find it easier to locate material in teacher tube than you tube because it so general.  Some of the quality is questionable, but the visual age strives on visual materials.

I think there is much room for developing visuals in media skills to achieve competency in literacy skills for learners of the 21th century.  I think there is an urgent need to develop critical thinkers that can evaluate content for its proper value.

I examined professional devleopment videos for media specialist and how to videos and other professional areas.  I chose to share how to convert word document to pdf format.  Changing formats is a constant need in the expereince of educators and students.

I see the need to create and use more of the videos that are available to accommodate the needs of all learners.

podcasting has a useful place in carrying out the functions of media specialists.  It is very useful in delivering content for students and educators.  Its flexibility is very adaptive to advancing learning.  Students can prodcue some of their final products in postcosting and media skills can be available to students in that form for them to learn at their pace.  Teachers can also receive professional development in this format.

I found technology and book podcast from NPR very useful in providing exposure to book reviews and technology advances.  I found learning out loud to be very useful in providing professional development from media specialists in the field are confronted with in adapting to challenges in our age.  Grunt media provides good information on skills that are useful in carrying out the functions of the media center.

I know that there is a place podcasting in my continued professional development and delivering services to the educational community that I serve

Slide show by femman on computers then and now
BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.

I just wanted to present a visual of the changes in computer technology over the years.  Sometimes student lose the perspective between the old and new technologies.  It is pretty striking that there is a great difference in the space required in the past compared to the size of the computers in terms of its power today.  This is another way of gaining perspective of the past and the present and to encourage student to make proper use of what they have available today.  There is always a connection between the past and the present and the future that remains connected and viable.  Students and educators need to use that connection to encourage learning and development.  I found that bubbleshare as adequate for the side show because of its easy layout and upload capabilities.

Photo credits

first computer by alwayscanadian  http://www.flickr.com/photos/alwayscanadian/1245782414/

predicting computer of 2004 in 1954 by misterbisson  http://www.flickr.com/photos/maisonbisson/1634408/

apple first computer by prethip  http://www.flickr.com/photos/prethip/70530969/

where’s the computer by maizers  http://www.flickr.com/photos/lemaipictures/26111610/

new mac setup by reemixx  http://www.flickr.com/photos/reemixx/2567550916/

new mac by macwagon  http://www.flickr.com/photos/macwagen/3260488892/

friday the 13th by brandon king  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bking/457978124/

anxiety by Bright Star   http://www.flickr.com/photos/drh/2192410767/

macintosh plus by Stefan Schlautmann  http://www.flickr.com/photos/schlaus/926911366/

I have enjoyed exploring flickr and considering the wide educational and recreational use of

flickr.  I paid careful attention to some photos on technology over time and the development

in computers over the years.  I see the potential for using photos in teaching and illustrating

concepts in all subject areas.  This is particularly important in areas that are difficult to grasp

without visual illustrations.  It will also be useful in assisting students in being creative in

their presentations.

I know that students like to use pictures and graphics from the internet without much regard

for copyrights.  Creative Commons will assist in helping students use copyright materials more

effectively.  I will direct more students to the materials in Creative Commons in their research

and projects.  I will promote the use of Creative Commons as a better fit for copyright use.

photo by Stefan Schlantmann

Fair use guidelines are very restrictive and combersome to use effectively.  The exposure to copyright material is widespread but its proper use is problematic.  The attempt of creative commons to make copyright materials more accessable is a noble task to lessen confusion and increase wider acceptable use.

I have not seen the the copyright label of “CC” to designate the less restrictive label of all rights reserved on the internet.  I think that it will be easier on students who use copyright materials without paying close attention to the restrictions.  They of often think that because it is available it should be alright to use it.  It is also difficult to get permission to use copyright materials.  This should make it easier around the combersome process.  Professionally I try to use images that are not constrained by copyright or use my own.  I think we should continue to encourage the creative process by developing our own materials and inspiring students to create rather than just copy others work.  There is a sense in which usefulness and value should be encouraged rather than the economic benefits from our labors.

Wiki wiki teaching illustrate the potential value of using wike to increase student involvement in learning.   I see the potential for using wiki for projects-particularly CBU’s (concept based units) within and across grade levels.  It can also be a focus of resources for CRCT.  I am interested in using wiki to house student projects.  I am conscious of the potential for serious mischief as students have access to the work of other students.  The idea of having specific guidelines is very instructive.

Examination of several wikis provided a wide perspective of the scope for use.  The discovery utopia project was a little far fetch and confusing in its presentation.  It was an attempt by students to create multiple vision of a perfect society.  Grazing for digital natives provides resources for education about using new technologies in the classroom.  It is not easily navigated nor on essentials.  Room 15 wiki is a good example of a wiki that tries to serve all the needs of a classroom.  Some of the sections includes: education needs, about site, about teacher, curriculum, blogs, and resources for teachers.   I appreciated the scope of the wikis use in education.

I have enjoyed reading various blogs through google reader.  I have found blogs for professional development-the willow from teacher librarian to be very informative in implementing technology skills.  The article on introduction to software tools for teacher librarians summarizes the uses of blogs in schools: online chart, debate, and reflective practice; student personal stories; reading about other schools; reaching out to the community; creating gathering places for professional development; and sharing information about current issues and practice of interest. This is a good rationale for using web 2.0.

of taking responsibility for the adoption web 2.0 in school.   This gives Media Specialist the opportunity to continue to be at the forefront of adopting technology in schools.  Through an orderly system of exploring blogs of the leading thinkers of the library world one can engage in the issues of the day.  These exploration can also provide opportunities for professional development and collaborating on solution.  This has increased my awareness of continuing the process of reading, writing, and connecting on blogs to engage in professional discussion.  It also included library specific blogs of interest that I have subscribed to.  I am also learning to read the blogs in a more effectively.

I have completed the task in thing six.  I subscried to interesting photos from flicker to observe interesting photos.  I like good photography and this will give me a chance to be exposed to a wide variety of perspectives.  I also found answers.com interesting to find answers to various matters.  I am also enjoying following up with the feeds in the google reader.

One wonders when will we learn to stop overstating the value of innovation in education or technology.  Is it necessary to continue to act like the new innovations always brings into focus the foundation of education.  Is there a clear understanding of the responsibility of adults to educate the young in society.  Are there basic values and skills that are  necessary for adults to pass on to youths in the educational process?

Steve  Hargadon in his article in Teaching blog entitled Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education states “I believe that the read/write web, or what we are calling web 2.0 will culturally, socially, intellectually, and politically have a greater impact than the advent of the printing press.”  This is typical overextending the potential of technology in the educational process.  The potential of methods is not the same as the actual accomplishments in specific results.  It is true that the two way nature of the internet will be valuable in education and learning because it allows participation which is always more useful than passivity from the learner.  The unparallel revolution in creativity in a two-way medium based on contribution and collaboration affects how content is created through the medium of blogs, wikis, podcasting, video/photo-sharing,  and social networking.  The availability of new content does not answer the question about the essentials that need to be learned in the educational process.

The basic issued is not how information is aquired but on the essential information that should be aquired.  It is not a matter of tranfer of information from one person to another or the self discovery of information.  It is true that the new technologies cannot be ignored nor will they go away.  The content that is necessary to teach to students cannot be left to them to accomplish at their discretion.  There is always the need for guidance in creating content, and thinking skills.  I think that the focus should not be directed by how students learn in our technological age but what students should learn and how they should be guided through the process.

I think that blogging lends itself to more specific audiences because of the interactive and flexible nature of the writing. It is easy to find audiences for specific areas of interest. I think that it can be more commentary rather than hard facts because of the flexible and constant adaptation of content.

There is little doubt that there is a place for blogging in education. A Rationale for Educational Blogging answers the questions why blogging has a valuable place in education. The trouble of making effective use of blogging is not in the value of the reasons that can be listed because collaborative learning can take place. It is more a matter of implementation to ensure that learning is enhanced. Discourse about discourse-the ripe environment goes beyond the usefulness of tools in education to their use in learning. I think that there is too much fascination with specific tools to the detriment of how much effective learning results from their use. I see value in allowing students to explore tools in an environment to ensure the use of resources on their own.

It is also instructive to realize that technology on its own may not improve learning. There are cautions and dangers that cannot be ignored. Potential for good is also there for evil. It is true that the presence of technologies cannot be ignored and banning them from schools will not make them disappear. It is prudent to take the necessary measures to ensure that ethical behavior is in practice. CoolCatTeacher-spies like us is a clear indication of how tools can be abused. Electronic devices can be used against people in questionable settings. This misuse of tools is also evident in the way groups can misrepresent others. An open letter about cyberbullying, illustrates how one blog group is misrepresented by another.

The effectiveness of learning should always be evaluated with technology. Never ending search: powerpoint is an attempt to improve powerpoint presentation to make them more effective in communication and presentation. The selective blogs that I sampled reinforced the need to ensure that tools are used effectively to improve learning with adequate measures in place to minimize abuse.