Week 4 - Assignment 1: Reflection 3

Engagement this week required the creation and use of image, audio and video on the web. All three media's are fantastic ways to engage with information in ways other than written text that can attend to a range of learning styles. Video, audio and images can communicate messages, engage students in discussion, debates, talks, stories, recounts, and provide thought-provoking insight or just to simply entertain.  

• Click here to view an embedded image in my blog
• Click here to listen to my audio recording on PodOmatic
• Click here to watch my video recording on Youtube

Some suggestions on how these medias can be used in a primary school classroom are as follows:

Curriculum: Maths

Topic: Learning multiplication

• Students can create an audio recording of a "word problem" to swap with a partner to solve
• Students can create a video recording of a "how to" sequence to solve a multiplication equation on a whiteboard
• Students can take pictures of real-life objects around the classroom to create a "picture problem"

Prior to completing this week's engagement, I had not considered how fantastic, and easy, the integration of medias into lesson plans could be. I am now excited to use them in future plans to ensure further engagement of my learners.

Week 4 - Video

Please watch my video recording below of this week's reflection on Videos. 

(This video was created by recording myself with my laptop's in-built webcam and microphone on Windows Live Moviemaker. The file was then saved and uploaded onto Youtube.)

Transcript:
These days video is everywhere. Almost every household has at least one television, sometimes one in every room. Increasing ease of access from mobile devices also means that video such as new release movies are now available in places that just a few years ago the only entertainment was a good book.

Youtube is one of the most popular sites currently on the web. Videos ranging from TED Talks, funny videos and tutorials on just about ANYTHING are available for anyone to access. Additionally, just about anyone can upload a video. All that is required is a computer and a camera - which many smart phones have.

With the introduction of C2C (Curriculum into the Classroom) in schools across Queensland, video is now commonly integrated into lessons. In my opinion, video is the easiest and most engaging resource to use in the classroom. It can be used a number of ways to present information such as simply recording a procedure, oral information report, or reading a narrative. It can be used in more creative ways, such as recording a performance of acting out a character, or as a video journal to record thoughts and feelings on a subject. Video could even be used to record student's acting out a story, maybe with an alternative ending.The possibilities are endless.

Week 4: Podcasts/Audio

Please listen to my voice recording below of this week's reflection on Podcasts/Audio.

 

(This recording was made by recording my voice with my HTC XL android phone and transferred the audio file onto my laptop. I then uploaded the file onto PodOmatic.)

Transcript: 
In an increasingly mobile/tech-based world we are faced with bright and over stimulating visuals on screens everywhere we look. However, in the absence of these flashing screens we are not left information-less. Audio is yet another way for information, discussion, debate, stories etc to be communicated. In fact, anyone who drives a car is immersed in listening to the radio. Audio can be made in such a way that enables the listener to create their own images in their head and thus is many student's preferred way of learning.

Audio can be presented in a number of ways. Some of these are podcasts, e-books, radio shows or a recording of a conference or meeting. For anyone that drives long distances it can be fantastic way to unlock "hidden" study time or just to find out more about something that interests them. Personally, I enjoy listening to TED Talk education related podcasts by loading them on my phone and listening in the the car on my 30 minute drive home. Podcasts are smaller in file size and load quicker than most videos. I also enjoy listening to Triple J's "The Hack" discussions in the afternoons on current affairs as they are informative and are kept relevant to listeners. 

There are many ways audio can be used in the classroom and integrated into lessons. Upon entering the classroom after lunch, playing a short audio clip can allow students to relax and re-focus to be ready for learning. Playing e-books rather than always reading out loud can save a teacher's voice. Listening to snippets of radio shows, podcasts and TED Talks can be thought-provoking and a great "hook" to start lessons. 

Sadly, I hadn't considered using audio in the classroom before. However, upon investigating ways to integrate audio into lessons I am now full of ideas that I can't wait to use in future planning.

Week 4 - Images

Images have a fantastic ability to communicate messages without a word spoken. One message can be understood across the globe with no translation required. Look at any social networking site and you will the majority of posts are images. The popular smartphone app, Instagram is based purely on the sharing of images. On the other hand, an image can conjure many different thoughts, feelings and opinions that vary from person to person which can ignite discussion and understanding.

I have had lots of experience with uploading images to various places on the web such as websites, social networking sites, photo sharing sites and blogs (see week 2 of my blog) and know all about sitting and watching (for what seems like forever) as an image slowly loads. Resizing is a solution to this. In fact, many sites resize images automatically so they are quicker to open and view. This unfortunately means that if you want to save a picture from one of these sites it is no longer suitable for anything other than web use.

In the classroom, images can be used in many ways. A simple yet emotionally-fueled image can be a useful "hook" when introducing a topic. Stories can be shared using only pictures, such as a stop motion movie. Recounts and procedural texts can be presented in image form in as a powerpoint presentation.

Image by 5days