SEDU 183 class PSA project

During my SED 183 class we were assigned to make a video concentrating on the topic of School Resources. We decided to make it entertaining but educational. We decided to explain how to schedule at Edinboro by using the Scots system. During this opportunity my group and I came across pro's an con's. A pro was that it was easy to contribute ideas and come up with a general understand that our college has problems with the system. It was fun to go outside the box and make it our own. A con was there was no zoom on the camera therefore you had to make sure you stood in the right place while filming. I could see myself assigning a project to my future students. I would take a slightly different outlook. I would have a checklist of things they had to provide in the video. Like each group member must be seen at least once during the video, a prop must be incorporated, and it needs to be school appropriate.

How can videos be used as a instructional, assessment, and communication method? I believe video can be instructional by setting standards for the video that they must complete a list of things throughout there video. As a assessment method they can be used to see the overall point portrayed during the video. Finally, video can be used as all sorts of way to communicate. Such as they can be a news cast, argument, or just as a way of expression.

Finale

Recently, we were presented a program called Finale by Eric. This program was one of the most interesting I have ever saw. For those of you that don't know what this tool does it is just a music composition where you can pick any instrument and pick notes to create a song. Although I was very interested, this program looked like it had a lot of different options and I think younger children would be very confused rather than learning something new. I could see this being used in Band or Chorus class in high school. Overall, it was fascinating and I would like to recommend this to anyone who is interested in writing music.

I Need YOUR Advice

MuseumBox and Go! Animate

Last week during SEDU class a few of my classmates were chosen to present on an Educational Tool you may incorporate in your classroom. Cody shared Museum Box and this tool introduced me to a new way to present information. Museum Box could be used for basically any subject in early, middle, and high school levels. The tool consist of "dresser drawers". When you click on them it brings up a box of six blank slides. Each box can share music, images, documents, etc. Being the first time I have ever viewed this tool, I believe it would be a very useful resource and I can see myself using this when I become a educator.

Go! Animate is another tool Dashaya introduced to the class. This tool consists of animated lesson plans to get students interested in learning. She introduced an effective fun way that students would enjoy watching and learning from at the same time. The main down fall to this tool is that it costs a fee every year so it would get pretty costly. But on the other hand, I could see myself using this tool as well.

Oh Popplet, You could do wonders :)

In class yesterday we learned about three different tools you could use to incorporate learning in the classroom. Out of those three I believe Popplet would be the most effective. Popplet is comparable to Microsoft Word but a new way to show the information. This tool makes learning fun. Popplet is a "Web" that you can keep expanding. You may share pictures, information, videos, and quotes. I could see myself in the future using this tool for student projects, presenting a lesson, or providing feed back by using the sharing option. This is the first time hearing about this tool and within five minutes of learning about it, I decided to include the interactive tool in one of my other classes and will use it in future situations.

Interaction in the Classroom

When your presented a website that makes learning easier for children, why not use it? I recently discovered a Educational Tool called Studyladder. As I browsed the website I came across all topics taught in elementary schools worldwide. For example, they have mathematics, literacy, science, art, music, etc. When you choose the subject you want to work with it sends you to a list of different concepts within the subject of your choice. One pro of this tool is that it provides you with lesson plan ideas for the provided topics.  Studyladder motives and enthuses students to learn. It's very simple. All the students have to do is enter their username and password and they can view all learning materials the teacher wants them to work with. A con of this tool is that you have to pay money per month to get more in-depth lessons, where you could probably find a similar program that has the same ideas with no cost to it.
I believe I could use this tool to mix up my teaching style. Instead of lecturing the whole class, I could briefly discuss the topics and then have them log onto the site to learn more information. This would be a plus for the students who are an interactive learner. Another strategy I could use for my classroom is to have the students choose the quizzing activities and answers the questions. I can view all the students results in one place and record them in the grade book very easily.  Last, I can show use the program as an interactive activity during class time and have them raise their hands to pick the answer.
Overall, this website would be an alternitive way to present information to children without it get boring or old. Each lesson uses different concepts making the students excited to learn.

How Are You Smart?

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This video lists 8 different ways humans learn. The opportunity to learn by using a child's strengths is brilliant. I liked how the different groups around the classroom makes it easier to learn in the way that's easiest for the child. Changes in Education happen daily. Certain changes start small and then work their way to being recognized. The "Smartville" classroom was a smart and fun way for students to enjoy attending school while learning future responsibilities.
I strongly believe, if the test scores are higher than most schools, then why not "install" the same idea into other classrooms. I could see myself in the future adopting a similar idea in my classroom. We, as educators, are not in this profession to punish students. I feel if these changes were to take place, students would be more motivated to go to school.

What do you think? Could you see yourself putting your children in a school that has this program?